From:?? Dennis Marvel
The debate about the reasons or factors responsible for the low patronage of our local league ranges on with 
different viewpoint from various headquarters and personalities. The latest personality to air his view on this age old debate is the current spokesperson for the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Mr Sannie Darra. He attributed the low patronage of the local league to free to air channels broadcasting European league matches in the country.
For the records, its only three local free to air channels that broadcast European matches. That is TV 3 showing one English Premiership on Saturdays and both GTV and Metro TV broadcasting one Bundesliga match every weekend. For the numbers, I don?t think it?s on a large scale to be considered a major factor contributing to the low patronage of our local league. Trust me if the free to air channels are stopped from broadcasting European matches will not necessarily result into a massive patronage of the local league.
Sannie is calling on Parliament to enact a law that will prevent free to air channels from broadcasting European matches in the country to boost patronage of the local league. He cited the example of some European countries banning the broadcasting of national leagues by their free to air channels. The British Parliament for instance have banned local free to air channels from broadcasting the Barclays Premiership. But I believe the British do not have more glaring factors contributing to the low patronage of their league matches like we do.
I find Sannie?s call to be very baffling and if not a strategy to divert attention from the GFA?s inability to manage the local league properly. The GFA have not been able to manage the league properly as it focus is on the Black Stars forgetting that the national teams need a strong and vibrant league to perform. They are always shifting blame to others factors rather than taking a critical look at themselves and what could be done to promote the local league. Because there are so many factors that are responsible for the low patronage of the local league which are more glaring and easy to pin ? point compared to Sannie?s claim.
We can talk about major factors such as the poor infrastructure at our stadia?s and match venues ranging from the poor playing surface to how comfortable one will be at a match venue as some venues do not have stands to accommodate fans. Also, the poor branding of the league leading to the low sponsorship package enjoyed by the league and clubs. Is the local league properly branded and packaged to the consumer? No. Furthermore, the league lacks star players or names that will attract fans to match venues as the clubs are very eager to sell out budding stars to foreign in order to balance their books. The above listed are just a fraction of the contributing factors responsible for the low patronage of the local league which are of a higher magnitude compared to Sannie?s claim.
I believe that until the GFA delegates some of its power to a professional body that will be autonomous to manage the local league as a brand or product on its own, the growth or pedestal that we the soccer loving fans want to our league attain will be nothing but just an illusion. Take for example the South African league; it is being managed by Premier Soccer League (PSL) which is a professional body that is autonomous from the South African Football Federation and we can all attest to the success of the PSL on the continent. The GFA should concentrates on promoting and improving the quality of the local league rather than giving excuse upon excuse and if they cannot manage the league, they delegate it to be managed properly.
