Leceister City: A Fairytale becomes Reaity.

Leicester have joined the likes of Blackburn Rovers, Nottingham Forest as clubs to win the premier league outside the top guns. Who would have taught  at the end of this season Leicester City would finish top 6? Well, a certain "thinker man" with a group of resilience players have made sure thier names will be written in the history books of the town Leicester and football world as a whole.

Claudio Renieri's men were crowned champions of England after Tottenham drew 2_2 at Stamford bridge with two games to spare.

 Ranieri himself will be delighted as this is his first league title in his 38year coaching career. Having had stings with the likes of Chelsea, Inter Milan, Juventus, Monaco Greece National Team, this will certainly be the most exciting and memorable season ever in his career.The season has also been a revelation for some players. Inkolo Kante got his first call up into the France national team, Jamie Vardy spear headed the attack of the English national team while Ryan Mahrez was voted the PFA player of the year. The club have also secured a seeding place in 2016/2017 Uefa Champions league competition where they will locking horns with the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and other power house of European club football. This feet achieved will also enhance thier finances as they will be receiving about 150 million pounds for winning the premier league alone coupled with other financial benefits as they prepare to make thier debut in the Uefa Champions League.

It certainly a good time to be a Leceister City fan and also be part of this remakarble achiement. But will they be able to hang on to thier big name players next season. and can they stand might of the financial powers of European football to compete in the transfer market? well, these questions certainly may need answers but for now it is worthwhile to celebrate what seemed an impossible achievement than to cast doubt on what the future holds.

United Sign Bailly

 Manchester United have completed the signing of Villarreal cf defender Eric Bailly for a fee rumoured to be around 30 million pounds. The 22year old Ivorian international becomes Jose Mourinho first signing since being confirmed new Manchester United manager.
United beat stiff competition from the likes of Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid to snatch the young and talented defender. His shining shows a message of intent success under Jose Mourinho and a host of new arrivals to be expected.

Speaking to the Clubs official website, the former Espanol defender expressed his delight on joining the 20 times English champions." I want to be the best i can be and i believe working with Mourinho will help me develop in the right way and at the right club. i am lookin forward to meeting my new team-mates and to starting this new chapter in my life."Jose Mourinho also heaped praise on his new signing describing him as a young central defender with great talent.

The signing of Bailly is set to improve the defence of Manchester United as they embark on a new adventure under Jose Mourinho.

The Plight of the Ghanaian Local League

     THE PLIGHT OF A GHANAIAN LOCAL FOOTBALLER.

Football over the years continues to dominate as the popular and most patronized sport in the world. The enthusiasim and passion spectators portray during football events such as the world cup, African Cup of nations, Uefa champions league and many other competitions shows how far the game has come in generating interest. However football recently has moved from just playing and watching for fun into a more bussiness approach. Players are able to live a comfortable live and take care of their families as a result of playing football.   players like Messi , Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney , Samuel Eto and many others are mentioned among the rich list of the world because of the high wages and endorsement deals they have acquires thanks to the game of football.                  

 

 Ghana is well known name in the footballing world. 4 times champions of Africa, 3 concecutive appearances at the world cup coupled with other youth championships makes us a force to reckon with.  Well! With these glamorous accolades one may think playing in football in Ghana can be compared to likes of England and Spain, then sorry to disappoint you as the local league is amongst the worst run league in the world. With no sponsorship for the local league, teams find it difficult to pay their players the right salary to keep them playing for a long time. This has led to frequent departure of our best local players  to foreign leagues to seek for high lucrative salaries and better  living conditions. At the end of every season either the top scorer or the overall best player for that season travels to countries like Morocco, Sudan,Tunisia,Cyprus,Israel, Mali, just to mention a few to continue their career not because the standard of play in those countries is better than ours but is because of the high salary and better living conditions as compared to our local league.

So Who Is To Blame?

Obviously the blame always fall at the door step of the Ghana Football Association who is in charge of all football activities in Ghana. It's surprising to know how much of attention is given the Black Stars when they are even preparing for a national friendly match. The level of  enthusiasm and zeal which GFA officials attach  to the  course of the senior  national team is unquestionable. Sponsorships keeps  trooping in for Black Stars all the time. So why can't the GFA attach the same seriousness and enthusiasm to the  growth of our local league? Why can't they help build and renovate our local football pitches to meet the international standards so that the style of play will rise in other to attract sponsorships. Are they interested in the growth of Ghana Football as a whole or just the Black Stars. I think the GFA has failed on the part of ensuring the development of our local league.

