Asante Kotoko"s Kwame Boateng Is Best Player Of G-6 Invitational Tournament

Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s striker Kwame Boateng has been voted the Best Player of the 2016 G-6 Invitational Tournament held at the Sekondi Essipong stadium.

The former Accra Great Olympics striker had a wonderful tournament and played in all three matches of Kotoko.

He also emerged as the joint top goal scorer of the tournament  with Aduana Stars Yahaya Mohammed 2 goals in the three matches played.

Boateng, it will be recalled came off the bench in Kotoko’s first match against Berekum Chelsea to score his side’s 3rd goal. He was a constant thorn in the flesh of the defenders throughout the tournament, an action that saw him being fouled on many occasions.

He scored in his first two matches against Chelsea and Ashgold but due to an injury he sustained in the final match, he had to be substituted earlier on in the game.

Kwame Boateng receiving his television from an official of headline sponsors of the tournament First Trust Savings and Loans

For his prize, he received a 32-inch plasma television as well as a plaque from the headline sponsors of the tournament First Trust Savings and Loans.

Asante Kotoko"s Kwame Boateng Is Best Player Of G-6 Invitational Tournament

G-6: Aduana Stars Thrash SC Medeama 3-0 To Qualify For Finals

A highly determined Aduana Stars tam led by their charismatic captain Godfred Saka beat SC Medeama 3-0 in the match day 3 of the G-6 Invitational Tournament played on Saturday afternoon at the Essipong stadium.

Medeama needed only a draw to qualify for the finals as they had already beaten Hearts of Oak 1-0 on Friday. Aduana on the other hand, needed to win at all costs because they had only one point coming into the game, after the played a goalless drawn game against Hearts of Oak on Thursday night.

In the opening minutes of the game, both teams were sizing each other up to see how best and were to attach from. But it was Aduana who came out of their shells to seize dominance of the game.

The likes of Richard Mpong, Godfred Saka, Noah Martey and Yahaya Mohammed were terrorising the defence of the FA Cup champions and it was no surprise when they grabbed the first goal in the 19th minute.

Richard Mpong received a precise pass from Yakubu Mohammed who after displacing and outrunning the Medeama players sent in an intelligent cross into the box which met the onrushing Yahaya Mohammed, and he had no problems slotting home the goal with goalkeeper Muntari Tagoe in dream land.

Medeama took up the challenge and mounted countless pressure on Aduana Stars, and in one those attacks won a penalty after Joseph Gordon was fouled in the penalty box.

Dominic Ashun elected himself to take the kick, but could not get the ball past Aduana Stars goalkeeper Joseph Addo as the kick was punched back into play and evetually cleared to safety.

The first half ended 1-0 in favour of Aduana Stars.

Back from recess Coach Tom Strad of Medeama made two quick changes. Ishmael Hammond and Patrick Opoku were taken out and were replaced by Paul Aidoo and Phillip Philip Aseweh.

It was an end to end stuff then on, until in the 75th minute when Aduana Stars increased the tally to two, with Daniel Darkwah the goalscorer.

SC Medeama fought but could not penetrate the formidable Aduana Stars defence.

When all seemed to heading for a 2-0 win for Aduana Stars, a moment of lack of concentration on the part of Medeama goalkeeper Muntari Tagoe saw them concede a penalty.

Tagoe recived a back pass and in he decided to dribble the onrushing Aduana player. Unfortunately, he couldn’t and lost the ball in the penalty box. In a bid to get the ball back, he fouled the player and the referee had no other choice that to whistle for a penalty.

Stariker Yahaya Moahmmed scored the goal to end the game 3-0 in favour of Aduana Stars who will be playing against Asante Kotoko in the finals on Sunday afternoon.

