Former Sports MinisterNii Lante Vanderpuyehas shared his belief that Ghana has a greater chance of excelling in boxing than in football, thanks to the recent discovery of promising young talents from the northern regions.
While boxing has long been a celebrated sport in Ghana, with icons like Azumah Nelson and David Kotey hailing mostly from the southern part of the country, Nii Lante emphasized that the rise of northern boxers could significantly enhance the nation’s prospects of competing successfully on the global stage.
“We have the potential to become much more better sports nation through boxing than in football,” he said in an interview with JoySports.
“I was so much into the Boxing League and I saw most of the boxers who were got had all come from the North. Northerners are naturally strong, but it is the knowledge, skill, and technique that they need to adopt.
“When you have somebody who is so much passionate, interested and you transfer knowledge, technique to the person and he gets that to compliment his natural strength, he is super.”
Azumah Nelson, widely regarded as Africa’s greatest boxer, made history by holding the WBC Featherweight title and becoming a two-time Super-featherweight champion.
Alongside him, notable boxers like David Kotey, also known as “D.K. Poison,” and Joseph Agbeko helped elevate Ghana’s global reputation in the sport.
Despite this rich legacy, Ghanaian boxing has declined in recent years, with the country lacking a world champion since Richard Commey’s loss to Teofimo Lopez in 2019. For the first time since 2004, Ghana had no boxing representation at the 2024 Olympics.
Ghanaian football has faced similar struggles, with the Black Stars failing to qualify for the Olympics since 2004. The national team hasn’t claimed a major title since their 1982 Africa Cup of Nations victory and was knocked out in the group stage of the last two tournaments.
Former Sports Minister Nii Lante Vanderpuye has expressed his belief that Ghana has greater potential to excel in boxing than football, following the recent discovery of talented young boxers from the northern part of the country.
“We have the potential to become a much better sports nation through boxing than in football,” Vanderpuye said in an interview with JoySports.
The former minister highlighted the Boxing League’s role in showcasing talent, noting that many promising fighters were emerging from the North. He emphasized that while Northerners are naturally strong, they need to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and techniques to complement their physical strength.
Member of Parliament (MP) for the Odododiodio constituency, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye
“When you have someone who is passionate and interested, and you transfer knowledge and technique to them, that, combined with their natural strength, makes them exceptional,” he added.
Ghana boasts a rich boxing history, having produced legendary fighters such as Azumah Nelson and David Kotey, primarily from the southern regions. However, Vanderpuye believes that the rise of boxers from the northern regions will significantly enhance the nation’s prospects of achieving global success in the sport.
Azumah Nelson, regarded as Africa’s greatest boxer, held the WBC Featherweight title and became a two-time Super-Featherweight champion during his illustrious career. Other notable Ghanaian boxers, such as David Kotey (“D.K. Poison”) and Joseph Agbeko, also brought international recognition to the country.
Despite its rich history, boxing in Ghana has seen a decline in recent years. The country has not had a world champion since Richard Commey lost his title to Teofimo Lopez in 2019. For the first time since 2004, Ghana had no representation in boxing at the 2024 Olympic Games.
Similarly, football in Ghana has also struggled, with the men’s national team failing to qualify for the Olympics since the 2004 Athens edition. The Black Stars, who last won a major trophy in 1982 with their Africa Cup of Nations triumph, were eliminated in the group stages of the last two editions of the tournament.
The International Day of Education celebrates the vital role that education plays in peace and human development. It was launched by the United Nations in 2018, which was also the same year that the Football for Schools programme saw the light of day at the eighth FIFA Council meeting in Rwanda. A Memorandum of Understanding was subsequently signed by FIFA and UNESCO so as to roll out the programme all over the globe. Six years down the line, 105 countries have joined the initiative.
In addition to this impressive number of signed-up nations, tens of millions of children have been positively affected by F4S. And it is these children that the programme aims to support and nurture, by incorporating football-related activities into the education system, with an overriding goal of making the sport more accessible to young people.
“The objective is to create a link between education and football by ensuring that children’s introduction to kicking a ball around is as fun as possible, and by teaching them essential life skills,” explained Football for Schools Director Fatimata Sidibe.
She added, stressing the importance of 24 January to her and to the entire world: “This day places the focus firmly on education and raises awareness among stakeholders to support transformative actions that help achieve inclusive, equal and high-quality education for all. Education and sport play such a key role in children’s well-being and in building sustainable and resilient societies, transforming lives and breaking the cycle of poverty that tends to trap so many youngsters.”
The F4S Director is well-versed in this topic, having traveled the globe with her team over the past three years to meet these children, as well as the teachers and trainers expected to become true ambassadors of the programme, helping them to implement it everywhere, especially in some of the most remote regions of the world.
“Football is not only a universal sport, but it also has an extraordinary ability to unify and contribute to social integration, as well as educating and liberating boys and girls,” she said. “FIFA harnesses this power to provide children from all over the world, from very different backgrounds, with the opportunity to play and learn.”
In 2023, 71 FIFA member associations successfully introduced the programme. One of the many countries to join the F4S club was Fiji. “Football is now part of my life,” said 12-year-old Joeli Nakakai, a Fijian pupil at Tavua Primary School. “The experience has helped me to improve my technical skills, and as a person.”
He continued: “Through this programme, I’ve learned a lot about gender equality, for example. I was shy about playing with members of the opposite sex, but now I’m more comfortable with the idea. I’ve also learned so much about respecting others, disabilities, and cultural differences. “Now I know how to play in a team, and I feel like I know myself better. I’m better at communicating with others. At the start of the programme, I didn’t know how to juggle the ball, but now I can do 35 easily!”
Although Fiji has traditionally been regarded as a rugby stronghold, Football for Schools has nevertheless managed to establish itself there. The programme partly owes its success to the overwhelming support it has received from local authorities. “Incorporating football into the national education system and the school curriculum will contribute to social change and help children to become better citizens,” said Sidibe.
“By learning intrapersonal and cognitive skills, interpersonal skills, active citizenship skills and healthy behaviour, children will boost their personal development and contribute to sustainable development goals.”
Sustainable development is, of course, one of Africa’s major challenges. Interestingly, it is the global region in which Football for Schools has established itself the most, proportionally speaking: 37 of FIFA’s 54 African member associations are on board with the programme, equating to 70 per cent of the continent. It was first introduced in Malawi in 2022 (https://apo-opa.co/498XdM3), where it has since become indispensable, suggesting that the project can be durable and viable once it is up-and-running.
“As a girl, this has been a very beneficial experience,” said Ulemu Matchado, 13, a pupil at Chipoza Primary School in Kasungu, central Malawi. “I’ve learned the benefits of teamwork, self-confidence, leadership abilities, discipline, time management, setting realistic goals and consistently having a positive outlook. On the football side, I have improved my focus, which has enabled me to do things on the pitch I didn’t think I was capable of.
“I’ve also learned that able-bodied individuals are not necessarily superior to those who might have a physical disability, and that these people should be given equal opportunities in life. They are more than capable of making a positive contribution to the country’s development.”
Learning is at the very core of what Football for Schools does, and ‘Learning for a lasting peace’ is the theme of the 2024 International Day of Education. “Courtesy of the F4S initiative, children learn to know themselves and the world around them better, learn to live and interact in harmony with others, and learn to take responsibility for their own health and well-being,” concluded Sidibe.
Once an aspiring football player, has embraced his role as a ‘check check’ (fried rice) seller with contentment.
In an interview with Abigail Boakye Johnson on GhanaWeb’s Everyday People, he shared that his initial dream of becoming a footballer faced obstacles, prompting a shift in his career path.
Recognizing the delays in his football aspirations, Simon ventured into the fast-food business to sustain himself.
He explained that this decision, though a deviation from his initial goal, has significantly improved his life compared to the challenges he faced in previous years.
Simon detailed the positive outcomes of his fast-food venture, highlighting that it provides him with a livelihood, enables him to afford housing, and supports his responsibilities towards his wife and family.
“Yes, I am happy with my current situation. It’s better than those days when I used to sleep on a bench. By God’s grace through this business, if I can rent a room for my wife and child, then it shows that I am okay. Although this was not what I wanted to do.
“Football was my dream but since no help was coming, I had to switch and engage in something else. As a matter of fact, I would be lying to you if I told you I was not okay. It’s far better than some years ago when things were tough”, he said.
Simon now owns SM Fast Food and also, has a cashew and an animal farm.
Ghanaian forward Abdul Fatawu Issahaku has expressed his lifelong aspiration to play football in England.
The 19-year-old, who is on loan from Sporting Lisbon, made the move to Leicester City just a day before the end of the summer transfer window.
Despite his prior experience in the Champions League, Fatawu considers his venture into England’s second-tier football as a significant achievement.
“Their journey is to go back to the Premier League. That’s a big opportunity for me to help,” he said.
“For me [joining] Leicester is a big achievement. When I heard they were interested, I was so happy because it’s been my dream to play in England,” stated Fatawu in an interview with BBC Radio Leicester.
“For me, [joining] Leicester is a big achievement. When I heard they were interested, I was so happy because it’s been my dream to play in England.”
Since putting on the blue jersey, the Ghanaian national has featured in seven matches for Enzo Maresca’s team, earning a place in the starting lineup for Leicester’s last three Championship games.
Leicester City has shown impressive form this season, winning nine out of ten Championship matches, securing the leading position in the league standings.
Fatawu’s influence was noticeable in their recent match against Blackburn, where he notched his first assist of the season by setting up Wout Faes for an important goal in their dominant 4-1 win at Ewood Park.
A promising and talented young player from Soccer Heroes Fc in Bole, Alhassan Abdul-Rauf, is currently hospitalized and undergoing treatment. This comes after his father forcibly removed him from the playing field and subjected him to a severe beating.
As per a bystander’s account, Alhassan Abdul-Rauf is a participant in the under 13 soccer category.
The incident happened during a league game between his team Bole Soccer Heroes fc and Bole Peace Fc at the Kurabaso Park in Bole on 13th August, 2023, during which Abdul- Rauf was asked by his father to stop playing which the young boy obliged only for the father to start slapping, beating, lifting and throwing the young player down the eye witness added.
People around rushed to save the boy but the infuriated father wouldn’t stop his attacks on the boy who eventually became unconscious.
While beating the young player, the father kept saying it is his son and no one should dare stop him from beating his son and not even the presence of some elderly men and Chiefs could stop him.
The boy was then rushed to the Bole District hospital unconscious and was swiftly attended to by the Nurses on duty.
After gaining consciousness the young player Alhassan Abdul- Rauf disclosed that all of that happened because his father wanted him to be going to ‘Mankaranta’ instead of playing football.
He added that he has a dream to become a footballer in future and perhaps represent Ghana internationally one day.
The football fraternity of Bole District is paying tribute to this young player and hope the Ghana Football Association and human rights institutions takes this case up.
Former Black Stars midfielder, Sulley Ali Muntari, has opened up about the challenges he faced during his childhood, including the struggle with bedwetting.
Muntari revealed that he used to suffer from involuntary urination, commonly known as bedwetting, which occurred during his sleep at night and even during afternoon naps.
Recalling his childhood experiences, Muntari shared that the bedwetting problem was quite severe, causing him emotional distress.
He recounted an incident when he visited his aunt in Kumasi at around the age of 11 or 12 years old. During his stay, he unexpectedly wet the mat he slept on, which deeply affected him emotionally.
“My mom took me to my aunt at Abuabo in Kumasi. I was around 11, 12 years old, but then I was wetting the bed a lot.
“My aunty sent me back to Konongo; I was really hurt. It was sometime later that my mom took me back, and that’s why I returned,” Muntari shared in an interview with Dan Kwaku Yeboah.
Muntari shares childhood bedwetting experience#INDViral Black Stars | R2bees | Victor Osimhen | Code Micky | Kylian Mbappe | Ken Ofori | come to ghana pic.twitter.com/WpUoZmo71Z
It happened unknowingly at any time. We could just sleep in the afternoon, not in the evening, then I would just wet the mat; it wasn’t even a bed,” Muntari shared with Dan Kwaku Yeboah TV.
