Kumasi, Jan 31, - The National
Sports Authority (NSA) has clarified that its announced ban on football matches
at the Baba Yara Stadium on Saturdays does not apply to those sanctioned by
Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Mr. Joshua Mensah, the Ashanti
Regional Sports Director, said the other exemptions were matches involving the
national teams, category ‘A’ premier league matches and ceremonial matches of
national importance.
He told journalists in Kumasi
that this had been communicated to all stakeholders including clubs in the
lower divisions, which had been playing their matches on Saturdays at the
stadium.
“We have decided to dedicate
Saturdays for only social events in order to raise funds to maintain the
place”, he added.
The NSA over the past six years
had not received any money from the Youth and Sports Ministry to run the
facility.
Mr. Mensah complained about the
low returns from the division one matches and said at times the NSA received
less than GH¢100.00, despite the huge cost it had been incurring to prepare the
stadium for such matches.
This, he indicated, had led to
the situation, where it had been struggling to pay its utility bills and wages
of casual workers.
He said he was confident that the
step taken by the Authority would result in increased revenue to properly
maintain the facility.
The 40,000 capacity Stadium,
rehabilitated in 2008 as one of the venues to host the African Cup of nations
(AfCoN), is fast deteriorating, with the tartan trucks, washrooms and seats in
ruins.
GNA
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