GFA Will Drag Capital Bank To Court - Oku

The Chairman of Premier League Board (PLB), Ashford Tetteh Oku, has hinted that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) is in the process of dragging the Capital Bank (formerly First Capital Plus Bank) to court over a breach of contract.

He said after the bank unilaterally terminated its five-year sponsorship deal with the Premier League, the GFA has been left with no other option than to proceed to court to have the case settled.

Last year, the management of the Capital Bank suspended its sponsorship

of the league, citing internal restructuring as the main reason.

However, many months after its rebranding process was completed, the bank was yet to inform organisers of the league about its desire to resume the sponsorship package or abrogate it.

”In any signed contract, there are provisions for issues of grievances and legalities, so if the first round of the league has ended and there is still nothing concrete about the sponsorship, then the final destination of the case will be the courts. The GFA has a legal board, so they will decide what to do next,” Mr Tettey-Oku told the Graphic Sports yesterday.

He hinted also that the FA had initiated a few processes towards securing a title sponsor for the league and, therefore, appealed to the Premier League club administrators to remain calm while the issue was being resolved.

“Securing a sponsor for the league is not easy, it is a process. And I know the FA has started a process to get a headline sponsor in the shortest possible time, if not for this league, at least for subsequent ones,” the PLB chairman explained.

He mentioned media hype, preseason seminars for coaches, referees, consistency in fixtures, spectators, equal spread of talent across all 16 clubs, quality goals among others as factors that made the first round of the year league competitive and attractive.

 Source: graphic.com.gh

GFA Will Drag Capital Bank To Court - Oku

Lets Meet In Court - GFA Tells Capital Bank

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has planned to take legal action against First Capital Plus Bank now Capital Bank for breach of contract.

The financial institution which signed a five-year sponsorship agreement with the Ghana FA as headline sponsor of the Premier League, suspended their sponsorship responsibilities.

They claim their decision to back off from their relationship with the domestic league was due internal restructuring.

The FA mincing no words stated categorically clear that the ‘suspension’ of sponsorship responsibilities is alien to the contract signed, but were hopeful that the Bank will resume their responsibilities after rebranding.

However, the financial institution has refused attempts from the FA for a showdown talks, and the football governing body says they intend to meet them in Court to trash out the issue.

Lets Meet In Court - GFA Tells Capital Bank

GFA Working Hard For GPL Sponsor - Veep

The Ghana Football Association vice president, George Afriyie has promised premier league clubs that the FA is working hard to sponsor the domestic top flight competition.

Headline sponsors, First Capital Plus Bank now Capital Bank agreed a 5-year deal to sponsor the local league, but two years into their agreement, the financial institution has suspended its sponsorship responsibilities with claims that they are undergoing restructuring.

Though the FA says the decision of the Bank is alien to the contract signed, they are pleading with them to rescind their decision, but are also working around the clock to provide a headline sponsor abridge the financial burden of the clubs.

“The GFA is doing everything possible to ensure that we secure a sponsor for the league,” George Afriyie who chaired the launch of the 2016 premier league season said in his speech.

“We are in talks with several companies and we are optimistic we will have a sponsor for the league before it reaches its halfway stages.” He added

The Ghana Premier League will commence on Saturday February 20 at the Sogakope Park and will be continued on Sunday at the other seven league centers.

GFA Working Hard For GPL Sponsor - Veep

What Is GPL Clubs Doing To Help Themselves? - Isaac Koomson

Vice chairman of the Ghana League Clubs Association, Isaac Koomson has asked the Ghana Premier League Clubs what they are doing to ensure they are well branded to attract corporate companies to sponsor them.

The Ghana Premier League will commence on February 20 without a headline sponsor after First Capital Plus Bank reneged from their commitment with the FA signed about 2 years ago.

Premier League clubs are complaining the financial difficulties they encounter on weekly basis will be compounded should the FA not provide a sponsor to abridge the financial burden.

But Isaac Koomson who is rumoured to be interested in vying for the GHALCA chairmanship position with his boss Alhaji Raji, has asked the clubs the efforts they are making to give themselves alternative should the FA not land any deal for the league soon.

“Super Sport is on board as the headline sponsor for the coverage of the league, but we appreciate the fact that the FA should provide a headline sponsor,” Isaac Koomson told sportscrusader.com

“But apart from the FA getting a corporate body to sponsor the league, the question I always ask my colleagues is that,’what are they doing as an alternative to raise funds?’

“What image has the clubs created  to attract sponsors? Churches brand themselves with their logos on bands, bands, handkerchiefs, and make money out it and make money whilst also spreading their name to the public.

‘Can’t the clubs do same to make money and to be self sufficient whilst also making themselves popular? These are things we can do and we must take advantage of that.” He noted.

The Ghana Premier League will start on February 20 and the FA according to Mr. Koomson is close to securing a sponsor.

