TIG Post

Tag: Football

  • Ghana international goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi suffers racist abuse in Swiss League

    Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi was a victim of racial abuse when FC St. Gallen faced FC Lugano on Saturday.

    Ati-Zigi was hooted at and suffered racist chants from the Lugano fans in the Swiss League fixture at the Cornaredo stadium.

    St. Gallen lost the match with a 1-0 scoreline.

    Lugano reported the unwarranted incident on their Twitter page and have assured the perpetrators would be identified and brought to book.

    They wrote on Twitter:

    “Some spectators would have inadequately addressed the guest goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi,”

    “The company “will do everything possible to identify those responsible”.”

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Brian Oddei provides ‘three assists’ in Sassuolo’s victory over Cagliari

    It was a cagey encounter between Sassuolo and a technically gifted Cagliari side in matchday three in Italy’s Primavera division last Saturday.

    And once again it was the Ghanaian youngster, Brian Oddei who stole the show with a memorable performance after providing three decisive assists to teammates to ensure a third straight victory for Sassuolo.

    Brian’s first assist came in the 13th minute after Cagliari took the lead just three minutes into action. Oddei engaged Cagliari defender Michelotti in a mismatch on the right flank and crossed to the far post for teammate Manarelli to equalize.

    The Neroverdi struggled to contain the attacking flow of the visitors as they conceded right before the break. In the second half, Cagliari extended their lead after converting from the penalty spot. But the home side managed to pull one back to make it 2-3.

    Brian Oddei took over the key phase of the game six minutes later, with an inswinger from a set-piece for Andrei Marginean to thump home the header to restore parity. In the 94th minute, the Neroverdi once again found the net after the assist king, Oddei, cut inside to send a cross to the far post for the Ferrara to put the game to bed.

    This takes Brian’s assist tally to four, and a goal in three games for Sassuolo this season. The creative attacking winger registered eight assists for teammates last season.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Autopsy ordered for former Nigeria goalkeeper John Felagha

    An autopsy has been ordered following the death of former Nigeria goalkeeper John Felagha in Senegal at the age of 26.

    Felagha, a goalkeeper-coach at the Doha-owned football academy, died on 31 August. But there is currently no explanation for his sudden death.

    Aspire Academy have now told BBC Sport Africa that he was found on the floor of his room. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts administered on him failed and he was pronounced dead on the spot.

    “His teammates found him on the floor of his room,” said Sam Ahmedu, director of the academy in Nigeria.

    “He collapsed and so it could be related to heart issues. But we are waiting for the autopsy result,”

    Felagha was a member of the Nigerian Golden Eaglets team that reached the final of the Fifa U-17 World Cup in 2009.

    The Bayelsa-born shot stopper was also a part of the Nigerian team to the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup in 2013.

    He joined Belgian side KAC Eupen in 2013. After a long-term injury, he joined Aspire Football Dreams as a goalkeeper-coach, same academy where he was first discovered in 2008.

    “For a young boy to pass at 26, is very sad,” Ahmedu added.

    “The academy is deeply saddened by this loss. We will continue to remember him”.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Teenage twins Enock and Ebenezer Agyei sign three-year contracts with Anderlecht

    Ghanaian twins Enock and Ebenezer Agyei have both signed three-year contracts with Belgian giants Anderlecht.

    The talented duo penned the new deal with the White and Purples after five years at the club.

    Enock, 15, a winger-cum-playmaker, is already in the U21 team led by Craig Bellamy.

    On Monday, 31 August 2020, he featured for the U21 side in their 4-0 win over AS Eupen in the Reserves League.

    Defender Ebenezer Agyei continues to progress with the U16s.

    “In order to pay a nice tribute to their mother, who died at the beginning of the year, they decided to display her name (“ Boateng En ”and“ Boateng Eb ”) on their jerseys if they succeed in joining our first team,” a club statement read.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • What will CAS ruling mean for Ghana football?

    The Court of Arbitration of Sports (CAS) is set to rule on Wilfred Osei Kwaku Palmer’s case against the Ghana Football Association (GFA) on Tuesday, September 1, 2020.

    The Tema Youth Football Club owner has dragged the country’s football governing body to CAS after he was disqualified from running for the Presidential position last year during an elective Congress supervised by the Normalization Committee.

    Mr. Palmer was disqualified for failing to oblige with the regulation of the Ghana FA which stipulates that the body receives 10% from every play sale to a team abroad.

    The football administrator after being booted out of the race did not accept it in good fate as he took the matter to CAS to seek for justice.

    After several months and two postponements, CAS is now set to sit on the case to give a ruling this Tuesday.

    It is unclear what the ruling will be but the airwaves blowing in the country is giving an indication that Osei Palmer is the favorite to win the case.

    If that happens it is very likely that the football community will go for another elective Congress to elect a new GFA President.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Im looking forward to the derby against Eintracht Braunschweig Hannover’s Kingsley Schindler

    Hannover 96 new signing, Kingsley Schindler, has said that he is looking forward to playing against Eintracht Braunschweig next season in the Saxonian derby.

    The two Lower Saxonian association football clubs have one of the strongest rivalries in the history German football.

    Both competing in the German Bundesliga 2 at the moment, they will face off a few times during the 2020/2021 football season.

    Speaking to the media team of Hannover 96, new signing Kingsley Schindler said he is eager to get a taste of the derby.

    “For me as a Hamburger, actually always playing against the Hamburg teams, i.e. HSV and St. Pauli. But because I’m now with Hanover, I’m looking forward to the derby against Braunschweig”, the 27-year-old midfielder said.

    Kingsley Schindler joined Hannover 96 this summer on a season-long loan move from Koln.

    He has expressed his readiness to give out his best to help the team.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • We need about 5-10 years to revive Ghana football – Tony Yeboah

    Former Ghana International Tony Yeboah says Ghana football is in ruins and will require extensive work of between five to ten years before it can be revived.

    He says our game has comatose and will need the experience of experts and the involvement of former players to lift up the game.

    “We need to include more experts and former players in Ghana football” he told Asempa FM.

    “These former players have played the game and so they understand the players more and know what goes on in their minds”

    “We need to brand Ghana football properly, if we want sponsors to come on board.”

    Kurt Okraku took over the reigns of Ghana football last year after a grueling elections in October 2019 and has since hit the ground running but was stopped in his tracks by the coronavirus pandemic and the ultimate annulment of the Ghana Premier League.

    “I pray this new administration takes Ghana football to where it needs to be.”

    “We need about 5-10 years to revive Ghana football,” he added.

    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • Emmanuel Lomotey glitters as makeshift centre-back on debut as Amiens SC pip Nancy in Ligue 2 opener

    Ghana youth international Emmanuel Lomotey excelled as a stop-gap centre-back on his debut for Amiens SC in their 1-0 victory against Nancy Lorraine in the French Ligue 2 on Saturday.

    Lomotey joined the Unicorns from Spanish side UD Extremadura on Tuesday in a deal worth around €500,000.

    The La-born midfielder impressed in training which informed coach Luka Elsner to hand him his debut against Nancy in the opening fixture of the Ligue 2.

    But with experienced defender Aurélien Chedjou out with an injury, the Slovenian tactician paired Lomotey and Monzango-Gendrey at the heart of defence.

    Lomotey held the position as the Stade de la Licorne outfit pipped their opponents 1-0 courtesy a71st minute goal from Sehrou Guirassy.

    It is however not a surprise for those who have followed the career trajectory of the 22-year-old as he can play anywhere across the backline as well as midfield.

    During his formative years with La-based lower-tier side Chelsea, Lomotey was used as a trequartista before being converted into a deep-lying midfielder at Dreams FC and subsequently UD Extremadura.

    The 22-year-old lasted the entire duration of the game.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Continental football to return in November

    The senior national team, the Black Stars will return to action in November, 2020, following the approval of the resumption dates for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and the 2022 World Cup qualifiers by the Confederation of African Football, CAF.