The situation became embarrassing and frustrating for young Muntari, and it had a significant impact on his self-esteem. Unable to cope with the situation, his aunt eventually sent him back to his hometown of Konongo, a rejection that deeply hurt him.
Despite the challenges he faced, Muntari found his breakthrough in football during his formative years. With time, his bedwetting eventually ceased, and he went on to become a successful footballer, leaving those childhood struggles behind him.
Black Stars defender, Tariq Lamptey, has made a remarkable comeback after a lengthy injury spell in Brighton and Hove Albion’s Premier League Summer Series match against Newcastle United.
The 22-year-old right-back had not played since March due to his injury sustained during a game against West Ham.
However, after undergoing an intense recovery and training program, Lamptey finally returned to the field.
Despite Brighton’s 2-1 pre-season defeat to Newcastle United, Lamptey’s return brought optimism to the team.
The elated defender took to social media to express his gratitude, saying, “Thank God always! Enjoyed being back out there, now time to push on.”
His comeback is a significant boost for Brighton and Hove, especially with their busy season ahead following their qualification to Europe.
Despite speculations about a potential move to Sporting Lisbon in Portugal, it seems that Lamptey remains an essential part of Roberto De Zerbi’s plans.
Moreover, his return is good news for the Black Stars as they prepare for the AFCON qualifier against the Central African Republic in September.
In the match, Danny Welbeck scored the first goal for Brighton, but Newcastle came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory.
Ghanaian Banabas Tagoe, aged 19, has joined Malmö FF with a three-and-a-half-year contract after impressive trials with the U19 youth team.
The left-back caught the club’s management’s attention through his outstanding performances in U21 friendly matches and intensive training sessions with the U19 set-up.
“Malmö FF strengthens the academy with Banabas Tagoe.
The 19-year-old Ghanaian has spent the past few months on trial with the association’s U19 team.
During his first time in MFF, Tagoe has been tested as a left-back but also has experience of playing in more offensive positions.”
“Initially, Banabas Tagoe will train with the P19 team. He has signed a contract that runs until the end of 2026. We warmly welcome Tagoe to Malmö FF!”
Ghana Premier League side, Accra Hearts of Oak, is set to welcome Dutch trainer, Rene Hiddink as the club’s new technical director.
Reports suggest that an agreement has been reached with Hiddink, the renowned brother of former Chelsea and Netherlands manager, Guus Hiddink.
Hiddink will soon arrive in Ghana for his official unveiling as the head of the club’s technical department.
With vast experience as both a footballer and a coach, he has previously worked as the assistant coach of the Maldives national football team and managed clubs in Rwanda, Madagascar, and the Maldives.
Moreover, alongside the acquisition of Rene Hiddink as the technical director, Hearts of Oak is poised to announce a new substantive head coach for the upcoming league season.
The club has already bid farewell to interim coach David Ocloo after an eight-month stint. Ocloo had taken over on an interim basis following the termination of Serbian trainer Slavko Matic’s contract due to lackluster performance.
Under Ocloo’s guidance, Hearts of Oak achieved a 10th-place finish last season, narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day of the league season.
Ghana Premier League side, Nsoatreman Football Club, has appointed Maxwell Konadu as their new Head Coach.
The experienced gaffer signed a two-year deal, with an official announcement expected on Tuesday, July 18.
Maxwell Konadu takes over from Mumuni Sokpari, who resigned after guiding the team to the semi-finals of the 2023 MTN FA Cup.
With extensive experience in the domestic league, Maxwell Konadu previously managed Asante Kotoko on two occasions, Legon Cities FC, and the Ghana U-20 and U-23 teams.
Ghanaian international Baba Rahman has marked his comeback to PAOK for a second spell by playing his first match.
The Black Stars defender secured a starting role as PAOK triumphed over Saudi team Al-Taawon with a convincing 4-1 victory in a preseason friendly.
Al-Taawon took an early lead through Spanish midfielder Alvaro Medran, but Stefanos Tzimas equalized before the first half concluded.
PAOK’s second-half performance improved, leading to three additional goals scored by Thomas Murg, Georgios Vrakas, and an own goal, securing a comfortable win.
Baba Rahman rejoined the Greek club following his departure from English giants Chelsea after an eight-year tenure.
The former Augsburg left-back signed a three-year contract that will see him stay at PAOK until the summer of 2026.
Ghanaian forward, Jamie Leweling is thrilled that his eagerly anticipated transfer to VfB Stuttgart has finally materialized for the upcoming Germany Bundesliga season.
After a relatively successful stint with Union Berlin, the talented player has joined Stuttgart on a season-long loan deal, which was finalized on Thursday.
Expressing his excitement about the move, Jamie Leweling said, “It’s nice that the move to VfB worked out. I already know a few players from the squad, for example, I played with Genki Haraguchi at Union Berlin and Josha Vagnoman and Roberto Massimo at the U21s.”
In his inaugural interview following the completion of his transfer, the young forward expressed his anticipation for the upcoming season and his strong determination to make a meaningful contribution towards the team’s triumph.
“I’m really looking forward to the new season and want to help the team have a good season.”
Jamie Leweling, with 49 Bundesliga appearances to his name, has recorded six goals and three assists.
Actress Auntie B has stressed the importance of marriage while cautioning against pursuing it to one’s detriment.
The renowned actress, known for her roles in popular TV series like Concert Party and Efiewura, said this on Thursday, July 6, 2023 in an interview with the media.
“I am not married at the moment,” she disclosed.
“Marriage is important, it’s good,” she said. “When by God’s grace, someone comes into your life and you get married, hold and cherish it dearly.”
However, “if you are not yet married, don’t kill yourself for it,” she added.
She shared examples of marriages she is aware of, one that ended in less than eight days and another where the person endured years of distressing experiences, likening it to the relentless battering of sea waves, despite maintaining a facade of normalcy in public.
“This person does not look [as good] as they did before marriage,” she noted, stressing that “It’s two things: if the opportunity comes, fine, but if it doesn’t, at this point in my life, I’m not bothered.”
In a near-comic remark, she said she had “tasted all there is from super small to super big” so much so that “if, naturally, the act [sex] was done through the mouth, I’d have lost all my teeth by now.”
She clarified: “It’s not like I double date or I am promiscuous but I have tasted it all before so if I am not yet married, I won’t kill myself.”
“Ultimately, may God’s will be done,” she added. “So, if God brings it, I’ll hold it and nurture it.”
She said “the man who will be lucky” to marry her will have such a great experience.
Auntie B intimated that she knows how to handle marriage and “pamper a man to get pampering from same”.
Auntie B advises women to prioritize pampering their men to prevent losing them to competitors who excel in that aspect.
She emphasizes that the foundation of a successful marriage lies in truth and understanding.
Additionally, she clarifies that she is not overly selective when it comes to choosing male partners.
“God created all men so I’m fine with whatever I get,” she added. “What matters is the level will correspond to mine so that when we’re in bed, everything will be great.”
She suggests that even if things do not go as expected, there are various intimate styles to explore. In the worst-case scenario, she believes it is her responsibility to nurture and appreciate her partner without complaining.
When asked about the possibility of marrying football superstar Asamoah Gyan, considering her publicly expressed feelings for him, she did not provide a direct response.
Karela United Club‘s Director of Operations, Lawrence Cudjoe Saforo, has revealed plans for a major overhaul ahead of the 2023/24 betPawa Premier League season.
The club aims to significantly improve its performance by bringing in high-quality players and parting ways with some existing ones to create space for new signings.
Saforo emphasized that this process of restructuring the squad is a routine procedure undertaken at the end and beginning of every soccer season to optimize team dynamics.
The objective of this shake-up is to build a formidable and fearsome side that can fiercely compete in all competitions and reignite the passion of their fans.
Karela United concluded the 2022/23 season in 7th place with 47 points earned from 34 games, comprising 13 wins, 13 defeats, and 8 draws.
The upcoming changes are aimed at positioning the club for greater success and dominance in the league.
The legendary Ghanaian footballer, Asamoah Gyan, has shared valuable advice with the players of Ghana Black Meteors on how to excel in their football careers.
He emphasized the importance of being team players and explained that their ability to contribute to the team’s efforts when not in possession of the ball is vital for success.
Gyan believes that football is not solely about individual talent but requires collective teamwork.
Expressing his disappointment, Gyan acknowledged the potential of the Ghana Black Meteors to progress further in the tournament.
However, he attributed their early elimination to the presence of pride and selfishness among certain players.
These character traits, according to the iconic Ghanaian skipper, are detrimental to modern football and hinder the team’s overall performance.
Gyan urged the players to change their mindset and embrace a more selfless approach to the game.
He stressed the significance of not only showcasing individual skills but also actively defending and supporting the team when not in possession of the ball.
Gyan highlighted the evolving nature of football and emphasized that success comes from collective efforts rather than individual brilliance.
The veteran footballer’s advice serves as a reminder to aspiring players that true greatness in football is achieved through teamwork and selflessness.
Gyan’s words of wisdom carry weight, given his extensive experience and success in the sport. His message resonates with the need for players to prioritize the interests of the team above personal glory, as this is the key to unlocking their full potential and achieving remarkable results in modern football.
He said, “What I saw in this Black meteors team is some players think they are bigger than the whole team. Small hype and fame? SHM.”
Asamoah Gyan is without a doubt one of African football’s most colorful characters. He has had crazy hairstyles, shed a few World Cup tears, won music awards, and scored a lot of goals.
The Ghana legend blew the full-time whistle on his playing career on Tuesday following a journey that took him around the world and spanned two decades.
The 37-year-old striker played at three World Cups and seven Africa Cup of Nations (Afcons), captaining the Black Stars on many occasions, but somehow always ended up as the nearly man.
BBC Sport Africa looks at some of the numbers and events that defined his career on and off the pitch.
1. Ghana’s number one for goals
Gyan is Ghana’s all-time leading goalscorer, netting 51 times in 109 games. Only Andre Ayew has played more times for the Black Stars.
His international debut in a World Cup qualifier against Somalia in November 2003 was a sign of things to come as he scored five minutes after coming on as a 77th-minute substitute. Three days shy of his 18th birthday, that strike made him Ghana’s youngest ever scorer.
Former international team-mate John Paintsil can still recall his first encounter with a young Gyan when both were playing for Ghanaian side Liberty Professionals.
“One day, the youth side was beating the seniors. There was this striker who was so fast on the ball, very skilful, dribbled left and right, very good in the air and battling with our defenders.
“I went for the tackle, Gyan does some skills, he twists me and I find the ball back of the net again. I said ‘Wow, I believe this boy will become one of the best strikers Ghana’s ever produced’. It came to pass.”
Gyan also scored eight Afcon goals for his country, losing two finals in 2010 and 2015. His record of 31 appearances spread across seven tournaments leaves him joint-second on the all-time list, again behind compatriot Ayew (34), while Egypt’s Ahmed Hassan is the only person to have played at eight Afcons.
Painstil told BBC Sport Africa, “Gyan is one of the best strikers that Africa and Ghana has produced.”
https://emp.bbc.com/emp/SMPj/2.49.3/iframe.htmlWorld Cup moments: Suarez handball
2. World Cup success…and that penalty
Gyan is also Africa’s all-time leading scorer at World Cups, with six goals spread across three tournaments (2006, 2010 and 2014).
Having helped his nation qualify for a maiden World Cup, he scored just 68 seconds into Ghana second group game against the Czech Republic at the 2006 tournament in Germany. The Black Stars went on to make the second round before losing to Brazil.
But the 2010 BBC African Footballer of the Year is perhaps best known for a sliding doors moment at the following World Cup in South Africa, the first held on African soil.
WATCH: Match classic – Ghana v Uruguay at 2010 World Cup
‘The supporters are talking about revenge’ – Painstil on Ghana v Uruguay’
WATCH: Was Suarez handball cheating or selfless?
Having scored two penalties to help Ghana narrowly qualify from a group containing Germany, Australia and Serbia, he then struck a 93rd-minute winner in the last 16 against the USA, setting up a quarter-final against Uruguay.
What happened next has become part of World Cup folklore.
