Cobblah Certain Of Allies Safety

Jimmy Cobblah, Inter Allies newly appointed coach, is optimistic of turning the fortunes of the club around.

The Eleven Is One perfect start to the 2015-16 Ghana Premier League (GPL) has been hampered by a difficult period which saw the club part ways with veteran coach Herbert Addo.

The Tema-based club is currently second bottom on the league log, but Cobblah who will lead the club tomorrow in his first match in charge is certain of turning things around.

“The task ahead of me is a big one considering where the team is and also how tough the league is but that is life,” he said.

“You have to be strong to go through things like this and I am hopeful that we will be able to turn things around.”

Jimmy Cobblah was with Wa All Stars last season but parted company with the club two weeks to the start of this campaign.

Cobblah Certain Of Allies Safety

Sportscrusader.com Lower Leagues Team Of The Week

The Sports Crusader Lower Leagues Team of the Week is an initiative introduced by the fastest growing sports web portal in Ghana to demonstrate how Ghanaian players perform for their various clubs abroad.

To set the records straight, as we have always done, players are selected based on the following criteria:

1.The Coefficient of the league they play

2. The competition they are in (If they are not playing league matches)

3. Consistency.

4. The competition they face from other players playing for the same position.

5. The positions they play

6. The number of minutes played in the game, and

7. The contribution of the player to the success of the game.

David Atanga took his season’s tally to10 goals in 24 league appearances over the weekend to secure his place in our team of the week for the lower league Ghanaian players abroad.

Alongside the bony framed Liefering forward upfront are Clifford Aboagye and Jonathan Opoku in a dreaded attacking trio.

At the middle of the pitch are Divine Naah, Richard Boateng and Derreck Boateng in a 4-3-3 flexible system that has Bright Addae, Nuru Sulley, Isaac Donkor and Maxwell Acosty in the back four.

Goalkeeper Razak Braimah maintains his place between the sticks despite his 1-0 defeat with Cordoba over the weekend.

Below is the Sportscrusader.com Lower League Team of the Week and the number of minutes each player played.

1. RAZAK BRAIMAH-90’ CORDOBA

2. Nuru Sulley-90’ Alanyaspor

3. Maxwell Acosty Boadu- Latina

4. Isaac Donkor-75’ Bari

5. Bright Addae-90’ Ascoli

6. Divine Naah-90’ NAC Breda

7. Richard Boateng-90’ Granada II

8. Derreck Boateng-90’ Rayo OKC

9. JONATHAN OPOKU-90’ VV VENLO

10. DAVID ADONA ATANG- 90’ LEIFERING

11. Clifford Aboagye-90’ Granada II

SUBS

12. Richmond Boakye-30’ Latina

13. Kinglsey Boateng-30’ Bari

14. Yussif Chibsah-90’ Ljunskile

15. DENNIS AGYARE ANTWI-90’ JERV

16. Kinglsey Sarfo-90’ Siruis

17. Hiram Boateng-90’ Plymouth Argyle

18. Thormas Boakey-45’ Vaberg

Sportscrusader.com Lower Leagues Team Of The Week

Russia "Sorry" And "Ashamed" Of Cheats

In the letter to the Sunday Times, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko stops short of admitting the Russian state was complicit in doping

Russia is “very sorry” and “ashamed” of cheating athletes who were not caught by its anti-doping systems, the country’s sports minister has said.

Russia was banned from international competition after a damning report by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

But Vitaly Mutko argues not lifting the ban for the 2016 Rio Olympics would be “unfair and disproportionate” and that clean athletes should not be punished.

They will have been rigorously tested by Rio, he writes in the Sunday Times.

Wada’s report depicted a culture of systematic state-sponsored cheating by Russia’s athletes, with even the secret services involved.

It said the All-Russia Athletics Federation (ARAF), the Russian anti-doping agency (RUSADA), and the Russian Athletics Federation had failed to comply with anti-doping procedures.

“We do not deny having a problem in Russia, and we are doing everything possible at state level to eradicate doping, including punishing athletes and coaches found to have violated anti-doping rules,” Mutko writes.

“But doping is a global problem, not just a Russian problem.”

Mutko says by the time Rio gets under way in August, Russian athletes hoping to compete will have been through a minimum of three anti-doping controls by the sport’s world governing body – the IAAF – in addition to in-competition testing.