    This was communicated to member associations on Wednesday, August 19, 2020.

    CAF, in March, 2020, postponed all qualifiers indefinitely due to the Corona Virus pandemic.

    The Executive Committee of the continents football governing body, has now decided that the remaining four qualifying rounds for Cameroon 2021 would be cleared during the International football windows in November 2020 and March 2021.

    The Black Stars were just two weeks away from locking horns with Sudan when CAF postponed the qualifiers.

    The statement read “Reference to the decision of CAF Executive Committee, during its meeting held on the 30th of June 2020, to postpone the Final Tournament of the Total Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021 to January 2022 we would like to communicate to you the new dates of the qualifiers of the Total Africa Cup of Nations 2021 and the FIFA World Cup, Qatar 2022”.

    FIFA International Window – Round (Competition)

    5-13 Oct 2020 – Available to National Associations

    9-17 Nov 2020 – Match Day 3&4(Total AFCON 2021)

    22-30 Mar 2021 – Match Day 5&6(Total AFCON 2021)

    31 May – 15 Jun 2021 – Match Day 1&2 (FIFA WC 2022)

    30 Aug – 7 Sep 2021 – Match Day 3&4 (FIFA WC 2022)

    4 – 12 Oct 2021 – Match Day 5&6 (FIFA WC 2022)

    8 – 16 Nov 2021 – Knock-out Matches (FIFA WC 2022

    Source: GNA

  • Christopher Antwi-Adjei scores in SC Paderborn pre-season friendly

    Ghana international winger Christopher Antwi-Adjei was on target for SC Paderborn in their second pre-season friendly on Wednesday.

    The German club have pitched camp in Austria as they intensify preparations ahead of the 2020/2021 season.

    Paderborn drew 1-1 with Austrian second-tier side SK Austria Klagenfurt at the Wörthersee Stadion.

    Antwi-Adjei put his side ahead in the game as early as the 7th minute with a powerful shot.

    The hosts pull parity through Torsten Mahrer as he headed home a corner just three minutes before halftime.

    Antwi-Adjei is expected to be a key figure in Paderborn next season as they seek a return to the German top-flight.

    They suffered relegation from the Bundesliga at the end of the 2019/2022 campaign.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Defender Musah Nuhu begins pre-season training with FC St. Gallen 1879

    Ghana defender Musah Nuhu has resumed training with Swiss club FC St. Gallen as they begin preparations ahead of the 2020/2021 campaign.

    St. Gallen commenced their pre-season training on Wednesday 19 August 2020 as Nuhu joined the rest of his teammates to prepare towards the new season.

    Comprehensive medical check was conducted to ensure all that the players are free from the novel Coronavirus.

    St. Gallen will face Austria Lustenau on Friday in their first pre-season friendly.

    They have also lined up friendlies with German sides SC Freiburg and FC Heidenheim.

    Nuhu, 23, spent most of last season on the sidelines with a long term injury which saw him made only four appearances in Swiss league.

    The highly rated central defender will be hoping to earn a starting role in the team when the season starts.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Ishmael Yartey bags a brace for Hetten FC in their 5-0 win over Al Ansar

    Ghanaian winger Ishmael Yartey bagged a brace for Hetten FC in their heavy win on Monday in the Saudi Arabia first division.

    Hetten saw off Al Ansar with 5-0 mauling at the King Faisal Sport City stadium.

    The former Ghana U17 star scored a penalty in the 38th minute to increase the tally for the hosts after Wesam Waheab and Nigerian forward Chrisantus Macaulay had give them a 2-0 lead.

    Macaulay scored again in the 51st to increase the advantage before Yartey sealed the emphatic victory in the 64th minute with his second goal in the game.

    Yartey has now netted five goals in five matches for Hetten this campaign.

    Hetten are currently lying 17th on the league standings with 29 points after 31 matches played thus far.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Bernard Tekpetey delighted after Ludogoret’s big win over Slavia Sofia

    Ghana forward Bernard Tekpetey climbed off the bench to help Bulgarian champions Ludogorets Razgrad to a thumping 3-0 win over rivals Slavia Sofia.

    The on loan Schalke O4 forward was introduced in the 60th minute, after replacing Dominik Yankov with his side 1-0 up.

    Nusciano Gusmao opened the scoring at the stroke of half time, before Mavis Tchibota added the second in the 73 minute.

    Cosmin Moti made it three from the spot six minutes later to seal the champions’ first win of the campaign.

    Bernard Tekpetey was making his second appearance since joining the club early this month.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Daniel Opare picks injury on his debut for Zulte Waregem

    Ghanaian defender Daniel Opare was forced out of the game on his debut for Zulte Waregem in the Belgium Pro League season on Sunday.

    The versatile defender started on the right side for his side but was withdrawn on the 70th minute for Jean-Luc Dompe afters suffering a knock.

    KFC Genk came back from a goal down to beat Zulte Waregem 2-1.

    The injury will be a big blow to the former Real Madrid youth player having missed the whole of last season due to injury.

    Daniel Opare joined Zulte Waregem from fellow Belgian Pro League outfit Royal Antwerp on a two-year deal in June.

    Source: footballmadeinghana.com

  • Coronavirus: We are not ready for football – Inter Allies coach

    Inter Allies head coach Tony Lokko has disclosed that his team is not ready for the resumption of football as the coronavirus pandemic lingers on.

    Ghana has recorded 32,000 cases since the outbreak of the virus and as the government continues to ease restrictions on some sectors of the economy, football activities remained suspended since March this year.

    The effects of the coronavirus have led to the Ghana FA cancelling the 2019/20 football season with a new date for restart scheduled for October.

    Despite efforts from the Ghana FA to ensure football restart amid the pandemic, Inter Allies coach Tony Lokko has hinted that his players are not ready as safety measures or protocols to ensure football returns in the safest possible means have not been put in place.

    “We are not ready for our football to come back,” Tony Lokko told BBC Africa.

    “I have been communicating with my players and they are also scared. Look at the situation, we are all scared of the virus.

    “The health materials we are supposed to put in place are not ready and that is the fear of everyone at the moment.”

    Meanwhile, the Ghana FA despite announcing to start the Ghana Premier League in October is yet to disclose the plans to ensure all the COVID-19 protocols are adhered to.

    The FA is still engaging the government on ways to ensure football restarts amid the pandemic.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo last week gave the green light for the country junior national teams to resume camping ahead of their international assignments.

    All sporting activities were suspended by the Ghanaian government due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

    However, with the gradual ease of lockdown in the country, the Black Starlets (Male U-17), Black Princesses (Female U-20) and Black Maidens (Female U-17) will resume camp.

    Whilst giving updates on measures taken against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the President said the U-17, U-20 female teams can resume camping ahead of their respective international assignments in September 2020.

    “The playing, technical and management teams must observe strictly all the protocols issued by Government, CAF and FIFA against COVID-19 whilst training,” he said.

    Source: Ghanaian Times

  • Chicken meat has made me big – Danlad Ibrahim responds to age cheating claims

    Age cheating in Ghana football is nothing new as it’s an open secret that most footballers are not using their real ages and use what is termed ‘football age’, as If football is distinctly different from everyday life.

    Kumasi Asante Kotoko goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim has been ridiculed in the past for reducing his age to play for the Ghana U-17 National team, the Black Starlets during the FIFA U-17 World Cup in India.

    At the time of the tournament the plump -looking goalkeeper was ridiculed by many Ghanaians for being too old for a 14-year-old.

    The Kotoko goalie who went on loan at Berekum Chelsea last season has constantly been questioned about his age as physically he looks way older than his age.

    But in an interview with Kumasi based Ashh FM, the goalkeeper responded to claims that he is more than 17 years by saying that he is from a rich home and eats a lot of chicken.

    “I will be 18 years next three months.”

    “Chicken meat has made me like this because I was born into a rich family,” he said.

