I Would"ve Been A Murderer - Brazilian International

Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo is known for his strong and aggressive style on the field, sometimes even violent.

On Monday, the Inter Milan player said that if he had not been a footballer, he would have been a murderer.

Felipe Melo also talked about the importance of his family for the progress of his career, and revealed the difficulties faced by him as a youngster during his days at Flamengo.

He told Italian TV channel Sky Sport: “If I was not a player, I would’ve been a murderer. I grew up in one of the most dangerous favelas around. There were a lot of drugs and weapons around. Sometimes I went to training and then when I returned, one of my friends had died. I had to choose between football and a life of crime. I chose football and a different life.”

He added: “When I met my wife, another Felipe Melo was born. At Grêmio, I spent all my salary and lived a strange life. I had three children with my wife and with my family, I won everything I have now. After God, they are the most important people for me. They say that behind every great man there’s a great woman. I’d say that this woman has always been on my side.”

“When I signed with Flamengo, it was difficult because at first I had to take a bus that took two hours to get to the training centre. I also had to pay for transport. My father, who had two jobs when I was a boy, quit his job and began to take me to training. Sometimes, he gave me some of his breakfast.”

I Would"ve Been A Murderer - Brazilian International

Tumu Real 24 Hours Seals International Friendly

Media engulfed Tumu Real 24 Hours have landed themselves an international friendly football match in Burkina Faso slated for April 27, 2016.

The third tier side in Ghana football rose to prominence after landing Kumasi Asante Kotoko in the MTN FA Cup last 32 stage hosted in the Upper West region.

The massive media coverage enjoyed by the Division II side have landed them a life time opportunity after sealing an international friendly match with neighbouring Burkina Faso on Wednesday April 27.

The scheduled match is to highlight the enormous mileage enjoyed by the Tumu based side as they continue to capitalise on the new lease of life within the Tumu township and beyond.

Communication Director of the club, Issah Mohammed, confirmed the scheduled match with Burkina Faso ahead of their trip to Ouagadougou.

“We will be playing an international friendly match with our neighbors Burkina Faso on Wednesday April 27,2016 in Leo as part of their celebrations.

After the match we will now have our official party as a club’, Issah Mohamed Asamoah told sportscrusader.com exclusively.

He added, “Our match against Kotoko remains one of the important days in the history of the club.

The people of Sisaala and the nearby communities were able to watch a Premier League club playing against their second division club in the Sisaala land. It has been massive for us’.

Two goals from Obed Owusu however ended the FA Cup journey of the Tumu based side despite the national media traffic enjoyed by the third tier club.

Real 24 Hours missed out on promotion to the national division one league at the last hurdle after a dominant performance in the preliminary rounds.

Tumu Real 24 Hours Seals International Friendly

Tab Our Wisdom - Former International, Willie Klutse

Former Black Stars player Willie Klutse has expressed his concern over the neglect of retired footballers in the development of the game in the country.

According to him, former footballers who won honors for the country in recent times have been neglected from the core spectrum of the development of the game which doesn’t serve right for the thriving of football.

In a interactive session with the Minister of Youth and Sports, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, Klutse said “you don’t pay school fees for wisdom, if our time is past it doesn’t mean our wisdom in the game is also past”.

“We are passing away with our wisdom, we have things to say but we are bitter, so through this bitterness everyone is going his own way,” he said.

The current technical director of Ghana Premier League outfit, Inter Allies, also emphasized they need for a united front so that this bitterness will vanish as soon as possible, “so that Ghana will be blessed and not cursed”.

He further reinstated the readiness of Retired Women National Footballers Association of Ghana and Retired National Footballers Association of Ghana to share their ideas with stakeholders in the best interest of the sport.

Tab Our Wisdom - Former International, Willie Klutse

McDan Open Goes International

The McDan Open Tennis Championship goes international this year with the finest local talent expected to face a stern challenge from tennis players from other African countries.

The winner of the 2016 edition of the biggest event on the Ghanaian tennis calendar is rumoured to take home a lucrative cash prize of $30,000 which organisers believe will be enough to attract the best African players to participate.

The General Secretary of the Ghana Tennis Federation, Phillipina Frimpong disclosed to sportscrusader.com that she was working tirelessly to get the McDan Open on the Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) circuit which would guarantee that elite tennis players will turn-up when the event gets underway.

The Chief Executive Officer of McDan Group of Companies, Mr. Daniel McKorley who sponsors the championship said that his main intention for the event going international was for Ghanaian players to test themselves against the best players in world.

He added that, most of the Ghanaian tennis players were at an age where they must play the best if they want to improve.

Meanwhile, this year’s Tennis Professionals of Ghana (TPG)/GTF National Ranking tournament will be held next month in Kumasi.

As part of preparations for the ranking tournament, officials of the Ghana Tennis Federation and its Ashanti regional executives, organisers of the tournament together and the TPG, are locked in negotiations on a GHC 40,000 sponsorship deal with the McDan Group of Companies.

McDan Open Goes International

Donsah shows class as Bologna held off Sampdoria

Ghana Youth international Godfred Donsah put in a man of the match performance for Bologna at home to Sampdoria in the Serie A.

The 20 year old Bologna defensive screen provided the opening goal for his side before registering his second goal of the campaign.

Bologna held on for 3-2 win in a thrilling top flight encounter that projected the home side into the top 10 in Italy.