G-6: Aduana Stars Thrash SC Medeama 3-0 To Qualify For Finals

G-6: Asante Kotoko Hold Ashantigold 1-1 To Qualify For Finals

Kumasi Asante Kotoko survived a last minute scare from Ashgold to qualify to the finals of the 2016 G-6 Invitational Tournament played at the Essipong stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Prior to the game, Kotoko had beaten Brekum Chelsea 3-1 on Friday afternoon and had one foot in the finals, provided they can claw at least a draw against and Ashgold side that drew with Chelsea on Thursday.

The Kotoko starting XI that played in the first match against Chelsea on Friday is on its way to Libya to play in an international friendly match, and as such paraded an entirely different team with only goalkeeper Richard Ofori and Edwin Tuffour Frimpong maintaining their positions in the starting XI, and were led by assistant coach Michael Osei.

Ashantigold on the other hand, paraded almost the same players that drew goalless with Berekum Chelsea in match day one of the competition.

When the game finally commenced it was Kotoko who showed signs of wanting to carry the day as they pinned their opponents in their own half for a considerable amount of time.

In the 9th minute, Asante Kotoko get the first real chance of the game an action that fell to Elvis Amoh, but the lanky striker wasted too much time trying to get his acts together. When he finally managed to get a shot in, it was cleared off the line by an Ashgold defender.

Ashgold accepted the challenge and mounted their own series of attacks. In the 15th minute, they  nearly scored the opener, but Isaac Amoah couldn’t connect to a swift cross by Emmanuel Osei.

Just when Ashgold were beginning to dream again, they suffered a sucker punch as Kotoko grabbed the openr in the 19th minute.

The goal came out of nothing. A back pass from midfielder Eric Opoku found Desmond Agbekpornu but the defender could not control the pass. By then Kotoko striker Kwame Boateng was lurking in his shadows and pounced on the loose ball to coolly slot home the first goal.

There was nothing goalkeeper Fatau Dauda could have done about it because none of them expected it.

Both teams failed to add to the goal tally till the end of the first half, but it was Ashgold who effected the first change of the game. Alhassan Nuhu came off for Francis Adjei

Back from recess, both teams thrilled the fans to good end to end football and by far it was Ashgold where won most of the ball possession but failed to score any of the many chances they managed to create.

Frustration set in for the Ashgold players as they failed to score. On on of those many occasions, defender Augustine Sefa hacked down Kotoko striker Elvis Amoh and that warranted his exit. He was red carded in the 88th minute.

Coach Bashir Hayford’s men kept fighting and in the 93rd minute grabbed the equalizer through Hudu Yakubu.

It was a nervy finish, but Kotoko managed to hold their heads high till the blast of the final whistle.

They will play in the finals against Aduana Stars who earlier in the day, cut SC Medeama to size with a 3-0 win.

G-6: Asante Kotoko Hold Ashantigold 1-1 To Qualify For Finals

G-6: Kotoko"s Amos Frimpong Wins Man-Of-The-Match Award In Game Against Chelsea

Asante Kotoko’s captain Amos Frimpong was voted the man of the match by organisers of the G-6 Invitational Tournament, after their 3-1 win over Berekum Chelsea.

The player did a yeoman’s job in organizing his Kotoko teammates to thrill the fans of Essipong in all aspects of the game.

Apart from scoring the first goal of the match through a wonderful header in the 41st minute, he was involved in the remaining two goals scored by Kotoko and it came as no surprise when he was announced as the man of the match.

For his prize, he received a plaque from the headline sponsors of the tournament First Trust Savings and Loans.

G-6: Kotoko"s Amos Frimpong Wins Man-Of-The-Match Award In Game Against Chelsea

Asante Kotoko Send Berekum Chelsea OUT Of The G-6 With Emphatic 3-1 Win

Kotoko on Friday thrashed Berekum Chelsea 3-1 in their first game of the FirsTrust G-6 tournament in Sekondi. Captain Amos Frimpong and Dauda Mohammed gave the fabulous lads a comfortable 2-0 lead as they scored in the 41stn and 46th minutes (45+1) respectively.