    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • Forza Italian Football Awards 2020

    The Forza Italian Football Awards are back once more to honour the best of Serie A football for the 2019/20 season.

    Gongs for the best team, coach as well as the players, and much more are up for grabs in some of the most sought after Serie A awards!

    We have travelled to countless stadia and watched hundreds of games in Serie A and never let the coronavirus get us down, while also annoying everyone with the hashtag #FIFattheGames, brought you exclusive interviews, and given you our insights on the Forza Italian Football Podcast.

    From this we have chosen the nominees for each category, but who wins is down to you, the fans! Make sure you vote for your favourite in each of the 10 categories.

    This year is the seventh annual Forza Italian Football Awards to recognise the best of Serie A and Calcio. The voting is open right now and closes 2300 CEST on Monday August 10, 2020 before the Forza Italian Football Podcast review show.

    The winners will then be announced on ForzaItalianFootball.com after the votes have been counted and verified.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Daniel Opare provides two assists as Zulte Waregem beat Gent

    Ghana international, Daniel Opare provided two assists as Zulte Waregem beat KAA Gent 2-1 to wrap up their preparations for the start of the Belgian Pro League.

    The right-back ensured that his side took the lead after only 25 seconds following his assists to Sadio Berahino for the first goal.

    After eight minutes, Opare sent another cross to Jelle Vossen who smashed it in to double their lead.

    In the 55th minute, Yaremchuk reduced the deficit.

    Opare has worked his way into the starting XI and he is expected to be a key player when the season starts next Saturday, 8 August, 2020.

    He joined Zulte Waregem on a free transfer after leaving fellow Belgian Pro League side Royal Antwerp.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Okraku can succeed if he unites football and media factions – Ampofo-Ankrah

    The Chairman of Ghana Beach Soccer has expressed confidence that Ghana football would soon bounce back as a stronger brand as long as all stakeholders suppprt the revival process.

    Yaw Ampofo-Ankrah has appealed to the media to be firm and objective in their analysis of the FA administration under President Kurt Okraku.

    Speaking to Nigerian based media house “Open Life Ng”, the media practitioner turned sports administrator, confessed that the current football terrain appears to be more volatile than it used to be mainly due to factions who are either for or against the new leadership.

    “I think it would be unfair to judge this new executive committee because they not yet settled when Covid-19 scuppered their game plan. I’m sure Kurt Okraku was still touching base with various partners and industry players in order to effectively navigate the rapidly evolving terrain “.

    Ampofo Ankrah further added that assessment of the GFA performance so far is in order but judgement would be premature.

    “The advantage that Kurt has is that football is the staple of Ghanaians because of the emotions and passion that fuels the sport. If you get it right, you are a hero or a saint but if you get it wrong, you can easily become a villain or a devil.”

    Touching on beach soccer progress so far under the Okraku administration, the beach soccer capo admitted to a shaky start which has improved significantly over recent months even during the Covid 19 crisis.

    “Apart from our own committee discussions, there has been regular communication with the hierarchy of the GFA including online dialogue and sessions among beach soccer clubs and the GFA”.

    He is hopeful that when Covid-19 restrictions are eased or lifted completely, beach soccer would come back strongly.

    Beach soccer clubs are currently preparing to commence registration online. This would be followed by the first major beach soccer tournament before the end of the year.

    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • President Akufo-Addo has football at heart – Dr Nsiah Asare

    Contrary to claims by some persons within the football industry that the current government does not value football that is why restrictions have still been placed on football despite the easing of many sectors.

    Presidential advisor on health, Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare has debunked those assertions saying that the President is a football person and has the beautiful game at heart.

    He has, however, told actors in football to be patient as things are been done in phases and as has been started with the national teams it will get to clubs.

    “Government have much interest in football. Everything we do as government is in phases reason we have allowed for national teams to train for now,” he told Kumasi FM.

    “We are in talks with the MOYS and the GFA on the resumption of the league.The government wants every sector of the economy to function normally.We do not want to rush in doing things,reason why we are doing it in phases.

    “President Akuffo Addo has football at heart,he is a football person and wants to see its return but not in a manner that will resurrect other problem,” he added.

    Two female national teams the Black Maidens and the Black Princesses have been given permission to start training ahead of assignments in the months of September.

    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • I am ready for top-flight football – Ghanaian youngster Samuel Brobbey

    Dutch-born attacker of Ghanaian descent, Samuel Brobbey, has stressed that he is ready for top-flight football after ending his stay with Dutch lower division side Almere City.

    As reported by footballghana.com recently, the left-footed player has parted ways with Almere City following the abrupt end to the 2019/2020 football season as a result of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

    Now in search of a new club, Samuel Brobbey says he has matured enough and will like to move to a club that will afford him top-flight football.

    “In those practice games I got the idea that I can easily handle the level, I am ready. I feel I can participate in the Kitchen Champion Division.

    “In football, it is not even about how good you are, but more about happiness and whether it is awarded to you. Look, I’m disappointed that I didn’t have a chance despite doing it right”, Brobbey said while reflecting on his time at Almere City.

    He added, “I am critical to myself, but I played really good games. At one point I went to Tobiasen to ask what they wanted from me. I normally don’t like talking to trainers, only when I feel it should. He replied that they wanted the Eredivisie experience in the back position.”

    Last season, Samuel Brobbey scored 3 goals for Almere City after making 20 appearances in the Dutch Eerste Divisie.

    It is understood that there are a host of clubs looking to make a move for the 21-year-old this summer. He is the brother of PSV Eindhoven defender Derrick Luckassen who has been loaned to Anderlecht for next season.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Mass exodus to hit Hearts of Oak – Reports

    Following the truncation of the 2019/20 football season, eight players are reportedly on their way out of Hearts of Oak according to report.

    According to a report filed by Sunyani-based Nimde3 FM, the eight players were left out of the 26-man squad presented to the Hearts of Oak management by head coach Edward Nii Odoom.

    The players left out of the squad include right-back Christopher Bonney, and attackers Bernard Arthur and Abubakar Traore.

    Some of these eight players would be moving out of Hearts of Oak on loan while the rest will have their contract terminated.

    It is reported that Christopher Bonney might join Inter Allies on loan as the Tema-based club have shown interest to sign the right-back for the 2020/2021 league season.

    The Ghana Premier League giants have signed three expatriate players to beef up their squad for next season.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • ‘In-form’ Gilbert Koomson scores again to salvage point for SK Brann against IK Start

    Red hot Ghana winger Gilbert Koomson scored his fifth goal of the season as SK Brann settled for a 1-1 draw against Isaac Twum’s IK Start.

    The winger headed in an equalizer four minutes before half time to grab a point for the home side, who had gone down to an own goal from Ali Ahmada in the 28th minute.

    Brann missed several chances at the early stages of the game with Robert Taylor and Fredrik Haugen missing two great opportunities between six first half minutes.

    It looked like Brann were going to get the first goal in the game until Eman Marcovic popped up with a ferocious strike which came off Ali Ahmada in the 28 minute to hand the visitors the lead.

    But the Reds pulled parity with four minutes remaining for half time.

    Defender Vegard Forren sent in a cross from the right which was met at the far end by Gilbert Koomson to score the equalizer.

    The second half was less eventful despite the many chances from the home side.

    Koomson’s compatriot Isaac Twum lasted the entire duration for IK Start, impressing in the middle of the park.

    The 25-year old has now scored five goals in 8 games for Brann since the start of the Norwegian Elisterien League.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Ibrahim Arafat Mensah opens scoring in NK Bravo’s thrashing of Triglav in Slovenian top-flight

    Ghanaian striker Ibrahim Arafat Mensah scored the go-ahead goal for NK Bravo in their 4-1 away win at ND Triglav in the Slovenian Prva Liga on Sunday.

    The 25-year-old opened the scoring in the 52nd minute at the Å portni Center Stanko Mlakar.

    But Žan Luka Kocjan?i? equalized for the home side but Aljoa Matko scored a hat-trick in four minutes.

