"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

SWAG Ask GFA Why GPL Organization Is Shambolic Whilst That Of Black Stars Is Not.

Sports Writers Association of Ghana has called on the Ghana Football Association to explain why organisation of the local league is shambolic whilst that of the Black Stars is better.

The Ghana FA and the premier league board has not been able to follow the premier league calender for the past two seasons, and that has become a major worry for the association and Ghanaians as a whole.

And SWAG through its president, Kwabena Yeboah, has called on the body to wake up from their sleep because the flagship football competition in the coubtry is in coma and hopes of reviving it is gloomy.

“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.” Kwabena Yeboah said in a statement on Wednesday.

“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,” he added.

SWAG Ask GFA Why GPL Organization Is Shambolic Whilst That Of Black Stars Is Not.