Coronavirus: Ex-Asante Kotoko Boss Jabir Wants December To Return For Ghana Premier League
The erstwhile Porcupine Warriors trainer has had his say on the way forward for football amid the Covid-19 challenges
Former Asante Kotoko head coach Abdul Malik Jabir believes calls for the prompt return of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) amid the coronavirus conditions are misplaced.
The top-flight, FA Cup and all other domestic football competitions have been on hold since a national ban on public gatherings, including sporting and religious events, came into effect as part of measures to curb the spread of the disease on March 15.
England, Spain, Germany, and Italy have all resumed their elite leagues after similar suspensions, effectively increasing calls for Ghana to follow in their footsteps.
“Let’s be objective, only those who don’t fear the virus will call for the resumption of the league,” Jabir told Otec FM.
“The Europeans are organized and will not lose anything because they have sponsors who will support them till the end of this season, [something] we don’t have.
“I prefer we wait till December; we would know what to do by then if things remain the same.
“I’m still in [isolation] because I don’t want to risk [my life], so why should I advise some people to meet in the stadium [when] after that a lot of them will die.”
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has revealed it is currently engaging the national government over the possible resumption of football under strict safety protocols such as playing matches behind closed doors.
Ghana’s ban on all contact sports, including football, remains in effect until at least July 31.
The GFA has set a June 30 deadline to make a final decision on the future of the 2019-20 Ghana football season in the wake of the disruptions.
“People should stop politicizing with our football,” New Edubiase United bankroller Abdul Salam Yakubu told Ashaiman TV on the subject.
“The government has done nothing wrong with our football [in suspending contact sports]. It’s rather protecting us from contracting the virus.
“A lot of football in Africa has been canceled, even leagues with better sponsorships have canceled theirs, why putting unnecessary pressure on the government to bring football back?
“Our system is not good to play two matches in a week. We should stop the league and go to Congress.”
The Premier League was at the match week 15 stage when it was halted by the coronavirus outbreak.
