Clubs Lash GFA

Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA), the body representing all football clubs in Ghana, has written a strong-worded letter to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) seeking an explanation why the country was excluded from the newly introduced Africa Nations Championships. The new tournament is a continental showcase like the Africa Cup of Nations, the difference being that only local-based players are eligible, providing local clubs and players the chance to showcase their talents to the world. Ghana's absence is a huge blow to clubs and players in the country who were hoping to use the tournament to expose their players as the main Black Stars team has been dominated by foreign-based players. Sources within GHALCA say if a satisfactory explanation is not given by the GFA, the clubs will call for resignation of the leadership of the country's football governing body led by Kwesi Nyantakyi, for incompetence. GHALCA in a letter signed by its secretary general, Kurt Okraku to the GFA said: "We need an explanation why Ghana was not included in the draw for the Africa Nations Championships before we take any action." The only reason for Ghana's exclusion could be that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) failed to enter the country for the competition or some dues or fines owed to CAF have not been paid. While GFA general secretary Kofi Nsiah is seeking an explanation for the Black Stars' exclusion saying Ghana was interested in playing in the tournament, it is highly unlikely that CAF would exclude a country that has registered for the tournament. Recent incidents over the past two weeks where Hearts and Kotoko have accused the GFA of incompetence by failing to send their supplementary list of players to CAF for continental competitions have raised suspicion that the GFA failed to submit Ghana's registration for the tournament in time. Some players from the tournament could also be discovered to play for the main Black Stars. The local Black Stars was not part of the draw conducted by CAF for the new tournament which starts in Ivory Coast next year with the qualifiers beginning later this year. ghanasoccernet