Football, the passion of many is on the rise in the Volta Region, Its expectations have been met across the length and breadth of this country such that, it has become the talking point on the lips of numerous football analysts, fans, and connoisseurs.
In the past, the beauty of the game was not duly acknowledged by the followers of the game. Varied reasons and responses from poorly organized division two league were received from fans and stakeholders. This cast doubts in the minds of the people following the game of which teams qualify and subsequently fail to perform well to maintain the slot in Division One.
Indeed, the teams that travel from the playoffs to become division one teams representing the region were relegated after a season. This however has not auger well for the region’s contribution to national football development.
THE AGBOGAH’S ADMINISTRATION
They say, a piece of a good advice is the second mother to a child. The Daniel Agbogah chairmanship has seen consultative meetings with key stakeholders of the game since assuming office in 2019. With the Executive Council members ( Exco), Mr. Daniel Agbogah welcomes opinions, suggestions, and advises across the board in a bid to shape Volta Football. In his first year, the middle league was a delight. It birthed the success of the second and the third middle leagues such that, applauds and commendations from the Ghana Football Association and other actors of the game were received.
VOLTA DIVISION ONE REPRESENTATIVE
The narrative of which teams are relegated just after a season became a thing of the past. Teams like Akatsi All Stars, the defunct Volta Rangers and Home Stars were now used as a reference points as far as Volta football is concerned.
Akatsi All Stars made history to become the first team to maintain the division one slot after teams like Hot Steel FC (1&2), Roberto FC, Dynamo F and Agbozume Weavers failed to survive in the division one league in each season respectively.
The worry grew as it left many wondering if there could be a change of trend. Volta football was classified as unproductive while mostly denied the national cakes.
Akatsi All Stars after sealing their promotion to Division One under the Daniel Agbogah chairmanship in his first year, defied all odds to maintain the slot in their maiden appearance.
The Volta Regional Football Association did all it could to support the Akatsi-based club to succeed.
The defunct Volta Rangers also followed the Akatsi All Stars by surviving in the Division One league. A glamourous middle league was chcharacterized by a beautiful memory as thThe final between Agbogba FC and Volta Rangers was top-notch.
Home Stars FC after appearing in what could be the most team appearance in the finals of the middle league (Home Stars vs Agbozume Weavers, Akatsi All Stars vs Home Stars, and Home Stars vs Inter Allies) made their way through in a historic and fashionable manner.
Their qualification to the division one was predicted and time was the best judge.
Defeating Inter-Allies on penalties on the final day was one that left many to be desired. The tears of joy, emotions, and heartbreaks became a trademark for that season.
Many were happy to see Home Stars dine with the men in division one and of course, they also continued the legacy of maintaining the slot as the fourth edition is yet to add to the numbers representing Volta Teams.
THE FOURTH EDITION
This will be the fourth edition of the Volta Regional Division Two Middle League since Mr. Daniel Agbogah took office as the Volta FA chair.
His administration has seen a rise in football development in all categories, an effective run of Division Three League, Colts League, Women’s League, and beach soccer, in addition, his administraction has seen the expansion of District Football Associations (DFAs) from 9 to 21 with persistent growth in the Catch Them Young (CTY) Referees Policy at all the districts and Municipal Football Associations.
The 2023/24 middle league is set to be played on Saturday June 22nd and ends on Sunday 30th June, 2024. This is the biggest football festival in the region and the most important on the football calendar.
It is worthy to note that, the middle league gets better every season and this edition will be no exception.
Eight teams are set to climb the stage and be counted. This season, two former Premier League teams ( Inter Allies and WAFA) will be involved to contest who is crowned champions of the Volta Football Association Division Two Middle League. They will face fierce competition from Keta FC, Selion FC, Nazareth FC, Likpe Heroes FC, Sons of Thunder FC, and Kpetoe Diamond FC.
Kpetoe Diamond FC, Selion FC, Nazareth FC, Keta FC and WAFA will have their first time appearing in the middle while Sons of Thunder, Inter Allies and Likpe Heroes FC will taste it for the second time.
The Division Two League games have seen great and outstanding performances from the teams that have qualified.
While Sons of Thunder and WAFA went unbeaten in their respective zones, the rest of the teams also ensured enough points were garnered to qualify to this stage.
THE SOLE SLOT
The only slot will be picked by only one of the eight teams to play in this season middle league. The contest for who emerged champions is thrown wide in the air by the Volta football association. It will take resilience, hard work, extreme focus coupled with determination to win the contest.
The Volta FA is well determined to promote a strong and formidable team to Division One to make up good numbers as its representative.
It is imperative to know that, the Volta FA with its Organizing Committee will work hard this time around to ensure, the best team qualifies without any favor.
The next champion of the 2023/24 middle league team will be actively involved in the 2024/25 Division One season and the Volta Football Association will do all it can to lend its support to all Volta representatives in the Division One league.
CONCLUSION
Together, we will build a formidable Volta football. We are all involve to make sure Volta football is developed and played with fun as we grow the region through football.
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