“These are men and women who have sacrificed years of their lives striving to compete at the very highest level, who have dreamed of taking part in the Olympic Games, and who now face having their sacrifice wasted and their dreams shattered.”

He adds: “The reasons for the All-Russian Athletics Federation being suspended from the IAAF have been well-documented.

“They are weighty. Serious mistakes have been made by the federation management, along with athletes and coaches who have broken anti-doping rules and neglected the principle of fair play, so fundamental to sport for immediate benefits.

“Let us be clear. We are ashamed of them.”

However, Mutko stops short of admitting that the doping scandal was state sponsored.

“We are very sorry that athletes who tried to deceive us, and the world, were not caught sooner. We are very sorry because Russia is committed to upholding the highest standards in sport and is opposed to anything that threatens the Olympic values.”

Read more on Russia doping allegations:
Russian agents covered up Sochi doping, alleges whistleblower
Athletics doping scandal: Russia federation accepts IAAF ban
Key questions answered following report into Russia athletics doping
What if the trust goes out of sport?

He says measures put in place since the ban – including handing over all testing to the UK Anti-Doping Agency until Russia’s own programme is restored, changing the leadership of Russian athletics and handing over alleged doping cases to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne – means testing is now “extra transparent”.

“No other country’s athletes will have been placed under the spotlight to the same degree as ours will be,” Mutko writes. “Such an intense glare does not allow anywhere for cheats to hide.”

He finishes the letter with: “We have done everything that has been asked of us by the IAAF in order to be reinstated.

“It would be unjust to demand all these changes and measures, witness them happen, and then still punish Russia’s athletes.”

BBC

Russia "Sorry" And "Ashamed" Of Cheats

Bechem United Confident Of MTN FA Cup Success

Ghana Premiership outfit, Bechem United are confident of advancing to the next round of the MTN FA Cup competition and believe they can go all the way to lift the trophy.

The Hunters will play Real Tamale United (RTU) on Sunday in a round of 16 tie at the Tamale Sports Stadium and hope to advance to the quarter finals of the competition.

Chieftains at the club believes the MTN FA Cup represents the best opportunity for them to win silverware this season, and, are not relenting in their efforts towards achieving success in the competition this season.

Head of their technical team, Manuel Zacarias has not lost a game since being appointed a couple of weeks ago, and, said they will approach their next game with all seriousness.

“We understand RTU is a step below us in the Ghana football league structure, but, this is an FA Cup game, and, if we want to progress, then we must take it head on,” he said.

The fact that RTU will be at home for this tie the Portuguese added, will, inspire them to go for it, knowing they will be in the last eight if they win.

However, he contends that they will hope to press home their top-flight status to progress to the next round of the competition at the expense of the GN Bank Division One outfit.

Bechem United will be at home to Kumasi Asante Kotoko when the Ghana Premier League resumes next Wednesday.

Bechem United Confident Of MTN FA Cup Success

Remembering the Legacy Of Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio

A year ago on 12 May, we woke up to the bad news. Accra Hearts of Oak’s most successful coach Cecil Jones Attuquayefio had lost the battle to throat cancer at the age of 71.

Cecil Jones Attuquayefio born on the 18th October, 1944 was a loyal servant of Accra Great Olympics -Hearts of Oak’s city rivals – but it was with HEARTS of OAK that he made his name as a coach.

The ex-Black Stars player, after battling with throat cancer for close to eight years, finally lost the fight on12 May, 2015. He fought to the very end of his life…….

FROM STAR PLAYER TO LEGENDARY COACH

Attuquayefio’s footballing career spanned almost 20 years. He started with Ghana Academicals in the early sixties, transferred to Accra Standfast F.C.  for a short-stint, later joined Ghana Republicans and finally settled with Accra Great Olympics – where he played from 1966-1974- during their most successful spell in Ghana football which culminated in two league titles in a space of four years. He was a member of the Black Stars team that won the African Nations Cup in 1965.

His coaching career kicked off right after his playing days, his first job was with the Accra Great Olympics team in the mid-seventies. He managed the “Wonder Club” for almost a decade. He was the assistant-coach of the Black Stars from 1985-1987.

He managed three teams in four years between 1988 and 1993. He was in charge of Okwahu United for a year and proceeded to Cote d’Ivoire where he managed local giants, Stade Abidjan.

He was not there for long and came back to coach Obuasi Goldfields-present day AshantiGold SC- from 1990-1995; the first three years was spent with the senior team and the last two years were with the academy side of Obuasi Goldfields.