Can the GFA only be blamed? I think the Government also has a share in the blame cake. Football has now become a political tool for politicians to win power during elections. Hence every government will make sure Ghana qualifies for the world cup in order to win the trust of Ghanaians. They can go the extra mile of even airlifting huge sums of money to make sure the Black Stars are well cared for. Why can't government the Government also priotise the growth of our local league as it does with the Black Stars?  Elsewhere in Europe and other parts of Africa, the Government takes it upon itself to make sure nice stadiums are built, clubs are supported financially intimes of difficulty but we see the opposite here in Ghana. National stadiums keeps deteriotating, new stadiums are not being built and clubs don't get the financial support to sustain themselves intimes of difficulty. All these contribute to the low standards of the local league .

 Clubs themselves cannot be left out. Ghanaian clubs have always reluctant in going the extra mile to catch up with their peers outside. Bigger clubs like kotoko and Hearts of Oak cannot boost of an existing clun stores where jerseys and club parafelanias are sold. Thier websites and social media platforms are not constantly updated with club news and events as it happens elsewhere in Europe. They have been very lazy in finding ways to generate income to manage the affairs of thier clubs.Kotoko for instance, boost of the highest number of spectators in Ghana but can't fill half of the Baba Yara Stadium during matchdays. Clubs in Ghana lack proper management setup with the right people to manage the affairs of team to be able to attract lucrative sponsorship deals for thier teams. This have lead to thier inability to generate funds to mange the affairs of thier and most importantly to pay lucrative salaries as well as providing better living conditions for thier players. 

THE WAY FORWARD

There should be  a national interest where governmnent and the GFA meets other stakeholder and cooperate institutions to provide support for our local clubs. There should be organised workshops and seminars by the GFA for our local club adminitrators for them to be exposed to the new trend and the business aspect of club administration. This will enhance thier capacity in securing lucrative sponsorship deals to be able generate funds to mange the affairs of the club. Spectators also has a role to play. Huge stadium attendance will help clubs generate income and also promote interest of other cooperate bodies to come on board to sponsor these clubs. With these plans I have no doubt that Ghana local league can be one of the best in the Africa and the World. 

CUP OR BUST FOR VAN GAL?

Manchester United manager Louis Van Gal takes charge of the  old Trafford outfit for the second time after guiding them back to champions league football in his first season.  This was seen as a good job done from most fans of Man United since they had a turbulent season under previous manager David Moyes that led to the club finishing 7^th and missing out on Champions league football. But new manager Van Gal has overseen a major overhaul of United’s squad bringing in top-notch names to old Trafford. With these huge spending in his first season as well as the start of this new season, nothing short of a major trophy for united would be seen as a failure for the veteran Dutch manager.

Van Gals first season at united saw players like Ferdinand, Evra, Vidic, Welbeck, Nani and host of other first team players depart the club. New recruits were Shaw, Ander Herrera, Daley Blind, Angel Di Maria, Marcos Rojo and Radamel Falcao. Van Gal had a tough start as United’s manger last season managing just three points from possible 15. But United bounced back strongly as the season progressed winning some important games like the Manchester Derby, beating Liverpool on both legs and Arsenal as well.

This current season has also seen further changes at the old Trafford outfit that saw players like Di Maria, Robin Van Persie, Radamel Falcao amongst others headed for the exit door for Memphis Depay, Bastian Swienstiger, Anthony Martial and Sergio Romero. The Dutchman seems to have gotten the caliber of players who would fit into his “philosophy” and nothing but success is expected of him at the end of this season.

United has started the season well as compared to last season. They lie 4^th on the premier league table with four points separating them from leaders man city. They are also on top of their champions league group with 7 points with two matches to go. But there is a bit of inconsistency in their performance so far this season drawing most of the games and failing to score for three matches in a row that included their early exit of the capital one-cup against championship side middlesborough. This has lead criticisms of the Dutchman’s style of from most of United’s former players particularly Paul Scholes who blamed United’s lack of goals on how Van Gal sets up his team. But the former Bayern Munich manager seems not concern about his critics and pledged to do everything he can to get Man United to where it belongs.

Will the Dutchman prove his critics wrong or will it be another frustrating season for the Red Devils since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson.  Well, that will be known at the end of the season but Van Gal certainly knows with this huge spending, a trophyless season for united under his care will not be a good record on his rich CV.