    Mensah has now marked four times in the Slovenian top-flight from 18 appearances.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Breakdown: How GFA intends to blow $1.8m on clubs, national teams, others

    The Ghana football Association on Wednesday announced that it will be sharing the $1.8million it accrued from FIFA and CAF as coronavirus relief funds.

    The refreshing news comes after months of protest by some club administrators and players for support from the association.

    The decision to disburse the funds was made during a meeting of the FA Executive Council on the same day.

    As per the release by the FA, $1m was received as solidarity grant from FIFA, with an additional $500,000 reserved for women football. CAF also supported the FA with 300,000 making a total of $1.8m.

    The beneficiaries of the grant are football clubs, national teams, referees, match commissioners, Ghana League Clubs Association, Beach Soccer league and Futsal five-aside league.

    Breakdown

    $270,000 has been earmarked for the Ghana Premier League and with the league having 18 teams, each club is expected to get $15,000.

    The 16 Women League clubs will receive a combine fee of $160,000 which means each club will get $10,000.

    The Division One League with its membership of 48 teams will get $360,000 with individual clubs getting $7,500.

    There are 72 regional Division One League clubs and $60,000 has been allocated for them.

    The senior National team the Black Stars will get $17,000 for its operations while its female counterpart Black Queens have been given the $60,000.

    Get the full breakdown in the photo below

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Huge financial protection for clubs as GFA put players and staff on mandatory insurance policy

    Football players in Ghana are expected to get a historic financial protection with the Ghana Football Association set to enroll the principal actors on the National Health Insurance Policy in the West African nation, GHANAsoccernet.com can report.

    A combined 3,500 players and staff from the Premier League, Division One and the Women’s Premier League will benefit from the mandatory insurance cover.

    The laudable initiative, which will cost the Ghana FA a substantial amount of money, will see players, technical staff and management members enrolled on the policy.

    Each clubs will be required not to register more than 50 personnel – who will benefit from the lifetime package on the domestic front.

    The Ghana Football Association has set aside $26,000 for registration and other logistical activities of the beneficiaries.

    This will be a monumental heave of sigh relief for clubs who have struggled to enroll their staff on the National Health Insurance Scheme – and have risked being sanctioned by the state authorities over the years.

    While the FA shoulder some of the financial responsibilities on clubs, taken off the cost involved in the insurance cover of their staff has come timely amid coronavirus shutdown that has wrecked local football.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • GFA Congress set for August 27

    The Ghana Football Association has announced that it will hold its 26th ordinary session Congress on Thursday, August 27, 2020.

    The decision was taken by the Executive Council following last Tuesday’s meeting held at the Headquarters in Accra.

    The meeting is expected to be held via a video conference in line with the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012) on public gatherings due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

    A statement from the GFA read, “However, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant limitations imposed under the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012) on public gatherings, the meeting cannot be held the usual way, where Congressmen and women gather at a venue for their deliberations and decision making.

    “It would be recalled in a bulletin (No.1 of 2020) addressed to all Companies and the media, the Registrar of Companies, pursuant to the power conferred on her by Section 378(2) of the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992), directed that all companies may hold their Annual General Meetings (AGM) electronically.

    “In compliance with Article 31 of the GFA Statutes 2019, members of the GFA will be sent the formal convocation of Congress in writing accordingly”.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Premier League summer transfer window to start from July 27

    The Premier League and English Football League summer transfer windows will be open for 10 weeks between 27 July and 5 October, subject to Fifa approval.

    In addition, the Premier League and EFL say there will be a domestic-only window between 5-16 October.

    “During this window, clubs will only be able to trade with EFL clubs (either loans or permanent registrations),” said a Premier League statement.

    “No transfers can take place between Premier League clubs in this period.”

    The EFL also said any new signings by its clubs could not play until the start of the 2020-21 season.

    “This is applicable to clubs involved in the Championship play-offs,” it explained in a statement.

    The EFL added: “The window for international registrations closes at 23:00 BST on Monday, 5 October, with an agreement in place with the Premier League for an extended two-week domestic-only window, which will close at 17:00 on Friday, 16 October.”

    There has not yet been any announcement on a start date for the 2020-21 season.

    Launching the new season on 12 September remains the most likely option, but that comes immediately after September’s round of international games.

    The Football Association and EFL are concerned the reduced number of match dates will have an impact on their respective cup competitions.

    Source: bbc.com

  • GPL clubs to pocket $15,000, DOL to receive $7,000 and GHALCA $2,000 from coronavirus money

    The Ghana Football Association has agreed to share monies received as COVID-19 relief fund to clubs following a meeting on Tuesday, GHANASoccernet.com can exclusively report.

    The decision to split the monies among clubs was taken at a marathon Executive Council meeting of the GFA today, GHANASoccernet.com can confirm.

    The monies will be shared among the Premier League clubs, Division One clubs and the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA).

    Premier League clubs will receive $15,000 with Division One clubs taking $10,000. GHALCA will receive $2,000.

    The first tranche of money from FIFA is expected to be received by the FA sooner, with Premier League clubs receiving $10,000 first and $5,000 later.

    Division One clubs will be given an amount of $5,000 from the first tranche, before later receiving $2000.

    This will be seen as huge relief for the clubs following the unexpected financial difficulties faced due to the impact of COVID-19.

    The 2019/20 season had to be ended following the increasing cases of coronavirus in the West African nation.

    This has forced clubs to release players from camp with some teams owing salaries of players for more than two months.

    The future of the Ghana Premier League is yet to be decided, with a date for congress to be decided for decision making.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • ‘He played 90 minutes without touching the ball’ – 10 football records that can never be broken

    On a daily basis new football records are been created by professional footballers and old ones broken, but there are some records that you would see or hear of and you become amazed as to how it is possible.

    In this article I have presented 10 records that were created by 10 different professional footballers and teams all over the world. There is no order of arrangement but the last one will shock you.

    10. Ryan Giggs

    Giggs scored 107 premier league goals without a single hat-trick.

    In his playing days Giggs was not a striker but a winger, he holds the record of scoring at least 1 goal in 21 consecutive Premier League seasons. He is now the Welsh football coach but as a player, he managed to score in each of his first 21 Premier League seasons and also has 107 league goals for Manchester United.

    He scored a brace 10 different times in the Premier League for Manchester United but never scored a hat-trick. The only hat-trick he scored for United was in a friendly match but never in the league.

    9. Kanu Nwankwo

    Kanu won the African player of the year award twice, despite scoring zero goals over a span of 6 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

    This will come as a surprise to many bearing in mind how highly Nigerians regard Nwankwo Kanu.

    The former Arsenal player despite winning the African best player awards in 1996 and 1999, wasn’t able to replicate the goal scoring form he showed at club level in the Super Eagles national team. He also played in 3 World Cup tournaments for the Super Eagles without scoring as well.

    8. Eric Bailly

    Eric Bailly took a 40 yard shot that went outside the Stadium.

    Eric Bailly is a Manchester United player, this happened in October 2018 while playing a Champions League match against Valencia at Old trafford, under the then United manager Jose Mourinho. It was reported after the match that Eric Bailly’s attempted 40 yard shot went over and landed outside the Old Trafford stadium. What a shot!

    7. Liverpool

    Liverpool recorded 97 league points in the Premier League without winning the title.

    In 2018/2019 Premier League season, Liverpool in 38 matches won 30, drew 7 and lost just once, giving them 97 points. This was not enough to secure them the title as Manchester City beat them to the league title by 1 point as they had 98.

    In previous seasons this would have been enough to land them the title as it holds the record for the 3rd highest points reached by a team in the Premier League. Of course Man City’s 100 and 98 points in 2018 and 2019 respectively remains the highest.

    6. Sadio Mane

    Sadio Mane scored a Premier League hat-trick in 176 seconds.

    Sadio Mane is currently a Liverpool player but this happened in 16th May 2015 when he was still at Southampton.

