Big relief for Division One League clubs

Accra, Nov 29, GNA - Division One Clubs, which will qualify for the 2005 National Middle League will each enjoy close to 20 million cedis worth of sponsorship to participate in the competition, which will facilitate the promotion of clubs into the elite premier league. This follows a sponsorship package of 200 million cedis from Fun Play Ghana Limited, a Swedish Lottery Company, currently operating in Ghana.

The package is to cater for transportation to match venues, food and accommodation, officiating fees for referees, security and publicity and the organisation of an Awards Ceremony by the Division One League (DOL) Board after the competition.

The company, as part of the deal, will also provide two sets of jerseys and footballs to participating clubs. The National Middle League will now be called "Fun Play Middle League".

In return, Fun Play Ghana Limited will exhibit their logos and banners at all the six venues to be used for the middle league and sell their scratch cards at all match venues during the competition. DOL will also give special recognition to the company, whiles club chairmen are to encourage their supporters to patronise the scratch cards.

Mr William Baka, Administrative Manager of the company at press briefing in Accra on Tuesday said their decision to sponsor the league was aimed at developing and promoting sports in the country. He said, the success of the present deal would propel them to come out with a mouth-watering offer for the 2006 Division One League. Mr Kwesi Nyantakyie, Acting Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) described the offer as timely and unique, saying the era when the Division One League was described as "Siberia" was over. The Acting Chairman said, though, the league had attracted some form of sponsorship, they were in kind.

He said, the package would ease the financial burden of clubs participating in the competition and urged the company to maintain the newly formed alliance.