GHALCA satisfied with GBL's package

The Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) is satisfied with the 870 million cedis sponsorship deal signed between Ghana Breweries Limited (GBL) and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for the premier league and the FA cup.

Mr Kudjo Fianoo, Administrative Secretary of GHALCA said on Wednesday that the arrangement is favourable to premier league clubs because it does not prevent them from seeking other sponsors.

He told GNA Sports that the only obligation premier league clubs have to GBL is to display the brand name chosen by the sponsors on the right sleeve of their jerseys during matches.

The GHALCA scribe said by the deal, the GFA must ensure that billboards of GBL are displayed at the inner perimeter of stadiums, during all premier league and knockout matches.

Mr Fianoo said "part of the money would be set aside for the national knockout competition and the remainder shared equally among the sixteen premier league clubs and the GFA which, is regarded as the seventeenth club".

He said though referees play a major role in the success of association football, they are excluded from the deal because, present FIFA rules, do not permit them to advertise on their shirts.

"Referees are paid for the work they do and since the GBL package is an incentive to advertise their products, it will be unfair to the sponsors to pay referees from their money".

The GHALCA helmsman added however, that as soon as FIFA moves away from its present position on referees GHALCA would make a case for them to benefit from sponsorship deals.

Mr Fianoo disclosed that a company, which came up with a billion cedi deal, was turned down because it wanted exclusive rights, which would have denied the clubs the opportunity to wear branded jerseys of other corporate organisations.

He expressed contentment with the standard of the leagues in general saying, "the professional league in Ghana is growing in leaps and bounds and this will manifest in Hearts victory on Sunday".

"The first division was fierce and there were many fantastic matches during the season. The standard of our leagues is rising by the day", he added.

Last week, GBL renewed its sponsorship deal for the premier league and the FA cup with the GFA by, 45 per cent, raising the figure from 600 million to 870 million cedis.

However, GBL is yet to release the brand name, which will replace the old ABC tag on the premier league.