With the game tied at 1-1 heading into the final minute of extra-time, Uruguay striker Luis Suarez was sent off for handling the ball on the goalline, clearly denying Ghana a winning goal.
But with the world watching on, this time Gyan couldn’t convert, seeing his penalty clip the bar and go over.
Gyan spent the night crying in his hotel room after missing the penalty against Uruguay, according to team-mate John Paintsil
He showed courage to step up and score from the spot just minutes later, but Ghana lost the shootout 4-2.
“We all had to go to Gyan’s [hotel] room,” Paintsil revealed.
“We did all we could but he was crying throughout the night. I will tell you, Gyan still feels that pain.”
The forward recovered to captain his country at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, scoring two more goals against Portugal and Germany, but there was no fairytale redemption story as the Black Stars finished bottom of their group.
Gyan wore the number three shirt after a suggestion from his brother, fellow Ghana international Baffour Gyan
3. Three is the magic number
Gyan baffled World Cup commentators by wearing the number three shirt.
That choice, which he carried throughout his career, was inspired by his brother and his Christian faith.
Baffour Gyan played 25 times for the national team and, like his younger sibling, was a striker. When Asamoah became part of the Ghana set-up, Baffour suggested the number because it represented the Holy Trinity – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
“It is like DNA. Both brothers were very energetic and fighters,” said Paintsil, who describes the number three as Gyan’s “symbol”.
“The number three leaves with him everywhere he goes.”
4. Hair-raising controversy
Indeed, Gyan certainly carried the number with him once he had it shaved and dyed into the side of his head, a style he adopted after his 2010 World Cup heartbreak.
Having sported various different looks over the years, his mohawk landed him in hot water in 2016 after a loan move to Al Ahli in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), one of more than 40 players sent a warning letter about “unethical hair”.
Gyan agreed to trim his locks to avoid causing offence, but brought the mohawk back for the 2017 Afcon. The number three on the side of his head also made a reappearance in Gabon but Ghana still lost the third-place play-off 1-0 to Burkina Faso.
Asamoah Gyan had to re-think his hair style choices while playing in the UAE
5. Baby Jet scores a hit
What some football fans across the world might not know is that Gyan also had a successful music career.
Using the stage name Baby Jet, he recorded three albums with hiplife musician Castro (hiplife being a famous musical style synonymous with Ghana).
The single African Girls was released in August 2010 and won the best hiplife single of the year at the Ghana Music Awards, although Paintsil has his own favourite, Do the Dance.
“It was one of the songs that travelled all over the world, not only Africa, not only Ghana.
“A lot of Ghanaians danced to it, sometimes the dressing room would dance to it.”
Gyan and Castro, a fellow Ghanaian, met in Italy in 2005 when Gyan was spotted in the crowd at a show and invited on stage. They became friends before Castro disappeared while jet skiing on holiday. Gyan was even forced to deny being involved in his friend’s ritual sacrifice.
Paintsil believes Baby Jet’s music “impacted a lot of people’s lives” and even more success could have followed.
“It’s great to see one person having so much talent. I believe that even if you give him movie scripts, Baby Jet can perform very well. He’s blessed.
“These things come to people who have a good, clean heart and he’s one of them.”
Asamoah Gyan celebrates after scoring a late equaliser for Sunderland against Newcastle
6. Sunderland cult hero
Gyan played for 11 clubs in eight countries during his career, with spells in Italy, France, Turkey, China and India.
Perhaps his most high-profile move came in August 2010 when he joined Premier League Sunderland after his exploits at the World Cup in South Africa.
Then aged 24, he arrived on Wearside for what was then a club record $20 million, scoring on his Premier League debut as a sub before then also finding the net on his full debut.
His outgoing personality, part-time career as a rap superstar and celebration dance moves won over fans but his cult status was secured when he scored a 94th-minute equaliser against rivals Newcastle United.
He scored 11 goals in 37 appearances for the Black Cats with many supporters disappointed that he only spent one season at the Stadium of Light before heading to the UAE on a loan move that “baffled” then manager Steve Bruce.
Paintsil understands why his former national team skipper inspires adoration, both abroad and at home in Ghana.
“Gyan is a great character. He has a sense of humour. We had so much fun.
“He is very unique and nobody can predict him. He’s always happy.
“He is doing so much for the nation and people. He has given hope and also freedom to the youngsters. I’m so proud of him.”
Baby Jet might now be too old to play football but he has certainly led a hip life up to this point.
Meet Hasnaa Doumi, 29, the first female coach of a men’s football team in Morocco, L’Ittihad Riadi Fkih Ben Salah Club.
Doumi is a former football player who played for the Atlas Lioness and ended her career in football at age 25 despite being told by many that she had great prospects before her. She aspired to switch lanes from playing football to pursue her career as a coach.
When she joined the L’Ittihad Riadi Fkih Ben Salah Club three months ago, it was 13th in position and kept sinking still, however, the team has been revived in Doumi’s hands and has attained seven wins and two draws, making a total of 23 points, a record in the amateur league, according to Africa News.
Doumi’s appointment is a gateway for women’s involvement in football and a great feat for females who are aspiring to be like her one day, in a totally dominated male sport.
Although this strong woman is visibly changing her team’s narrative and is helping them soar, she still says she feels society’s criticism of her gender and her position. “The only difficulty for me now is how society views me,” she said, noting that no one says it to her face, but she sees the backlash mostly on social networks.
She further explained that “Football is for men, they say, I had only the support of my relatives and my family because they know my experience in football and for me, I do not pay attention to criticism from society. I have the support of my parents and that has helped me in my career.”
Morocco is still celebrating its victory for women in football as the national women’s football team qualified for its first-ever FIFA World Cup.
Doumi expressed that her appointment to the men’s club is an honor, especially since she is the first of her kind. She asserted that she will use the opportunity given to her to make a point to the local team managers that women are as capable to coach and have to be given more opportunities.
Before her current position as the coach of the men’s team, Doumi’s coaching expertise had led her to the Asbat Tadla women’s football team. She also worked as an assistant coach for the Olympique Fakih Bansalah team in the Beni Mellal Khenifra regional football league, according to Morroco World News.
Captain of the club, Abdelhadi Bennane, said that Doumi arrived at a critical moment. According to him, the team worked hand in hand with the female coach to overcome the team’s difficulties, even though they first found her appointment surprising.
The 28-year-old added that “She has a strong personality. She listens and finally the fact that she is a woman has changed a lot of looks. Whether she is a woman or a man does not make a big difference,” according to dayFREURO.
Advising young women who aspire to be footballers, Doumi said, “I have noticed an increasing number of women who want to get involved in football. If you have a goal in mind, you have to fight for it. Reach with desire and determination, you will get there.”
A former Manchester United defender, Gary Neville, has laudedArsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, for benching Thomas Partey in the Gunners’ 2-0 victory over Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
For the second game in a row, the Spanish manager benched the former Atletico Madrid man in favour of Jorginho, having already omitted him from the starting lineup against Chelsea in their previous game, which raised worries among some fans.
Partey was however introduced in the 80th minute to replace Martin Odegaard, the first goalscorer of the game.
Neville believes that the decision was crucial in the win over Newcastle and helped put pressure on Manchester City by reducing their lead at the top to just one point.
“I thought they might get eaten alive [on Sunday vs Newcastle]. The atmosphere was ferocious. Arsenal grew up here a lot,” he told Sky Sports.
“Mikel Arteta deserves a lot of credit for picking Jorginho. Many would have said get Thomas Partey back in there. The class Martin Odegaard showed in the first 30 minutes was outstanding.
“Jorginho composed his teammates and guided them. (Gabriel) Martinelli and (Bukayo) Saka are still not at their best but the composure from Odegaard and Jorginho was there for all to see.
“The reason why Manchester United players and Pep Guardiola have said Paul Scholes is their favourite player was because in moments in the hardest atmosphere in a difficult away game, those players are unique.
“They have the composure, the balance to get the team playing. That’s what Jorginho reminded me of – he was fantastic.”
Thomas Partey has played a huge role in getting Arsenal back to play in the UEFAchampions league with a series of top-notch performances scoring three in 30 matches.
Former England midfielder,David Beckhamhas noted that he sometimes acted abnormally in his marriage due to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
David Beckham and Victoria have been married for years and know each other perfectly well.
“Everything must be ordered in a straight line and [things] must always be even,” Beckham said.
“When I put soft drinks in the fridge, they must be even numbers, if they are odd I remove one and put it in a different cabinet. If I go to a hotel, before I relax I have to put all the pamphlets and books in the room in a drawer.”
Beckham will soon release a documentary on his illustrious career. It will be produced by Netflix and directed by Fisher Stevens.
The release date has yet to be announced but everything suggests that it will be at some point this year. According to the first information that came out, David will discuss about the hours he spends cleaning and tidying his house before going to sleep and we will see him every night aligning the light switches or cleaning candles.
“It’s tiring going around every single candle cleaning it,” he noted.
“I clip the candle wax, I clean the glass, that’s my pet hate, the smoke around the inside of a candle… I know, it’s weird.
“The fact that when everyone’s in bed I then go around, clean the candles, turn the lights on to the right setting, make sure everywhere is tidy.”
These habits have led to many arguments with Victoria. Some of these disagreements will be shown in the series.
One of the reasons the couple argues is leaving the salt out of place in the kitchen. In addition, both of them in front of the cameras will exchange opinions on this matter in a funny and sarcastic way.
Throughout the series, we will get to know Beckham better as he will show unpublished images of his childhood and home videos of intimate moments of his family.
He will also discuss his professional career and remember his best matches, as well as the goal he scored against Greece to help England to qualify for the 2002 World Cup.
Roberto De Zerbi acknowledges that he “made some mistakes” by not giving Billy Gilmour and Deniz Undav more first-team opportunity before to their pivotal roles in Brighton’s astounding 6-0 victory over Wolves.
The peripheral pair were handed just their third Premier League starts for the Seagulls during Saturday’s club-record top-flight victory and seized their chances with standout performances.
Former Chelsea midfielder Gilmour was hailed as the best player on the pitch by his manager, while German forward Undav bagged a brace to claim his first league goals in English football.
De Zerbi’s decision to begin with key trio Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister and Kaoru Mitoma on the bench raised some eyebrows but was quickly forgotten as his reshuffled starting XI delivered in devastating style.
“We are enduring a very tough period, we are playing so many games in a row and we are not used to playing so many games,” the Brighton boss said of his decision to rotate.
“I thought it was good and right to give Mac Allister, Mitoma and Caicedo one game to recover and for Billy Gilmour and Undav and the players who are playing less the possibility to show their quality.
“But the level of Mac Allister, Mitoma and Caicedo is high and to make competition is difficult for Gilmour.
“Gilmour, I think, was the best player on the pitch and I must admit possibly in the past I made some mistakes with him and with Undav because I didn’t give them many possibilities to play.
“But for me it’s difficult. To play without Mac Allister, Mitoma, Solly March, Moises Caicedo, it’s difficult.”
Brighton’s thumping success was the perfect response to a difficult week as Undav, Pascal Gross and Danny Welbeck claimed two goals apiece.
Albion suffered penalty shoot-out heartache at the hands of Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final last Sunday and then had their European push dented by a 3-1 midweek loss at relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest.
De Zerbi now has a positive selection headache going into Thursday’s rematch with Erik ten Hag’s United in the league but could be without Joel Veltman after he was substituted in visible distress.
The Italian coach conceded he should have withdrawn Dutch defender Veltman earlier, particularly as fellow right-back Tariq Lamptey is sidelined.
“I hope it will be a small problem,” De Zerbi said of Veltman, who has recently been troubled by a hamstring issue.
“It’s important for us, especially in this moment, because we are playing without Lamptey.
“With or without Joel changes a lot of things because only Pascal Gross can play as a right-back.”
Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui urged his players to quickly move on from the Amex Stadium humiliation.
The former Real Madrid manager also feels it is important to put the current situation into perspective given his club were bottom of the table when he took over following the World Cup.
Wplves host local rivals Aston Villa next weekend, with work still to do to eradicate relegation concerns.
