The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has abandoned a GH¢210,000 sponsorship deal offered by Blue Rose Limited almost two seasons ago after entering into a partnership deal with the real estate developer.
Blue Rose, under the three-year agreement, was to provide a two-bedroom house worth GH¢70,000 to the Best Player of the Premier League for three seasons but the company appeared frustrated by the FA’s refusal to take full advantage of the deal after two seasons.
The frustration by the company comes in the wake of a sponsorship drought which has hit the Premier League, with most clubs squeezing water out of stone to support players while the authorities also struggle in a bid to secure sponsorship for the league.
“I am doing this to help retain some of the best players in the local league because I noticed they are not properly remunerated, and after each season, most of them travel to seek greener pastures. But the FA was yet to complete documentation for the deal, ” Eric Ebo Acquah, the CEO of Blue Rose Limited, stated.
Investigations conducted by the Graphic Sports revealed that the real estate developer on many occasions had made contacts with the FA and other stakeholders to finalise documentation for players to benefit from the deal but to no avail.
Mr Acquah confirmed to the Graphic Sports that almost two football seasons since they last signed the deal, FA officials seem indifferent to the offer as none had come forward to complete the process.
But the GFA strongly disagrees with Blue Rose insisting it was still interested in the deal but had to forward it to its Legal Committee for advice.
Ibrahim Sannie Daara, the Communications Director of the FA, explained that they needed to seek clarification about how long the land on which the property is situated was leased and whether it was properly leased, to avoid short-changing anyone.
Consequently, he said though the FA legal team had completed its work, the ongoing WAFU tournament made it difficult for the GFA to finalise the deal.
