APRIL 1

DAILYHERITAGE.COM.GH
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020
Covid-19 scare:
Ghana football risks cancellation
for 2nd year running
THE GHANA
football season is
facing a second
cancellation for
the second year
running amid the coronavirus
pandemic, which is wreaking
havoc across the world.
The 2019/20 season is facing
an imminent termination
as the world struggles to find
a vaccine to cure the deadly
virus.
The Ghana Premier
League has been suspended
indefinitely due to the pandemic
and with it having no
end in sight, it appears this
season could be well over.
The Ghana FA will race
against time to finish the calendar
on time if the situation
is not resolved latest by April.
The Premier League and
lower tier leagues have been
put on ice as the shutdown
begins to bite.
If the league is cancelled, it
will be the second time running
that the season has failed
to complete.
The 2018/2019 league season
was terminated over a
documentary by controversial
journalist Anas Aremeyaw
Anas, which revealed alleged
widespread corruption in the
game.
The Anas exposé
brought
football on its
knees, leaving
Congress- the
highest decisionmaking
body of
the FA -- to officially
confirm its
cancellation.
Ghana football
has suffered
in the past two
seasons and appears
another
cancellation is on
the horizon.
Ghanasoccernet
Kotoko signs
Emmanuel Sarkodie
EMMANUEL SARKODIE
has joined the Porcupine Warriors
from lower-tier side Nkoranza
Warriors on a three-year
deal.
“Some people call me Iniesta,
others call me Alonso and
others too liken my play to Luka
Modric but I see my style of
play akin to that of Andres Iniesta,"
he told Asante Kotoko
Express App.
The central midfielder joined
the club on
Sunday, March
29, after passing
a mandatory
medical examination
in the
course of the
week.
Sarkodie has
been the captain
of first division
side Nkoranza
Warriors for the
last three years
but caught the
eyes of the big
boys for his performance.
Kotoko beat
off stiff competition
from Aduana
Stars, Hearts of Oak, Legon
Cities and Techiman Eleven
Wonders who were all keen on
signing the talented midfielder.
He becomes the first player
to be signed by the club during
the opening of the second
transfer window but the second
player to be registered by the
club after his former teammate
at Nkoranza Warriors, Kwame
Poku, was registered.
Premier League, EFL, PFA to
discuss collective wage cut
PREMIER LEAGUE and English
Football League clubs are
set to discuss a collective wage
deferral agreement at a meeting
with the Professional Footballers'
Association today.
The proposal is one option
to help clubs facing financial
struggles during the coronavirus
crisis.
It is also understood the PFA
will ask clubs if wage deferrals
are justified.
Professional football in England
has been suspended until
April 30, at the earliest because
of the pandemic
It is widely accepted that a
return is likely to come at a later
date.
The Premier League and
English Football League (EFL)
are both committed to finishing
the season but have said they
will resume "only when it is safe
and conditions allow".
'The only certainty is the uncertainty'
- what next for football?
On March 18, the EFL said it
would release a £50m fund to
help its clubs cover shortfalls
this month. Wednesday's
(today's) meeting will now focus
on how to cover April's costs
without any football.
Premier League clubs are
also conscious that not finishing
the season could mean they owe
broadcasters about £760m.
Talks will centre on whether
clubs need to defer wages
among players and if a collective
agreement can be reached.
Players of Championship
leaders, Leeds United, have already
volunteered to take a wage
deferral, while Birmingham
City's players who earn more
than £6,000 a week have also
been asked to take a 50% cut for
the next four months.
But the PFA is urging other
clubs to involve the
union and for a collective
approach to
be taken.
It is understood
that there are also to
be reservations from
other clubs who feel
they have been more
careful with their finances
and do not
want to be forced
into a generic agreement.
Today's meeting will discuss
cash flow data from clubs and
consider any updates issued by
Fifa and Uefa, the world and
European governing bodies,
who are also set to meet earlier
on Wednesday (today).
That meeting will look at
matters such as player contracts
and the transfer system, which
could impact English football.
The PFA is also set to meet
the Football Association about
the future of women's football
in England.
The professional Women's
Super League and Semi-professional
Championship are also
suspended until 30 April.
The Premier League
and English Football
League (EFL) are both
committed to finishing
the season but have
said they will resume
"only when it is safe and
conditions allow".
• Emmanuel Sarkodie