“All together we have to be ready for the next fight because we are in the middle of the battle,” said the Spaniard.
“We lost one battle but not the war, so we have to continue to achieve our aim in the end of the season.
“We are aware that we have not done anything yet and we need to get more points.
“We have to recover our energy and our confidence because we have to remember four months ago we were in the bottom.
“It’s a good thing to remember where we were. Now at least we have the possibility to be out of the relegation and that is a very big aim for us.”
Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi’s ex-wife, Hiba Abouk, has said that she needed time to recover from the shock.
Hiba Abouk, requested half of her ex-husband’s assets in a divorce petition.
However, the court informed her that everything was registered in his mother’s name, her “Millionaire”, therefore Achraf Hakimi had no property.
In an interview with ELLE, Abouk said, “I am fine. There are days when it is like this, and others in which you’ve to know how to take blows and make decisions, sometimes complicated, and get used to new situations.
Who would’ve imagined that in addition to facing the usual pain that a separation entails and accepting the grief that the failure of a familyprojectto which I had given myself body and soul entails, I would’ve to face this ignominy. I needed time to digest this shock.”
Abouk continued, “When you separate, you restructure your life, but it’s not anything special either: you’ve to take iron out of the matter. It’s true that, with two children, it is emotionally complicated, but I’m not the first and I will not be the last. The important thing is that I have the peace of mind of having tried and having done everything I had to do.
There are decisions that cannot be made overnight. For me, it’s a premise not to rush in moments of crisis.”
However, there have been reports that the settlement could be challenging, as Hakimi has reportedly registered a significant portion of his wealth in his mother’s name.
Abouk and Hakimi have two children together, Amín, 3, and Naim, 1. The couple married in 2020, two years after meeting in 2018.
The situation is undoubtedly a difficult one for Abouk and her children, and it remains to be seen how the divorce settlement will ultimately be resolved.
However, Abouk’s calm and measured response is admirable, and it’s clear that she is prioritizing her emotional wellbeing and that of her children during this challenging time.
At Ghnewsbuzz.com, we bring you the latest entertainment news from Ghana. We also have reporters from Nigeria who covers Nigerian celebrity news daily. We sometimes bring to our readers other trending entertainment news and relationship stories of high interest on a daily basis.
For each of the upcoming two men’s World Cups, the world football governing body Fifa will now pay clubs £298.74 million ($355 million) for the release of players.
Clubs earned £170.58 million ($209 million) for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The move is the central component of a new Memorandum of Understanding between Fifa and the European Clubs’ Association, which will run to 2030.
The next men’s World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, takes place in June and July 2026.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino and Uefa counterpart Aleksander Ceferin were present at the ECA general assembly in Budapest for the announcement.
It brings to end months of bickering between the two bodies, who had initially been at loggerheads over Infantino’s desire to host a biennial World Cup, an idea that was met with huge opposition.
An expanded 32-team Club World Cup, featuring 12 European teams, has been agreed in its place, with Uefa and ECA support guaranteeing this will be put into the international calendar from 2025 despite opposition from leagues and unease among player unions.
Agreement has also been reached over the concept of a Women’s Club World Cup, although the format of this is still to be decided.
In addition, the ECA has backed Fifa’s plan for a player welfare taskforce, which players’ union Fifpro believes is essential.
The new agreed international match calendar will also include an annual match between the Champions League winner and the winner of an intercontinental playoff.
Infantino said: “This is a significant day for the future of footballand its long-term stability. We are very happy to renew and strengthen our cooperation agreement with ECA, an important stakeholder representing clubs from all over Europe.
“To have the new international match calendar endorsed by ECA provides the necessary balance between club and national team football. We have exciting projects ahead, including the new Fifa Club World Cup in 2025 and the new Fifa Women’s Club World Cup.
“A close collaboration with clubs in Europe, and the rest of the world, will be essential for the success of those events.”
The precise format for the Club World Cup is to be determined but as the four winners prior to the tournament up to 2024 will be included, Chelsea are already guaranteed entry after winning the 2021 Champions League.
In addition, ECA chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who is also president of Paris St-Germain, touched on the close relationship between his organisation and European governing body Uefa in his opening address.
This included another rebuke at Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona, who are awaiting a ruling from the European Courts of Justice over Uefa’s monopoly position, which they believe has put barriers in the way of their cherished European Super League concept.
“In this next era of the ECA, I am determined that we will be recognized for driving financial prosperity and distribution for the entire football pyramid, not just the elite,” Al-Khelaifi said.
“Thinking back to the sorry events in April 2021 – which we should not forget – the ECA’s relationship with Uefa has changed completely in the past two years.
“Today, it is founded on trust, respect and common interest. As a result, we are both much stronger. Thank you President Ceferin.”
Several football players and former coworkers attended John Motson‘s burial.
The greatest names in football and broadcasting gathered today to mourn the passing of renowned pundit John Motson.
On February 23, Motson passed away. For 50 years, his upbeat voice was practically inseparable from some of the most memorable football events. He was 77.
Today, he was laid to rest today at the Crownhill Crematorium in Milton Keynes.
Motson’s co-commentator, Sir Trevor Brooking, led the mourners.
Former football stars such as Ray Stubbs and Bob Wilson as well as Martin Keown, Garth Crooks and Mark Lawrenson showed up to pay their respects.
Martin Tyler, the top football commentator for Sky Sports, also attended the funeral.
Motson, often called ‘Motty’, retired in 2018 after commentating on 2,500 matches, 29 FA Cup finals, 10 World Cups and 10 European Championships.
He was invited onto the pitch when he finally hung up the microphone during the Crystal Palace v West Brom game during the Premier League.
Often seen with his sheepskin coat and thick-framed glasses, Motson joined the BBC in 1968 before working on the BBC’s Match of the Day in 1971.
He became the station’s go-to voice for football for decades and was even appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2001.
BBC’s director-general, Tim Davie, said: ‘John Motson was the voice of a footballing generation.
‘Steering us through the twists and turns of FA Cup runs, the highs and lows of World Cups and, of course, Saturday nights on Match of the Day.
‘Like all the greats behind the mic, John had the right words, at the right time, for all the big moments.’
Motson was a known regular at The George in Little Brickhill, a village in Buckinghamshire, often swinging by three or four times a week.
According to the landlords, he spent his final night doing what he loved: watching football while enjoying a pint.
When Morocco’s “ultras” crowd into a football stadium, the fan groups’ full-throated chants, spectacular pyrotechnics and sometimes rowdy and anti-authoritarian antics often steal the show.
Casablanca’s stadium rings to the chants of passionate supporters of the city’s Wydad club as they raise coloured placards aloft to form a vast, moving mosaic that spells out their motto: “Free souls”.
The club’s die-hard fan group, known as the “Winners”, has a long-earned reputation for flamboyance — singing, setting off smoke bombs and making their cellphone torches dance collectively like fireflies.
Some 10,000 of them regularly pack the north curve of Mohammed V stadium in Morocco’s economic capital, where they have a reputation for drawing more attention than the action on the pitch.
Thousands of supporters are expected to put on their carefully choreographed show again as the team, fresh from winning the African Champions League, competes in the Club World Cup which started on Wednesday.
“I can’t describe my love for the Wydad fans, they’re very special,” said one fan, Houssam Ait Wahman, 18, before a recent Moroccan league match against Fez that he watched with his mother and sisters.
“Fans from all over the world can’t match us,” he boasted about the Winners, who came first in a global ranking by “Ultras World”, a popular Facebook page dedicated to the phenomenon.
– ‘Crowd effect’ –
Some ultras in Morocco and beyond have earned a reputation for violence, mostly brawling with rival fans — but the members are quick to defend what they praise as a fraternity united in their love for the game.
“Supporting Wydad is a passion, a commitment that goes beyond football,” said Mohamed, a former Winner in his 30s who asked not to give his full name.
The Winners are part of the international ultras culture, which has a strong following across the football-obsessed North African country.
The image of Morocco’s ultras has often been associated with violence between rival groups. After two fans were killed in early 2016, authorities banned ultra fans from football grounds nationwide for two years.
Former Winner Mohamed blamed the “crowd effect” and explained that sometimes “it takes just one person to do something stupid and it all kicks off”.
Moroccan sociologist Abderrahim Bourkia, author of a recent essay on the subculture, said some fans “release their frustrations” through chanting, while others resort to violence.
“The solution is to invest in the education of the youth,” he said.
– City rivals –
Not to be outdone by the Winners, fans of Wydad’s main Casablanca rival, Raja, also have a reputation for crowd-pleasing and exuberant performances.
“Putting on a show is the hallmark of the ultras,” said Bourkia. “It’s a way for them to express themselves and showcase themselves.”
Raja’s two ultras groups, the “Green Boys” and “Ultras Eagles”, are known for their overtly left-wing political slogans, both in the stadium and on social media.
Their song “F bladi delmouni” (They Oppressed Me In My Own Country) calls out inequality and social injustice in the kingdom.
The song has spread beyond Morocco’s borders and has been sung by pro-democracy protesters in neighbouring Algeria and even by Palestinians.
“The Raja fans have an activist culture that gives voice to the voiceless, to stand up against oppression and condemn corruption,” a former Raja ultra told AFP.
The phenomenon turns stadiums into “spaces of free expression”, Bourkia said.
“Being part of the ultras is a unique experience,” said another Raja supporter. “Feeling that you’re being heard helps forge a personality.”
European top-flight football clubs have dominated the sports sector in terms of revenue per year, with 15 of the top 20 sports teams being European football clubs. This article will explore how these clubs have earned so much money and why they dominate the sports industry.
Broadcasting Revenue
Football is the most popular sport on the planet, and it is this popularity that makes it so valuable to broadcasters. In 2015, the Premier League received over 6.5 billion dollars in broadcasting rights, compared to the roughly 1.3 billion dollars paid to La Liga. This is why television rights are so hotly contested between the companies that can afford to bid for them.
Champions League
The Champions League is the most prestigious club competition in Europe and is only available to those who compete in Europe’s premier club championship. This is why finishing in the top four of the Premier League is usually a fierce competition, with those who miss out paying the price. For example, Manchester City earned approximately 100 million dollars from their Champions League exploits in the 2015-2016 season.
Parachute Payments
Despite 93 million dollars in parachute payments to soften the pain of relegation, it can still be a horrific experience for teams at the bottom of the Premier League. This is due to the gap between the Premier League and the divisions below it in the football pyramid, which is significantly wider than the distance between those in the Championship and those in the Champions League.
Online Football Betting A Growing Source of Revenue for Football Clubs
Online football betting has become increasingly popular in recent years, and it is another source of revenue for football clubs. Many online betting companies like MelBet and Linebet offer odds and markets on football matches, and they often feature promotions and bonuses for customers to take advantage of. This increased interest in online football betting has led to a rise in the amount of money being wagered on the sport. This, in turn, has led to an increase in revenue for football clubs, as they can monetize the popularity of the sport and attract sponsorship deals from betting companies. It is important to note that this industry is heavily regulated and some countries may have restrictions or laws that prohibit online gambling.
It is worth noting that as online betting is a relatively new way of generating revenue for football clubs, the impact it has on the overall revenue is still not clear. Nonetheless, it has become a significant stream of income for the clubs and the industry is expected to grow in the coming years.
Conclusion
Football clubs dominate the sports industry in terms of revenue per year, thanks to their popularity and the lucrative broadcasting and Champions League deals. This is why television revenue is the most important source of cash for football clubs. However, it also highlights the divide between the top clubs and the rest of the field, which can make it difficult for teams at the bottom of the Premier League to survive.
This is the list, updated to date, of the most expensive transfers that have ever taken place in the world of football. Although nowadays agreements with variables and bonuses make them changeable, here are the ten players who have cost the most money.
Nowadays, talent in the world of football is overflowing. Although more and more clubs are trying to detect them at an early stage in order to sign them and train them at home, some of them make their breakthrough too late and have to go for the big bucks. Here is a list of the ten players who have been paid the most money in history.
The world of football has been evolving economically. The sport has become more and more a business, which is why the financial aspect has become more and more important. The television industry boom or the pandemic have marked very specific circumstances. For example, a more and more normalised trend is that of agreeing transfers for a fixed amount, later complemented by performance bonuses.