    Southampton was playing against Aston Villa and in the 13th minute Mane scored his first goal and completed his hat-trick on the 16th minute. His record surpassed that of Robbie Fowler which was set in 1994 in a match against Arsenal, Fowler scored his hat-trick in 273 seconds.

    5. Real Madrid

    Real Madrid won 3 consecutive Champions League titles.

    Every football fan knows how difficult it is to win the Champions League trophy, since it was renamed from European Cup to Champions League in 1992/1993 season, no team have won it twice in a row, even the Barcelona class of 2009 couldn’t repeat it in 2010.

    It remained so until after Real Madrid won it in 2016, they changed history by winning it again in 2017 and 2018, making it three consecutive times they had won it before surrendering the title to Liverpool in 2019.

    4. Frank Lampard

    The only midfielder in the Premier League to score over 150 Premier League goals.

    Frank Lampard played for West Ham, Chelsea and Manchester City during his playing days, the rate at which he scored goals season after season in the Premier League will be envied by some strikers for years to come.

    At Chelsea he is their club record goal scorer with 211 goals, in the Premier League he scored a total of 177 goals in his time with the 3 clubs. Am sure you will be surprised to know he is in the top 5 of the list of Premier League highest goal scorers since it’s inception in 1992, and he is above Arsenal’s Thierry Henry in that list.

    3. Robert Lewandowski

    Lewandowski scored 5 goals in 9 minutes.

    In September 2015, Lewandowski was brought in by Pep Guardiola after half-time as Bayern Munich were losing 0 – 1 to wolfsburg. In the 51st minute he equalised for Bayern then in the next 8 minutes 59 seconds he completed his 5 goal rout.

    He broke some records in the process including, fastest Bundesliga hat-trick (3 minutes 22 seconds), fastest four goals in a Bundesliga match (5 minutes 42 seconds), fastest five goals scored in a Bundesliga match (8 minutes 59 seconds), most goals scored by a substitute in a Bundesliga match (5 goals). He received 4 world record awards and was entered in the Guinness book of records.

    2. Lionel Messi

    Messi scored 91 goals in one calendar year

    In 2012 messI broke Muller’s record of scoring the highest number of goals in a calender year. He did this by scoring 91 goals that year, the goals were for both club and country. He scored 79 goals for Barcelona and 12 goals for Argentina. He went on to win his 4th consecutive Fifa Ballon d’Or award that same year, another record of it’s own.

    1. Thomas Sweswe

    Source: The Score Nigeria

    Sweswe played the whole 90 minutes of a football match without kicking the ball for once.

    In his playing days Thomas Sweswe played in the center-back position, he was born 9th August 1981 in Zimbabwe. He played for 9 different clubs as well as the National team. According to The Score Nigeria, in a Kaiser Chiefs game Thomas Sweswe played the entire 90 minutes and never touched the ball.

    Personally I don’t see how this record can be broken.

    As a fan of football which among these records do you think will be the hardest to break?

    What do you think about this? Please drop your thoughts in the comment section below and don’t forget to click on the follow button for more contents like this.

    Source: opera.com

     

  • Riyahd Constructions donates to national Paracycling Team

    Riyahd Constructions Company Limited has donated an undisclosed amount of money to the National Paracycling Team in Accra.

    The donation forms part of their support to the para-cycling team following the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Mr. Dennis Kweku Moore, General Secretary for the National Paracycling Team, said the donation is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility adding that it would go a long way to help the team in fighting the pandemic.

    Mr. Moore commended Mr. Riyahd Mohammed, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Riyahd Constructions for his benevolence noted that the paracycling team was proud of him for his unflinching support to the team.

    “Mr Riyahd is an ardent cycling official and was part of Ghana’s cycling success in Egypt and Rwanda. He deemed it fit to reach out to a sport that needed more attention and care”.

    Mr. Riyahd, Who doubles as the Team Manager of the Paracycling National Team (Wheels of fire) is an affable manager and an international businessman, with Riyahd constructions being noted for Estate development and land advice.

    Source: GNA

  • Decisive week for Ghana football as CAS is set to rule on Palmer’s case on Friday

    The foundation and direction of Ghana football could be shaken as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is set to rule on the landmark case involving Wilfred Osei Kwaku “Palmer” and the Ghana Football Association after 10-month litigation over his disqualification from the FA presidency.

    Osei Kwaku, who is the president Ghanaian second-tier Tema Youth, dragged the now-defunct normalization committee to the global tribunal over his unfair and biased disqualification from the GFA presidential race back in October 2019.

    CAS will announce its verdict on Friday, July 17 after a marathon 10-month legal battle between Palmer and the Ghana FA.

    The decision of CAS will go a long way to determine the future of current FA boss Kurt Okraku as it threatens his reign.

    Ghana’s leading soccer news outfit Ghanasoccernet.com can reveal that the Switzerland-based body told the GFA last month that it has set 17 July as the date to rule on Wilfred Osei Palmer’s case that he was illegally disqualified from the Ghana FA Presidential election that brought Okraku to power.

    CAS says its panel has sat on the case titled: CAS 2019/A/6517 Wilfred Kweku Osei v Ghana Football Association and the ruling will be made public next month.

    The case was brought by Palmer last year after the election that brought Okraku to power but the coronavirus outbreak looked to have stalled the ruling on the matter which prompted hopes among the legal advisers of the GFA leader that the case was dead in the water.

    With things beginning to normalize, CAS will announce the decision whether to uphold Palmer’s quest to annul the election and order for fresh polls to decide on a new President for the GFA.

    “On behalf of the Deputy President of CAS Appeals Arbitration Division, please be advised that the time limit to communicate the Arbitral Award to the Parties, pursuant to Article R59 of the Code of Sports-related Arbitration, has been extended until 17 July 2020,” CAS’ letter to the GFA on June 18.

    The case has got the potential of ordering for a fresh Ghana FA election just nine months after Kurt Okraku won the polls.

    This means the world’s sports court body is set to begin processes to put paid to the long-winding legal tussle that hangs around the Ghana FA presidency.

    Palmer dragged the Ghana FA to CAS over his ‘unfair’ disqualification from the presidential race in October last year.

    The situation has put the presidency of Kurt Okraku on the line with wide-reaching implications if Palmer becomes successful.

    There are two things likely to happen – CAS to throw out the case and allow the status quo to remain or order for a re-run of the election if it was deemed the plaintiff was unfairly disqualified from the race.

    The ruling from CAS will put to rest months of intense anxiety involving all the principal actors.

    Osei, popularly known as Palmer, paid 22,000 Swiss Francs to CAS early this year on behalf of the GFA for his disqualification from the federation’s presidential election appeal case to be heard.

    The GFA refused to pay 22,000 Euros so per the rules, Palmer decided to play both so that the hearing can go ahead which means he has now paid 44, 000 Euros which is $48,000.

    Some media outfits believed to have received leaks from the GFA that Palmer might not be able to pay the amount which would have ended the litigation that challenges the legitimacy of the current leader of the federation Okraku.

    However, CAS confirmed days later that it has received the full payment to allow it to form a panel to hear the case against the GFA over the decision to stop Palmer from contesting the election.

    The feuding parties – the Ghana Football Association and aspirant Wilfred Osei Kwaku named their respective arbitrators setting the tone for the adjudication of the matter.

    While the association went for Swiss lawyer Hendrik Willem Kesler supported by Naa Odorfoley popularly known as ‘Naa Gucci’, Osei Kwaku hired highly-rated Australian John Didulica with backing from Thaddeus Sory.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Jordan Opoku considering retiring from football in the next two or three years

    Berekum Chelsea midfielder Jordan Opoku has disclosed that he could retire from football in the next few years.

    Opoku says he has seen life outside football and is considering hanging his boots in the next two or three years.

    The Feyenoord Rotterdam trainee left Asante Kotoko in January 2020 after his third stints with club came to an end having rejoined them in 2018.

