GHALCA Top 4 kicks off Sunday
The Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA), has disclosed that the four participants in its flagship competition, Top 4, would be given GH¢15,000 each for the tourney which starts Saturday.
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The Top 4 has been bedeviled by postponements and changes in format which forced the participants, including; the league champions, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Heart of Lions, Accra Hearts of Oak and Ashgold to threaten a pull out because of the lack of a financial package, with Kotoko having additional difficulties with the schedule.
However, GHALCA chairman, Alhaji Ali Raji, told Graphic Sports yesterday that his outfit had resolved to pay the clubs participation fees even though the competition was still without a sponsor.
“We have had difficulties with tying down a headline sponsor but GHALCA has resolved to give the clubs GH¢15,000 as participation fee.
“GHALCA is also looking at allowing the clubs to make four substitutions during the games. This will afford the clubs maximum opportunities to test their new signings,” he said.
The competition’s new format has reduced the number of matches to five after the organisers opted for two-leg knockout games instead of a league format, with the competition being played on a home-and-away basis between August 30 and September 3.
The first match will see Hearts facing Lions tomorrow at the Accra Stadium, with Coach Herbert Addo beginning his quest for a trophy on his return to the Phobians.
New addition to the Hearts set-up, Shaun Mason October, who joined on a pre-contract, will be looking to seal a permanent deal with a solid display in defence.
In Lions trainer, Yusif Abubakar, Coach Addo faces a worthy adversary who masterminded a 2-1 victory over Hearts in April this year at the same venue and would be hoping to secure a healthy lead heading into the return leg slated for September 3.
On Sunday, Kotoko play host to Ashgold at the Baba Yara Stadium.
The Porcupine Warriors lost forwards Seidu Bancey and Abdul Aziz Yussif to Egyptian club FC Smouha but have replaced the duo with former Medeama SC forward, Richard Oti and former Amidaus Professionals goalkeeper, Ofori Antwi.
Ashgold were hammered 4-1 by Kotoko in March after they had won the first-round meeting in the league by 2-1, leaving former Kotoko coach Hayford convinced that the reigning league champions are vulnerable even on home soil.