Clubs to scramble for continental slots

Accra, Nov 23, GNA - The scramble for slots in the 2007 edition of Inter-Clubs Competition will end this Sunday with Premier League Clubs at the top ranks of the table battling to win their respective matches in the 12th week fixtures to enhance their chances.

The struggle, however, will be limited to the two remaining slots for the Confederations Cup since Ashgold and Kumasi Asante Kotoko have grabbed the two places for the Champions League competition.


Whilst Ashgold's position seem to be more secured and have their ticket signed and sealed, Kotoko's fate will depend partly on cases pending before the Appeals Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).


Mathematically, Tema Youth and Liberty Professionals all at 17 points each, Hearts of Oak 96 16 points, Heart of Lions and Great Olympics 96 15 points each, stand the chance of picking the remaining two places. But a decision of the Appeals Committee with regards to the abortive Seventh Week league game between Hearts and Team Youth could play a decisive role in the standings.


Tema Youth benefited from a ruling of the Disciplinary Committee when they were declared winners of the match whilst Hearts lost three points from their accumulated points build up, pushing them out of contention for the lucrative Champions League.


But a ruling in favour of Hearts by the Appeals Committee will restore their points as well as increase their point build up to 19, meaning a win against Bofoakwa on Sunday could grab them a Championship slot.


On the other hand, Tema Youth will drop further down if the ruling goes against them and will need a miracle to even grab a place in the Confederations Cup, but should they win the favour of the Committee then the newly promoted side are in a bright position to make a maiden appearance at the continental level next year.

The rest, made up of Liberty, Lions and Olympics have their destiny in their own hands and performing the task of winning their respective matches will make any chance of a continental appearance a reality. Conspicuously missing from the race are King Faisal and Berekum Arsenals.


Faisal could have been in contention if they had not lost six points at the beginning of the season after they were found guilty of using an unqualified player in their game against Tano Bofoakwa. This coupled with their some unpleasant results has resulted in their present fate. Faisal, it would be recalled made two consecutive appearances in the Confederations Cup competition in 2004 and 2005, whilst Arsenals managed a maiden participation last year.


Both Clubs, however, failed to advance to the league stages of the event.


For Arsenals, a club which has gone unbeaten at home so far, even a win on Sunday against Real Tamale United (RTU) can still not grant them a place in the competition.


The GFA is expected to present the names of the country's four Clubs to the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) by the close of November as the nation's representatives in the Inter-Clubs Competition.