MTN FA CUP Semi Finals Thrills

The Kumasi Baba Yara Stadium will witness two exciting games on Sunday when Okwahu United and Wa Rockets face their top flight opponents in the MTN FA Cup semi-final games.

Medeama won the 2015 MTN FA Cup

Okwahu United who are the only club among the four semi-finalists to have won the competition, will face Liberty Professionals while Wa Rockets take on Bechem United.

All four teams had interesting runs to the semis but Wa Rockets are widely considered as the surprise package of this years competition.

The Division One club defeated Asokwa Deportivo in the Round of 16 before handing Premier League side Wa All Stars a shocking 1-0 defeat in their quarter final derby.

Fellow second tier side Okwahu United made it to this stage after eliminating Dreams FC, Dunkwa United, Hasaacas and another premier league side WAFA in the quarter final stage.

For the premier league sides, Liberty Professionals defeated Medeama, Pure Joy, FC Samartex and Elmina to book their place in Sunday’s semi finals games.

On their part, Bechem United reached this stage after victories over Paga Japan Stars,Sunyani Liberty, RTU and knocked out last year’s finalists Asante Kotoko through penalty shoot outs in the quarter finals.

All four teams are poised to book a place in the grand finale set for September 4 at the New Cape Coast Stadium.

At yesterday’s pre match press conference, head coach for Bechem United and Okwahu United were both confident that their respective teams has what it takes to make it into the finals of this year’s competition.

Backing his claim to a place in the finals, Bechem United’s coach Manuel Zacharia stated that:  “my team will play an entertaining game on Sunday and if we are able to get fair officiating, am confident we will make it to the final and hopefully win the competition for our fans”.

Acting coach for Okwahu United Ibrahim Merigah who coincidently played in the side that won the 1986 edition of the FA Cup, also insisted that his team has what it takes to scale over Liberty Professionals and make it to the grand finale.

“It’s been exactly 30 years since we won the FA Cup and my team has assured me that they also want to enter the history books of the club as the players who won the second FA Cup trophy for Okwahu”,the ex Okwahu player said.

An Official of Wa Rockets, Mr. Ampem Darko who revealed that the team is in a camping base in Kumasi called on fans of Asante Kotoko to come to the Baba Yara Stadium as they seek to defeat Bechem United.

“We all know fans of Kotoko were not happy when Bechem defeated Kotoko in the quarter finals but we can assure them that Rockets will avenge that defeat for them. So all Kotoko should come to the stadium and we can assure that Wa Rockets will make them happy” , he said.

The semi final games  which will be played in the first ever double header games, will see Bechem United take on Wa Rockets at 3pm while Okwahu United face Liberty Professionals at 6pm.

Source : GFA

MTN FA CUP Semi Finals Thrills

Baba Rahman Bids Ghana"s Rio Olympic Team Farewell

Ghanaian Defender Baba Rahman has expressed his best of wishes and support for Ghana’s contingent for the upcoming Olympics in Rio which kick starts on the 5th of August 2016.

 

The 22 year-old claims that he has been a fan of athletics especially in the long distances  category and he hopes Ghana will be able to win its first medal in the Track and Field event as well other sporting disciplines.

 

In a Question and Answer session with Chelsea FC official website, Baba was asked: Who will do well from your part of the world?

 

Baba said: “Ghana have a few athletes who have qualified, I think about 16, and I hope they do well. We didn’t qualify for the football unfortunately, the last medal Ghana got was in the football in 1992 when we came third”.

 

Ghana’s Rio Olympic contingent are expected to depart from Ghana on Monday, 1, August 2016, despite the difficulty in raising funds for a smooth participation in the mega sporting event in Rio.

Baba Rahman Bids Ghana"s Rio Olympic Team Farewell

Chelsea and Schalke Agree Deal For Baba Rahman

Ghanaian defender Abdul Baba Rahman  is on the brink of a return to German football by joining Schalke on loan from Chelsea.

 

The Black Stars player had interest from Atletico Madrid and Roma but travelled to Germany on Saturday for his medical and will link up with former Augsburg coach Markus Weinzierl at Schalke.

 

The 22 year -old joined Chelsea from Germany at the start of last season but did not get more playing time as he did at Augsburg under former Stamford Bridge bosses Jose Mourinho and Guus Hiddink in his first season.

 

The loan fee for the deal has not yet been confirrmed.

 

Chelsea and Schalke Agree Deal For Baba Rahman

Tranguil Keen On Dauda"s Return

Coach of Accra Hearts of Oak, Sergio Tranguil is hoping that his top scorer Cosmos Dauda would be back in action when his team travel to Sogakope to face West Africa Football Academy(WAFA) in Week 23 of the Ghana Premier league (GPL).

 

The 22 year-old attacker has missed the last two matches for Hearts after suffering an injury when his side played against Sekondi Hassacas in Week 20 of the GPL at the Essipong Stadium.

 

Dauda has been an integral part of the team since he joined the Phobian club from division two club Mighty Jets having scored six goal so far in the 2015/2016 GPL campaign.

 

In a post match interview after their stalemate with AshantiGold SC, Coach Tranguil said ” we have started with a new strategy ,when we don’t have Cosmos Dauda around,Sam Yeboah has been good especially playing alongside another striker as well as Eric Kumi,but notwithstanding that i am hoping to have Cosmos Dauda for our next game which is very crucial encounter”.

 

Hearts of Oak occupy top spot on the 2015/2016 GPL table, two points ahead of Aduana Stars with eight matches to end the season.

