The Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Prof. Peter Twumasi, has revealed Accra Sports Stadium and Cape Coast Stadium are the only facilities available for use by Ghana Premier League Clubs ahead of the new season expected to start in November.
Speaking to Nhyira Power Sports, Prof. Twumasi reveals his outfit is willing and ready to make available the two stadiums for football matches and to clubs who request to use the facilities for their league games.
The Club Licensing Board of the Ghana Football Association has five clubs indicating the use of the Accra Sports Stadium for their football matches. Kumasi Asante Kotoko will join Hearts of Oak, Great Olympics, Legon Cities and Inter Allies to use the stadium for their home league matches due to the renovation of the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
Many feel this will be too much pressure on the facility but the NSA boss is confident the challenges can be dealt with.
“Thanks to the Sports Ministry we are renovating the stadiums in Kumasi and Essipong and constructing other facilities that will make way for less pressure on facilities. For now the Cape Coast and Accra Sports Stadiums are the only available stadiums that are ready for clubs to use for the upcoming season,” he told Nhyira 104.5fm
“We have seen five clubs apply to play at the Accra Sports Stadium but only four have permission from us to play. During the normalization period, we engaged many clubs as possible at the stadium and we can do it this time. The challenge is the cost involved in maintaining the pitch and other maintenance activities but we can absolve it as it won’t be long for the other facilities to be available.
The stadium is in a very good condition and our only problem was the viral infection. We have disinfected all our stadiums three times and we will continue to do that and also take good care of the pitches. We have interventions and measures put in place to make sure that we have a very good facility for the matches,” Prof Twumasi added.
He also indicated that the interest of the government in the construction of the many astro-turfs and 10 new multi-purpose stadiums across the nation which will be completed by the end of the year is to free the National Stadiums for more important assignments.
“There may even be a time where the Accra Sports Stadium will only be used for only international matches as the satellite stadiums can serve other purposes. We are only trying to help the clubs and football in the country at this moment. We are not going to charge the standard rate as only 25% capacity is to be occupied due to the coronavirus pandemic so we are reviewing the charges involved hoping to secure some support from the government for the clubs,” he indicated.
With five clubs playing their home matches at the Accra Stadium, this will mean a total of 85 league games in seven months as the season spans from November 2020 to May 2021. The nations flagship competition, the Ghana Premier League is expected to kick start from Friday, November 13, 2020
The Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Prof. Peter Twumasi, has revealed Accra Sports Stadium and Cape Coast Stadium are the only facilities available for use by Ghana Premier League Clubs ahead of the new season expected to start in November.
Speaking to Nhyira Power Sports, Prof. Twumasi reveals his outfit is willing and ready to make available the two stadiums for football matches and to clubs who request to use the facilities for their league games.
The Club Licensing Board of the Ghana Football Association has five clubs indicating the use of the Accra Sports Stadium for their football matches. Kumasi Asante Kotoko will join Hearts of Oak, Great Olympics, Legon Cities and Inter Allies to use the stadium for their home league matches due to the renovation of the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
Many feel this will be too much pressure on the facility but the NSA boss is confident the challenges can be dealt with.
“Thanks to the Sports Ministry we are renovating the stadiums in Kumasi and Essipong and constructing other facilities that will make way for less pressure on facilities. For now the Cape Coast and Accra Sports Stadiums are the only available stadiums that are ready for clubs to use for the upcoming season,” he told Nhyira 104.5fm
“We have seen five clubs apply to play at the Accra Sports Stadium but only four have permission from us to play. During the normalization period, we engaged many clubs as possible at the stadium and we can do it this time. The challenge is the cost involved in maintaining the pitch and other maintenance activities but we can absolve it as it won’t be long for the other facilities to be available.
The stadium is in a very good condition and our only problem was the viral infection. We have disinfected all our stadiums three times and we will continue to do that and also take good care of the pitches. We have interventions and measures put in place to make sure that we have a very good facility for the matches,” Prof Twumasi added.
He also indicated that the interest of the government in the construction of the many astro-turfs and 10 new multi-purpose stadiums across the nation which will be completed by the end of the year is to free the National Stadiums for more important assignments.
“There may even be a time where the Accra Sports Stadium will only be used for only international matches as the satellite stadiums can serve other purposes. We are only trying to help the clubs and football in the country at this moment. We are not going to charge the standard rate as only 25% capacity is to be occupied due to the coronavirus pandemic so we are reviewing the charges involved hoping to secure some support from the government for the clubs,” he indicated.
With five clubs playing their home matches at the Accra Stadium, this will mean a total of 85 league games in seven months as the season spans from November 2020 to May 2021. The nations flagship competition, the Ghana Premier League is expected to kick start from Friday, November 13, 2020