Players who cost 100 million, but who are now worth 140 million or similar cases. In this list we count how the operations were at the time of release, as the variables condition the classification.
These are the 10 most expensive transfers in football history:
Romelu Lukaku (115 million)
Romelo Lukaku’s return to Chelsea last summer made him the biggest transfer fee in the history of the club. The 115 million that the London club paid for the player brings the total amount clubs have paid for the Belgian in his entire career to 327 million.
Eden Hazard (115 million)
In the summer of 2019, the Belgian cost Real Madrid 100 million euros plus a further 30 million euros in variable fees. As of today, in fact, the cost is already at 115 million euros. However, several Belgian media, following a scam in the country, published that the real amount that Chelsea had received was 160 million, something that th ‘Merengues’ denied.
Cristiano Ronaldo (117 million)
He has made history in many ways, including the cost of his transfers. In 2009, Real Madrid landed him from Manchester United for 96 million, an outlay that no club had ever made before. Then, in the summer of 2018, the 117 million that Juventus paid to the Santiago Bernabeu side made him the highest transfer in the Serie A history.
Jack Grealish (117.5 million)
Manchester City broke the bank in the summer of 2021 with the signing of the Aston Villa captain and one of the Premier League’s most talked-about players for a whopping €117.5 million.
Antoine Griezmann (120 million)
Barcelona took advantage of the Frenchman’s clause being lowered from 200 million to 120 million to sign him from Atletico Madrid, even though the red-and-whites fought to prove they were wrong. At that point, the striker matched the fixed 120 million that Barca had paid shortly before for Coutinho.
Enzo Fernandez (121 million)
Chelsea were impressed by his great performance in the World Cup and made a bid to sign him in January 2023. Although Benfica stood firm, in the end an offer of 121 million euros led to his transfer to the Blues.
Joao Felix (127.2 million)
Atletico Madrid surprised by breaking the bank to gamble on the Portuguese. To the 126 million of investment, the Madrid club had to add the 1.2 of the solidarity payment mechanism to Porto.
Ousmane Dembele (135 million)
Another example of Borussia Dortmund’s economic and sporting management and a model of modern transfer, as he cost Barcelona 105 million initially, but they have already paid 135 million for the bonuses that have been fulfilled.
Phillipe Coutinho (135 million)
Months after Dembele was the most expensive signing in Barcelona’s history, Coutinho was the next, raising the bar to the unprecedented €120m. Also included in his contract were easily enforceable variables that put the spending at around €135m.
Kylian Mbappe (145 million)
His case was the first and most famous case of a loan with an option to buy. Monaco sent him on loan to PSG with a huge mandatory purchase option of 145 million. Although at the time there was talk that it would be 180, for the remaining 35 to be fulfilled, the French striker would have to be transferred before the end of his contract (2022) or renew, which has not yet happened. This is what ‘L’Equipe’ maintains.
Neymar (222 million)
It seems very difficult for anyone to beat this record. Not only was it the biggest investment in history, it was also an unprecedented football marketing operation, given that it seemed impossible that a sheikh’s chequebook could take him away from Leo Messi. Without bonus or negotiation, PSG paid a clause that at the time seemed unaffordable.
Brazil football legend Pele, one of the greatest players of all time, has died at the age of 82.
The former striker, who is the only player in history to win three World Cups, passed away at the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo following a battle with cancer.
A message from Pele’s official Twitter account on Thursday read: “Inspiration and love marked the journey of King Pelé, who peacefully passed away today. Love, love and love, forever.”
Pele, who is Brazil’s joint all-time top scorer with 77 goals in 92 matches, became an icon of the game after winning the World Cup in 1958 as a 17-year-old, netting twice in the final to defeat hosts Sweden.
Pele, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, to a poor family in Sao Paulo, won the 1958, 1962 and 1970 World Cups with Brazil.
Injury restricted his contribution to Brazil’s triumph in 1962 in Chile but he was player of the tournament eight years later, as Brazil assembled one of the greatest sides of all time and lifted the Jules Rimet trophy in Mexico thanks to a 4-1 win over Italy in which Pele scored the opening goal.
That goal makes him one of only five players to have scored in two World Cup finals and, thanks to his exploits in 1958, he remains the youngest player to have netted a goal at the tournament.
In total, Pele scored 12 goals in 14 World Cup appearances and also provided 10 assists – the most by any player in the history of the competition, and a reminder that he was much more than a goalscorer.`
It was his spectacular scoring feats, though, that made him a Santos legend at club level.
Pele holds his hometown side’s all-time goal record and helped them to two Copa Libertadores titles and six Brazilian league crowns during a glittering 18-year spell with the club.
Pele, who scored 1,281 goals in 1,363 games for club and country during his career, ended his playing days at New York Cosmos and retired from football in 1977.
Image: Pele celebrates winning the 1970 World Cup
After retiring, Pele acted as an ambassador for football. In 2013, he was awarded the FIFA Ballon d’Or Prix d’Honneur in recognition of his career and achievements. In 2020, he was named in the Ballon d’Or Dream Team, a greatest of all-time XI.
Neymar: King Pele is forever
Neymar, Brazil’s joint-highest scorer in men’s international football alongside Pele, shared an emotional tribute to his idol following his passing.
“‘Before Pelé, 10, was just a number’,” Neymar, who wears the No 10 for Brazil and also started his career with Santos, wrote in a post on Instagram.
“I’ve read this phrase somewhere, at some point in my life. But this sentence, beautiful, is incomplete.
“I would say before Pelé football was just a sport. Pelé has changed it all. He turned football into art, into entertainment.
“He gave voice to the poor, to black people and especially: he gave visibility to Brazil. Soccer and Brazil have raised their status thanks to the King! He’s gone but his magic remains. Pelé is forever.”
Martin Tyler: ‘In the football world Pele is immortal’
Sky Sports football commentator Martin Tyler says Pele deserves to be remembered as the best player to have played the game.
He said: “For me he is the greatest player of all time. One of my early jobs outside of television was to put the English voice on a VHS, as it was in those days, of his Brazil career and his 1,000 goals.
“If I had any doubts about how good he was, that video proved it. It was a privilege to do that and pay tribute to a man who could do so much more than score goals.
“He will always be remembered for the ability to score amazing goals in terrible conditions on bumpy pitches, when players had more license to use all means to stop him. He was irresistible.
“Undoubtedly for me he will always be the greatest and in the football world he is immortal.”
The gambling industry has become closely interconnected with football. Big brands in the gambling sector are sponsoring teams in the Premier League. Players also have deals as brand ambassadors for certain gambling businesses. Daily Fantasy Sports, and eSports competitions also heavily feature this sport. Finally, there are many slots that are inspired by football. This is an ongoing trend that isn’t exclusive to gambling developers. Rocket Leagues is a massive hit that’s available on both mobile and other gaming devices. It’s basically football with cars. Here we will go over a few casino games that are inspired by football, and also touch upon why developers continue to make these titles.
Why Do Casinos Host These Slots?
Gambling businesses aim to be as appealing and as accessible as possible. There are numerous bonuses and promotions that help operators acquire new users. In Norway, their online casino Norge sites are made more accessible by allowing players to use widely available payment methods. It’s easy to find reputable visa casino, or sites that accept visa cards, as well as other popular banking methods. They also aim to provide a rich collection of slot games.
This is why there are so many different themes for slots ranging from famous IPs to other abstract and popular concepts. Since football is the favorite sport in Europe it’s understandable why many developers want to capitalize on the hype
Football Champions Cup
Created by one of the leading studios, NetEnt, Football Champions Cup features some impressive visuals. The slot is inspired by football competitions in the UK and the symbols are pretty much what you would expect. Many of the online casino Norge sites host games made by NetEnt, which is a way to show support for a Scandinavian gambling company. You can find reputable operators on toppcasinonorge.com and find out about the different promotions they offer. More importantly, you can play the Football Champions Cup on almost any of the listed websites. This game was released in 2016 and the multiplier can go up to 1000x the stake.
Football Fever
The Football Fever slot from 2022 was created by CQ9Gaming and features some neat art design. You will immediately recognize the players based on their caricatures. Let’s briefly mention some of Football Fever’s key features:
5-reels 3-row layout
243 Paylines
Max multiplier 15,000x
Min bet 0,5 euros
Max bet 1,000 euros
The game also features wild and scatter symbols that can lead to free spins rounds. If you love this sport and are a fan of the most praised player then definitely give Football Fever a few spins. Bear in mind that there are other slot games that use the same name, so if you want to try this one in particular, search for the most recent version released by CQ9Gaming.
Football Star Deluxe
This real money slot was developed through the collaborative work of Microgaming and Stormcraft Studios. It was released in 2020 as a sequel to another game. It has a 5-reel 5-row layout which guarantees you will have an exciting and engaging gameplay experience. The sound effects and animations are both great, so make sure you play with sound on. Moreover, this is a cascading slot which means a lot of things can happen in a single spin.
Bicicleta
Because of its name, this slot can easily fly under your radar for football-themed games. However, this is a really great-looking game, developed by Yggdrasil Gaming. The name is probably a nod to a popular bicycle kick, a rare maneuver that can lead to a legendary goal and a memorable match. It almost happened during the recent France-Morocco match in the World Cup 2022. It’s a 5-reel 4-row slot with an RTP of over 96%. It has 25 betways and medium volatility. So you might not get some frequent hits but the rewards for them are pretty decent.
Conclusion
There are plenty of other slots that you can try if you are a football fan. World Cup Mania, Hot Shots, and Super Striker are all great examples. It’s important to mention that you should always be responsible while playing these games. Don’t play with money you cannot afford to lose, and don’t spend anything just to give them a try. There are plenty of sites where you can play a demo version for free and see whether you like it or not. Also, be on the look out for no-deposit bonuses or other promotions that allow you to get more value for your buck.
Mila Roy
Mila Roy is known for her fascination with gaming and writing. Since she is a gamer herself, all her articles have depth, and our readers love them. Mila enjoys Resident Evil in her free time and never says no to a friendly match in Mortal Kombat.
FIFA has confirmed a new match ball will be used for the final stages of the World Cup.
The Al Hilm, which succeeds the Al Rihla, will be used in the semi-finals, third-place play-off and final of Qatar 2022, having been introduced for the last four games by adidas.
The existing ball, which has been implemented with technology to assist in tracking and helping referee decisions across the tournament, has been used so far across the group stages and initial knockout rounds.
But the Al Hilm, which will come with a gold base design and triangular pattern paying tribute to the deserts surrounding major host city Doha, will now take its place.
Adidas general manager Nick Craggs said: “Al Hilm represents a beacon of light on the power of sport and football to bring the world together.
“Millions will tune in from almost every country around the globe, united by their passion for the game. We wish all teams involved in the final stages of the tournament the best of luck.”
The semi-finals have been set for Qatar 2022, with 2018 winners France and runners-up Croatia both potentially in line for a rematch in the final four years on.
The pair will play Morocco, the first African nation to reach the last four in the tournament’s history, and former winners Argentina respectively.
Football fans in Qatar who are supporting Argentina, have been filmed chanting racist abuse targeted towards France’s national football team ahead of the World Cup.
In the footage a group of men can be seen chanting that all the French players are from Angolawhile also referencing the Nigerian and Cameroonian heritage of some of the players.
In one of the chants they make an explicit remark about star Kylian Mbappé, who plays for France and is of Cameroonian and Algerian heritage.
After a few seconds, the fans making the insulting remarks are cut off by the TV reporter.
Racism in football has been prevalent for many years, with black players receiving abuse whilst on the pitch and on social media.
It remains one of the most intense moments in the country after the country’s national football team, the Black Stars, made their third appearance at the World Cup, which was fraught with a lot of scandals.
The 2014 World Cup in Brazil saw Ghana get eliminated at the group stage of the competition, but it also came with several camp-related stories, among other stories of corruption allegations.
Recalling the moments and some of the happenings during the period, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, who was the Minister of Youth and Sports, explained how he received one of his biggest blessings in disguise.