    Opoku had previously played for the Ghanaian giants from 2006 to 2012 and from 2013 to 2016.

    In an interview with Television CK on Youtube, Opoku hinted when he will call quit from the game.

    “Looking at my strength now I think I have like two to three years left because I want to do some courses (coaching) but because of the COVID-19 my plans have delayed though I am always in touch some people who help me.”

    The 32-year-old has three Ghana Premier League titles, one FA Cup and one Ghana Super Cup whiles playing for Asante Kotoko and Berekum Chelsea.

    Opoku was part of the Ghana squad that won the 2013 WAFU Cup of Nations.

    Opoku was also part of the Ghana national football team squad that finished runner-up at the 2014 African Nations Championship in South Africa.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Gilbert Koomson’s brace in 3-minutes helps SK Brann to crush Sandefjord in Norwegian top-flight

    Striker Gilbert Koomson scored two goals in three minutes to give SK Brann a 3-1 win over Sandefjord in the Norwegian Eliteserien on Sunday.

    Koomson’s opener was on nine minutes to double Brann’s lead, two minutes after Robert Taylor.

    His second goal was on the 12th-minute mark to make it three-nil at home but Sandefjord pulled one back in the 22nd minute through Celorrio Yécora from the spot.

    Koomson has now scored five goals in the seven-week-old league.

  • NSA Boss clarifies statement on resumption of football activities

    Professor Peter Twumasi the Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), has said the recent statement attributed to him over the resumption of football activities in the country was erroneous.

    The NSA and Youth Employment Agency (YEA) on Wednesday signed an agreement to support sportsmen and women with a financial package for the next six months.

    Prof. Twumasi after the signing of the agreement mistakenly mentioned football as part of sporting activities cleared to resume by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS).

    But a statement issued and signed by Mr. Charles Obeng Amofah Head of Public Relations said, “Prof. Twumasi was enumerating the twenty individual non-contact sporting disciplines that have been cleared to resume training by the MOYS and how beneficial the package would be for the teaming sportsmen and women during this period of COVID-19 pandemic.

    “The mention of football among the list of twenty cleared individual non-contact sports to train only was an oversight and we sincerely apologize for the error.

    “In this regard, we are using this medium to retract part of the statement made and entreat all media partners to correct this error,” the statement said.

    Source: GNA

  • Austrian side Sturm Graz chase Ghanaian winger Paul Mensah

    Sturm Graz are interested in signing SV Kapfenberg wideman Paul Mensah, GHANAsoccernet.com can exclusively report.

    The 20-year-old is expected to make a step up the ladder after a breakthrough season with the Austrian second-tier side.

    The Ghanaian teenager scored nine goals in 24 appearances for the side last season to alert a host of clubs about his quality.

    With Sturm Graz signing youth cooperation agreement with SV Kapfenberg, its just a matter of time that the talented winger will join Nestor El Maestro side.

    SV Kapfenberg president Erwin Fuchs has confirmed the transfer rumours surrounding the Ghanaian.

    “A lot of clubs are interested in Paul Mensah. I said: Before going anywhere else, he should inquire about Sturm – if Sturm is interested, he will have talks. That’s how it looks,” said Kapfenberg President Erwin Fuchs.

    Mensah is still contracted to the club until summer 2021 after extending by a further year.

    He joined Kapfenberg in 2018 from Ghanaian First Division side Akosombo Krystal Palace where he has excelled so far.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Clinton Osei joins Hungarian giants MTK Budapest

    Hugely-talented Ghanaian teenage prodigy Clinton Osei has been signed by Hungarian giants MTK Budapest to boost their ranks ahead of the start of the new season, Ghanasoccernet.com can exclusively reveal.

    The 18-year-old signed the permanent contract with the Budapest-based club on Thursday afternoon after spending weeks with the junior side.

    The striker, who was being targeted by several clubs in Europe, signed the contract to complete his move from Ghanaian second tier club Kowa Naso.

    The former Great Farcos youngster signed a three-year contract with MTK Budapest and the financial details of the transfer was not revealed by the Hungarian side.

    MTK Budapest won the race to sign the pacey striker after showing his agents how the player can play regularly with one of the most successful Hungarian clubs.

    The explosive player will now join the professional ranks of the club and train with the first team after sealing the deal which would help him continue his development, says his UK-based agent Tony Appiah.

    “The major plan is for Clinton to play football regular football in Europe and MTK Budapest offer that opportunity thus securing his continuous growth and development,” Appiah told Ghanasoccernet.com.

    “Clinton is a very humble and God fearing player with a big ambition of making it to the top of world football. This can be attained only with dedication and hard work.
    “These are the qualities needed for young players to be able to thrive in the very competitive European setting and based on what we have seen on Clinton so far we are confident he will reach the top.”

    Osei will start training with MTK Budapest on Friday as head coach Michael Boris and his charges continue their preparations for the new season.

    The Ghanaian youngster will be seeking to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Abedi Pele who played for Great Farcos at the youth level before going on to greatness in world football.

    Magyar Testgyakorlók Köre Budapest Futball Club or commonly called MTK is a Hungarian football club based in Józsefváros, Budapest.

    The team currently plays in the Nemzeti top-flight league and its colours are blue and white.

    As one of the most successful Hungarian football clubs, MTK has won the Hungarian League 23 times and the Hungarian Cup 12 times.

    The club has also won the Hungarian Super Cup 2 times.

    In 1955, as Vörös Lobogó SE, they became the first Hungarian team to play in the European Cup and in 1964 they finished as runners-up in the European Cup Winners’ Cup after losing to Sporting Clube de Portugal in the final.

    The club founded the Sándor Károly Football Academy in 2001. The Academy also has a partnership agreement with English club Liverpool.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Friday debate: Was the GFA right to cancel the football season?

    The fate of the 2019/2020 Ghana football season was decided on Tuesday, June 30 by the Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association as the season was declared null and void.

    With no promotion and relegation, Asante Kotoko and Ashantigold were chosen as Ghana’s representatives for next year’s CAF Champions League and the Confederation Cup.

    Kotoko and Ashgold who represented the country in the 2019/20 Africa inter-club competitions were chosen following their triumphs in the Normalization Committee Special Competitions Tier 1 and Tier 2 in 2019 as the current season couldn’t produce a champion.

    This decision taken by the GFA has generated some sort of debate all over social media and the traditional media space as some football fans believe the association should have waited for the President to lift the ban on football before taking a decision of this magnitude.

    On the African reps, there has been strong opposition to the candidates taken as many including King Faisal owner Alhaji Grunsah who believes that they are just going to add up to the numbers.

    On this episode of GhanaWeb’s Friday debate, we ask you if you think the GF erred by calling off the season or you support the decision taken by the country’s football governing body.

    Watch the video below and join the debate by leaving your comments in the comment section.

  • Why do children accompany footballers to the pitch?

    Footballers were not always accompanied by children, until the 1999 FA cup final, between Manchester United, and Newcastle FC, and even in that game only 2 children, one for each team. It was until a year later that a full squadron of children escorted players.

    So now why do children accompany players to the pitch?

    This is to remind them that, the children are looking up to them, and monitoring their every move, so they should not disappoint. It also means promotion of children’s right campaigns. Or it can also mean that they are bringing the element of innocence to the game, fulfilling children games, and making profit of it. Sometimes it is also for charity purposes.

    The children also want to meet their favourite footballers that bad that escorting them to the pitch would really make them happy. The children are normally between 6 – 18 years, no child with a disability is left out at all. They have another duties like, assisting referees and lines men, acting about sideline ball crew, and many other, important and fascinating duties.

    Now that the coronavirus pandemic is here, no mascots and children not are allowed to hold hands of the players, because the virus can spread through handshakes, and even there are no handshakes between players, and referees and players of the other team. We all hope and pray that this virus will disappear, and we can return to our normal lives.