What Is GPL Clubs Doing To Help Themselves? - Isaac Koomson

"Capital Bank Still Ghana League Sponsors"-Premier League Board Chairman

Premier League Board (PLB) chairman, Ashford Tettey-Oku, insists Capital Bank (formerly First Capital Plus Bank) remains title sponsors of the Premier League in spite of a unilateral suspension of the contract by the bank two months ago, casting doubts over whether the 2015/16 season will commence next month without sponsorship.

The PLB boss told the Graphic Sports yesterday that Capital Bank had a contractual agreement with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and as far as he was aware the FA had not given any indication that the contract had been abrogated.

Reacting to concerns by Premier League clubs about the uncertainty over the league sponsorship, Mr Tettey-Oku said much as he identified with their apprehension, there was no cause for alarm.

“The PLB understands the concerns of the clubs, but so far as we know, Capital Bank remains the sponsors and until the GFA gives us a contrary situation, we do not have contrary situation we do not have to be despondent,” he assured.

He admitted that playing this season’s league without the title sponsorship would not only affect the clubs financially but also the FA, which spends over GH¢2million to organise the league every season, aside of the sponsorship.

“Without the sponsorship, the FA will also have to find money to completely run the league, and aside other huge costs it takes care of, the situation would be a huge financial challenge for the FA and as such everyone is very much concerned and determined to ensure the contractual agreement is respected.”

He gave the assurance that with the Broadcast Sponsorship deal with SuperSport still running, the premiership clubs were set to benefit from the season’s package, with the PLB ready to get the league started on February 20.

“We are very ready to get the season started. All the knotty issues have been dealt with so far as organisation is concerned and we assure all of an exciting season,” Mr Tettey-Oku indicated.

At the end of last season, the bank officially informed the FA in a letter about its decision to suspend $2million-a-year, deal with the FA in order to undertake some internal restructuring. The sponsorship deal, which was in its second year, was to run for five years.

"Capital Bank Still Ghana League Sponsors"-Premier League Board Chairman

Ghana Premier League Brand Is Unparalleled - Saani Daara

Ghana Football Association Communication Director, Ibrahim Saani Daara has said that the Ghana Premier league brand is one every corporate body would like to associate themselves with.

The Football Association has struggled to get hold onto a sponsor for the league for the past decade.

Telecommunications Networks, OneTouch and GLO sponsored the Ghana Premier league, but all left either after the expiration of their contract or in a controversial manner.

First Capital Plus Bank now Capital Bank who took over from GLO have suspended their relationship with the Premier League with claims of restructuring.

But Ibrahim Saani Daara insist the country’s flagship competition brand is good enough for any corporate body because it provides a wide range of opportunities.

“The Ghana football brand is very, very attractive. It is very very attractive because the opportunity it provides to any company that comes on board is unparalleled to any competition held in this country,” the former BBC Journalist told Atinka FM.

Ibrahim Saani Daara explained that sponsors of the league have the opportunity of showcasing their company across the country and the continent and that is a bonus to the any corporate entity.

“The possibility of having your company emblazoned on pitch panels up and down this country, on Super Sports continentelly is something that’s like a gift,” he noted.

The Ghana football association is working around the clock to get a sponsor to either replace or partner First Capital Plus Bank now Capital Bank for the Ghana Premier league scheduled to start on February 20.

Ghana Premier League Brand Is Unparalleled - Saani Daara

First Capital Bank Deal Not Cancelled - Saani Daara

Communication Director of the Ghana Football Association has debunked claims that First Capital Plus Bank now Capital Bank has cancelled their sponsorship deal with the Ghana FA as head sponsors of the Ghana Premier league.

The football association signed a 5-year sponsorship with the finance company in 2014, and two years into the deal, the Bank has reneged their commitment with the reason of restructuring.

Capital Bank  wrote a letter to the GFA to suspend their sponsorship deal after the financial institution decided to embark to restructure their Bank.

But the Bank has not written to the FA to officially end their relationship

And Saani Daara, per the contract agreement, First Capital Plus Bank is still the headline sponsor of the Ghana Premier league.

“As far as the FA is concern First Capital Plus Bank now Capital Bank is still the headline sponsor of the Ghanaian league,” the former BBC Journalisttold Asempa FM.

“They only wrote a letter to us to suspend the deal we signed with them two years ago but did write to us that they have cancelled the contract we signed with them,” he added.

The agreement between the FA and First Capital Plus Bank now Capital Bank is governed by a contract and the FA will not hesitste to invoke their rights on the deal should Capital Bank not rescind their decision.

Sportscrusader can confirm that First Capital Plus Bank now Capital bank have lost interest in sponsoring the Ghanaian elite league considering the poor mileage they have received since after their two-year stint with the FA.