He explained that, upon the return of the team to the country and the eventual setting up of the Dzamefe Commission to look into the issues surrounding Ghana’s appearance at the Mundial, he got a unique opportunity to understand things better.
In hindsight, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah says he would not advise any politician to consider using state money to send supporters to a soccer tournament like the World Cup.
“With the benefit of hindsight, I probably should have… I should have just left it, and they would have said whatever they wanted to say, and it would have saved me a lot of headaches.
“It’s not worth it and I would advise – and I’ve been saying this that the current minister, in this economic crisis, don’t bother our supporters. If you want to go and watch the World Cup, if you have your own money, get your ticket and go. So, those were the lessons, of course, fortunately, or not, the Commission was a blessing in disguise,” he said.
Speaking to Edward Smith Anamale on GhanaWeb TV’s Election Desk, the aspiring General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said that it was during the hearings of the Dzamefe Commission that he heard some of the wildest things.
Elvis Afriyie Ankrah said that some of the allegations were so wild that they even involved stories that his wife and his mother were also implicit in some purported corrupt practices.
“There were all manner of wild stories. I’d give you just a few. There’s this story that my wife was a caterer… I mean, my wife has absolutely nothing to do with cooking; the only reason she went was because we buried her mother three weeks earlier. So, I took my wife and my two kids because the other one was in boarding school, and I bought the tickets myself –Air Portugal- and took them.
“It was not at government expense but there was the story out there. They said my mother was in charge of replica jerseys. What they didn’t know is that my mother doesn’t live in Ghana; my mother has never lived in Ghana since I was six months old. She doesn’t know the difference between a corner kick and a penalty. She has no idea so when I told her, ‘Mummy, they said you are in charge of replica jerseys, she said what is that?’ she has no idea,” he said.
Elvis Ankrah also recalled how there was news that he had paid about $2000 just for coconuts when, in actual fact, after the Commission’s hearings, it was established that he was not guilty.
He added that by the time he left office as the Minister of Youth and Sports, he was able to leave behind well over $4 million of the money the government gave them to go to the World Cup.
“I woke up one day and there was one of the papers with me sitting with some ministers, with coconut in front of us. They said coconut was $200, $2000. There was nothing about coconut. I drink coconut always because I’m a health-conscious person, and at the camp, coconut was virtually free. And even if you buy it, it’s less than $1. Nothing; it was all manufactured.
“It was later that I got to know that there were some unseen hands behind it but I keep saying that if those things had not happened, and especially if the commission had not been put in place, and a report officially there, which shows clearly I was audited by Ernst and Young… by the time I was leaving office, the World Cup money itself, which government gave to us, $4.444 million was left in the account,” he explained.
Football fans travelling to the 2022 FIFA World Cup could be thrown in jail if they travel to Qatar with pork, porn or sex toys.
With less than a week to the start of the tournament, the United Kingdom government has published foreign travel advice pertaining to the World Cup.
The advice urges its nationals to respect all local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times in the Islamic country.
See a list of some dos and donts if you are travelling to Qatar;
Drugs
There is zero tolerance for drug-related offences in Qatar. The penalties for the use of, trafficking, smuggling and possession of drugs (even residual amounts) are severe. Punishment can include lengthy custodial sentences, heavy fines and deportation.
Many people transit via Hamad International Airport on their way to other destinations. The airport makes use of the latest security technology, all bags are scanned and transiting passengers carrying even residual amounts of drugs may be arrested.
Some prescribed and over-the-counter medicines may be controlled substances in Qatar. If you need to bring in controlled/prescription medication into Qatar, ensure you carry your official doctor’s prescription, hospital note or a letter from your GP, detailing the drug, the quantity prescribed and dosage. This note or letter should also be signed by the doctor/consultant and stamped by the hospital or surgery.
Alcohol
It is an offence to drink alcohol or be drunk in public. British nationals have been detained under this law, usually when they have come to the attention of the police on a related matter, such as disorderly or offensive behaviour. For example, drinking in a public place could result in a prison sentence of up to 6 months and/or a fine up to QAR3,000. Alcohol is available only at licensed hotel restaurants and bars, and expatriates living in Qatar can obtain alcohol on a permit system. Don’t carry alcohol around with you (except to take it on the day of collection from the warehouse to your home). The legal drinking age in Qatar is 21, and establishments serving alcohol will ask for original photo ID upon entry.
Offensive behaviour
Swearing and making rude gestures are considered obscene acts and offenders can be jailed and/or deported. Take particular care when dealing with the police and other officials.
Photography/media
Be aware of cultural sensitivities when filming or photographing people and religious, military or construction sites. Some visitors attempting to film or photograph in sensitive areas have been arrested. If in doubt, seek permission.
If you’re working as a journalist, you’ll need to get permission from the Qatar News Agency (QNA) to film or photograph as part of your work and enter the country on a visiting press permit. This permit will clear technical equipment like cameras through airport customs and provides other necessary information.
There are strict privacy laws in Qatar. Posting material (including videos and photographs) online that appear to insult, slander or are culturally insensitive, may be considered a crime punishable under Qatari law. Individuals have been detained, prosecuted and/or convicted for posting this type of material.
Importation of Goods
Importing drugs, alcohol, pornography, pork products and religious books and material into Qatar is illegal. All luggage is scanned at Hamad International Airport Arrivals Hall. DVDs and videos may be examined, censored and confiscated.
Qatar law also prohibits the importation, sale and purchase of electronic cigarettes, liquids and other similar products (eg electronic shisha pipes). The law applies regardless of quantity and intended use. Customs officials may seize and confiscate any such items found entering the country by any means, including in passengers’ luggage or sent by post.
Dress code
You should dress modestly when in public, including while driving. Women must cover their shoulders and avoid wearing short skirts. Both men and women are advised not to wear shorts or sleeveless tops, when going to government buildings, health care facilities or malls. If you do not dress modestly, you may be asked to leave or be denied entry to these locations.
Dressing modestly is especially important during the holy month of Ramadan.
Relationships outside of marriage
Any intimacy in public between men and women (including between teenagers) can lead to arrest.
Living together whilst unmarried is prohibited in Qatar, and sex outside of marriage, regardless of whether this is same sex couples or opposite sex couples, is illegal. This can lead to arrest and a potential court case where the judgement can include a fine, a custodial sentence and deportation once the sentence is complete. This is especially so where the behaviour has caused offence. See Local laws and customs page.
Due to the laws on sex outside marriage, if you become pregnant outside marriage, both you and your partner could face imprisonment and/or deportation. Doctors will ask for proof of marriage during ante-natal checks. An unmarried woman who gives birth in Qatar may also encounter problems when registering the birth of the child in Qatar, and could be arrested, imprisoned or deported. To get a birth certificate from the Qatari authorities, you must provide a marriage certificate and the authorities may compare the date of the marriage against the estimated date of conception.
LGBT
Homosexual behaviour is illegal in Qatar.
Financial crimes
Financial crimes, including fraud, giving somebody a cheque which bounces (including post-dated and ‘security cheques’) and non-payment of bills (for example hotel bills or car hire) can result in imprisonment and/or a fine and deportation in Qatar. Bank accounts and other assets may also be frozen. You may also be liable for cheques that you have signed on behalf of a company.
If you have unpaid loans or financial commitments you won’t be able to cancel your residence permit, and may find yourself subject to a travel ban which will prevent you from leaving Qatar including to go on holiday. All debts should be settled in full before you leave the country. Ask your bank for a certificate to confirm you have no outstanding debt once you have cleared the balance.
Equally, you may find that there is a block on your sponsorship which will prevent you from transferring to a new sponsor (employer) and any end of service benefits you may be entitled to could be used to offset the outstanding debt.
Deportation
Should you be found guilty of committing an offence, the State of Qatar reserves the right to issue an Administrative Deportation order. This is regardless of whether the judgement included deportation. If you are employed in Qatar this will obviously impact your employment and may affect your ability to return to Qatar in the future.
Hearts of Oak were unable to record their third consecutive win in the Ghana Premier League after sharing the spoils with Karela United on home turf.
The Phobians entertained the Pride of the West at the Accra Sports Stadium in matchday 6 fixture.
The reigning FA Cup Champions who had a season turn around under new trainer Slavko Matic were held to a pulsating 0-0 draw against Karela United on Sunday.
Despite creating numerous scoring opportunities in the game, both teams were unable to find the back of the net.
Hearts of Oak after a back to back wins against Bibiani Goldstars and Kotoku Royals hoped for a win but Karela united proved to be stronger side.
Both teams went into the much-anticipating clash with victories in their previous league encounters.
Hearts of Oak defeated Kotoku Royals 1-0 at away while Karela United inflicted a narrow win over Bechem United in matchday 6.
Slavko Matic side currently sits 10th position on the league log with 9 points whiles Karela United occupies 7th spot with 10 points.
The Ghana Premier League will go on a one month break for the 2022 World Cup tournament in Qatar.
The league is expected to bounce after the biggest soccer mundial in the Asian country.
The Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Football Association (GARFA) Mr. Samuel Aboabire has presented footballs from the GFA to 91 Division Two Clubs in the Greater Accra Region, ahead of the 2022/ 23 season.
He said the ball will reduce their equipment costs.
The 91 second-division clubs taking part in the league have been divided into 6 Zones, comprising 15 teams in each.
Addressing delegates, observers, and media at the 2022/23 Congress held at the Accra Sports Stadium last Thursday, Mr. Aboabire revealed that the new season will kick off on a mid-week date, December 14, and will follow the same format where the winners from each zone will play in the middle-league play-off to determine the representative for the Division One League (DOL) slot.
He said three clubs will be relegated at the end of the season and asked clubs to practice modern trends of football, including information technology in the registration of players.
According to Mr. Aboabrie, affiliation fees will be pegged at Ghc1,000 for division 2 clubs, Ghc500 for third division sides, Ghc500 for female clubs, and Ghc350 for colts / juvenile teams.
He said officiating fees will be increased to Ghc250 for the second division, Ghc100 for the third division, and Ghc50 for the women’s teams due to the economic situation in the country.
He expressed that players and club administrators who fail to comply with rules will face the
and if found guilty will be punished.
He also advised the clubs to register and give opportunities to young players.
The Isles of Scilly Football League is the world’s smallest official football league, consisting of only two teams that play each other seventeen times a season.
As the home of football, England has always been crazy about the team sport, and the Isles of Scilly, an archipelago of more than 140 islands off the southwestern tip of Cornwall, is no exception. Like many other regions of England, the isles have their own football league, but what sets them apart is the size of the league – it consists of just two teams, the Garrison Gunners and the Woolpack Wanderers, that play each other every weekend during a season, as well as in two yearly cups and the traditional ‘Old Men versus the Youngsters’ game played on Boxing Day.
“The games are always competitive and everyone always gives their all. It is a unique league, but that’s the nature of the Isles of Scilly,” local player Will Leathbridge said. “At the start of every season we mix up the teams to make it a bit more interesting so you are playing against different people. The players are divided up into positions and then alternative picks are selected by captains.”
But isn’t playing against the same team every weekend get boring after a while? Well, players in the Isles of Scilly Football League will tell you that life “is only boring without football”. So as long as they have someone to play against, no one complains.
Local football enthusiasts say that there was a time in the early 1900s when the league consisted of teams from all five inhabited islands in the archipelago. But that all ended sometime in the 1950s, and there have only been two teams since.
Interestingly, both the Garrison Gunners and the Woolpack Wanderers only rely on the inhabitants of St. Mary’s island as a recruitment pool for players. The annual draft is getting harder every year, as the island’s young continue to leave in search of better prospects on the mainland. And bringing in players from the other islands is a tough proposition considering the difficulty of crossing during storms and in the frequent fog.
“Players do come from other islands but that in itself can lead to problems. If it is too dangerous to cross then they can’t play,” Leathbridge said.
The world’s smallest football league shot to fame in 2008, when Adidas came to St. Mary’s to shoot its “Dream Big” commercial. Football stars like Patrick Vieira, Daniele De Rossi, David Beckham, Michael Ballack, Steven Gerrard were flown in for the shoot, and the idea of a two-team league really captured people’s imagination. Football enthusiasts, news outlets and major corporations have been coming here ever since.