HISTORY MAKER WITH HEARTS

Attuquayefio was appointed manager of Accra Hearts of Oak in 1998 after a short stint with his former club Accra Great Olympics. He brought a new dimension to the reigning Ghana League Champions. Attuquayefio’s Hearts of Oak made it into the group stages of the CAF Champions League where they placed second in Group A level on points with Power Dynamos of Zimbabwe who had a superior goal difference.

Hearts and Attuquayefio were back in Africa the following year, but after whipping Ela Nguema of Equatorial Guinea 9-0 on aggregate in the preliminary round, the euphoria was quickly subdued when they placed third in their Group, unable to better the record of the previous year. Hearts went on to retain the Ghana league title which was Cecil Jones’ second league triumph with the club.

After those two unsuccessful stints on the African continent, Cecil Jones moulded -arguably- Hearts of Oak’s greatest team. The lessons in the previous fiasco were learned; the shenanigans of away and home games on the continent were understood; the will-power to not succumb was inculcated into the players. The alchemist and leader of men had found his right formula and with it the antidote to dominate the African terrain.

The new, rectified and fortified team Attuquayefio created came to be known as “BATTALION 64.” Some of the notably members of the “64 Battalion” were: Sammy Adjei, Africa’s Best Goal-keeper at Junior level in 1999, took over the goalkeeping reigns from Eben “Dida” Armah and James Nanor; Stephen Tetteh and the veteran -erstwhile midfielder- E. Agyeman Duah were the heart of the defense.

They complemented each other perfectly with Stephen Tetteh, the young, energetic and tower of strength; on the other hand, Agyeman Duah brought experience, calmness and composure to the defense. (SannieWahab, the best Hearts defender at the time, missed the final. Agyeman Duah replaced him at the back.)

On the right of defense was the mercurial and marauding Yaw Amankwah Mireku; Captain Jacob Nettey: reliable, hardworking, indefatigable and passionate occupied the left flank.

The centre of battle and the hub of the team had the combative, hard tackling, athletic, Lawrence Adjah Tetteh (a mirror-image-of-Edmund Copson) who wins the ball and distribute it effectively; and the silent, wily, shadow wall Joe Ansah marshalling the midfield.

Charles Taylor and Charles Allotey occupied the left and right of midfield respectively. The former, a very skillful, quick, left-footed, defense terrorising, slippery and trickery Charles Taylor; the latter, a very small, underrated, hardworking, passionate, gutty and pocket-Hercules Charles Allotey.

Ishmael Addo, the precocious, pacey, and finisher extra-ordinaire, added youthful enthusiasm to the front-line in tandem with Emmanuel Osei-Kuffor – the General- as he was named by the fans.

Emmanuel Osei-Kuffor, the erstwhile right-back, had been converted to a striker by Cecil Jones Attuquayefio. Osei-Kuffor was creative as a playmaker, and had a strikers instinct in equal measure but his greatest attribute was his composure and calmness-personified in front of goal – Emmanuel Osei Kuffor was the top-scorer in the 2000 CAF Champions League.

As the saying goes, ”A team is as good as its bench” and so the equally talented men were the backbone of the team: J. Nanor, Eben Armah; Justice Ampah, James Zoglo, Emmanuel Donkor, Emmanuel Adjogu, Ali Kwame, Dan Quaye, and man-mountain Osmanu Amadu.

Hearts of Oak and Attuquayefio were making history, sweeping all before them on the domestic stage thanks in no small part to the trilogy of Osei Kuffuor, Ishmael Addo and Charles Taylor.

They were unplayable at times and rightly regarded as one of the continent’s finest combinations. The pair registered more than 15 goals between them in the CAF CL.

Attuquayefio’s artistic team, the 64 battalion, went on to win the CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE in 2000 -defeating Esperance in Tunis (ending a close to 30 years home invincibility record of the North Africans in continental football) and winning the return leg 5-2 on aggregate at Accra.

The appurtenance of their success was the sweeping of all the domestic trophies in the year 2000. The icing on the continental cake was the 2-0 win over African giants, Zamalek SC of Egypt, in the Super Cup the following year.

Attuquayefio’s team had rigour at the back, finesse in the middle and panache in front of goal. But of all the qualities that got them through -and distinguished them from the Hearts of Oak team of old- was the we-shall-not-be-over-awed never say die attitude. This conviction was accentuated when they came from a goal and a man down, to beat Esperance 2-1 in Tunis.