    Source: opera.com

  • Ghana FA EXCO meets on Thursday to decide when next football season will start

    The Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council will hold a meeting on Thursday to decide the start date for the next football season football season following the cancellation of the 2019/20 campaign.

    Football in Ghana has been on hold since a national ban on public gatherings, including sporting and religious events, came into effect as part of measures to curb spread of the coronavirus disease on March 15.

    On Tuesday, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) announced the complete cancellation of the 2019/20 season due to the coronavirus disruptions.

    The campaign has been suspended since March 15. The Premier League was at the matchweek 15 stage when it was halted by the coronavirus crisis.

    The 12-member council led by FA Kurt Okraku will converge again on Thursday to decide on when to restart the campaign.

    Meanwhile, Asante Kotoko and AshantiGold will represent the country at next season’s CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup respectively.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Just in: GFA cancels 2019/2020 football season

    The Ghana Football Association has announced that the 2019/2020 Ghana football season has been truncated.

    The 2019/2020 season was halted in mid-march following the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.

    This decision comes on the back of the government’s string position on removing the ban placed on contact-sports as part of the measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19.

    The President about some weeks ago extended the ban on football till July 31, 2020.

    The GFA took to its official Twitter page to announce the decision after today’s Executive Council meeting.

    The announcement, however, didn’t state how they were going to select clubs for Africa or whether there will be demotion and promotion.

    GhanaWeb will keep you up to speed on this issue.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Premier League offers women’s football £1m to help start 2020-21 season

    The Premier League has offered English women’s football £1m to help enable the 2020-21 season to start, chief executive Richard Masters has told MPs.

    That investment would help cover coronavirus testing costs at the top end of the game.

    Masters also told the Department of Culture, Media and Sport select committee he would like the Premier League to take over the running of the Women’s Super League.

    But he said “now isn’t the right time”.

    The 2019-20 Women’s Super League and Championship seasons, halted in March, were ended formally on 25 May because of the coronavirus pandemic, with Chelsea declared WSL champions on a points-per-game basis.

    Kelly Simmons, the Football Association’s director of the women’s professional game, has since indicated there is a target to start the new season in September, although no dates have yet been announced.

    For health and safety reasons, testing players for coronavirus is key to getting the WSL and Championship up and running again. No extra funding for coronavirus testing was available to allow those competitions to extend and complete the 2019-20 campaign.

    Masters said: “What we’ve been able to do about the women’s game is to help them to the tune of around £1m to help get their testing programme up and running.

    “We’ve recently made that funding gesture to them and I believe on that basis they are able to start their 2021 season.”

    The Football Association runs the women’s game in England but Masters said there have been discussions about the Premier League taking over.

    He said: “Over the past year, we’ve had lots of dialogue with the FA and our own clubs about the Premier League, at some point in the future, assuming responsibility for the professional game.

    “We decided collectively, that’s the FA and the Premier League and the WSL and Women’s Championship boards, that now isn’t the right time but we will return to that topic at some point in the near future.”

    The FA announced on Monday it was making extensive cuts to cover losses of about £300m caused by the pandemic.

    “We want the women’s game to be successful, which is why we are helping them and why we’ve engaged in those discussions with the FA about resuming responsibility for it,” Masters added.

    “From a personal perspective, it is something I would like to do in the future for this organisation – being not just responsible for top of the pyramid in terms of the men’s game but also the women’s game.

    “Those two things would work hand in hand very well, and would inspire a generation of young female footballers to get involved in the game.”

    Source: bbc.com

  • Gilbert Koomson scores in SK Brann’s home defeat in Norwegian Eliteserien

    Striker Gilbert Koomson made it two goals in four matches by scoring on Sunday, 28 June, 2020 as SK Brann slipped to a 2-1 home defeat to Rosenborg in the Norwegian Eliteserien.

    The 25-year-old was quick out of his blocks and scored the opening goal of the match after just five minutes.

    Koomson drilled home from inside the box after receiving a squared pass from the bar line.

    But Rosenborg equalized in added on time of the first half through Even Hovland before Carlo Holse snatched the match-winner at the death.

    Koomson has now equalled the number of league goals he scored for SK Brann last season.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Samuel Obeng features for Real Oviedo in stalemate against Fuenlabrada

    Ghanaian forward Samuel Obeng featured for Real Oviedo in their 0-0 draw against Fuenlabrada in the Spanish Segunda B.

    The 23-year-old was handed a starting berth and lasted 57 minutes as Oviedo failed to make the home advantage count.

    The Ghana Under-23 forward, who scored on the resumption of football last week, put up a decent display.

    Manager Cuco Zidana, who is a huge admirer of the talented Ghanaian, opted to replace him with Borja Sánchez.

    The Ghanaian forward has scored four goals so far in 13 appearances for his side this term.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Frank Acheampong, the ‘Ghanaian Messi’ who became a darling of Astrid Park

    Despite the sporadic resumption of a few European championships, football has been dormant for several weeks. The opportunity for us to retrace the careers of footballers who have, in their own way, marked our championship over the past 10 years.

    If some have taken advantage of the Belgian springboard to fly to other horizons, others will never have been able to ride the Pro League wave and have stranded in the anonymity of small championships. After analyzing the incredible career of Marvin Ogunjimi, it’s time for Frank Acheampong.

    Arrived on tiptoe, the Ghanaian quickly became the darling of Brussels supporters.

    We are in January 2013. The management of Anderlecht proudly presents its new jewel: Frank Acheampong, young winger of 20 years, considered as the “ Ghanaian Messi ” in his country and loaned to Saint-Guidon for six months. An announcement that does not make much noise. Probably because nobody knows this discreet guy who was playing until then in the media darkness of the Thai championship and who therefore still has everything to prove.

    For proof, Frankie does not even taste the main nucleus during the first months. Still too tender, he must make his ranges, acclimatize to European football in the hopes. Yet Acheampong is hungry. He is revengeful, scalded by an unsuccessful Celtic test a few weeks earlier. Determined to prove his qualities, he quickly became one of the leading figures of the U21. Hopes that thwart all forecasts and qualify for the final of the very prestigious Viarregio tournament. They face AC Milan there. Unleashed, the Mauves make only a mouthful of amazed Rossoneri. 3-0 … thanks to a double Acheampong. Two goals which are enough to convince the Brussels management to offer it a real contract. In August 2013, Frankie therefore definitely settled down in Saint-Guidon.

    The introduction to journalists is in his image: humble and discreet. No big statements, just “ the urge to help the team ”. An age-old refrain that all football players seem to try to repeat over and over again, but which in Acheampong’s mouth takes another turn. That of a very believing man and quite simply happy to have arrived there.

    Boosted by this golden opportunity granted to it by the Brussels leaders, Acheampong does not want to miss its beginnings with the first team. In the second game of the season against Ghent, he replaced Samuel Armenteros in the 68th. Ten minutes later, Anderlecht took advantage of an aborted buffalo action to go on a counterattack. Silvio Proto releases the ball from his hand. The leather arrives in the feet of Acheampong near the central circle. He avoids a defenseman’s tackle and escapes. The ball sticks to his feet, impossible to catch him. A hook, then a second to put a last defender in the wind before adjusting the goalkeeper and scoring. In the blink of an eye, Acheamponghas just revealed itself to the Anderlecht public by offering a summary of all its qualities: speed, velocity, vista and ball handling. The following matches are of the same ilk. Acheampong joins the team and his life-saving thrusts are starting to do serious damage. John Van de Brom, the purple trainer of the time, even went on a laudatory tirade saying to himself “ under the spell .”

    However, little by little, Acheampong will lose his place, be relegated to the bench to take on the thankless role of 12th man. The trainer mentions a drop in form and a lack of regularity. True to himself, Frankie takes this decision with phlegm and philosophy: “ If he says so, it’s because I have to work harder. I’m always ready to play. If he doesn’t want me on the team, I accept his choice. No problem, ” he said then, before being completely ousted from the pit for the end of the season.

