A major focus of the meeting was the national team’s preparations for the upcoming AFCON qualifying assignment, with the Committee approving the technical team’s plans aimed at ensuring that the Black Sharks are fully prepared and battle-ready for the task ahead.

The meeting forms part of the Football Association’s continued efforts to strengthen the development of beach soccer while providing the necessary support and structures to ensure Ghana’s national beach soccer team is adequately prepared for continental competition.

The meeting, which was attended by GFA General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo (Esq.) and Acting Director of Competitions Maxwell Caesar Kemeh, also confirmed the date and venue for the 2026 Beach Soccer Premier League final.

The championship-deciding fixture will be played on Sunday, September 27, 2026, in Ada, bringing the curtain down on another exciting season of beach soccer competition.

The participating clubs and other key stakeholders will be officially informed of the confirmed date, venue and further arrangements ahead of the final.

The GFA Beach Soccer Management Committee is chaired by Yaw Kusi Gyamfi Awere, with Solomon Torson serving as Vice Chairman. The Committee’s members are Nana Poku Amankwaah, Ruben Adjahoe and Abdul Hayye Yartey.

Credit: Ghana FA

Located in the Ada East District of Greater Accra, the team was scheduled to compete against Keta Sunset Sports at Keta Emancipation Beach in the Volta Region last Sunday, September 14, 2025 for the fourth week fixture.

In an interview with the club’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Maxwell Kpeglo, he revealed that each club is supposed to receive GH¢10,000 in sponsorship; however, the GFA has only provided GH¢5,000 before the season’s start.

“I incured GH¢2,000 in expenses for each game every weekend, with GH¢1,200 spent on transportation to bring players to the match venue, including those who travel from other regions, along with logistics. GH¢5,000 is insufficient for three matches,” he lamented.

Mr. Kpeglo also criticised the GFA for its neglect of beach soccer, pointing out that Ghana’s national beach soccer team, Black Sharks, have proven a mettle by contesting in the CAF African Beach Soccer Nations Cup, which he believes requires the FA to invest more in the sport.

Regarding the FA’s dedication, he noted that the FA fails to consistently apply its regulations to both football and beach soccer players, resulting in less funding for beach soccer.

“The GFA views beach soccer players over 30 years old as amateurs, while football players of the same age receive preferential treatment in terms of sponsorship,” he explained.

He further compared the prize money, stating, “The prize money for the Ghana Premier League is two million Ghana Cedis (GH¢2,000,000) while the prize money for beach soccer is only GH¢15,000.”

Mr. Maxwell highlighted that the Ada Assurance Beach Soccer Club was the inaugural winner of the Ghana Beach Soccer Premier League organised by the Ghana Football Association in 2023, receiving a prize of GH¢15,000, which is significantly lower than that of the football league.

He has consequently encouraged the Ghana Football Association to provide sufficient support to the clubs participating in the league, aiming to make the sport attractive as it is still in its developmental stages.

Credit: Nicholas Tetteh Amedor (tettehn499@gmail.com)

The aggrieved referees point out that they were stunned when the GFA announced an increase in the allowances of football referees at its 31st Ordinary Congress on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence in Prampram.

“FIFA-accredited referees in the Ghana Premier League (GPL) will earn GH₵2,500 per match, non-FIFA GPL referees GH₵2,000, and referees in the Division One League (DoL) and Women’s Premier League (WPL) GH₵1,000 per match,” the FA’s statement detailed.

Match officials are mostly based in Greater Accra, Western, Central  Volta and Eastern Regions, however, they officiate games outside their regions of residence, exposing them to financial and travel risks.

“During the day, three games take place at a venue, with a single referee overseeing all of them for a fee of GH₵700.00. This includes transportation and accommodation where we are assigned to officiate,” the referees noted.

“Each game consists of three periods, each lasting 12 minutes, totalling 36 minutes. Depending on the breaks that occur, a game can extend to an hour.”

The aggrieved beach soccer referees also expressed dismay about an irregular payment system, stating that allowances are accumulated after officiating several games, as a result of which most referees are unable to track the number of games they officiated.

“The authorities pay us through mobile money, not before or immediately after the game, but after officiating several games. Some of our members cannot track their payments because of improper documentation,” the referees complained.

The office to receive the referees’ grievances remains a mystery, as they stated that there is no identified leadership to address their concerns, including media publicity and season briefing.

“The 2025/2026 Beach Soccer league started with week one on 24 August, yet authorities didn’t organise a briefing session for the referees. No sponsorship to even telecast any of our games on TV, unlike football. The team owners themselves do Facebook livestream during the games,” the referees complained.

The referees fear the sports will fall into a ditch for lack of media publicity, a role that the GFA is reluctant to play.

Credit: Nicholas Tetteh Amedor

The event, scheduled for Sunday, January 26, at the Ada Beach Arena, highlights Layoca’s incredible progress and potential in the sport.

In a statement from PBC management, they shared their commitment to supporting local talent and the La community. “Layoca plays and trains at La Beach, which we also call home. It is only natural for us to back them as they aim for success. Their journey to the finals shows great potential, and we are proud to stand with them as they work to bring glory to our community,” the statement said.

The management also emphasized their long-term plans to support both Layoca and the community.

“This is just the beginning. We are committed to helping Layoca grow and achieve even greater success, including the possibility of representing La and Ghana in international beach soccer competitions. Supporting Layoca is part of our vision to invest in the growth of our local community,” PBC management added.

The Chief Executive of Layoca Beach Soccer Club, Mr. Davis Nii Amaa Ollennu, expressed his deep appreciation for the support.

“PBC’s backing has come at just the right time. It has given us the strength and motivation to push even harder. We are determined to make history and bring the trophy home to La,” he said.

Mr. Ollennu also called on other organizations in La to step up and support the team.

“Beach soccer is more than a game. It helps keep our youth active, off the streets, and focused on positive activities, while also keeping our beaches vibrant and clean. With more support, we can grow the sport, inspire discipline, and nurture talent among the youth,” he noted.

Layoca’s journey to the -finals has been remarkable, including a thrilling win over last year’s champions, Cheetah FC, during the zonal championship. They will now face Havedzi BSC in a highly anticipated match.

PBC has provided Layoca with new jerseys and financial support as part of their sponsorship. This partnership highlights PBC’s belief in Layoca’s potential and their dedication to growing beach soccer in Ghana.

PBC management also shared their vision for the future of the sport. “We believe this is just the start of something much bigger. One day, we hope to see Layoca compete internationally, showcasing the talent and hard work that La Beach has to offer,” they s aid.

As the competition approaches, PBC calls on the La community and beyond to rally behind Layoca Beach Soccer Club. Together, they aim to inspire excellence and create opportunities for young people through this partnership.

Credit: Mamedia Ventures