Attuquayefio had succeeded where Charles Addo Odametey had failed twice; the battalion 64 had laid down the gauntlet for the legendary “fearsome-five” squad which comprised Robert Hammond, Mama Musah Acquah, Peter Lamptey, Anas Seidu and Mohammed Ahmed Polo.

They had -in effect- threatened the very existence of the afore-mentioned quintessential “fearsome-five” squad in the pantheons of Accra Hearts of Oak Legends; they had marked their claim, rejoiced where the erstwhile deities had mourned, and had usurped all the Hearts of Oak sides before them as the greatest side ever assembled in the then 93-year history of the Oak tree.

Yes, they were guided, regimented, drilled, indoctrinated, mollycoddled and masterminded by the great CECIL JONES ATTUQUAYEFIO – Accra Hearts of Oak’s coach of the century.

The football world celebrated Cecil Jones Attuquayefio in June, 2012. Well, we will forever celebrate the man and his impeccable achievements.

Credit: Hearts News

 

 

Remembering the Legacy Of Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio

Djokovic, Murray, Nadal Through, Federer Out Of Italian Open

Andy Murray defeated Jeremy Chardy to reach the quarter-finals of the Italian Open in Rome.

The world number three raced through the first set – but had to come from a break down in the second before sealing a 6-0 6-4 victory over a Frenchman.

Britain’s Murray, 28, will meet David Goffin, who thrashed Tomas Berdych 6-0 6-0, for a place in the last four.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal both won, but Roger Federer was beaten by world number 15 Dominic Thiem.

Murray, the number two seed, has had his path to the final cleared after Stan Wawrinka – the number four seed and in the same half of the draw as the Scot – was beaten in three sets by Juan Monaco.

The victory over the world number 32 Chardy continues his build-up to the French Open, which begins on 22 May, and follows a run to the semi-finals in Madrid last week.

Asked about Goffin’s one-sided win over Berdych, Murray told BBC Sport: “The scoreline was the big surprise.

“Goffin’s a top quality player so it was a match that could go either way, but a very surprising scoreline – you don’t see results like that much nowadays, at this top level anyway.”

Murray is now guaranteed to return to number two in the rankings next week, following Federer’s defeat.

“It’s not incredibly important but it’s positive,” he said. “Being seeded two is a little bit better than being seeded three or four in the major events, it can help the draw a little bit for sure. It’s a positive thing.”

On court for an hour and 17 minutes, Murray won 87% of points when he landed his first serve and only gave Chardy a sniff when mistakes in the second set followed a virtually error-free first.

But from 3-4 down, three consecutive games, including two breaks, confirmed a passage to the semi-finals.

Federer, who has struggled with a back injury, lost 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 to Austrian Thiem, who moves on to face Kei Nishikori.

The 34-year-old Swiss, a 17-time Grand Slam winner, made 34 unforced errors and said he fears for his chances at Roland Garros.

“I see my chances as not great to have the most unbelievable run,” said Federer.

“But if maybe in three, four days I can practise 100% for next week, then I believe that something is possible again.”

Djokovic bounces back from bagel

World number one Djokovic, who will reach $100m (£69m) in career prize money if he defends his title at the Foro Italico, battled past world number 37 Tomaz Belluci in three sets in strange circumstances.

The Serb was ‘bagelled’ for only the ninth time in his career, winning only eight points in the first set.

He then offered animated celebrations when he scraped a hold of serve in the first game of the second.

From there, though, he moved to a 0-6 6-3 6-2 victory and a quarter-final meeting with Nadal, who defeated Australian Nick Kyrgios in three sets.

BBC

Djokovic, Murray, Nadal Through, Federer Out Of Italian Open

Nyantakyi"s Critics Hate His Principled Style Of Leadership - Cobblah

Jimmy Cobblah has labelled critics of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kwesi Nyantakyi as haters of his ‘principled style’ of leadership and nothing else.

Mr Nyantakyi has been labelled as responsible for the fall from grace of the Ghana Premier League (GPL), the unattractive nature of the league to attract sponsorship and the inadequate player quality in the GPL.

Mr Nyantakyi, a Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee member has come under immense scrutiny since his election as FA president in 2005 and his statement of ‘when is one’s time to succeed me, I will be the first to concede my time is up’ appears not to have gone down well with his critics.

