We are nowhere near the resumption of football - Joseph Yamin

Former deputy minister for youth and sports, Joseph Yamin has leaped to the defense of Ghana Government for extending the suspension on contact sports specifically football in Ghana despite admitting, Sports Minister Isaac Asiamah has exposed his incompetence after failing to secure funds for the local clubs.

President Akuffo Addo during his 10th coronavirus address last week eased a number of restrictions where he confirmed that, contact sports in the West African country will remain suspended till July 31 though, non-contact sports like athletics, golf, badminton, etc. can resume individual training.

The Ghana football association in light of the suspension, has given itself up to June 30 to make a final decision on the future of the Ghana football season. While some stakeholders in the industry have called for the resumption of the football season considering the dire financial impact on the clubs, others have stood against such suggestions as it is not safe to do so.

Joseph Yamin, a former Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports under the NDC government is one of those to have supported the government’s decision to extend the suspension on contact sports stating, Ghana is nowhere near the resumption of large gatherings.

“I had the opportunity of speaking after the sports minister’s address to the nation and I support the idea of suspending football activities.

“I think that, we are nowhere near the resumption of large gatherings and you know football attracts large gatherings.

“As at now, we cannot be sure of the decline rate of the virus and we are not adequately resourceful to counter the spread of the virus as we are yet to do a mass testing.” He said this in an exclusive interview with Kumasi based YFM.

Earlier this week, the minister of youth and sports Hon Isaac Asiamah following the Government’s decision to roll out phase one of easing a number of restrictions held a media briefing to clarify when to expect the resumption of sporting activities, stimulus package and other related matters.

Joseph Yamin reacting to the minister’s speech and how his outfit [sports ministry] has contributed to football and sports at large remarked, the sector minister has failed big time over his inability to secure funds from the government to support the clubs.

“I think the minister of youth and sports has failed as a minister in this era of COVID-19 because, he has failed to convince government to accept the fact that, the clubs need some stimulus packages as other businesses are being supported with.

“If government doesn’t see the reason why, clubs must be given some stimulus package, then it means that the minister has not pushed enough to be able to convince and that’s one negative thing about the minister.

“So the minister cannot tell us that, they are still engaging, he has failed in that regard,” he added.

Clubs in the Ghana Premier League, the National Division One League, as well as the Women’s Premier League are going through a period of financial difficulties due to the inactivity of football in the country.

However, it is understood that, there is an ongoing engagement between the Sports Ministry and government to secure funds to support all related sporting disciplines.