Management of Kumasi Asante Kotoko has expressed displeasure at a directive from the Ghana Football Association (GFA), cautioning all Premier League clubs and stakeholders to desist from filming the on-going league.

In a letter addressed to all clubs and stakeholders, the Association emphasised that illegal filming infringes on the contractual agreement with broadcast partners, Startimes Ghana, and anyone found culpable will be dragged to the Law Court.

Speaking to Luv Sports in an interview, Communications Director of Asante Kotoko, Moses Antwi Benefo described the FA’s directive as unfortunate.

“We feel that communiqué from the GFA is quite unfortunate, they should have done a wider consultation with the main architects of the game, that is the premiership clubs themselves. I mean what informed them to come out with the communiqué?” He quizzed.

A club is part of the stakeholders organizing the league and you say we don’t have the right to film our games. How do we analyse our games moving forward? How do you give the technical team some level of education?  We do not believe in militant approach to solving issues or problems,” the Kotoko scribe said.

Moses Antwi Benefo sounds very surprised and incensed with the directive because, according to him, Kotoko has paid the FA in full for the coverage of their games this season and has receipt of payment to that effect.

He is, however, calling on the FA to meet with the clubs before issuing the directives.

“We want to believe first of all in jaw jawing with the FA, to have a better rapport with them and let them appreciate the reason why as clubs we should have the opportunity of filming our games for educational or fair use.

“Prior to the start of the season, the FA met the clubs and decided that if you want to film your match you have to pay the appropriate fee and then you are given the chance to film your games. And Kotoko has paid for the entire year, all the 34 games that Kotoko will be honouring we have paid for it and we had receipt for it from the FA.

"So why do you prevent us from covering our games? Not to stream live, not to commercialize it but just to serve as an aid to the technical team to critically analyse our games and then work accordingly for us to get our desired results,” he said.

According to P.J Mozay, as he is affectionately called, the current football leadership should move with the trend of time and change to avoid such situations.

“We are moving in a more technological and modernized world, let us embrace change; we should not be restrictive when change is coming. We know gradually they will understand and appreciate us for the clubs to have an opportunity of filming their games.

“Even the contract we signed on behalf of the clubs they [FA] should come and show us the clauses that are spelt out in the contract that prevents or debars the clubs from filming their matches?” He probed further.

Asante Kotoko are billed to play Berekum Chelsea in match day 2 of the Ghana premier league at the Golden City Park.