Cobblah, a former coach of the Mr Nyantakyi owned Wa All Stars is the latest to add his voice to the unraveling debate of hiss competence as FA President.

“Mr Nyantakyi is just a principled person and those who have problems with him just hate his principles and nothing else,” Coach Cobblah said.

“I have known him (Kwesi) personally and still find it hard to fathom why people criticise him, yes he is human but he has not performed poorly as critics want us to believe,” he added.

Nyantakyi"s Critics Hate His Principled Style Of Leadership - Cobblah

Verratti Ruled Out Of EURO 2016

Italy midfielder Marco Verratti will undergo surgery on a groin injury that will rule him out of Euro 2016, Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed.

The 23-year-old returned from two months on the sidelines in the French League Cup final a fortnight ago, but has struggled to fully shake off the problem he first sustained in February.

And the Ligue 1 champions have now revealed that Verratti will play no part in this summer’s European Championship.

A PSG statement reads: “In agreement with Paris Saint-Germain, Marco Verratti has decided to undergo surgery to heal the groin problem that has he has been suffering from for several weeks.

“The operation will take place in Doha on May 16 at the Aspetar Centre – the club’s official medical partner. The midfielder, who recently extended his contract with the capital club until 2020, is expected to be sidelined for eight weeks.

“As a result, Marco Verratti will play no part in Paris Saint-Germain’s final matches of the season, or Euro 2016, to be held in France between June 10 and July 10. Paris Saint-Germain wishes the player a speedy recovery and hopes he will soon be fully fit and back to his best for both club and country.”

Italy’s opening game at the Euros is against Belgium on June 13, with the Azzurri also set to take on Sweden and the Republic of Ireland.

Goal

Verratti Ruled Out Of EURO 2016

Hearts Will Go Top Of GPL With Win Over Kotoko

Accra Hearts of Oak will move top of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) table if they are able to win their Match-Day 10 encounter with Kumasi Asante Kotoko today.

Leaders Wa All Stars lost 0-1 to Medeama SC on Sunday, and, the Phobians will overtake them at the top of the table should they win this afternoon’s game in Accra.

All Stars has 20 points from 10 games with Hearts two points behind them on the table.

Hearts are huge favourites going into the Super Clash with Kotoko as they have been the more impressive of the two in the GPL so far.

They have five wins from nine games, and, have lost only once. They will lead the standing by a point if they manage to claim victory over their bitter rivals in the Ghanaian game.

Kotoko have endured an indifferent start to the campaign, having managed 11 points from nine games, a run that has included three wins, two drawn games and four defeats.

They lie in 12th position on the log, but, will move to ninth should they emerge victorious in this afternoon’s game.

The Porcupines have been tagged second favourites going into this encounter and, will be out to prove skeptics wrong.

 

 

Hearts Will Go Top Of GPL With Win Over Kotoko

Serena Williams Out Of Madrid Open With Flu

Serena Williams has withdrawn from the Madrid Open because of flu organizers have said.

Agnieszka Radwanska takes over as top seed for the tournament, which starts on Saturday, while Williams is now due to start her clay-court season in Rome.

The 34-year-old world number one has only played four tournaments since August, failing to win any of them.

She lost in the US Open semi-finals in September, before defeats this year in the Australian Open and Indian Wells finals and a round-four loss in Miami.

Serena Williams Out Of Madrid Open With Flu

Hearts of Oak v Asante Kotoko: Player To Watch-Amos Frimpong

Either side of the wing-back is perhaps one of the most unglamorous positions in the game and there have been some impressive players who have put up commanding displays for their clubs in the Ghana Premier League so far.

Amos Frimpong, for example, has been key to Kotoko’s defensive resilience not only this term, but since monopolising the position since joining the Porcupine Warriors from Brong Ahafo Stars in 2011/12 Premier League season.

He’s been the most trusted right-back in the club, and picking over the captain’s armband was only a bonus after Ohene Brenya was knocked out the starting role.

Amos Frimpong is versatile, and his presence in games is a plus at the back-line. He’s not a threat in aerial duels, but he is a bee when he is in the third end of the pitch.

He has played 90% of Kotoko’s games this season and he’s been industrious. His presence will not only be the player leading the playing body of Kotoko, but the leader his colleagues will look up to when the grass gets thicker.

The local Black Stars defender will look to lead his Kotoko side to victory over Hearts of Oak and bring back the smiles back on the faces of their fans in a season that has seen them struggle for form.

