Thumps up, Ghalca and Kotoko

Kotoko, maiden G-6 Champions 

I have been one critic of the Ghana League Clubs Association (Ghlaca) – having had cause to question their relevance. People within the Ghalca setup not surprisingly weren’t happy with my questions over their usefulness and whether or not they had been playing their role well, apart from organizing competitions which lately run into problems.

Some of those questions still stand but this is not the time for that. It’s rather time to pat the league clubs association for mooting the G-6 idea and luckily having some reasonably good sponsorship and on top of it all, putting together a competition that undoubtedly has again negated erroneous impression in some quarters that local football is (or was) dead.

We must give praise where it’s due. That’s why despite all the issues I have or have had with the clubs’ body, I find it necessary to commend them for bringing to our tables fine domestic football excitement, using the FirsTrust G-6 tournament as the conduit. Before the competition started, many wondered if it was feasible and even proper to have teams playing matches every 24hours between January 7 and 10, 2016.

The clubs – knowing and assessing the difficulties associated with the time between their matches, saw wisdom in Ghalca’s arrangement. In the absence of a competitive league, the clubs descended on Sekondi to sell fairly decent games. After the first and second round of matches, the public could easily tell which teams appeared ready for the league. Teams that needed to return to the drawing board were as well made palpably evident.

That Kotoko was likely to win the competition was quite clear but against the backdrop of the league champions – Ashgold’s presence, it was necessary not to see the Porcupines as an unbeatable side before kickoff. I mean it was fair to respect Ashgold and their status. That respect for Ashgold however waned when they were generally found wanting especially against what many saw as Kotoko’s second string side.

By winning the G-6 tourney with the so-called second team, deputy Coach Michael Osei has irrefutably proven to be a worthy assistant having done a similar thing in a more competitive field in 2014, when in the absence of ex-Coach Didi Dramani, he led the Porcupines to win the FA Cup. Michael and his team deserve loads of praise. The technical team, management and the playing body deserve commendation for they have rightly earned it.

I was impressed with the grit the relatively new and young players showed in the tournament. The careful thinking that went into the decision to split the team – one participating in the G-6 and the other going to Libya also can’t be overlooked. Management and the technical team again must be applauded for that. Let’s be hopeful that the team in Libya will also bring us joy.

It’s important we celebrate the G-6 triumph G-6 but let’s not forget that, more hard work will be needed when the league season finally opens. Our quest for title reclaim will not come easy. Whatever that has ensured victory in the G-6 will have to be sustained. It’s evident that, good recruitment has been done. It’s left with the players – both the retained and new players to continue working collectively to achieve 2015/16 objectives or goals.

No good achievement comes without hard work, dedication and discipline. Let’s all commit ourselves to the course of success and surely the results – that’s the fruits of our labour will be enjoyable. Let’s thank Ghalca for the opportunity they have given us to test our preparedness for competitive matches. Let’s applaud the hundreds of fans who frequented the stadium not just to watch matches but to cheer the team to victory.

Let’s additionally praise FirsTrust Savings and Loans along with the other sponsors for having faith in the domestic game; supporting it unreservedly in many different ways over the last few days. Regardless of the perception out there; no matter the weight or side of that perception, local football isn’t dead. What local football needs is better management, resources and more attention. The habitually caustic criticism of our game is toxic and must be done away with.