After increasing the number of participating teams to six in the last two editions, the Ghana League Clubs Association (Ghalca) has settled on expanding the country’s flagship off-season club football competition further to eight.
The 2016/17 football season is set to officially close October 29. It will then pave way for the off-season during which clubs will take a mandatory one-month break before preparations for the 2017/18 kicks off.
The Cudjoe Fianoo-led body will be organizing a ‘Ghalca Top 8’ competition from January 6 to 21, 2018, as finalized at a recent meeting of the Association, Footy-Ghana.com understands.
The last time this pre-season tournament had right teams participating was in September 2011. Berekum Chelsea emerged winners after beating Medeama SC in the final 1-0 at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Who Qualifies
As part of new innovations, Ghalca has resolved to give opportunity to the three champions from the respective zones in the GN Bank Division One League who have gained promotion to the topflight next season to participate in the Top 8.
Thus Karela DC from Zone 2, Dreams FC from Zone 3 and the yet-to-be-confirmed winner of Zone 1 will join the Top 4 teams from the 2016/17 Ghana Premier League.
Taking the final slot is the winner of the MTN FA Cup.
Venue
Footy-Ghana.com understands the venue(s) for the upcoming Ghalca Top 8 is/are yet to be settled on. We are informed that there are deliberation of a possible use of “Kumasi and Obuasi” or “Cape Coast and Elmina” for the tournament.
TV Rights
StarTimes remains the media rights holder of Ghalca competitions.
Source: Footy-Ghana.com