Hearts of Oak v Asante Kotoko: Player To Watch-Amos Frimpong

Owusu Bempah Rallies Hearts Fans Ahead Of Kotoko Game

Accra Hearts of Oak defender, Owusu Bempah has urged fans of the club to be positive in their thinking and support the team with prayers ahead of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) game with bitter rivals Asante Kotoko on 2 May.

The Phobians will host Kotoko at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra in the top-liner of the Match-Day 10 encounters, and the Hearts deputy captain believes their fans can help turn the tide in their favour.

He has therefore called for massive support for the team ahead of Monday’s game insisting that the players will play their part in ensuring that they pick the three maximum points on offer.

“We are determined to win this game, and, all our preparations are geared towards ensuring that we come out victorious on the day,” Bempah said after their training session on Tuesday.

“All that we require from our fans is their total support ahead of the game; they should pray for us in the days leading up to this tie and we pledge to deliver victory for them on Monday,” he added.

“Games with Kotoko are always a difficult and tough but not impossible to win, and I can tell you that we are determined to come out with the three points,” he stressed, insisting further that the support of the fans can help turn the game in their favour.

“I will urge the fans to turn up at the Stadium in their numbers and their presence will be a source of inspiration for us to go for ultimate,” the former Ghana youth international said.

Owusu Bempah Rallies Hearts Fans Ahead Of Kotoko Game

Hearts Move To Secret Camp Ahead Of Kotoko Game

Your most authoritative sports portal www.sportscrusader.com can confirm that Accra Hearts of Oak will move to camp tomorrow ahead of their titanic Match-Day 10 Ghana Premier League (GPL) game with bitterest rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra on Monday, 2 May.

The team will move to camp outside Accra after their training session at the Legon Ajax Park, ahead of this titanic clash between the two most glamorous clubs in Ghana.

The Phobians will look to keep their good run in the GPL going in this fixture, and, the Board and Strategy Committee of the club deems it important to fully prepare the boys for this tie, hence their early call to camp.

Coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi and his technical staff will have ample time to prepare the boys for this encounter at their secret location, hoping that by match day, they will be ready for action looking for the three points.

The Japanese-American said after their 2-1 victory over AshantiGold at Obuasi last Sunday that they recognize that magnitude of the task ahead of them in their next game, and promised to put in a very good preparation for the encounter.

He will look to guide Hearts to a first victory over Kotoko in the capital in a league game since 2009 and maintain the good run they have made to the season.

The Phobians sit second on the GPL log with 18 points, two behind the leaders Wa All Stars wit Kotoko down in ninth position wit 11 points.

Hearts Move To Secret Camp Ahead Of Kotoko Game

Sportscrusader.com Lower Leagues Team Of The Week

The Sportscrusader.com Lower Leagues Team of the Week is an initiative introduced by the fastest growing sports web portal in Ghana to demonstrate how Ghanaian players perform for their various clubs abroad.To set the records straight, as we have always done, players are selected based on the following criteria:

1. The Coefficient of the league they play.

2. The competition they are in (If they are not playing league matches).

3. Consistency.

4. The competition they face from other players playing for the same position.

5. The positions they play.

6. The number of minutes played in the game.

7. The contribution of the player to the success of the game.

Moses Odjier stole the headlines for the wrong reasons after his expulsion from Salernitana’s 3-1 win over Livorno in the Serie B. The pocket size however had done enough to steer his side further away from the drop.

Jonathan Opoku took his season tally to 13 in a 1-0 win for VV Venlo in the Dutch Erste league. The rampant forward has been partnered upfront with Erixon Danso and Richmond Boakye Yiadom.

At the middle of the pitch are Derreck Boateng, Albert Adomah and Dennis Agyare Antwi for the lower league based Ghanaian players.

Razak Braimah enjoyed spectacular outings for Cordoba between the sticks to keep alive their promotion hopes in the Spanish Segunda division.

Below is the Sportscrusader.com lower league Team of the Week and the number of minutes each player played.

