Accra Great Olympics: ‘We’ll battle GFA till the end’

The chairman of the Board of Directors of Accra Great Olympics, Mr Amarkai Amarteifio, says the Wonder Club is ready to exhaust all their legal dimensions to ensure that the rules and regulations governing football in Ghana are respected for the sake of sanity in the game.

According to the revered lawyer, Olympics are not worried over playing in the lower division but will demand  that the necessary respect is accorded the club, as well as any other club that will fall casualty to similar circumstances.

Last week, a Human Rights Court in Accra rejected an application for injunction on the start of the Premier League, giving the GFA and PLB the leeway to organise the competition, while seeking an amicable settlement with Olympics over the substantive case.

However, last Tuesday, a bailiff from an Accra High Court served the GFA with another court order restraining the FA from commencing the 2017/2018 Premier League competition without the participation of Olympics, the Plaintiff.

The legal tussle has, for the second time, stalled the Ghana Premier Legue and, according to Oloboi Commodore, the General Manager of Olympics, they were not being unnecessarily controversial but merely wanted to ensure that the football governing body implemented its statutes.

Speaking to the Graphic Sports yesterday, Mr Amarkai said: "Why is the GFA disrespecting Olympics by going ahead to launch the league and fix a date when they have not sat with us to settle the case as was stated by the court?"

"What we are saying is that Bechem United fielded an unqualified player so the rules must be applied as it is stipulated in the GFA regulations and I don't think that is too much to ask.

"If the Appeals Court rejects this new application, we will go to the Supreme Court and if that one too doesn't work we will go to the Court of Arbitration for Sports," he added.

In a separate interview, Oloboi Commodore, vowed not to relent in the pursuit for justice as they continue the legal battle with the GFA over a protest they filed.

Commodore said Olympics were ready to fight for their rights and have the GFA address their plea before the commencement of the Premier League season.

He noted that his outfit had appealed to the Accra High Court ruling on the GFA ensuring the league commenced, while they seek an amicable agreement with Olympics, stating that the decision must be reviewed.

Commodore also mentioned that the Wonder Club were not ready for a financial compensation as part of the Accra High Court ruling if the GFA felt they had breached Olympics’ right.

"We are not going to ignore this case until the GFA listens to our plea and find an amicable solution to this protest. This is about justice and no one can deny us that as far as the club is concerned.

"This is our right and we have placed another injunction, appealing to the court's ruling on allowing the league to start, while the GFA finds an amicable agreement with them," he said.

When asked whether they have been contacted by the association over an amicable settlement, Commodore said they were yet to receive any invitation, even though they were prepared to meet the leadership of the GFA.

He, however, quashed the assertion by the GFA President, Kwesi Nyantakyi, that Olympics' protest could have been resolved at congress before the start of the league since it was not placed on the agenda for the meeting.

Meanwhile, the GFA has since issued a statement postponing the Premier League indefinitely following the injunction last Tuesday.