“Since then, we’ve had everything from Sky Sports, talkSPORT, The New York Times, BBC. We’ve also had a lot of international coverage,” Will Leathbridge said. “We’ve been on national television during the Rome derby in Italy, during a Bayern Munich Champions League game, an online piece from a company in Brazil.
We had Vodafone do a campaign here where they introduced fan-assisted refereeing to one of our games.
And we’re featured in the FIFA museum because every four years we play a team from Penzance for the chance to win the world’s smallest trophy. It’s 2mm.
Ibrahim Sulemana Karikari will enter the stadium Marcantonio Bentegodi against Juventus on Thursday with every reason to be joyful.
The budding Hellas Verona starlet should not even be on a football pitch.
A promising trial period with fellow Serie A side Atalanta courtesy Ghanaian agent Oliver Arthur’s ArthurLegacy Sports was scuppered by a devastating injury. Chances of ever making back were limited and he was released. Such is the reality of top flight football.
“Those were tough times for me. Filled with many moments wondering if this was it for me as a footballer he recalls. Fortunately for him he had support from his family in Ghana and also his management team at ArthurLegacy.
“It’s quite amazing to see Sulemana enjoying his football again. For most it’s a big moment for him today to start against a team like Juventus but I see it from a transformation perspective” .
“What was almost truncated has been fixed through his hard works and the benefits are being reaped . These are the best moments for me as an agent” says Oliver Arthur .
Salvatore Bocchetti’s team have not had many bright lights this season in what has been a difficult season so far.”
Sulemana has been one of the few , paying back the team that took a chance on him to pay for his surgery and recuperate him.
“I spent a full year away from football after my injury, recovering from surgery and then the hard work of getting back into active shape.”
Whatever the outcome of the game against Juventus tonight, Sulemana has come full circle and looks set for a path towards greatness.
According to popular comedian and musician Kwadwo Nkansah also known as “LilWin,” he is the highest-paid football player in Ghana.
He stated that he receives the highest pay among all football players that play professionally in Ghanaian football leagues in an interview with Andy Dosty on the Daybreak Hitz.
“The whole of Ghana, I’m the highest-paid footballer. I’m not talking about those playing internationally, I’m talking about those who are playing in the Ghana Premier League”, LilWin told Andy Dosty.
The popular comedian joined Division One League team New Edubiase United at the age of 34. He displayed his skills in one of the club’s training sessions after signing.
LilWin signed a two-year deal with New Edubiase United, an outfit aiming for promotion to the Ghana Premier League.
He also serves as an ambassador for the Division One team. On Friday, October 14, 2022, Kwadwo Nkansah was introduced as one of the six new players that would be joining the squad ahead of the new season.
Thaddeus Sory, Lead counsel for former President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi, has stated that his side is only ensuring due processes are followed in the ongoing criminal trial of his client.
According to the private legal practitioner, the decision to seek a Supreme Court ruling to quash an order of the High Court granting investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas the right to testify against his client with his identity hidden is to ensure due process is followed.
“We are not bent; that is a constitutional provision. If you check, it says every trial should be in public. It is statutory; it is a constitutional right to have your trial in public. So if you want to go contrary to that, it should be a compelling reason. So it is not as wanting somebody or not wanting somebody to testify in camera.
“Basically, that is what it is (following due process), so that is what the constitution says that every proceeding should be in public and that if you want to testify or have a proceeding in camera, there are laid down processes and procedures that you go through. So if he comes today and says that he wants to testify in camera, yes, you should come properly; bring an application, support it with an affidavit,” he told GhanaWeb iLawyer for Kwasi Nyantakyi speaks on Supreme Court ruling on Anas testifying
n an exclusive interview.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, quashed a High Court ruling which granted the journalist the right to testify with a mask in the Republic v Kwesi Nyantakyi & Another case.
Meanwhile, Cromwell Gray LLP, lawyers for the celebrated investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, has urged the public to disregard what it describes as a false reportage within a section of the media that the Supreme Court of Ghana presided over by Baffoe-Bonnie, JSC, has ordered the journalist to testify without a mask.
According to a seven-point release available to GhanaWeb, the lawyers indicated that the Supreme Court in its ruling on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, did not make such an order. They also noted that their client is not being compelled by the apex court to appear in court without his mask.
Mr Nyantakyi and a former Chairman of the Northern Regional Football Association (RFA), Abubakar Alhassan, were charged with conspiracy to commit crime in a football scandal following Tiger Eye PI expose.
Mr Nyantakyi is facing additional charges of corruption by a public officer and fraud by an agent.
They have, however, denied the charges and have been admitted to bail in the sum of Gh¢1m with three sureties each; one of the sureties is to be justified.
Anas, who is a witness of the prosecution nominated to testify against the accused persons after his colleague, Ahmed Suale, who was the lead witness, was murdered on January 19, 2019.
South Africa’s football team offered hope to a divided nation but has struggled to make an impact internationally.
In the early 1990s, the South Africanmen’s football team carried the hopes of millions, that it would bring together a divided nation at the end of apartheid.
In July 1992, the team was readmitted to FIFA after a nearly 30-year ban.
However, Bafana Bafana has failed to make a lasting impact, and observers are divided on the reasons.
Some former national team greats say its problems come from a lack of consistency, others point to the absence of South Africans in top European leagues as an indicator of player quality.
Others say the players, and the team, need to develop their own footballing identity instead of imitating the way teams develop in Europe.
From rising force to flunking out of the group stage
Following the country’s first democratic elections in 1994, the national team looked like a rising force in African football.
It won the 1996 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), lifting the trophy on home soil on its tournament debut, reaching an all-time high FIFA ranking of 16 in August that year.
Things looked promising for Bafana Bafana until the mid-2000s, boasting players such as Benni McCarthy, Steven Pienaar, Quinton Fortune, Lucas Radebe and Fish – all of whom played in the English Premier League. Then the team started to decline.
In the years to follow, Thulani Serero, Kermit Erasmus, Keagan Dolly, Phakamani Mahlambi, and Luther Singh were hailed as potential saviours of South African football but have not achieved consistency.
South Africa has not qualified competitively for a World Cupsince 2002. The team’s failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar meant it will not feature in a third consecutive World Cup since hosting the 2010 edition where it finished third in Group A.
That early exit gave them the ignominious title of being the only host nation in World Cup history not to progress beyond the group stage.
Since 2010, the team has also missed out on qualifying for four of seven AFCON tournaments – most recently the delayed 2021 event held in Cameroon earlier this year.
Even when Bafana Bafana did qualify for the continental event, the team has not advanced beyond the quarter-finals since 2000.
Former Charlton Athletic defender Mark Fish, who played for South Africa in the 1998 World Cup and in three AFCON events, believes a major change in the mindset is needed, and not just among the players and coaches, but also fans and the media.
Katlego Mphela during the game against Mexico in the World Cup 2010 group stages. South Africa is out of a third consecutive World Cup since hosting the 2010 edition [Jason Cairnduff/Action Images/Reuters]
“Sometimes we hear about players playing well in three or four games, and then being talked about as though they are the next best player. Even when I coach youngsters, I find that a player is quickly nicknamed Messi. I tell them they need to earn a nickname like that,” Fish told Al Jazeera.
Strong leagues make better players
Hans Vonk, who was part of Bafana Bafana’s 1998 and 2002 World Cup squads, believes the lack of South African players in Europe’s top five leagues – England, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain – impacts the national team’s performance.
“What we are lacking now is players who play in strong leagues,” said Vonk. “The experience makes them better players internationally.”
Current national team coach Hugo Broos, a Belgian, recently stirred controversy by saying the DSTV Premiership, South Africa’s top league, was not strong enough to equip players for the international stage, and Vonk agrees that the league is well-organized and marketed, but does not meet global standards.
“There is no good reason why a country of 50 million people is not producinggood players regularly,” he said. “The clubs are not focused on youth players but are instead focused first on making money. There is also no structure because the coaches are not educated enough.”
Vonk spent most of his career playing in the Dutch Eredivisie before ending it in South Africa with the now-defunct Ajax Cape Town in 2011.
At the 1998 World Cup, where Vonk started all three group matches, South Africa were outplayed by France in their opening game but went on to draw against Denmark and Saudi Arabia, finishing third in Group C.
In 2002, South Africa started their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Paraguay before claiming their first World Cup win with a 1-0 victory over Slovenia.
Needing only a draw against Spain, an Andre Arendse goalkeeping error meant South Africa crashed out.
“In 2002, we could have reached the last 16 if there was more focus,” said Vonk. “I felt like some of the players did not really feel like they were at a World Cup.”
‘Must do things our way’
Masilo Modubi, another former South Africa international, believes the domestic league harms the progress of aspiring players by trying to emulate systems in Europe instead of forming its own unique football identity.
A former Chelsea youth player, Modubi spent his career in Belgium with Westerlo and Dessel Sport. He currently works as a coach with KESK Leopoldsburg in Belgium.
Modubi said the age limits in the leagues work in Europe because players start their development from the age of six or seven. In South Africa, however, that development doesn’t start until about the age of 21, he said.
“Because of the age limits, the development of players is harmed. We can pick out certain things from Europe but we must still do things our own way. Top former players in South Africa like Teko Modise and Siphiwe Tshabalala only peaked in their late 20s,” said Modubi, adding that many of the best players cannot afford to attend academies.
Former Belgian international Hugo Broos became coach of South Africa’s national team in 2021 [Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters]
In addition, South Africa has had 20 different coaches in the 30 years since its readmission to international football in 1992.
“There is no consistency in the South African national team. We change coaches like we change underwear,” Modubi said.
“For the public, progress is about winning things. For a coach, progress is taking the team in the direction that he wants. The public in South Africa is less patient than other countries when it comes to coaches.”
Modubi also said the country was losing out on “many talented players who will prefer to watch TV and play on their gaming console instead of playing the sport”.
“There are quite a few players who are good but they are too casual and don’t really focus on developing themselves,” he added.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) refused to comment on what ails the national team.
Neil Tovey, a former Bafana Bafana captain and SAFA technical director – who led the team to AFCON success in 1996 – believes a lack of leadership “and poor mentality” from players may be a key factor behind the inconsistency and a fall in performance.
“They have the talent but they do not have leadership as we had in 1996. When things went wrong, we changed it with our own ability. We did not wait until half-time for instruction or for post-match analysis,” said Tovey.
While many have praised Broos for slamming the state of South African football, Tovey thinks the Belgian “must stop looking for scapegoats and try to find something that will make the team better”, and believes South Africa can qualify for the expanded 48-team World Cup that takes placein 2026.
A tiny goal, no goalkeeper and a field the size of a handball court: in Côte d’Ivoire, some dream of seeing the popular maracana, a kind of six-a-side soccer born on campuses some 50 years ago, become an Olympic sport.
On an empty field on the banks of Abidjan’s Ebrié Lagoon, youngsters dribble in the sand, two tires serving as an improvised goal.
The small size of the field and the goal forces the players to combine technique and precision, making maracana, named after the famous stadium in Rio de Janeiro, an ideal training ground for eleven-a-side soccer.
For the youngest members of the Xenox de Treichville club, a “traditional” amateur soccer team in this neighborhood of Abidjan, maracana training is a must every week.
“When you want to teach a child to play soccer, the basis for me is the maracana,” says Adama Ira, who coaches a youth team at Xenox.
“The kids work more on conservation and pressing techniques. When the child is used to bear this pressure, the big field has no secret for him,” adds club president Seydou Badjan Traoré.
While it is impossible to date the invention of maracana with precision, experts of this popular sport believe that the rules were born in the 1970s on the campuses of Côte d’Ivoire.
At the time, students had difficulty gathering enough classmates and having suitable fields to play soccer.
“A discipline apart”
From this constraint were born singular rules: “Maracana is played six against six, without a goalkeeper and on a field with dimensions similar to those of handball” summarizes Charlemagne Bleu, president of the International Federation of this sport.
In the stands of the multipurpose hall of the Treichville Sports Park, the president proudly observes his national team training.