Theophilus Nyame was sent off midway inside the second half and moments after that, Berekum Chelsea cancelled one of the two-goal deficit through Asiworme Fumawor.

Kotoko’s response was swift. Substitute Kwame Boateng grabbed the third goal to put the game quite beyond the reach of Berekum Chelsea. The impressive win means the Porcupines now lead Group B with 3 points and on Saturday they will play Ashantigold who drew goalless in their first game.

Friday’s excellent show ensured that the Porcupines’ fantastic pre-season performance continues. After dominating play for 40 minutes, Amos Frimpong soared above everybody inside the penalty arc to head home Eric Donkor’s free kick.

He then assisted the second goal a minute into injury time with a perfect cross to Dauda Mohammed inside the box, which the striker controlled with his chest before hitting it beautifully into the net.

Berekum Chelsea’s Coach Solomon Odgey foresaw danger. He made two quick changes just before the start of the second half. That did his side a bit of good since they had a fair share of the exchanges in the early stages.

Berekum Chelsea found a consolation goal on the hour mark with a header by substitute Asiworme Fumawor. The goal came two minutes after Theophilus Nyame was given the marching off orders for needlessly retaliating Nicholas Opoku’s brutal tackle on him.

The Berekum lads threw more men forward but Coach David Duncan had other ideas. He brought on striker Kwame Boateng for Dauda Mohammed. Duncan’s strategy worked to perfection as the Porcupines maintained their control on the game with Kwame Boateng fetching third goal in the 73rd minute.

Kotoko will play their next game on Saturday against familiar foes Ashantigold.

Asante Kotoko Send Berekum Chelsea OUT Of The G-6 With Emphatic 3-1 Win

Hearts Of Oak OUT Of G-6 Tournament After Losing 1-0 To SC Medeama

Accra Hearts of Oak have been bundled out the 2016 G-6 Invitational Tournament. This was after the team lost its second game against SC Medeama in the second match of the day.

Having already played a goalless drawn game in the first match against Aduana Stars on Thursday night, the Phobians were looking to seal qualification by recording a good win the MTN FA Cup Champions, but that was not to be as a 70th-minute penalty goal by SC Medeama’s Malik Akowuoah sealed their doom.

Parading an entirely different squad from the players used against Aduana Stars, Coach Kenichi’s men fought their hearts out especially in the opening exchanges of the game.

Soulama Abdoulaye was the only player who maintained hos position from last night’s game. All other outfield players were entirely new.

But this did not affect the rhythm of the Phobians who dictated the pace for a large amount of time.

SC Medeama playing their first game of the tournament looked fresh and relaxed and used experience in most aspects of the game to keep themselves in the game, especially when Hearts took control in the first half.

The first half ended goalless, but it was Hearts of Oak who effected the first substitution of the game, following an injury on striker Odupong Wellington. He was replaced by Franklin Osei in the 33rd minute.

Back from recess, SC Medeama took the game to Hearts pinning them in their own half for a considerable amount of time.

Then came the moment of controversy in the 66th minute when the centre referee mistakingly gave Hearts defender Phillip Boampong a red card, thinking he had received one already in the first half.

It took the 4th official and the lineman to bring to his notice that indeed it wasn’t Boampong he booked in the first half.

But by this time, it was all SC Medeama who were probing the Hearts goal area in search of the opener.

Hearts savior  by them was their goalkeeper Soulama Abdoulaye who virtually stood between SC Medeama and a goal.

He made two wonderful quick saves in the 68th minute, first saving a goalbound free kick from Malik Akowuouah nad then managed to block the rebound.

This drew the applause from the Hearts of Oak fans who came in their numbers to the Essipong stadium.

A moment of indiscretion on the part of defender Phillip Boampong earned SC Medeama a penalty after the defender fouled Benjamin Bature. The other players including Soulama Abdoulaye protested, but the referee stood his grounds.

