Soccer News of Friday, 19 October 2001

Source: GNA

Home take all proceeds affecting smaller clubs says, chairman

Oheneba Charles, Chairman of Kwaebibirem United Football Club, on Thursday 18 October 2001, said the issue of home teams taking all gates proceeds at league matches is bringing untold hardships to the smaller clubs.

Oheneba said, “If nothing is done about the situation, smaller clubs would collapse as result of this arrangement”. He regretted that the decision favours only the big clubs, adding that those small clubs who unfortunately supported the idea are now feeling “the pinch”.

He cited his home grounds, Asuom in the Eastern Region, as a place, which does not attract the needed crowd during matches. He complained that the problem has affected him since the sponsorship package from Ghana Breweries is woefully inadequate to support his club.

Highlighting more on the position of the team on the league table, he said the team would fight back to stay in the premiership. He attributed some of the problems to poor coaching in the first round and injuries sustained by a number of good players. He admitted that his players were less motivated because of financial constraints.

"Most of the players have recovered now and with their new commitment and seriousness, I hope the trend would change in our favour, moreover, the club has a new coach now”, he noted.

He added that a company has expressed interest to sponsor the club for the rest of the season and that the players are in good shape and could spring some surprises.

Kwaebibirem United is lying at the bottom of the league table with 24 points