At the end of September in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire won for the eighth time – in nine editions – the Mara’CAN, the African Cup of Nations of maracana.
For Charlemagne Bleu, who works for greater recognition of the discipline, the stakes are high.
“Maracana is not soccer, it is a discipline apart. Our goal is to make it an Olympic discipline,” he said.
According to him, 72 countries on four continents have a federation of this discipline.
Another particularity: it is a discipline that gives pride of place to old hands.
At the Mara’CAN, Africa’s flagship competition, players must be between 35 and 45 years old, an age often synonymous with retirement in soccer.
“The young people (15-34 years old) have their national maracana championship, but generally they remain more attracted to soccer. The seniors are more numerous because they can’t play soccer anymore so they turn to maracana,” explains Charlemagne Bleu.
Some high-level footballers, such as Issouf Koné, 40 years old, are extending their careers.
“Like many of my teammates I played professional soccer at a high level, so the conversion was not too difficult. We plunged back into the maracana so as not to lose the thread of sport and especially soccer” explains the one who played his fourth Mara’CAN with the Ivorian national team.
“Today to be a professional in soccer, it has become so difficult that I think that maracana is a platform that could help many young people” he adds.
Goalscoring hero Veronica Mapunda believes women’s football can lead the way in Tanzania after Tuesday’s 1-1 draw against Canada sealed the country’s historic place in the Under-17 Women’s World Cup quarter-finals.
Needing just a point from their final Group D match to reach the last eight, the Serengeti Girls fell behind when Canada took the lead through Amanda Allen’s 14th-minute penalty.
Yet the Tanzanians remained composed and in the 35th minute, Mapunda equalised after neat build-up to score one of the most important goals in the east African country’s history.
“At that particular moment, I felt great,” Mapunda told BBC Sport Africa.
“This is an opportunity we had been hoping for and it feels good to be part of making this dream come true.
“I am excited. I am proud of myself and my country because my goal made history.”
The result will reverberate back home as Tanzania – playing at their first World Cup at any level – leave a mark on the global stage for the first time in history.
Last year, the senior national team, invited as guests, claimed the Cosafa Women’s Championship, reflecting the growth of the women’s game in Tanzania.
Given her team’s achievements, Mapunda thinks women’s football can now incentivise the country’s men’s teams as well.
“The Under-20 team and the senior team will see this achievement as an opportunity to strive hard, but not just the female teams – the men’s that have not yet qualified for any World Cup as well,” said the Mlandizi Queens player.
Coach Bakari Shime has a similar outlook on what this maiden campaign can do for football, particularly the women’s game, in Tanzania.
“I hope this achievement will maybe stimulate women’s football in our country – it will change it a lot,” he told BBC Sport Africa.
“Every girl in Tanzania needs to play football and needs to play for the national team. I hope this a turning point in our country, and the same for (Central African region) Cecafa and Africa in general.”
Aiming high
The Serengeti Girls celebrate their qualification for the Under-17 Women’s World Cup group stage
In the quarter-finals on Saturday, Tanzania will face Colombia, who topped Group C ahead of Spain on goal difference after wins against both China and Mexico.
While coach Shime has said that the knockout phase is a “bonus” with “no pressure” for his team, Mapunda dreams of more, knowing that the winning team will meet the United States or Nigeria in the last four.
“This was the first big step for us, and we are here to listen to our coach. We are looking to go further and even [reach] the final and make the country proud.”
The Tanzanians had been underdogs coming into their first-ever global tournament, but following a 4-0 defeat against Japan, they bounced back to stun former champions France 2-1 in their second game.
Shime’s team then built on that performance to get a result against the North Americans.
“First of all, we are happy according to what our girls did in this game – they fought hard,” said Shime.
“They press high all of the time, so all of us managed to prevent them from scoring [again]. I give credit to my girls for what they did. The girls have huge determination, they follow instructions.”
The MTN FA Cup holders will take on ASR Bamako on Sunday at the Accra Sports Stadium. The first leg ended 3-0 and the performance of the players angered the supporters.
The NCC chairman sounding positive ahead of the game on Sunday stated that the Phobians have what it takes to beat ASR Bamako but they have to prepare well.
“I am 500% sure because it is football if you understand football the way Real Bamako beat us three we will use the same way but with a different approach to also beat them four or five,” he said on Happy FM as monitored by footballghana.com
“Everything depends on our preparation I think the coach has seen the way ASR Bamako plays football but we have the advantage of playing at home,”
“The only disadvantage is that the team will be playing under so much pressure but I think with the necessary psych we give them the proper psych the is no way that we cant qualify. We have the quality to match the Real Bamako team boot for boot on Sunday,”
Over 150 people died in a stampede during a Liga 1match between rivals Arema and Persebaya on Saturday.
Fans invaded pitch at full time
One of worst football disasters of all time
Liga 1 matches postponed
WHAT HAPPENED? Fans entered the pitch, breaching security at full time after Persebaya beat Arema 3-2. The police then tear-gassed the crowd which led to supporters rushing to the exits. The resulting stampede led to cases of suffocation.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: President Joko Widodo has declared that this must be the country’s “last soccer tragedy”, and games have been suspended while the Indonesian football association carries out a full investigation. The current death toll stands at least 174.
AND WHAT’S MORE: Local police chief Nico Afinta said: “It had gotten anarchic. They started attacking officers, they damaged cars. We would like to convey that… not all of them were anarchic. Only about 3,000 who entered the pitch.” Two police officers also died in the disorder.
WHAT NEXT FOR LIGA 1? The remaining Liga 1 fixtures for the week have been postponed and Arema FC have been barred from hosting matches for the time being.
Ghana has an illustrious soccer history and is a soccer superpower in Africa. Since the team’s formation, the men’s national football team of Ghana has served as the country’s representative in international competitions.
The Black Stars is the team’s moniker in honor of the Black Star of Africa found on the Ghanaian flag. Ohene Djan formed the team in 1957 and has taken home four Africa Cup of Nations championships.
Erik Andreas Sjoberg, one of the first coaches of the Black Stars, was unable to get his team into the 1960 World Cup. Ghana would eventually become a legitimate football powerhouse as a result of the reformers in football, led by Djan, rising to the occasion.
Ghana has earned acclaim in recent years as the first African country to produce a true soccer superstar. As the first African team to play in the World Cup semifinals, this team came very close to making history.
With almost one billion people that watched the 2010 World Cup, the Black Stars’ triumph helped the nation secure its place in the spotlight. The popularity of sports across the continent is a major factor in its growth.
The soccer superpower in Africa boasts a number of lower-level teams in addition to its main squad. The junior team for the Black Stars is the largest in the nation. Two times, the team’s under-20 sides finished second in the African World Cup. They defeated Brazil 4-3 on penalties in 2013 to win the FIFAU-20 World Cup, becoming the first African team to do it.
The Black Stars have finished second five times (1968, 1970, 1992, 2010, and 2015) and have won the Africa Cup of Nations four times (1963, 1965, 1978, and 1982).
They’ve placed third nine times overall and fourth five times. They have won the continental championship four times in the past two years.
They have gained prominence as the soccer powerhouse of Africa thanks to their success. And their supporters adore them. They serve as the continent’s spine.
Qatar 2022
Ghana is among the five nations representing the African continent in this year’s FIFA World Cup. Given the Black Stars’ dismal showing at the Cameroon 2021 AFCON, there was virtually little chance that the country would make its fourth participation at the World Cup later in the year.
But, surprise, magic has worked! Despite a string of subpar performances, the team will be in Qatar in November thanks to Chris Hughton’s technical guidance and the technical team of Otto Addo, George Boateng, and Masud Didi Dramani. Any of these are coaches in their own right, and they all have the credentials to lead the Black Stars by themselves.
Nevertheless, they decided to collaborate, even if it meant swallowing their pride and putting aside their differences in order to work for the good of the country, rebrand the squad, and reignite support for the Black Stars.
Despite the successes the senior national team has chalked in the past years, recent happenings give credence to the question of whether “Ghana is still a football powerhouse on the continent?”
The team hasn’t been able to win enough games after its struggle to qualify for the world cup. Football lovers were somewhat dissatisfied with the tactical decisions that were made in the match against Brazil.
Ghana lost 3-0 to the South American football giant. However, the team redeemed its deteriorating image with a 1-0 win over the Nicaraguan side.
Supporters from both home and abroad can only wish the team well in their quest to bring the coveted trophy to the continent for the first time.
Otto Addo has admitted he made mistakes with his selection on Friday night as Black Stars suffered a 3-0 loss to the Selecao.
In what looked more like a one-sided game, Brazil’s first-half brilliance did the damage as they put three goals past Ghana.
Addo’s starting line-up for the game came under huge criticism and the gaffer was quick to admit he made mistakes in the clash against the five-time world champions in Le Havre.
“I will start with myself because maybe the system was wrong. I have to look at it again and question myself first,” Addo said after the game.
“The lineup was good, but we have to work harder, especially on the set pieces and we have to work harder to close the lines. There were too many gaps between the lines.
“I think I made mistakes, I learnt a lot more about my players, and picking the next 11 will depend on the performance in the next game.”
Addo however, commended the second half performance from his team.
“In the second half, we showed we can also compete with them not only against the ball but also with the ball. Better positions, we had some half chances. I’m happy that in the second half we didn’t allow [a lot of chances].”
The Black Stars will face Nicaragua in the next game on Tuesday in Spain.
Zambia’s Football Association (Faz) has opened an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse in the women’s game following various claims on social media.
The news comes just two months after the highs of Zambia qualifying for the Women’s World Cup for the first time in the team’s history.
Faz says it has received no official complaint as yet but has launched an inquiry in a bid to address any possible issue.
“Although we have no record of official complaints from anyone on the allegations, we consider these allegations very serious and have opened an inquiry into the matter,” Faz General Secretary Adrian Kashala said in a statement.
“We shall collaborate with the Zambia Police Service and other relevant stakeholders in dealing with this matter.”
“We have since written to the Zambia Police to invite anyone with evidence to help with investigations. The nation shall be notified of the outcome of the inquiries once concluded.”
“Until then, we shall provide no further comment on this matter.”
Kashala added that preparations for the 2023 Women’s World Cup ‘remain on course’, with a friendly on 6 October against the Netherlands in Breda unaffected.
Women’s football in Zambia has been on the rise in recent years, with the women’s team playing at the Olympics for the first time last year before reaching their first Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals in July.
This achievement came with automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Earlier this month, the team won the Cosafa Women’s Championship for the first time in its history, with recently-recalled Barbra Banda scoring 10 goals in just five games.
Local football authorities has requested that anyone with any information that can help with the inquiry should ‘come forward and report either to Faz or law enforcement agencies.‘
Zambia is the third African country to probe sexual allegation claims in the last 12 months.
Earlier this year, five individuals were arrested, with some later released, over allegations of paedophilia in Gabon while Sierra Leone suspended its women’s football coach last year as it investigated abuse claims.
This month, a former Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) official was banned from football for five years for sexually harassing three female referees.
Aston Villa Women midfielder Anita Asante has questioned the English FA over a proposal to decide Women’s FA Cup matches by a coin toss after the competition was suspended due to coronavirus.
The English FA have held talks to decide best way to progress with competition after second and third-round matches were postponed following the latest coronavirus lockdown as the Women’s FA Cup classified as ‘non-elite’.
Second and third-round matches in the competition, which is currently classified as non-elite, were postponed last month following the government’s announcement of new lockdown restrictions.
Ghana winger Samuel Owusu has been named in the Saudi Pro League team of week 7 after a man-of-the-match display for Al-Ahli against Damac on Saturday.
The 24-year-old netted twice as Al-Ahli threw away a two-goal lead to lose 4-3 on the road to Damac.
Owusu played only 45 minutes after complaining of stomach complications which forced his substitution at half-time.
The former Vision FC player was the star of the first half, scoring the first and second goals for Al-Ahli before the 20th-minute mark.
The visitors went into the break leading 3-1 but looked uninspired without their star forward surrendering the lead to lose 4-3.
The Ghana international has scored three times in five games for Al-Ahli since joining from Al Fayha.