Malik Akowuah elected himself to take the kick and he managed to send Soulama the wrong way to record the first goal of the match in the 70th minute, which later turned out to the match winner.

With a few minutes to end the game, Hearts were reduced to ten men as Isaac Oduro was red-carded for a foul on Enoch Atta Adjei.

The Phobians mounted several last minute attacks but in all situations was dealt with by the much experienced SC Medeama defence.

SC Medeama will play their second game on Saturday against Aduana Stars.

Hearts Of Oak OUT Of G-6 Tournament After Losing 1-0 To SC Medeama

Fact And Figures: We Need Ghc 8000 To Fix Stadium Floodlights - NSA

The Sports Authority Is ‘Financially Broke’ – NSA

The national sports authority (NSA) have been accused by many for the poor management of the various stadia in Ghana and yesterday’s floodlight ‘black out’ at the Essipong sports stadium during the second game of the GHALCA G6 competition did not help their course much.

 

 

The GHALCA First Trust G6 maiden tourney is currently ongoing at the Essipong sports stadium in the western region and durng the second game on match day 1 between Accra hearts of oak and Aduana Stars witnessed two sessions of black out with the initial incident occurring in the just 20 minutes into the game and resumption to the second half also delayed as well for 30 – minutes.

 

 

Speaking exclusively to footballcrusader.com, Mr. Amui, who heads the national sports authority in the eastern region said, the association need Ghc8000 to service the generator at the Essipong sports stadium.

“The generator needs a total of 2 barrels to fill the gen to full capacity and each barrel costs Ghc710; so in total the NSA will need Ghc1420 but the association does not have the money and can’t afford that huge amount.

Fact And Figures: We Need Ghc 8000 To Fix Stadium Floodlights - NSA

G-6 CHANGE OF TIME: Friday"s Matches To Be Played During The Day

Following the disturbing and irritating situation with the generator at the Essipong stadium, officials of GHALCA have decided to move all matches for Friday 8th January to the afternoon.

This decision according to organizers of the 2016 G-6 Invitational tournament is to avert the same situation that nearly marred the game between Hearts of Oak and Aduana Stars, one that saw the entire stadium plunge into total darkness following the failure of the stadium generator to produce light for the floodlights.

“We are still working on the generator, but we don’t want a repeat of what happened yesterday so we have decided that Friday’s matches will be played during the day instead of in the evening”, Koomson who is an official of the GHALCA mentioned.

“The first match today between Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Berekum Chelsea will commence at 1:30pm, whilst the second match involving Hearts of Oak and SC Medeama will commence at 3:30pm” he added.

He said if the problem is rectified, then they will revert to their earlier fixture time for Saturday and Sunday’s games.

G-6 CHANGE OF TIME: Friday"s Matches To Be Played During The Day

Blank: Ashgold Draw Goalless Against Chelsea In Opening G6 Tournament

Ashgold Held By Chelsea In GHALCA G6 Opening Match

Ghana premier league champions, Ashgold were held to a goalless draw by a brave Berekum Chelsea at the Essipong sports stadium in opening match of the inaugural GHALCA First Trust G6 tournament.

 

The first half of the game saw both sides produce plenty of goal scoring opportunities in the game but neither attackers showed much sharpness in front of goal justifying the rusty nature the players are in due to lack of competitive games.

Ashgold defender keeps Chelsea attacker under check

Sadick Adams, who joined Berekum Chelsea, after unsuccessful spells abroad  delivered his trademark powerful shot at goal but Ashgold goalie,  Robert Dabuo was equal to the test to save the Miners from going a goal down before the half time break.

 

Ashgold started the second half well with total command on the game by dictating the pace of the game and created clear goal scoring chances to win them the match.

Ashgold start an attack from midfield

The best chance of the evening fell the way of Emmanuel Osei, after a defense splitting pass came from Ato Bissah, but the substitute shot wide by missing the goal post by inches to give Chelsea a big sigh of relieve in the 85th minute.