1.       RAZAK BRAIMAH-90’ CORDOBA

2.       LEEROY OWUSU-90′ AJAX II

3.       EMMANUEL NTIM-90′ VALENCIENNES

4.       NURU SULLEY-90’ ALANYA

5.       DANIEL SOWATEY-90’SHUMEN 1929

6.       DERRECK BOATENG- 90′ RAYO OKC

7.       ALBERT ADOMAH -90’ MIDDLESBOROUGH

8.       DENNIS AGYARE ANTWI-90′ JERV

9.       JONATHAN OPOKU-90’VV VENLO

10.   RICHMOND BOAKYE-25′ LATINA

11.   ERIXON DANSON -90 EMMEM

RESERVES

12.   KWAME NSOR- SEIRANG

13.   KINGSLEY SARFO-90′ SIRIUS

14.   ISAAC DONKOR-80′ BARI

15.   ABU AGOGO-90′ SHREWSBURY

16. ERIC OCANSEY-85’ EUPEN

17.   PAUL ADDO-90′ BRYNE

18. CLIFFORD ABOAGY- 64′ GRANADA II

Sportscrusader.com Lower Leagues Team Of The Week

Sportscrusader.com Team Of The Week

The Sportscrusader.com Team of the Week is an initiative introduced by the fastest growing sports web portal in Ghana to demonstrate how Ghanaian players perform for their various clubs abroad.

To set the records straight, as we have always done, players are selected based on the following criteria:

1. The Coefficient of the league they play

2. The competition they are in (If they are not playing league matches)

3. Consistency

4. The competition they face from other players playing for the same position.

5. The positions they play

6. The number of minutes played in the game, and

7. The contribution of the player to the success of the game.

Adam Larson Kwarasey remains sidelined for Portland Timbers in the MLS but lack of goal keeping rivals means he will keep his place between the sticks on his possible return next week for the Timbers.

In front of him however will be a new looking back four that has Daniel Opare and Baba Rahman as Wing-backs whiles John Boye returns to partner Nana Asare at the heart of the defense. Opare steered Augsberg to an unlikely victory at the Volswagen Arena on his third straight appearance in this season.

At the middle of the pitch lies Alfred Duncan, whose combative nature proved crucial for AS Sassoulo over Torino in the Serie A. The 22 year old is being flanked by Mubarack Wakasu and Frank Acheampong on either sides.

An attacking trio of Jeff Schlupp and the Ayew brothers will be tasked with the attacking prowess of the team. The ranking of the Premiership favoured the Ayew brothers despite other players souring high for their clubs.

The sportscrusader.com team of the week is seen below:

1. Adam Kwarasey- Portland Timbers

2. Daniel Opare-90′ Augsburg

3. Baba Rahman- 90′ Chelsea

4. John Boye-90′ Sivaspor

5. Nana Asare-90′ Gent

6.Alfred Duncan- 90′ AS Sassoulo

7. Frank Acheampong-90′ Anderlecht

8. Mubarack Wakasu-28’Las Palmas

9. Jordan Ayew- 60′ Aston Villa

10. Andre Ayew-90′ Swansea City

11. Jeff Schlupp- 82′ Leicester City.

Reserves.

12. Emmanuel Boateng- 90′ Galaxy

13. Harrison Afful-90′ Columbus Crew

14. Agyemang Badu-90′ Udinese

15. Charles Sarpong -90′ Philadelphia Union

16. Mahatma Otoo-90′ Sogndal

17. Alhassan Wakasu-90′ Rio Aves

18. Asamoah Gyan-47’Shenghai SPIG.

Sportscrusader.com Team Of The Week

Defending Champions Out Of CAF Champions League

Holders TP Mazembe have been knocked out of the 2016 African Champions League after a 3-1 aggregate loss to Wydad Casablanca of Morocco.

The Moroccans drew the return encounter 1-1 in Lubumbashi on Wednesday after winning the first leg 2-0 in front of their home fans.

Mazembe will now drop down to the Confederation Cup play-offs for a place in the group phase of the competition in an attempt to win continental silverware this year.

Eight-times record African champions Al Ahly of Egypt also progressed at the expense of Tanzania’s Young Africans.

The Egyptians’ powerhouse won their return encounter 2-1 in Cairo to advance on a 3-2 aggregate after drawing 1-1 in Dar es Salaam in the first leg.

Elsewhere in the competition, ASEC Mimosas of the Ivory Coast also made it through on a 3-2 aggregate despite losing their second leg to Libya’s Al Ahly Tripoli 2-1 on Wednesday.

AS Vita Club of the Democratic Republic of Congo went through on the away goals rule after losing the second leg against South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 in Pretoria.

The draw for the group stage will be held on 24 May in Cairo, Egypt.

Defending Champions Out Of CAF Champions League