Godfred also provided a set up for Anthony Mounir for the first goal of the game just 12 minutes into the first half.

The commanding Black Satellites midfielder then lashed onto a through ball from outside the 18 yard box to double Bologna’s lead 12 minute after picking his assist.

Donsah’s thunderbolt made Emilaino Viviano in post for Sampdoria a stationary spectator between the sticks.

Two quick strikes from Sampdoria however turned the game on its head before Mateo Destro kept the points at home to Bologna with an 87th minute spot kick.

Bologna moved into the top 10 of the Serie A log for the first time in the season whiles Sampdoria stays rooted to the bottom three.

Donsah shows class as Bologna held off Sampdoria

Ghana"s Raymond Commey for WBA International title

Ghana’s Raymond Commey will on February 12, meet Jun Qiu Xiao for the World Boxing Authority (WBA) International Super Bantamweight title.

The fight scheduled for Olympic Park Lunch, Zhou, China, will see the Ghanaian making an attempt to annex the enviable title to enhance his chances targeting a world title.

Commey, who has 15 fights with two loses to his credit, will come up against Qiu Xiao for the title.

He is expected to leave Ghana on February 5 and return on 14th February.

Commey has promised to make Ghana proud by winning the title though he admits the Chinese will be a tough customer.

“I know he will be tough but i have what it takes to beat him event at his own back yard” Commey noted.

Commey is currently the WBA Pan African Champion and stands the chance of moving further at taking a shot at the world title soon.

Ghana"s Raymond Commey for WBA International title

Former England international Sol Campbell to arrive in Ghana on Sunday

Former England international and Arsenal player Sol Campbell will arrive in Ghana on Sunday, January 17, together with Ghanaian born Netherlands player George Boateng to launch the 2016 Unity Match at the Banquet Hall, State House, Accra on Monday, January 18.

Campbell and Boateng will partner former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah for the grand launch of the event aimed at promoting peace and unity ahead pf the 2016 General Elections in November, on Jan.

The event, which is under the auspices of Primeval Media, – the leading sports event company in Ghana, will see the former England captain paying courtesy calls on former President Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufour.

He will also be hosted by the British High Commissioner to Ghana in the early hours of Monday before joining Appiah and other football icons and football administrators in the evening at the Banquet Hall, State House for the Grand Launch.

A statement from the Communications Directorate of Primeval Media, said, Campbel will also team up with other football legends for a special football forum immediately after the launch.

It said, the forum will offer people the oppotunity to ask questions about the development of the game in England and the workd as a whole.

The statement said, the forum will afford participants the chance to interact with the former Arsenal player and other football legends.

According to the statement the former England imternational will also lead a team of former players and coaches to organise football clinic on Tuesday, January 19, at Wembley Park, Kotobabi.

The statement said, Campbell will address a press conference later in the day at Adidas House, Airport Residential Area, Accra before leaving Accra for London.

Primeval Media, will in June 8 and 10th 2016, organise two matches in Kumasi and Accra, between a world select side against Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara Stadium Stadium and the Black Stars at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Former England international Sol Campbell to arrive in Ghana on Sunday

Ghanaian takes up international appointment at Blind Sports Association

Mr. Frederick Assor, an Executive Member of the National Paralympic Committee (NPC), has taken up an international appointment with the International Blind Sports Association (IBSA).

Mr. Assor, has been appointed as a member of Five-Aside Football sub-committee under the (IBSA) responsible for supervising the organisation of blind football in the world.

Mr Assor, a graduate of University of Ghana, with B.A in History and Religion, will be in charge of English speaking Africa, whilst Mr. Toussaint Akpweh, will handle French speaking part of Africa according to his letter of appointment from the IBSA.

The Ghanaian has been an advocate blind sports in Ghana, and is the Executive Director and Founder of Blind Support Ghana, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO).

Mr. Assor expressed his delight over the appointment in interview.

“It is a great honour to be given such an appointment, i will do my very best to the development of blind sports in Ghana.

“I am looking forward to contributing my very best to the IBSA and will ensure Ghana benefits from my appointment to the international body”. He stated.

Mr. Assor was member of the team that represented Ghana at the 2015 All Africa Games in Congo.

Ghanaian takes up international appointment at Blind Sports Association

Kotoko/Veria FC match will come on - Organisers

Chief Oppong Yeboah, Organiser of the much touted friendly international between dethroned league champions Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Veria FC of Greece insist the match will come on contrary to reports that, the Europeans are unaware of the match.

Speaking in an interview, Chief Yeboah, said, Oppong Yeboah, they are making the necessary preparations for the match on January 3 and have not been informed of the decision of Greece side to withdraw from the match.

According to Oppong Yeboah, they are in the process securing visa on arrival for the 35-man contingent expected to touch down on January 2, 2016, by Emirates Airlines.

He stated that, their league is currently on winter break and wondered why reports about the withdrawal of Veria FC from the match.

Chief Yeboah noted that, they have a Memoradum of Understanding (MOU), which states that, Veria FC are to feature at least eight of their first team players in the match and was convinced the team will come to Ghana with their regular players.

He noted that, the match will be part of activities marking the 80th Anniversary celebration as well as serve as the platform to prepare for the coming season.

However reports in the media suggests that, officials of Veria FC seem to be unaware of the match and have no plans of coming to Ghana.

Kotoko/Veria FC match will come on - Organisers