Appiah describes first league matches as so-far-so-good

Mr Joseph Yaw Appiah, Chairman of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA), has described the first round Star premier league as "so far so good".

He said although the programme for the first round suffered several jolts, the football authorities were able to overcome those difficulties and brought the first round to a fairly successful end.

The most serious incident occurred on May 9 at the Accra Sports Stadium when police fired tear gas into irate fans causing the death of 126 people during a mid-week clash between Hearts and Kotoko.

The league was suspended for one month and a Commission of Inquiry set up to investigate the incident.

That incident notwithstanding, Mr Appiah said attendance after the disaster, especially in Accra, shot up.

He noted that the standard of play has improved as compared to the previous two seasons, more goals were scored and expressed the hope that all things being equal, it could appreciate.

Mr Appiah and his colleagues on the GHALCA are meeting on Thursday to deliberate on how to have more say in running of football in the country.

He said refereeing has not been bad and added that when motivated referees could do better.

The first round league officially ended a fortnight ago but three outstanding matches will be cleared on Sunday.

Hearts play host to Sekondi Hasaacas, Kotoko welcome Adansiman while King Faisal trek to Obuasi as guest of Goldfields.

Many connoisseurs of the game however, fear that the league could not meet its December deadline; and in order to keep the league on track, Ben Koufie, Chairman of the Ghana Football Association has instructed the head coach of the Black Stars not to invite more than two players from each club for national assignments.

According to the GFA's byelaws, a club would have its match declared outstanding if it has up to three or more players invited into any of the national teams.

Subsequently, Mr Koufie is scheduled to meet club chairmen on Thursday to find ways of having an uninterrupted second round league taking into account the Black Stars training programme for the Africa Cup of Nations in Mali next year.