Four Division Two (2) teams have been confirmed by the Volta Regional Football Association of their participation in the Preliminary Stage of the 2024/25 MTN FA Cup, which is to begin next month.
Amongst the teams to play in the prestigious tourney, Inter Allies who won both the Volta Regional FA cup and the Division Two (2) Middle League which led to their qualification to the National Division One will have an automatic participation in the MTN FA cup, thus the need to find a replacement for the quartet of Volta RFA teams representation.
THE CRITERIA
The Volta Regional Football Association initiated a special critiria for the qualification in the MTN FA cup.
This criteria stems from participating in its flagship Volta FA Cup finals and that of the Division Two (2) Middle League finals.
The regional football body in the quest to have competitive FA cup games, which is played across, outlined which teams will qualify for the MTN FA cup.
Finalists of the Regional FA Cup will have automatic representation in the MTN FA cup. In the event that the winner of the Regional FA Cup doubles as the winner of the Middle League play-offs, the best losing semi-finalists in the Regional FA cup will be considered.
This means that two (2) slots have been made available from the Regional FA cup while the other two (2) slots come from the finals of the middle league play-offs.
The Middle League is a special competition to determine which team qualifies to the National Division One (1) League. The sole Division One (1) slot available at the regional level makes it more competitive and brings the best representation.
Any two (2) teams that played in the finals of the middle league automatically become eligible to play in the MTN FA Cup.
However, the winner of the middle league, who by merit qualifies to Division One (1), will forfeit its slot to represent the region in the MTN FA Cup. This is because the winner thus becomes a Division One team, which makes it automatic to play in the MTN FA Cup.
In this event, the Regional Football body falls on the particular group from which the winner of the Middle League emerged.
The second best placed in that group is considered to represent the Association in the MTN FA cup.
*The Four (4) Teams and How They Qualified*
WAFA SC played in the 2023/24 Middle League. Their participation in the middle league saw them reaching the finals with eventual winners, Inter Allies. They were considered because of the appearance in the finals of the Middle League.
KPETOE DIAMOND FC were also considered to play in the MTN FA because they shared the same group with the eventual winners of the Middle League who qualified to Division One. Kpetoe Diamond FC was second from Group A, having acrued 5 points in the group ahead of Likpe Heroes and Nazareth FC.
DYNAMO FC qualified to play in the MTN FA cup because they became the best losing semi finalists in the Regional FA cup. They lost to Agbozume Weavers (on penalties), who eventually made it to the Volta FA Cup Grand Finale. Inter Allies who won the Regional FA Cup forfeited their slot because of their new status as a Division One team.
AGBOZUME WEAVERS are playing in the MTN FA Cup because they made it to the finals of the Regional FA Cup, which was also won by Inter Allies FC. The fact that Weavers were in the finals was enough to earn them a spot to represent the Association in this seasons MTN FA Cup.
The Criteria and How they qualified becomes the tool for which the Volta Regional Football Association under the leadership of Mr. Daniel Agboga and his Executive Council members have set as the standard bar to promote teams to fill the Four (4) slots available for the Regional Football Association to partake in every seasons MTN FA Cup Competition.
