Both the English and Ghanaian top division football league used to be called the first division league. The English, who are obviously the masters of the language apparently wanted to add more spice to the competition and renamed it the Premier League. And as if by design, the change in nomenclature has gradually over the years added extreme colour to the championships and it is arguably the best in the world in terms of quality players and organisation.

Having also adopted the premiership status in Ghana, it is hoped that the Football Association would strive to make the Ghana league the best in the sub region if not on the whole continent of Africa. Happily one can see some indications that the FA getting very helpful assistance from the Premier League Board is determined to establish a credible league system. It is my wish that all affiliated committees especially the disciplinary committee would work fearlessly and take perfect disciplinary measures that would bring sanity into the game.

At times I marvel at the courage of those in charge of discipline in the English league where a player could be suspended in an ongoing league for offences committed during the previous season. Can you imagine that a player could be banned for several months for failing to undertake a mandatory doping test? Not to talk about managers who get sanctioned for making public statements that could be interpreted to sully the good name of the game.

Luckily for us here, it is not that fashionable for managers/coaches to talk so freely to the media that presumably believes that the team officials don’t make too much news in our part of the world. Perhaps with the exception of Coach Isaac Opeele Boateng of Tema Youth FC who is very outspoken and even has a column in the state-run Graphic Sports bi- weekly newspaper, the rest are quite reticent and media shy. They would prefer to “let the field decide” instead of muddying the waters with any controversial outbursts like the way Liverpool’s Benitez lashed out at Alex Ferguson of Manchester United last week.

I am told what Benitez did is known in football circles as psychological warfare. In this instance, Benitez appears to have misfired following Liverpool’s scoreless game against unsung Stoke City and United’s impressive 3-0 win over title chasers Chelsea at Old Trafford.

Manchester United are now five points behind leaders Liverpool with two outstanding matches to boot. I often wonder why no noises are made by the other competing clubs about such outstanding matches. In my part of the world, the league could be stopped for such outstanding matches to be cleared “to give a level playing ground”. You can now understand why all attempts to align the football season with that of Europe would take a long time to materialize. We would have to build trust and let the system work.

The 2008-09 English league is already in the second round, but the Ghana premiership will enter the 7th week of the first round this week. We have a long way to go. The consolation is that, it’s been quite an exciting contest so far. The top of the table keeps changing which shows a high level of competitive spirit for the title chase.

By the end of the fifth week we had five teams, led by defending champions Kumasi Asante Kotoko sharing the top spot with 10 points apiece but Kotoko have lost the top spot following their 1-1 home draw with Berekum Chelsea in the 6th week. Top of the table now is Kpando Heart of Lions who share that position with Tema Youth and Accra Hearts of Oak with 13 points apiece. Three cheers for my club of the week, Real Tamale United (RTU) who have made an amazing recovery after a poor start and now occupy the 4th position with 12 points.

When RTU became the first to beat troublesome new entrants Berekum Chelsea with a neat 3-1 in the fifth week, some people thought it was flash in the pan but their 2-0 win over Wa All Stars on Sunday has confirmed that they are on the warpath to bring back memories of their exploits in the early eighties when they were always among the title chasers.

RTU will face the rejuvenated Accra Hearts of Oak in the 7th week pairings on Sunday 18th January 12, 2009 and it should be a thriller.

The other fixtures are King Faisal v All Blacks in Kumasi; Ashgold v Kessben at Obuasi; Hasaacas v Arsenal in Sekondi; Liberty v Heart of Lions in Accra; St Mirren v Eleven Wise at El Wak; Berekum Chelsea v Tema Youth at Sunyani.

It is reported that the match between Wa All Stars and Kumasi Asante Kotoko scheduled for Wa on Sunday, will be played next Monday in Accra to suit a television audience at the request of the sponsors of the league.

This to me is a very controversial issue and I want readers to join me debate this matter. I keep on saying that this sporting world is full of uncertainties. Anyway cheers and keep loving sports.