Sportnet boss cries foul

Accra, July 14, GNA - Mr Dan Asiedu Asare, Chief Executive officer of Sportnet Ghana Limited and owner of Sportnet Football Club has cried foul over a decision of the Division One League Board.

He expressed concern about the decision of the DOL to maintain Tema Youth in the league despite the illegalities involved in the transfer of Ofie Youngsters, an Eastern Region based division one team to the Tema side.


The directors of Youngsters this year transferred their ownership to the Tema side, which gave them the mandate to participate in the Division One League.


Mr Asare told the GNA Sports in an interview that the decision of the Board is a clear demonstration of incompetence and an absolute disregard for the rule of law by those at the helm of affairs since everything pointed out that, the deal was illegal. Giving a background to the case, Mr Asare said he entered into a verbal agreement with Madam Vicentia Deku, the Principal Representative of Ofie Youngsters for the purchase of the Club and agreed on a 40 million cedi price.


According to Mr Asare this was after he had had a confirmation from the Chairman of Youngsters that Madam Deku had the mandate to negotiate and enter into a contract for the sale of the club. Mr Asare said it was agreed that 50 per cent of the amount which represents 20 million cedis be paid immediately to guarantee the purchase of the club with the rest to be paid later. He said that he demonstrated his commitment by making the 20 million cedis payment only to be told later that there had been a problem with the transaction.


According to Mr Asare, he was told by Madam Deku that the directors of the Club had decided against the sale of the club, hence his initial payment of 50 per cent be returned to him. However, "Credible information available to me indicated that the Chairman and directors of Ofie Youngsters had entered into another transaction with a different party, which is Tema Youth after I had made my payment", he noted.

He said when the matter got to the DOL Board it was surprisingly ruled that Youngsters return the 20 million cedis to me and which decision he described as ridiculous.


According to Mr Asare, the decision by the DOL Board is suspicious and dents the credibility and the competence of the body. "The DOL Board further manifested their incompetence and tolerance for illegalities by allowing Tema Youth who had bought the team to play their matches in the Greater Accra Region instead of the Eastern Region since such changes can only be done at Congress". The Sportnet boss stated.


Mr Asare therefore called for the right application of the rules governing the game in Ghana to be applied in the quest to see to the development of football in the country. In a related development, an Accra High Court on Monday, July 11, restrained Ofie Youngsters from transferring their ownership to Tema Youth.


In her ruling, Justice Mrs F. Owusu-Arhin said the Club whether by themselves, agents, servants, privies, whomsoever or order wise be and are hereby restrained from negotiating the sale of and eventual transfer to persons of the team pending the final determination of the case.