First Capital Bank Deal Not Cancelled - Saani Daara

I Can"t Speculate On Possible GPL Sponsor - George Afriyie

Ghana football association vice president George Afriyie has confirmed the FA is looking for potential sponsors for the Ghana Premier league to either partner Capital Bank or as replacement for Capital Bank.

The football association brokered a five-year deal with First Capital Plus Bank now Capital Bank in January 2014, worth $10 million in total, and $2 million annually.

However, in the second year of the deal, the Bank has suspended its sponsorship with reasons that it is undergoing restructuring.

Sportscrusader can confirm that the restructuring of the Bank include change of management and change of name. The change of name has taken place, whilst management will now be headed by owner of the Bank, who sacked the Managing Director for reasons sources say are best known by the owner.

The suspension of the sponsorship responsibilities has pushed the Ghana FA to find a replacement should the Bank not rescind their decision.

And are hopeful of getting a new sponsor because the premier league brand is one any corporate body will want to associate with.

“The premier league is a good brand, and we will definitely get a sponsor for it,” George Afriyie told a sportscrusader.

Mr. Afriyie revealed that the FA is engaging other companies to come on board but has not signed any deal with any company to sponsor the league so far, thus, he won’t speculate with names.

“I think that somebody like me, I should be speaking on authority. When I speak it’s a statement, so once we have not concluded or sealed any deal with a potential sponsor it will be difficult for me to be standing here speculating. Once the deal is sealed we will definitely announce it,” he assured.

The Ghana Premier League commencement date is expected to be announced on Friday.

I Can"t Speculate On Possible GPL Sponsor - George Afriyie

Wake Up From Your Slumber - SWAG Tells GFA And PLB

Sports Writers Association of Ghana has told the football governing body of Ghana to wake from their slumber amd fixed problems local football.

The Ghana Premier league has decline in the last decade, and sports writers of country has called on the country to revive the walking corpse.

Last year, the Ghana Premier league was delayed by over four months due to the FA failure of the association to expeditely solve problems the Disciplinary Committee, and same is happening this year.

SWAG believes the FA should have led the country’s flagship competition to higher level after overseeing successful in contrast, the league has rather gone down the drain.

A statement signed by SWAG President, Kwabena Yeboah, said it was very disappointing and discouraging that four clear months after the 2014/15 season ended with AshantiGold winning the First Capital Plus Premier League title, there is growing uncertainty and uneasiness over the undue delay in the commencement of the new season which has thrown the preparations of the Premier League clubs into disarray.

“After organising the Premier League for over two decades, with Mr Welbeck Abra-Appiah in charge of the PLB for the last decade, it is rather disappointing that we are still grappling with very elementary problems such as a lack of adherence to a fixed football calendar, allegations of match fixing, poor officiating, failure of the FA’s judicial bodies to adjudicate disputes in time, among other issues which have all contributed in no s­mall measure to the unattractiveness of the league to fans and the corporate sector,” the statement said.

SWAG president added that: “It is about time the GFA Executive Committee, in particular, sat up to confront the numerous problems that militate against the development of the local game, such as sponsorship for its competitions and general reforms aimed at giving the PLB greater autonomy and powers to effe­ctively organise the FA’s flagship competition.”

“In the last few years the FA has been entering into sponsorship deals for the Premier League which end in litigation. We had issues with the GLO sponsorship and now the Capital Bank has also pulled the plug on its sponsorship. We cannot continue this way because the FA always gets its act right when it comes to the Black Stars but the same cannot be said about the elite football competition.” It noted.

Wake Up From Your Slumber - SWAG Tells GFA And PLB

FA Looking Sponsors For GPL - George Afriyie.

Ghana Football Association vice president George Afriyie has revealed the FA has persuaded management of First Capital Plus Bank (now Capital Bank) to stay on as sponsors of the league.

The head sponsors of the league, First Capital Plus Bank, communicated their decision to suspend sponsorship of the league to the football governing body at the latter part of last year.

The FAn return told the Bank the suspension of sponsorship is alien to the agreement signed, but they however persuaded to stay on within the contract agreed.

“The Ghana Football Association has persuaded them to stay within contract because in the contract the was nothing like suspension,” George Afriyie told sportscrusader.com.

The Liberty Professionals chairman added that though the FA is pleading on them to stay, should they insist on their stand, the FA will not hesitate to involve their rights on the contract.

“So we said we will do all we can to persuade them, but if the body that is responsible to sponsor your league,  a corporate company like First Capital Plus now Capital Bank decides to say ‘i am going to opt out,’ well they are also aware of the consequences and then we will look out for another sponsor if they don’t come back.

“But I hope that the brand premier league is a good brand and we will definitely get a sponsor for it.”

Mr. George also revealed that the FA are looking for potential sponsors to either partner Capital Bank or as replacement.

“Is true we are looking for sponsors to come on board, but I can’t confirm now until a deal is sealed with a potential sponsor.”

FA Looking Sponsors For GPL - George Afriyie.