Richard Ntow Gyan, the Chief Executive Officer of Debibi United FC, has underscored the necessity for the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to guarantee a high level of fair play and credible officiating during the upcoming Ghana Premier League season.
Representing the Division On one side, Mr Gyan noted that poor officiating remains one of the primary challenges undermining the local league.
He lamented that many clubs qualifying for the Premier League fail to perform to their full potential specifically because of inconsistent refereeing standards.
Speaking in an interview on Rainbow Sports, the CEO opined that with credible and professional officiating, teams promoted to the top flight would be better positioned to succeed.
Debibi United FC has made significant strides toward Premier League qualification, an achievement Mr Gyan attributed to the immense hard work invested throughout their recent fixtures.
The club is now expected to face Tamale City to secure its final place in the Premier League.
He described Tamale City as a top-tier opponent, noting their previous experience in the top flight before their relegation to Division One.
However, he maintained that Debibi United FC possesses the skilled and experienced players necessary to compete at that level.
Mr Gyan stressed that the GFA must implement measures to ensure the Premier League is organised in a manner that leaves clubs with no grounds for objection regarding match results. He addressed the issue directly, stating:
“One of the major reasons why some of the clubs don’t excel when they qualify for the Premier League is due to poor officiating. I will encourage the GFA to ensure that officiating is at the top level. The referees should execute their duties without favouring any team or club. If the officiating is top-notch, at no point will any club raise any objection.
There are situations where some of the teams are given preferential treatment so they will qualify for the league, and then when they qualify, they are unable to put in the hard work and are then relegated. That should no longer be the case. We should make things clear and ensure fairness so we will have worthy winners.”
The CEO assured supporters that the club is well-positioned for the Premier League, having prepared diligently over the past four years.
He expressed confidence that the team has met its internal targets and remains poised to make the fans proud, asking them to maintain their trust and continue supporting the club with their prayers as they transition to the next level of Ghanaian football.
By: Rashid Obodai Provencal/Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana