Organisation In Ghana Is Poor - George Boateng

Ghanaian-born Netherland international George Boateng has called Ghana football association and other stakeholders to improve their organizational powers to give national teams a better chance of competing against the best.

George Boateng, played for the Oranje from youth to th national level, but as Ghanaian, he has the interest of the country at heart.

And has called  on heads of the country’s football governing body to put on structures that will help prevent the fiasco the Black Stars went through in Brazil.

“Organisation is poor, it’s below par and needs to improve dramatically not by 10 per cent, but 100 per cent,” George Boateng told Starr FM.

He added “when you are in Europe and you hear the preparation for the World Cup… Germany builds their own training grounds, they set up everything, they have got their schedule and then you hear the stories coming from the African countries that bonuses haven’t been paid, hotels are not sorted, things like that disturb and don’t give hope to the nation.”

The ex Middlesbrough captain however believe that Ghana and other African countries has the quality to match any opposition on the pitch.

“Quality wise, on the pitch, I think we are up there…African teams can compete. If you can have those upsets that means you are capable of beating the top teams, which are normally going to be there in the finals, semi-finals and quarterfinals.

“So, if you can do that in the early stages, you are capable of doing it in the final,”

George Boateng and Sol Campbell came to Ghana on Sunday night to help Stephen Appiah launch a peace match ahead of the 2016 general elections.

Organisation In Ghana Is Poor - George Boateng

Ghana And I Had No Relationship - George Boateng

Former Holland international George Boateng has revealed that he would have played for Ghana if had recognised earlier that he was a Ghanaian who could contribute in the Black Stars.

Boateng, who was born and raised in the West African country migrated to Holland at a young age and ended up playing for the Oranje.

But the former Aston Villa and Middlesbrough captain claims he was privileged to feature for the Dutch national team.

“I was born here [Ghana] but I left the country at a very young age…so I featured in the Under16s, 18s and 21s and by the time I made my senior debut that is when the Black Stars actually realized that ‘hey he is one of us’ and by then it was too late,” George Boateng told Starr FM.

“It’s not like I didn’t want to but the interest wasn’t there and the relationship wasn’t there.” He added.

The former Middlesbrough midfielder added that he has no regrets choosing Netherlands over Ghana.

“I don’t regret it because I was in a very privileged position, every world cup I had two teams to support, so I was never losing, if Ghana was knocked out I became a Dutch.”

Boateng was invited to Ghana by former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah to launch a peace match ahead of the November 7,2016 general elections.

He flew into the country with former Arsenal defender Sol Campbell under the patronage of Primeval Media, who are organising two friendly matches, to preach peace ahead of the November polls.

Campbell’s team, the World XI, which will be made up of players like Edgar Davids, Emile Heskey, Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, Steve Mcmanaman, Patrick Kluivert and others will first play Asante Kotoko before they meet the Black Stars of Ghana in the second match.

Ghana And I Had No Relationship - George Boateng

Emanuel Adebayor Eyes Drogba"s EPL Record

Veteran Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor is reportedly set to join another London-based English Premier League (EPL) side Crystal Palace.

Palace manager Alan Pardew has already admitted that the 31-year-old free-agent is a target for them in this January Transfer Window period.

The former Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal star is also eyeing a move to Palace this month so he can become EPL’s leading African goalscorer.

Adebayor is just nine goals short of the Ivorian legend’s record of 104 EPL goals. Drogba played 254 matches for Chelsea across two spells with the club.

However, Adebayor is currently on 96 league goals from 230 games which he scored while playing for Arsenal Manchester City and Tottenham.

Nigerian striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni, who is placed third behind Adebayor, is on 95 goals. Another Nigerian legend Nwankwo Kanu is next in line with 54 goals.

Adebayor has also been linked with another EPL sides Watford and Sunderland. But he reportedly prefers staying in London.

Talks between Tottenham and Palace are said to be ongoing for Adebayor because the former are still paying the final year of his £100,000-a-week contract.

A deal is expected to be agreed after Palace and Tottenham’s EPL clash at the Selhurst Park this Saturday.

Emanuel Adebayor Eyes Drogba"s EPL Record

Arsenal Fans Serve A Wine Difficult To Swallow As Euphoria Surrounding Sol Campbell"s Arrival Turn Bitter.

At about 22:13 GMT Sunday night, Sol Campbell and George Boateng flanked by two military men with Stephen Appiah the torch brightening the way led them out of the arrival hall of the Kotoka International Airport.

Five photographers stood at the heart of the main arrival entrance to take pictures of the former Arsenal defender and Netherland’s midfielder, George Boateng. Arsenal fans in the country who had heard of the coming of their legend and thronged to the Kotoka International Airport to catch a glimpse of the defender they saw on television ooze class and played with elegance, battled and led the team courageously to go unbeaten in the 2003/2004 season and reached the champions league final in 2006, filled the Forex Bureu Automated Teller Machine end, singing, clapping and dancing in excitement.

“Are we passing here?” Came the voice of Stephen Appiah who wanted to know whether they are heading to meet the fans and the media at the dance ground.

“Yes!” I answered. And as they marched towards the crowd, media men slipped through with recorders and cameras for Sol’s first words on his first visit to the West African country. Stephen Appiah, the gentle giant who invited him over, stepped up and said: “i am here to introduce Sol Campbell and George Boateng. As you all know, towards our unity game in June, tomorrow we’re going to launch the the unity game. If you have one or two questions you can ask them. Thank you!”

He turned and smiled at Sol Campbell, and he laughed out loud “hahahahahaha, wow!” And moved towards the journalists who had prepared their recorders.

After a few seconds of silence, George Addo Jnr of Accra-based radio station, Joy FM, pushed out the first words from the journalists.

George “Sol welcome to Ghana.”

Sol Campbell “Thank you! Is a pleasure to be here.”

George “why are you motivated to come down to assist Stephen Appiah in this event?”

Sol Campbell “I think is important for players like me to be motivated to honour this invitation.You have the elections coming up and having football and politics is quiteful together. You need to bring everybody together for peace and unity and playing some football I think is quite fantastic.”

George Addo “Is really a good time for Arsenal fans here…”

Sol “Yeah, yeah, Is fantastic and i can see the fans out there. And also more importantly, I can feel the love.”

George Addo “you’re enjoying it here?”

Sol “yeah, is good. Hot? I like it hot.” With a grin, he turned as media satellite centred on George Boateng afterwards. He thanked Sol Campbell for coming and said “is an honour for Ghana to have such a legend player come into the country to share his experiences with us. Sol, we say Akwaaba.” And Sol replied “Akwaaba!”

Everyone laughed in unison. And that was that

Organisers whisked him away much to the surprise of fans who gathered at the arrival hall and waited for about four hours to have a glimpse and probably a selfie with the Jamaican-born England international.

“He’s had a long journey and is tired, he needs to take some rest.” Came the voice media director of Primeval Media who empathized with the 41-year old.

“And to the media, let’s meet at the house former president Kuffour at 10:30.”

Some fans ran across for photographs, and got it, others stood with mouths wide open in disappointment.

“Is that all? This is not what we were told.” A disappointed Arsenal fan said whilst looking at his red and white paraphernalia with the Gunners crest boldly on the heart of it.

“I should have slept instead of wasting my time to come here,” another disgruntled fan told sportscrusader.com.

“We were here as early as 7 – something because they said he will arrive at 8 and see the time now!”

“Mu j3” he told a friend in the Hausa parlance meaning “let’s go”.

With anger, they moved to where their bus was parked. Others too could not hide their disappointment. They poured out their venom with passion. Leaders of the group were no where to be found for their reaction to what unfolded.

Organisers too left before the frustrations and disappointment poured out and their side as why they could not fulfill their promise to let Sol appreciate the love they showed him on his arrival with even ‘thank you!”for the love one-on-one.

Ghana football lovers and Arsenl fans came out in their numbers to support, but they were served with the bitters of wine one would ever swallow.

Arsenal Fans Serve A Wine Difficult To Swallow As Euphoria Surrounding Sol Campbell"s Arrival Turn Bitter.

I am In Ghana To Unite The People - Sol Campbell

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal defender Sol Campbell says his aim for visiting Ghana is to unite the people ahead of this years elections.

Sol, 41, was a granite figure at the centre of defence for all his clubs –and was twice named in the team of the tournament at the World Cup, and a member of Arsenal’s “Invincibles” that went the 2003-04 league season unbeaten.

He captained Portsmouth, of which Sulley Muntari was a part of to win the 2008 FA Cup. In 2006 Sol Campbell became the only player in England’s history to play in six major tournaments for the Three Lions.

Having achieved so much in football, a game believe to be the vehicle for driving peace and togetherness, he was invited into the country by ex-Black Stars skipper Stephen Appiah to launch a peace match as football is the tool to bring Ghanaians together for the upcoming general elections.

Sol Campbell who honoured the invitation said football and politics are major ingredients for oneness and feels using football will help foster love in November 7 elections.

“It Is a pleasure to be here. I think is important for players like me to be motivated to honour this invitation,” the former West Ham United academy graduate told a section of the media at the Kotoka international airport upon arrival.

He added: “You have the elections coming up and having football and politics is quiteful together. You need to bring everybody together for peace and unity and playing some football I think is quite fantastic.”

Many Arsenal fans thronged to the Kotoka international airport to welcome the Jamaican-born England international with paraphernalias and he was excited to feel the love of the gunners in Ghana.

“I can see the fans out here and more importantly, I can feel the love and as i said earlier it is all about bringing everyone together.”

The peace match launch will take place on Monday January 18, 2016 at the State House at 18:00 GMT or 6 P.M local time, whilst the match itself, scheduled on a two-legged basis between Kumasi Asante Kotoko and a select side led by Stephen Appiah will take place on June 8 and 11 at the Baba Yara and Accra Sports Stadiums respectively.

I am In Ghana To Unite The People - Sol Campbell

Emmanuel Adebayor Shows Off His Lavish £450,000 Collection Of Personalised Watches

Emmanuel Adebayor may not seem to be in a hurry to find a new club, but he has found the time to accumulate a quite stunning collection of luxury watches.

The Togo striker left Tottenham in September, but is still picking up £100,000-a-week in wages.

And Adebayor is wasting no time spending his earnings as he showed off his luxury collection of time pieces suped-up by New Bond Street jewellers Frost of London.

The watches – in a storage box- show different times because many are automatic movement pieces meaning they require the owner to wear them to wind them up.

Adebayor pictured wearing a £100,000 customised Delacour Bichrono S2 on his left wrist.

His diamond-encrusted collection has a combined value of more than £450,000 with watches by Hubolt, Jacob & Co, Audemars Piguet, deLaCour, Cvstos and Snyper.

The most expensive time piece owned by the former Manchester City striker, who has daughter Kendra, five, is the Hublot Big Bang King Power Chrono Tourbillon, with a retail price of up to £100,000.

Posting alongside the picture of 12 high-end watches the striker wrote: ‘SEA, haters are gonna hate. Imma do me no matter what. The SEA collection by @josephfrostoflondon.’

The jeweller in London’s west end has also designed watches for the likes of Jose Mourinho, Mesut Ozil and Justin Beiber.

Adebayor (left) shows off one of his watches with Joseph Banin from top jewellers Frost of London.

It’s not just his watch collection the 31-year-old has been showing off during his sabbatical from football.

Adebayor, who was a BBC World Cup 2010 pundit, had been pictured alongside classic cars and enjoying himself by the pool while relaxing in Ghana and Togo.

Two months ago he also posted a photograph of him relaxing by a pool, with the caption ‘relaxing by the pool side on a Sunday morning and enjoying some good music’.

But more recently the striker has shown his desire to get back on the pitch, posting several videos and pictures of himself working out.

Emmanuel Adebayor Shows Off His Lavish £450,000 Collection Of Personalised Watches