Koforidua, April 13, GNA - The Eastern Regional Second Division Soccer Sub-Middle League kicks off on May 9, 2004 at the Dawu and Koforidua Sports Stadiums.

The date was decided at a consultative meeting between the Management Board of the Eastern Regional Football Association and the Chairmen and Team Managers of the 12 clubs that have qualified to participate in the league at Koforidua on Tuesday.

Among the participating clubs are Asana Soccer Kings, Premier Academy, Ofie Youngsters, Suhum United, Kwaebibirim Fire Stars, Obuoma F/C, Akuapem United, ESBERG Academy, Soccer Millionaires, FENHAC Academy, Power Lines and Afram Plains Wait and See F/C.

The clubs are to be divided into four zones of three clubs each with the winner of each zone meeting to play the supper middle league in a round robin towards getting the eventual regional winner for promotion to the national first division.

A source told the GNA Sports that the meeting decided that any club which would start the competition and a later stage decide to "scratch" a match or withdraw because of previous lost matches and enables it's opponents to gain undue advantage over others would pay a fine of one million cedis in addition to other penalties prescribed by the Ghana Football Association(GFA) .

The meeting also decided that a fine of one million cedis would be imposed on clubs which qualify to participate in the sub-middle league but decide to opt out without informing the Regional Football Association of their decision by April 23, 2004.

All qualified clubs are expected to pay their participation fees by April 23, 2004.