Ghana FA Boss: The Local League Is Not Dying

The President of the Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi has demystified claims that the Glo Ghana Premier League is trailing its value due to low patronage at various league centers across the country. �If you ever say the local league is losing its value, I will never agree with you. Because we in the administration knew where it (the Local League) was and where it is now. If you will devalue the league due to patronage that will give a bad impression because Ghana is not the only nation facing such problems...� he said. According to Kwesi Nyantakyi, the issue of low local league patronage has affected the entire African continent and some parts of the world since the European league have dominated in terms of marketing. �The whole of Africa and the whole of Asia patronize European football more than they patronage their own local leagues. The only place I have seen good patronage is Brazil, even with that it�s only when Santos and Flamengo are playing. Our local league here in Ghana is one of the best in Africa. But in terms of patronage, I would say it�s because of the European leagues,� he explained. Speaking in an interview with Kumasi-based Hello FM, Kwesi Nyantakyi however said; �All the big players are playing in Europe and everybody wants to watch them. There are several occasions you can avoid this. I quite remember there are times when Kotoko and Hearts are playing and Chelsea is playing Manchester; fanatics avoid the European league to watch Hearts and Kotoko because of the pedigree of both teams,� The FA boss also outlined some reasons why fans don�t patronize the Glo Premiere League (GPL). �There are other reasons why fans don�t patronage the local league but prefer the foreign league. We don�t have the power performers here, we don�t have the Ronaldo�s and the Messi�s here so most fans prefer to watch them than our own local players,� he said. He also assured that the GFA will restructure colts football in all regions to unearth football talents. �We have decided to reduce the colts clubs to a level that we(the GFA) can support to enhance quality not quantity,� he added.