    And this first season, made of ups and downs, intense moments of joy combined with rarer moments of doubt, ultimately illustrates the Acheampong paradox well. Because as confusing and sparkling as he was, the Ghanaian also sometimes had a tendency to put blinkers and sink into the pile, carried away by his supersonic momentum. Or to cross an encounter like a ghost, isolated on its left flank without managing to unravel the opposing marking. A dichotomy, symbolized by this lack of regularity, which explains why, during his four seasons at Saint-Guidon, he has never held more than 13 times per season. Why he never became THE taulier on his left flank.

    A reputation as an intermittent of the spectacle which did not prevent Acheampong from quickly turning into a darling of the demanding Anderlechtois audience. The spans forgave him for his rare excess of individualism, stood up by one man for each giant and decisive slalom in the Europa League and applauded this man, humble and respectful.

    Haloed by two championship titles (2014 and 2017), Acheampong (22 goals and 21 assists in 165 games) will finally cast off in late 2017. He will succumb to the sirens of the lucrative Chinese championship after having long flirted with teams from the European subtop ( Editor’s note): Anderlecht had refused an offer of 7 million euros from a German team ). After four seasons of seeing him pacing his left flank, the Anderlechtois public had to resolve to see Acheampong flying away, not without a final twinge in the heart.

    Source: rtbf.be

  • Wilson Agbesi lands top Minifootball position

    Mr. Wilson Agbesi, the Secretary-General of the Ghana Wheelchair Basketball Federation (GWBF), has landed an Executive Board Member post at the Minifootball Association of Ghana (MAG).

    Mr. Agbesi who doubles as the President of the Ghana wheelchair Minigolf Association (GAWMA) would serve on the board for a period of five years and a maximum of three terms.

    President of MAG, Mr. Andrews Ako Nai congratulated Mr. Agbesi on his appointment and wished him the very best and hoped his appointment would bring the needed change to the association.

    Agbesi in an interview after confirmed the appointment and said, “yes I have received the official appointment letter to serve on the board of MAG and I must say I am humbled and as well thank the Almighty God for making it possible and granting me this great opportunity to once again contribute my quota to the development of Ghana Sports.

    “I would also want to thank the leadership of MAG for the trust and confidence they have in me and want to assure them of my total commitment, dedication, trust, honest, determination and hard work as much as the task given to me is a concern, I would focus on the task and getting positive results would be my priority.

    Source: GNA

  • Ghanaian striker Ragnar Ache is set to join Eintracht Frankfurt in summer

    German-born Ghanaian striker Ragnar Ache is set to join Eintracht Frankfurt from Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam ahead of the start of next season.

    Ache has penned a five-year contract for a reportedly €2 million with the German Bundesliga side after successful negotiations.

    The 21-year-old makes a return to the Hesse State capital where he was born and raised.

    Die Adler is the second team he will be playing for in his senior career having started at Rotterdam in 2017.

    The highly-rated youngster spent a bulk of the 2018/19 season on the sidelines with injury and was thus demoted to the Rotterdam Under-21 squad.

    He, however, overcome those worries to make 17 appearances 17 De Kasteelheren in the Eredivisie this season, scoring five goals and providing three assists.

    The forward also scored on his debut for the German under-21 team in November against Belgium.

    Ache is eligible to play for Ghana in the future as his mother is a Ghanaian and his father is a German.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • I can’t wait to start the season – Daniel Opare

    Ghanaian defender Daniel Opare has expressed his desire to play competitive football again after joining Zulte Waregem on Friday.

    Opare penned a two-year deal with the club as a free agent after his contract with Royal Antwerp expired at the end of last season.

    The 29-year-old is expected to use his huge experience to help the club fight for a top-four position after they finished this season in ninth position.

    “I played against Zulte Waregem a few times and it is a strong team with a lot of ambition. In addition, the great support from the supporters is added. I can’t wait to start the season!” Opare told Essevee TV.

    Opare becomes the second Ghanaian player to play for Zulte Waregem after Gideon Mensah who featured on loan for them this season from Red Bull Salzburg.

    He also becomes the West Flanders-based outfit first signing ahead of the forthcoming European transfer window.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • French clubs call for fans to be allowed back to games next season

    Struggling French football clubs have called for fans to be allowed into matches in time for the start of next season and urged the country’s government to provide financial help after the early end to this campaign due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    The season was declared over early at the end of April, at the height of the pandemic and with 10 rounds of matches unplayed, after Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced that football could not restart. Paris Saint-Germain were named Ligue 1 champions.

    With leagues in neighbouring countries having since restarted or set to return to action soon, various voices in the French game have criticised the decision to end the season early rather than waiting for the health crisis to subside.

    France has been one of the worst-hit countries in the world by the pandemic, with almost 29,000 deaths, but the situation has improved and a strict lockdown has been steadily eased in recent weeks.

    However, in a joint statement on Tuesday, the unions of clubs in the top two divisions admitted that the league and French Football Federation were left with “no other choice” but to bring a premature end to the season following the government’s announcement.

    “But rather than looking in the rear-view mirror, we prefer to look forward,” the statement added.

    They said they were working to put in place a “health protocol” and on a return to collective team training while also hoping to “organise training camps and friendly matches in the presence of spectators, with the start of next season in stadiums open to large crowds”.

    In addition, the clubs called on the government “to find solutions” for their economic woes after already nearly three months without income principally due to the loss of ticketing and broadcasting revenue.

    Several club executives have said the early end to the season has left French football with a financial black hole of between 500 million and 800 million euros ($559-895 million).

    Meanwhile, the head of the company that has become the main domestic broadcaster of Ligue 1 in a record deal starting next season has slammed the decision to end the season early, calling it a “strategic error”.

    “There was a strategic agreement between the leading leagues and UEFA to finish the season,” said Jaume Roures, the Spanish chief executive of Mediapro, at the launch of his company’s new channel Telefoot on Tuesday.

    “For us, breaking that pact was a strategic error.”

    Mediapro won the bulk of the rights to show Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches for four years starting next season in a total deal worth a record 1.217 billion euros ($1.36 billion) annually.

    However, Roures expressed concern that his company’s new product would be diminished with struggling clubs being forced to sell players.

    “That could affect the quality of the competition next season and obviously we are not going to be happy if that happens.”

    Source: france24.com

  • Braydon Manu reveals how he relied on God during injury

    Braydon Manu was not really satisfied with his second division debut at Erzgebirge Aue . The processes and mechanisms were not there beforesaid the offensive player on Wednesday. “But that comes with time. If you play a lot, you know how to move and what the other person wants from you. ”

    Manu has not played a competitive game for over a year. After moving from third division club Hallescher FC to Böllenfalltor last summer, he injured himself in preparation, dropped out of the first half of the season and had to wait until now.

    Through this hard time, his belief in God helped him. “When you’re in such a difficult phase, you always need a rock, an anchor, that gives you a hold,” he said. But his family and his teammates – especially Patric Pfeiffer and Erich Berko – would also have been very supportive. “They gave me the push to believe even more in myself, to believe more in God, so that I can get out of this situation at some point.”

    Braydon Manu on his debut: “It came as a surprise to me too”

    On Monday, trainer Dimitrios Grammozis had certified the 23-year-old German-Ghanaian had a good training performance. But after Manu before that only in the game against Dresden part of the squad , he was right in the starting line-up against Aue. “It came as a surprise to me,” he said and added with a laugh: “But at some point you have to start.”

    Compared to the 3rd league, he did not find his first game in the 2nd league to be faster. Against Aue it was not easy for him as an offensive player because the Saxons trained by ex-lily coach Dirk Schuster had closed with a chain of five at the back. After all, he took out the penalty to equalize (“100 percent hit me”) and contributed something to the result.

    Victor Pálsson was not so critical of his teammate’s performance – on the contrary. “It was great,” said the Icelander about the performance of the 1.70 meter tall manu, whom he called “my little brother”. Step by step, he will now get even better.

    Source: happyghana.com