Specialist Physician in Sports Medicine, Dr Prince Pambo has advised the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to cancel the suspended 2019/20 season and start planning for a new one.

The CAF Medical Committee Member reckons it is not medically advisable for players to resume active football immediately the ban on public gatherings due to coronavirus pandemic is lifted.

And, he has suggested to the football governing body to prepare for a new football season either in December this year or early 2021.

"...this pandemic is not leaving overnight," Dr Pambo noted in an interview with Joy Sports.

"Of course, we are praying for a miracle [to bring an end to the spread of COVID-19]. So for us locally, my suggestion and my prayer is that, yes we wish to have our league to continue, but should things stretch a bit longer which is going to be the situation, I suggest we should have a Plan B; our authorities should have a Plan B of planning a fresh next season which can take off in the very latter part of 2020.

"It could be December or 2021 which probably might fit in."

Over the years, Ghana's domestic competitions have struggled to win football enthusiasts to match centres to patronise the games. Dr Pambo does not want the FA to copy other jurisdictions blindly, especially, the Bundesliga who have scheduled the resumption of league football in May behind closed doors.

He said football without fans is not worth it, thus, proposed a new season with better planning would be of great service to the FA, clubs and players.

'What are the things to consider if you want to start a league? In Ghana, we cannot play in empty stadia; in the first place what is football without fans at the stadium.

"There's nothing to do there if you don't have fans at the stadium.

One major concern he noted in his advocacy is that Ghana or the GFA lack the logistics to screen players and fans to determine whether they are negative or positive before allowing them to attend matches.

He believes it's necessary to be certain that the virus is completely out of the system before starting football again.

"Are we in a position to vaccinate or screen all players and fans before we gather them?

'Football involves mass travels across the country, would we be in a position to immediately begin doing that?" he quizzed.

Before the commencement of a new season, the standard practice is that, players are given one month break and one month for pre-season.

The pre-season is meant to strengthen the physical condition of players for the competitive games ahead. Since the suspension of football on March 16, 2020, following the ban on public gatherings, players have not been engaged in any active matches to keep them in good shape.

The Physician surmised that the immediate resumption of football to fit the GFA July date of ending the season is not recommended even if the ban is lifted soon.

"These players have been off the pitch for a long time, are we going to start playing football immediately the pandemic is supposed to be called over? no, medically, we don't want to do this. Are the Clubs going to be in the financial position to rush into supporting? No, already they are crying for help, so considering all these and many others, I personally feel and suggest that authorities should start looking at a Plan B of planning a fresh league then we all come in board, give the needed support medically to the players, prepare them very well and of course, go into the market to see if we can attract sponsors knowing very well what has happened globally, it might be difficult, but we need to consider all that.

"Depending on the wind that is blowing, we will be good to go late this year or early 2021."

The GFA scheduled to end the 2019/2020 season on July 26, 2020.

The league was truncated after just 15 matches into the season due to COVID-19 which has forced the rescheduling sporting competitions across the globe.