Koforidua, Aug.3, GNA - The Eastern Regional Division Two Clubs have rejected the decision of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to impose Highlanders Football Club which has been relegated to Division Three on them.
This, the clubs say is at variance with a decision they (clubs) took at their congress last year.
The clubs, by a majority decision, directed the Management Board of the Regional Football Association (RFA) to meet with the GFA to explain the negative repercussions the decision would have on the future of football development in Eastern Region.
They alleged that the GFA's decision was to protect the interest of Mr. Geoffrey Oteng-Arthur, Chairman of Highlanders, who is also a member of the Executive Council of the GFA.
At last year's congress, the clubs agreed that at the end of the league, the last two teams in each group shall be relegated to Division Three while the two top teams in each zone play in the middle league for one to be selected to represent the region at the Division One level. However, before the commencement of the league, one of the Clubs in zone four, Olympia Athletic, withdrew from the competition because of the death of its chairman and as a result, that zone played with five teams instead of six.
At the end of the season, Highlanders placed fourth while another club, Eastern Wonders, were fifth. And going by the agreement, the two were to be relegated automatically.
Surprisingly, Highlanders appealed against their relegation and the matter was subsequently referred to the Disciplinary Committee of the GFA. The Committee upheld the decision of the RFA that Highlanders and Eastern Wonders be relegated as agreed at the congress of the RFA. The GFA Disciplinary Committee however, said it would choose a club in consultation with the RFA to fill the vacuum created by Olympia Athletic; unfortunately, the GFA side stepped the RFA and wrote that since only five teams competed in that zone, the first four clubs should be retained including Highlanders.
Mr. Raphael Dzradosi, Eastern Regional Sports Development Officer, informed the congress that in view of a letter received from the GFA explaining why Highlanders should be retain, the Management Board of the RFA has decided not to relegate any club for the year so that it would be fair to all.
He said, however, that the RFA would promote 10 qualified clubs from Division Three so that at the end of the season, the three bottom clubs in each zone, would be relegated to division three.
