Ghana FA Presidential aspirant, Nana Yaw Amponsah believes its high time Ghanaian football clubs learn from political parties to help develop the sport as a business venture.
According to the CEO of Phar Rangers, there’s no logic in how political parties formed in the 1980s are able to mobilize people to attend their rallies whiles clubs who were formed in the 1900s are unable to fill the stadium during matches.
Nana Yaw Amponsah laid emphasis on the fact that if clubs will get fans to fill the stadium then they have to be innovative enough and also take inspiration from politicians who have at least a supporter in every polling station.
Speaking on the Joy Sports Link on Saturday, the CEO of Phar Rangers said, “It’s about time we start learning from the political parties, this is practical. When did NDC and NPP come around? But if NDC decides to organize an event at the Kumasi Stadium it will be filled to capacity, if NPP decides to do same at the Kumasi Stadium it will be filled to capacity. But Hearts and Kotoko are unable to do that but they boast of more supporters than these entities.”
“If Hearts of Oak decides to have one season ticket holder in every polling station that will materialize to 29,200 which almost fills the Accra Sports Stadium, why can’t Hearts have one fan say I’m buying a season ticket and Kotoko do same, it’s because we are stuck in a certain way and we are not ready to be innovative,” the GFA presidential aspirant said.
He added, “People say they have circles, chapter unions and their organizing at every level but if you go into any polling station you are going to have one person who is working so hard for NPP and another person working so hard for NDC who are either Hearts of Oak or Kotoko fans. If you are able to bring this people together to work at club level you are going to generate so much fans which will enhance your merchandizing in terms of replica jerseys among others.”
Although he acknowledged errors on the part of clubs, the CEO of Phar Rangers also added that other contributing factors such as the integrity of the games discourage people from going to the stadium.
“Every Sports relies on uncertainty of results. People go to the stadia because they want to see what happens there but if people are going there because they know the results already or the referee is coming with the results in his pocket they are not going to go.”
Nana Yaw Amponsah is part of six aspirants seeking for the GFA presidential post in the elections set for October 25.