Posted by On Tuesday, June 30, Ghana Football Association (GFA) announced that the 2019/20 Premier league season that has been at a standstill since March 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic has been annulled or declared void.
The decision was made in the best interest of the GFA and everyone, but it was made knowing it comes with repercussions. Spokesperson of the FA, Henry Asante Twum divulged that his outfit has lost a staggering amount of $2.2 million due to the decision to cancel the league.
Football fans who have cried their hearts out and were hoping to see football resume are also ultimate sufferers from the decision. They’ll will now have to wait for a while to see a new winner of the Premier league, something they haven’t seen since 2017 when Aduana Stars won it.
But which clubs are the winners and losers from the decision?
ACCRA HEARTS OF OAK
Current Position: 9th
Winner or loser? Winner
With a rich squad, Hearts of Oak prior to the start of the season were tipped to be amongst the contenders for the title, but a poor start coupled with management issues, bad home form and not being clinical in-front of goal has left the Phobians languishing in mid-table. They’ll welcome this decision as it presents them an opportunity to prepare their team and get the rainbow colors shinning once again when the season restarts.
ACCRA GREAT OLYMPICS
Current Position: 10th
Winner or Loser? Loser
Undoubtedly one of the biggest sufferers of the decision, tipped at the start of the season to be battling relegation come the end of the season. But Olympics have defied all odds and were in contention for a mid-table finish before the league season was annulled. All thanks to the 3 points they won after a protest against Medeama.
ADUANA STARS
Current Position: 1st
Winner or Loser? Loser
It is evident Aduana Stars didn’t welcome the decision. They were on course to replicating their triumph in the 2016/2017 season, sitting at the top of the league with 2 points more than second placed side and seeing their hope of representing Ghana in Africa dash away makes them one of the biggest losers of the decision. But they can take pride from the fact that they are still the reigning league champions.
ASANTE KOTOKO
Current Position: 3rd
Winner or Loser? Winner
Kotoko’s season was marred with controversies. The club was banned to play home games in an empty stadium after a disorderly behavior from fans after match day 3’s shocking defeat to Berekum Chelsea at the Baba Yara Sports stadium.
In spite of the problems, Kotoko sit just 3 points behind leaders Aduana Stars and with a game in hand. Canceling the league season is a blessing to the Porcupine Warriors as they’ve achieved their biggest objective, which is to represent Ghana in the CAF Champions league. They’ve achieved that without even working for it. It is also gives them the opportunity to successfully go through their administrative reshuffling.
ASHANTI GOLD
Current Position: 5th
Winner or Loser? Winner
The departure of Star man Shafiu Mumuni after match day 4 burst the bubble of Ashanti Gold, the team that scored 6 goals in their first 4 games scored just 6 times in their next 11 games. They also recorded 4 defeats in the 11 games, including the 6-1 humiliation at the hands of WAFA.
In spite of the poor scoring form, Ashanti Gold sit 5th on the league log with 25 points, just 3 points behind leaders Aduana Stars. They also get the opportunity to represent Ghana in the CAF Confederations Cup.
BECHEM UNITED
Current Position: 8th
Winner or Loser? Loser
Bechem United were one of the best performers in the just annulled 2019/20 Premier league season, their astounding form has seen them pick 18 of the 24 points available at home. Bechem United also recorded a famous 1-0 victory against Ashanti Gold in Obuasi. The Bechem sit 8th on the league table with 22 points, just 3 points off Top 4. Youngster Prince Adu Kwabena, who has been one of the revelation of the season and scored 8 goals in 14 games will feel robbed off the chance to make a big claim.
BEREKUM CHELSEA
Current Position: 2nd
Winner or Loser? Loser
The remarkable season that seen Berekum Chelsea pick away wins against Hearts of Oak, Asante Kotoko and Ashanti Gold has been thrown into the gutters, they sit second with just 2 points behind leaders Aduana Stars. Chelsea will feel they’ve been robbed off what could be an excellent season.
