Accra, April 16, GNA - The proposed novelty league for the 2004 football season by the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) and the Premier League Board (PLB) was adopted and approved at the just ended Ghana Football Association's Congress held in Accra.

Over 75 percent of the stakeholders present at the Congress voted in favour of the motion, which saw 100 people voting for, one against and one abstaining.

Under the new format, the 16 teams are to be divided into Southern and Northern zones with each zone containing eight clubs.

The Northern zone that many consider as the toughest has four of the first six clubs in the last season including the league leaders and defending champions, Kumasi Asante Kotoko.

The rest are Alhaji Karimu Gruzah's King Faisal, Real Tamale Uunited (RTU), Obuasi Goldfeilds, Okwawu United, Brong Ahafo United, Bofoakwa Tano and Berekum Arsenals.

The Southern zone also has Accra Hearts of Oak and Liberty Professionals as two of the first four teams of the last soccer season and has the two debutants, Feyenoord Academy and Real Sportive in their midst.

Kpando Heart of Lions, Accra Great Olympic, Sekondi Hasacaas and Koforidua Power FC make up the rest of the other clubs for the zone. According to the proposed novelty league, at the end of the home and away league, the two respective winners of each zone will meet each other to determine the overall winner whilst the bottom club at each zone will automatically be relegated.

The seventh teams in both zones will square off in a home and away encounters to determine the 14th team.

The loser according to the new arrangement will engage in a play-off with the third team of the National Middle League for promotion to the Premier league.

In case of a tie between the two clubs, they will be faced with trying their luck in a penalty shoot out to determine the eventual winner. Irrespective of the new system, the GFA's regulation shall apply to the league which is expected to commence on Sunday May 2 at all the centres. It will be recalled that GHALCA proposed a novelty league for this football season following the time constraint at the disposal of the association.