GHALCA Top 4: Clubs' appearance fees kept secret as no cash prize awaits winner

The Ghana Football Association (GHALCA) Top 4 tournament will be played in a league format, with participating clubs set to battle each other for the ultimate trophy and medals, but without a cash prize for the eventual winner.

This was disclosed by GHALCA Vice President Phyllis Marku Mensah in an interview with Sporty FM, ahead of the tournament’s kick-off at the University of Ghana.

According to Marku Mensah, the four participating clubs have received appearance fees, but the exact amounts cannot be made public because the clubs themselves do not want the figures disclosed.

“Clubs do not want us to disclose the appearance fees for the Top 4,” she explained.

She, however, clarified that the appearance fees should not be mistaken for prize money for the team that eventually wins the competition.

“There is no cash prize. The ultimate is receiving the medal and the trophy,” she stated.

The revelation means the tournament’s financial reward structure will be limited to the appearance fees already paid to the participating clubs, with the champions receiving the ceremonial prize of the trophy and medals.

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All-play-all format

Marku Mensah also revealed that the competition will adopt a traditional all-play-all league format, rather than a knockout system.

Each of the four clubs will face the others, with the team that accumulates the most points at the end of the tournament crowned champions.

“It’s going to be the league format. All-play-all. So if you come first by your points, you will take it. It’s not the knockout,” she said.

Two matches per matchday

The tournament will be staged at the University of Ghana, with two matches scheduled for each matchday.

The opening game will kick off at 3:00 p.m., followed by the second match at 6:00 p.m.

The competition is scheduled for August 26, 28 and 30, giving teams a day’s break between matchdays.

The format will therefore give each club three matches to determine the final standings, with the team finishing top on points emerging as the GHALCA Top 4 champion.

The tournament is expected to provide Ghana’s top clubs with competitive action while also serving as an important preparatory platform ahead of the new football season.

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