A proposal by the Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to have drawn games in the Ghana Premier League, Division One League, Women’s League and other domestic competitions decided by penalties has been welcomed by some clubs.
A fallout from an Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, November 25 was a recommendation of penalty shootouts to settle matches that end in stalemates.
The decision according to the reports is aimed at addressing Ghana’s penalty woes which came to light once again at the Under-23 AFCON where the Black Meteors lost two shootouts in three days.
The decision has been described as populist and a knee-jerk reaction to an issue that requires complex and a well-thought-out plan but it appears the clubs are happy with it.
Speaking to ghanaweb.com, the CEO of Kumasi-based King Faisal, Alhaji Grunsah backed the move, positing that it will help improve Ghana’s chances during penalties.
“I’m fully behind it because if you look at how we lost on penalties to Ivory Coast and South Africa even when we were winning, a draw to play penalties is nothing. The players should learn the art of penalty taking because the draw is one point each but if you win the shootout you get two. We are not looking at everyone. Our laws are different from other countries so let’s deal with ours”.
Good but must start from the Colts
The Public Relations Officer of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Kennedy Boakye Ansah also lauded the FA for the innovation but was quick to add that it must start from the colts and juvenile level.
According to the GBC reporter, the benefits from the introduction of penalty kicks into the league will not only be felt by the national teams but also the clubs.
“I think it’s a very laudable idea in the sense that if you look at the performance of Ghanaian clubs and national teams on penalties it has been poor. Apart from a few times that we’ve been able to win on penalties, most of the time it’s a struggle for Ghanaian clubs and Kotoko is not an exception.
“If officialdom has realized that introducing penalties will help the reverse this nagging issue in Ghana football then I think as a club we are also happy with it. I think that the best the FA could have done is to make it part of the youth league instead of actually starting it at the senior level. I think it’s better for us to pilot it at the junior level”, he said.
Implement it next season
Jonathan Abbey Pobee, President of Neoplan Stars Football Club suggested that with the upcoming season already loaded with games due to the expansion of the league, the FA should postpone it to next season.
“It’s a good thing but I will plead that they implement it next season because this season is very tight. We are playing 18-team league and relegate five clubs at the end of the season. As much as I agree on the penalties, because of the 18-team league I will appeal that we start it next season”, he said.
Meanwhile a spokesperson of the 18 Premier Leagues, Patrick Akoto has denied reports that the clubs have officially agreed to the proposal by the FA.
According to him, the clubs will in the coming days meet to deliberate on the proposal.
"It is not true that we have settled on penalties after a League match. It is true that the penalty kick issue came up for discussion that we should explore ways that we can enhance the players' performance from 12 yards because the recent heartbreaks are one too many but it was only a suggestion proposed. The final decision on it will be taken at Congress on December 12," he told Angel FM.
Calls for the GFA to find a lasting solution to the penalty problem intensified after the Meteors missed out on the 2020 Olympic Games following a 6-5 defeat to South Africa on penalties at the just-ended 2019 U-23 AFCON.
In 2019, out of five shootouts, Ghana won only one. According to myjoyonline, Ghana national teams have converted just 65% of penalty kicks since 2010.
Public Relations Officer of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Kennedy Boakye Ansah