Legon Cities head coach Samuel Paa Kwesi Fabin has called on the government to provide financial support to the Ghana Premier League to salvage the domestic top-flight.
In an interview with Kessben FM, Fabin argued that the league’s struggles are not due to its quality, but rather the lack of financial resources to attract and retain top players.
Fabin pointed out that the mass departure of players from Ghana’s local scene has had a significant impact on the league, as teams from other African countries are able to offer better salaries and conditions to lure away Ghana’s top talent. He cited examples of teams from Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia, and Rwanda paying top dollar for players, while Ghanaian clubs struggle to match these salaries.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about money. If teams from Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia, Rwanda could sign our top players and pay them $ 4,000, and $ 5,000 as salary at the end of the month and if these players are here in Ghana and play for Kotoko and takes GHS 10,000 as salary. That money isn’t up to even $ 1,000 compared to what he will receive in some Africa countries, so our players will definitely leave”
“Ghanaian clubs can’t pay $2,000 to a player. Some of these African countries were far behind us in terms of football but are now doing better by taking our players and paying them better than us”
The Legon Cities coach emphasized that the Ghana Premier League is not as bad as it is often perceived to be, but rather suffers from a lack of financial support. He urged the government to step in and provide financial assistance to the league, allowing teams to compete on a more level playing field and retain their top players.
“Our league isn’t bad but it’s all about money. If our leaders can pump money into our league like how some countries do, we will do much better. If the government could come and assist us in the league, we will be able to maintain most of our top players. But until then, the player exodus will keep happening and it will not stop. The government should support our league financially and I believe our league will be buoyant” he said.
Fabin believes that with government support, the Ghana Premier League could thrive and become a more competitive and attractive destination for fans and players alike.