Sadick Adams (middle) looks dejected after a couple of his shots at goal was saved by Ashgold goalie Dabou

Berekum Chelsea, following the inability of Osei to snatch the late winner for Ashgold took control of the game and almost secured all the three points through a powerful header from Collins Ameyaw to call.

 

Dabuo was called to duty once again in the 91st minute to produce a spectacular save from a powerful header from Berekum Chelsea’s Collins Amenyaw after Osei wasted a glorious opportunity to earn the Obuasi side all three points.

 

 

Blank: Ashgold Draw Goalless Against Chelsea In Opening G6 Tournament

"Don"t Underrate Hearts Of Oak"-Aduana CEO Albert Commey Warns Players

Chief Executive Officer of Aduana Stars FC, Albert Commey has warned the players against complacency during their match tonight against Heart of Oak.

Aduana will open their 2016 G-6 Invitational Tournament account with a game against a ‘troubled’ Hearts of Oak side, but that according to the CEO should not in any way make his charges feel they have already won the game, stressing that they can be shocked if they do.

“I know Hearts of Oak inside out and I know that when things are not going well for them internally, that is the time they spring surprises. Indeed, we are all aware of the recent troubles in the team and the ultimatum given their coach and all that,” Albert Commey told the playing body after Thursday morning’s training session.

“But that will not deter them from playing good football and I know that many have already written them off, but that is the danger here. Give them equal respect and make sure that you go about your business on the field as usual.”

“We are in this tournament to win it and it will all depend on what you are able to do against Hearts of Oak tonight.

"Don"t Underrate Hearts Of Oak"-Aduana CEO Albert Commey Warns Players

"It Won"t Be Easy Against Hearts Of Oak Tonight"-Yahaya Mohammed

Aduana Stars striker Yahaya Mohammed has insisted that his team will not have it easy against Accra Hearts of Oak tonight when both teams play in the G-6 Invitational Tournament at the Essipong stadium.

The Phobians go into tonight’s game as underdogs by virtue of the recent performances, but that does not concern Yahaya who knows too well that it won’t be a walk in the park for them.

“Heart of Oak is still Hearts of Oak and no matter the little issues they are going through, I believe we are not going to have it easy against them tonight”, Yahaya Mohammed told footballcrusader.com in an interview soon after the team’s training on Thursday morning.

“I am confident we are going to beat them because we have really prepared well and want to win the tournament. The team is in good shape and hopefully we will smile at the nd of the 90minutes.”

For him coming back after a long layoff might come with its challenges as he will play his first match for Aduana since joining them, but he is confident that his colleague will help him have a good day.

“My colleagues are wonderful and I have been enjoying my stay with the team so far and I believe that they will help me tonight.”

 

"It Won"t Be Easy Against Hearts Of Oak Tonight"-Yahaya Mohammed

Full Fixtures Of G-6 Invitational Tournament: Ashantigold/Chelsea To Play First Match

Premier League champions Ashantigold will battle Berekum Chelsea in the opening match of the 2015 G-6 Invitational Tournament.

This was after the organisers of the event announced the fixtures ahead of today’s tournament.

The three-day tournament is slated from the 7th-10th January 2016and will see six Clubs in the Ghana Premier League battle each other for the giant trophy at stake.

After the all play all group stage, winners will play in the final on the last day of the tournament which is Sunday 10th Jan 2016.

Below are the fixtures of the group stage.

Day 1. Thursday. 7th Jan 2016:

1. Ashgold v Berekum Chelsea – 4 pm

2. Hearts of Oak v Aduana – 6:30 pm

Day 2. Friday 8th Jan

1. Kotoko v Chelsea- 4 pm

2. Hearts v Medeama- 6:30 pm

Day 3. Saturday 9th Jan

1. Medeama v Aduana- 4 pm

2. Kotoko v Ashgold- 6:30 pm

Full Fixtures Of G-6 Invitational Tournament: Ashantigold/Chelsea To Play First Match