Minister Bemoans Player Exodus

Youth And Sports Minister Mahama Ayariga has expressed worry over player exodus in the country, saying it is negatively affecting Ghana’s Premier League.

Besides the rate at which players exit the country’s top flight league, with the resultant effect of making it less attractive, their country of destination, according to the Minister, made it more worrying.

Speaking at a well-organized First Capital Plus League Awards ceremony last Saturday evening in Accra, Honourable Ayariga attributed the player exodus to poor conditions of service prevailing in Ghana’s leagues.

He admitted that the movement of players from the domestic league to foreign lands had benefitted some clubs financially, but added that the majority of the players cut short their huge potential of becoming great stars in their haste to seek greener pastures.

He lamented that the worrying trend had arrested the attention of the government saying, “It is worrying to hear players going to countries such as India and Bangladesh. We need to create a strong safety net to help solve these problems.”

As a result, the Minister gave the assurance of his outfit’s support for the Ghana Football Association (GFA) by organizing frequent conferences aimed at building the capacities of the various clubs.

He said government was committed to ensuring that the state of the country’s football was taken to the next level.

In the last few weeks, a tall list of players including Augustine Okrah, Kwabena Adusei, Seidu Bansey, Yahaya Mohammed and Eric Bekoe, among others are on their way to various foreign leagues where the pastures are greener.