DREAMS FC
Current Position: 13th
Winner or Loser? Winner
Dreams maybe just outside the relegation zone and didn’t look like a side that would be fighting for survival come the end of the season, but they will take delight in seeing the campaign scrapped off. Their form in the last 10 games was nothing to write home about, they lost 6 of those games, drew 3 and won only 2.
EBUSUA DWARFS
Current Position: 16th
Winner or Loser? Winner
The side that finished 4th in the last completed premier league season (2016/2017) found themselves at the bottom of the table with five defeats after the first five games, the kind of start start they never wished for, but a turn of fortune saw them pick 15 points from the next 10 games.
ELEVEN WONDERS
Current Postion: 12th
Winner or Loser? Loser
After losing their first 3 games of the season, Eleven Wonders managed to turn things around and moved out of the relegation zone, picking impressive victories against Aduana Stars and Berekum Chelsea.
ELMINA SHARKS
Current Position: 4th
Winner or Loser? Loser
Elmina Sharks were on a decent run and the momentum was with them as they were pushing for the top four. Sharks were enjoying a decent season, losing just 2 of the 15 games played. Elmina Sharks were sitting in 4th place and just 3 points behind leaders Aduana Stars.
INTER ALLIES
Current Position: 11th
Winner or Loser? Loser
It has been a real turnaround for Inter Allies under the tutelage of Henrick Lehm and it seems a shame to halt such progress. Inter Allies were the highest scoring side and could boast of having the best player in the league in the name of Victorien Adebayor. The tormentor of defenders and the scorer of 13 premier league goals.
KARELA UNITED
Current Position: 17th
Winner or Loser? Winner
The decision to play away from the Cosby Awuah park and the departure of Star men Isaac Kwain, Solomon Sarfo Taylor, Dominic Eshun, Empem Dacosta and Patrick Yeboah had a toil on Karela. They failed to replicate their form in the Normalization Special competition as they sit in the relegation zone. A break gives them the opportunity to finish working on the Cosby Awuah stadium and also strengthen their side.
KING FAISAL
Current Position: 18th
Winner or Loser? Winner
A big blessing it is for Alhaji Grusah and his team. They are the worst side in the league, sitting bottom of the table with 6 points and yet to pick a win after 14 games. A good opportunity for Alhaji Grusah to strengthen his side, especially his defense that has conceded 29 goals in 14 games, an average of 2 per game.
LEGON CITIES
Current Position: 15th
Winner or Loser? Winner
Legon Cities are surely one of the biggest winners of the decision. Their amazing investment and branding outside the pitch is one every other club can dream of matching, but that hasn’t reflected on the field as they’ve picked just 3 wins in 15 games.
LIBERTY PROFESSIONALS
Current Position: 14th
Winner or Loser? Winner
Liberty after a decent start dipped in form, things started to go sideways. The Dansoman boys faced problems on and off the pitch, they were banned from playing at the Carl Reindorf park for a while. The scientific soccer lads lost their last 3 league games before the season was brought to a halt in mid March. Liberty are just a point above the drop zone, so unusual for a side that has become a household name in the league.
MEDEAMA
Current Position: 6th
Winner or Loser? Loser
Medeama sat top the table before they faced a 6 points deduction for fielding an unqualified player against Olympics. The Tarkwa based side will be left cursing their stars as they’ve seen their decent form in a season hampered by an unforeseen circumstance for a second consecutive premier league season. They led the table when the league was canceled in 2017/2018 due to Anas’ Number 12 exposé. Medeama will hope they continue from where they left off when the season restarts.
WAFA
Current Position: 7th
Winner or Loser? Undecided
WAFA in most parts of the season have looked a shadow of themselves. They’ve seen their longstanding home unbeaten record come to an end after a 2-1 defeat to Liberty in match day 6. It was further damaged by Aduana stars who recorded a 1-0 victory in match day 14. Although WAFA have been impressive this time round away from home, they boost of the second best away record in the league this season.