We’ll meet FIFA deadline - PLB Boss

The Premier League Board (PLB) chairman, Welbeck Abra-Appiah, insists the First Capital Plus Premier League is on course to meet FIFA's deadline which mandates all national leagues to end by May 18 this year.

Mr Abra-Appiah's comment follows his outfit’s postponement of three outstanding match-day 16 games originally scheduled for today to Monday, February 24. 

The latest development leaves the Ghanaian league in a race with time to comply with the world football governing body’s directive.

The league calendar has already been disrupted as a result of the local Black Stars’ participation in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa which lasted from January 11 to February 1, but the PLB boss is convinced that the FIFA deadline will be met.

He said: "We were in a difficult situation; four clubs who were to play today — Kotoko, Dwarfs, Medeama and Chelsea — were involved in CAF inter-club competitions over the weekend. Initially, the return legs were scheduled to come off in a fortnight but CAF changed the fixtures with short notice, so the return games are on this weekend”.

“Aside that, Medeama have an away game against Panthers FC in Equatorial Guinea. The team had trouble securing flights back to Ghana so they appealed to us to reschedule their game. As we speak, their whole team has still not arrived.”

He, however, contended that in order for FIFA's deadline to be met, co-operation is needed from all the clubs, especially those involved in the CAF Champions League and the Confederation Cup. 

“We will still meet the FIFA deadline. We just need to plan the schedules very well with co-operation from the clubs. We must be vigilant so we can fit in the league, MTN FA Cup and CAF games as and when they arise,” he said.

The 2014 World Cup will be held from June 12 to July 13 in Brazil, but FIFA has directed all local competitions to end 24 clear days to the opening ceremony of the 20th edition of the Mundial, with the only exemption being the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) which has until May 21 due to the final of the UEFA Champions League.   

According to FIFA, a mandatory rest period from May 18 till May 26 will be accorded players expected to participate at the Mundial, before joining their teams’ preparations.