B/A Unhappy Over Mid-Week Matches

-GFA MUST BE CARING.

The management of B/A United has expressed strong reservation about the decision of the FA to fix most of the2002 league matches, on Wednesdays instead of Sunday.

A statement signed by Mr. Ransford Antwi, the PRO of the club stated that, In planning the 2002 league fixtures, those involved could have done a better job by not only looking at how soon the league would end, but also how clubs, especially the financially less-endowed ones would recoup huge investments they made during pre-season and continue to make as the season progresses. According to the statement, the failure of the FA to secure a sponsorship package for the clubs, has not only dislocated the budgets of the smaller clubs, but have put enormous amount of pressure on us to market very well, our home matches, as those are our only source of revenue, the P.R.O stated.Mr. Antwi also stated that, even with the home matches, only those against the big clubs like Kotoko and Hearts have proved to be financially rewarding, as these clubs have die-hard supporters who are ready to travel with them irrespective of the destination.Additionally, these clubs historically attract large patronage wherever they go, all things being equal.

On the otherhand, matches played in mid-week,the statement conceded , like their fifth week encounter with King Faisals have proved to be financially disastrous and a disinvestment to investment in football.Indeed,our heart bleeds over the scheduling of our 8th week encounter against Accra hearts of Oak since that match is expected to compensate us for other losses.??Mr Antwi said.

According to the statement, the big clubs,like Kotoko, Hearts and Goldfields, who have access to flood-lights can afford to play their mid-week matches under flood-lights, to allow workers to attend such matches after closing from work, however, the same cannot be said of the others.

In the case of the Sunyani Coronation Park, apart from Wednesday matches denying workers the chance to witness them, those whose offices are in storey buildings close to the park can afford to watch matches in the comfort of their offices, likewise residents around the park. In short, should the 8th week matches and others be allowed to go ahead on Wednesday, as planned, B/A United would be deprived of the much-needed financial returns that the club needs in order to survive and to excel in the on-going league.

The management of B/A United therefore sees the fixing of their eighth (8th Week premiership encounter with Accra Hearts of Oak, as de-motivating, unfair, discouraging and uncaring on the part of the planners of the league.

In the light of these negative signals, and in the spirit of affording all clubs the opportunity to develop and grow, Management is urging the FA to reconsider its decision to fix the eighth-week and other league encounters in the midweek by pushing them to Sundays, in order to afford football fans from other parts of the country who would want to travel to Sunyani, to witness a match that will bring out the best in Ghana Soccer and also capable of making history and also to inform the FA the need to assist all clubs to develop, for the benefit of the nation, to do so.

The statement appealed to all clubs, especially the big ones to consider the plight of the financially less-endowed, but promising clubs and support them accordingly for the entire benefit of Ghana Soccer. The time has come for all stake-holders in Ghana soccer to demonstrate the good-will and genuine support for smaller clubs, as their survival is as important as the big ones