Wa, Jan. 14, GNA - The Chairman of the Upper West Regional Football Association (RFA) Alhaji Daudi Yahaya ahs noted that the lack of adequate financial support for Colts Clubs was affecting the development of the sport in the Region.

Alhaji Yahaya said most of the Clubs fail to either pay their registration fees or some other charges such as officiating and transportation fees to enable them participate in organised competitions or even properly cater for their players because they were confronted by financial problems.

He said the situation has been so because of the lack of organizational or individual interest in promoting the game in the Region, adding that people only express desire in watching matches but they never have the interest in committing resources to support such 'baby clubs to grow. Alhaji Yahaya expressed the concern in an interview with GNA Sports in Wa on Wednesday on the development of football in the Region adding that the situation was not different with the Division One and Two Clubs in the Region.

The Chairman backed his concern with the explanation that most of the Colts Clubs in the Region were being managed by people who were unemployed and could therefore not contribute financially to put their Clubs in better footing to enter into competitive events.

Alhaji Yahaya stressed further that players of the various clubs often contribute their own money to register but were still faced with some other financial challenges such as payment of officiating fees and cost of transportation among other equally important demands.

"The Region currently has very few football Clubs which are not even financially sound to function properly as a result of some of such challenges. Football cannot develop when you have very few clubs who even lack the capacity to compete with one another", he lamented. Alhaji Yahaya said on several occasions some Clubs in the Region that have qualified to play in the Division One have had to virtually 'sell' or forfeit their places to other Clubs outside the Region for lack of adequate funds that would enable them to participate.

"The RFA, however, viewed such development not to be in the interest of the Region and has therefore directed that all Clubs interested in participating in the competitions should ensure that they choose the Region as their home grounds and to play all their matches in the Region," he explained.

Following the directive, he noted, some of the Clubs have since refused to buy the positions because they did not want to play in the Upper West Region as their home base.

The RFA Chairman has therefore appealed to individuals, NGOs, politicians, GPRTU, Metro Mass Transit, as well as other benevolent organisations in or outside the Region to come to the aid of the Clubs financially to enable them to function well.

Alhaji Yahaya appealed to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to assist the Clubs in the Region with the payment of their officiating fees and provide them with football boots and jerseys.

He commended Ghana Telecom for their contribution towards the development of sports in the Region especially in the area of women football.

The Chairman also urged parents not to discourage their daughters who have interest in playing football from doing so but they should rather encourage them to fully pursue and develop their talents. 14 Jan. 10