On this day 19 December 1993(Exactly 26 years ago today) The inaugural Ghana Premier League season started with some interesting results across the country.
The idea for a professional league in Ghana was first raised by the then Minister of Youth and Sports, E.T Mensah on Wednesday 8th, September, 1993 at the Secaps Hotel in Accra.
At a dinner in honour of the national Under 17 team, the Black Starlets for emerging runner-up in the FIFA JVC under 17 World Cup in Japan.
The Minister lamented on the amateurish way of the organization of football clubs, saying there was the need for clubs to be turned into corporate entities to ensure a more professional way of running them.
The GFA boss, Nana Brew Butler who had the idea of clubs going commercial complimented the effort of the Minister of Sports, since both parties had similar ideas. The Minister saying the clubs should go professional and the GFA boss wanting clubs to go commercial.
On Thursday 16th September, 1993, the Ministry of Youth and Sports in conjunction with the National Sports Council (NSC), the Ghana Football Association (GFA) organized a three (3) day seminar on the subject at the National Sports College, Winneba
The Youth and Sports Minister in his opening address urged Ghanaian clubs to go professional. He noted that registering clubs as corporate entities will solve several problems for them and ensure a more professional way of dealing with soccer
The function was chaired by Mr. Zac Bentum, a former Ghana Football Association (GFA) boss. Among the topics treated were the incorporation of football clubs under the companies’ code, floating of shares for the clubs, Mr. Ray Whelan, Managing Director of Bobby Charlton enterprise spoke on professionalism, with experience from U.K and Japan, etc
The declaration indicated among other things that clubs shall be incorporated under the 1963 Act (179), with effect from the 1993/94 season. It also said that with effect from the 1993/94 season all first division clubs shall enter into a contractual agreement with their players, to bring them to a non- amateur status.
Furthermore it urged first division clubs to register not less than 16 non amateur players for the 1993/94 season
The Ministry of Sports set up a seven -member
Professional League Board to run the league. Zac Bentum was chairman of the PLB with Mr. E.T. Lamptey, Vice chairman cum treasure.
Other members were Mr. W. K. Agra, just retired Chief Executive of the National Sports Authority, who was a coach of the University of Ghana, Legon, Mr. Kofi Hartley, Registrar General’s Department, Mr. Joe Aggrey, President of SWAG, Mr. Kojo Quarshie and Major Larson, both of the League Clubs Association.
The work of the PLB, was not clearly defined and the GFA continued to run the league.
Thanks to the GFA’s strict adherence to its programme, this was one of the shortest league (a little over six months) seasons in many years.
To offset their expenses at the early stages of the competition, the Ministry offered the clubs 3 million cedis(GHC 3,000) each but the amount turned out to be a peanuts, as gate takings continue to dwindle because of poor patronage, probably due to the economic situation.
Traditional league winners, Asante Kotoko, started this maiden professional League in an unprofessional manner when they failed to turn up for their home match against Real Tamale United.
It was reported that the players were still struggling with management over allowances due them in their Africa Cup campaign which saw them losing on penalties to Zamalek of Egypt in the final in Cairo.
RTU were declared technical winners and Kotoko started on a negative points building.
Hearts of put a spirited performance to draw 2-2 with city rivals, Great Olympics. Stephen Asante (44) and Christian Sabah (76) scored for the Phobians and Francis Commey (19)and Ben Kayode netted for Olympics.
Other Results
Prampram Mighty Royals 0-2 Neoplan Star
Tema Ghapoha 1-2 Afienya United
Okwahu United 2-1 Dawu Youngsters
Obuasi Goldfields SC 2-0 Ebusua Dwarfs
On this day 19 December 2009 (Exactly 10 years ago today) Barcelona secured a record sixth piece of silverware of the season with a 2-1 extra-time victory over Estudiantes in the Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi.
Lionel Messi’s 110th-minute goal capped a stunning comeback by Barca after they had trailed since the 39th minute.
Mauro Bosselli gave Estudiantes the lead before substitute Pedro Rodriguez equalised with a minute to go.
The Catalan side had also won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, Champions League and European and Spanish Super Cup titles.
On this day 19 December 2000 (Exactly 19 years ago today) Real Madrid’s Portuguese midfielder Luís Figo was named as the Ballon d’Or Award winner for the football player in Europe ahead of Juventus midfielder Zinedine Zidane and Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko