The Porcupine Warriors and Phobians chiefs have touched down in Yaounde to take part in the all-important meeting on the maiden Africa Super League
Asante Kotoko board chairman Kwame Kyei and Hearts of Oak board chairman Togbe Afede XIV have both arrived in Cameroon ahead of the imminent discussion on the African Super League competition which is expected to start this year.
A lot of powerhouses from Africa including Al Ahly, Al Hilal, Esperance are expected to partake in the competition but Kotoko and Hearts are the only two Ghanaian clubs expected to be part of the maiden edition.
In November last year, the Executive Council of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) approved the ‘African Super League’ at its Extraordinary Assembly in Cairo.
According to Caf president Patrice Motsepe the competition would contribute to making Africa’s soccer becoming more competitive in the near future.
“The super league for Africa is a new competition because all of those other competitions are locked into agreements and the money they get is not enough,” Motsepe said while speaking at a news conference in Ghana.
“There have to be fundamental changes in how we do things in football so that African football can be noticed across the world. We do not want aid from anybody. We can work on our own and that’s what I am here to do,” he added.
Although, similar tournament in Europe could not materialize as clubs like Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid were forced to bow out at the eleventh hour or face sanctions from Uefa, Motsepe believes “Africa will learn from their experience and pitfalls” since such tournaments will bring additional revenue to “contribute to African soccer becoming competitive and self-sustaining.”
As at now, only 20 clubs are expected to compete in the maiden edition of the Super League including Kotoko and Hearts. However, there will be qualifiers for participation by other clubs through a regional play-offs in the offing.