 

 

Tranguil Keen On Dauda"s Return

Chelsea Reignite Interest In Belgian International with a $75m Bid

Chelsea are confident that they can complete a deal for Romelu Lukaku in the summer, having offered Everton a fee in the range of £57m ($75m).

The Blues let Lukaku leave in 2014 but are now willing to double the amount they received from Everton for the striker in a bid to alleviate their woes up front.

The Mirror reports that the Toffees are holding out for much higher with Everton unwilling to negotiate for anything less than £75m ($99m) in a window that has already seen some massive deals happen across Europe.

 

The fee, should Chelsea match it, will be slightly less than Gonzalo Higuain’s £78m ($103m) move to Juventus from Napoli. However, the report states that Chelsea have been told that Lukaku is willing to make the move to Stamford Bridge this summer.

Lukaku scored two goals for Belgium in the recently concluded European Championships in France but failed to lead his side to the semi-finals, having been beaten by Wales on their way to face Portugal. However, his tally of 18 goals and six assists is among the best in the league last season and Antonio Conte believes that with better supply he can more than better his return and lead the Blues to at least a top four spot, having finished the season in 10th position in the recently concluded campaign.

It would be another successful transfer for super-agent Mino Raiola, who has already completed the transfers of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan to Manchester United and is on the verge of assisting a world record deal for Paul Pogba to Old Trafford.

 

This would be Chelsea’s second striker signing of the summer, having already completed a deal for fellow Belgian Michy Batshuayi from Marseille.

Source : IBTimes

Chelsea Reignite Interest In Belgian International with a $75m Bid

Keshi Laid to Rest in Nigeria

Stephen Keshi, the former Nigeria captain and manager, was buried on Friday in his country house at Ilah, in Nigeria’s Delta State.

Keshi won the Africa Cup of Nations as both captain (in 1994) and manager of the Super Eagles (in 2013).

The man affectionately known as ‘Big Boss’ was twice voted as Africa’s top coach, by the Confederation of African Football (Caf), in 2005 and 2013.

He died of sudden medical complications in his home in Benin City in June.

A huge personality in the continental game, playing in five Africa Cup of Nations finals (1982, 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1994), the former Anderlecht, Strasbourg and RWD Molenbeek central defender, had also managed Togo – earning them a 2006 World Cup place – and Mali, before taking up the Nigeria job in 2011.

“I can’t believe that Stephen is gone,” said Uche Okechukwu, the former Brondby and Fenerbahce central defender, who played with Keshi in the Super Eagles in the 1990s.

“I was to have called him a few days before he passed. But I forgot.

“Days later, my brother banged on my door one early morning and told me to check my Facebook page, as he clearly did not know how to break the news to me.

“It was a very big shock. It still is a very big shock,” Okechukwu said.

A large group of Keshi’s former Super Eagles teammates, including Okechukwu, Mutiu Adepoju, Augustine Eguavoen, Victor Ikpeba and Peter Rufai, attended the memorial service at St. John’s Catholic Church in Ilah, which took place before the burial, in Keshi’s home.

“Keshi was a man that knew his own mind. He was a very strong personality,” Ikpeba, the former AC Monaco, Borussia Dortmund striker and 1997 CAF African Footballer of the Year, told the BBC.

“As a member of the NFF’s technical committee, we often had to exchange strong words, over the way that he managed the national team.

“I was a young player under his captaincy, during the start of my career in the national team, so Keshi always felt that I should support him totally as coach. But this was not always possible, as I had my own opinion, which sometimes differed from his.

“But despite our occasional differences, over technical issues, I’ve always had a great deal of respect for him. He was, truly, the “Big Boss,” Ikpeba said.

Keshi controversially lost his job as Super Eagles coach in 2014, after the Pinnick Amaju led Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) claimed that he had “violated” the terms of his employment contract, by “seeking” to take up work with the Ivorian national team.

Kate, to whom Keshi was married, for over 30 years, died in December last year, after losing a three-year battle with cancer. He is survived by four children.

Source : BBC

Keshi Laid to Rest in Nigeria

Manchester City Close In On Everton"s Player With a £50m Bid

The Mirror report that Manchester City have recently revived talks after deciding to meet Everton’s £50m valuation of the Englishman, and it looks as though a move could be finalised by the end of the week.

Everton, John Stones in action against Chelsea

John Stones came to prominence after signing for Everton from Barnsley in 2013. 19-years-old at the time, Stones made 21 Premier League appearances during the 2013/14 season for Everton, his debut season for the club.

However, it was his performances in the 2014/15 campaign which turned the heads of Europe’s elite. The young defender had such a good year that his performances were recognized with a nomination for the Golden Boy Award in 2014, along with the likes of fellow team-mate Gerard Deulofeu, Luke Shaw and Raheem Sterling.

Chelsea were the first team to make the move to sign the promising defender, with the London club regarding him as a replacement for club legend John Terry but both Chelsea and Everton stood firm in their valuations of the player and couldn’t agree a deal.

The failure to secure a move to Chelsea seemed to hamper Stone’s performances last season, with the defender some way off the form he showed in the 2014/15 campaign.

tones will be a welcome addition to the club and it is a huge possibility that under the guidance of captain Vincent Kompany and manager Pep Guardiola, he will become of the best centre backs in the world

Manchester City Close In On Everton"s Player With a £50m Bid

Massive Boost for Ghanaian Weightlifter Ahead of Rio Olympics

Ghana’s sole representative in weightlifting at this year’s summer Olympic Games has received a massive boost for his pre-games preparation from Kofikrom Pharmacy.

The support from Kofikrom Pharmacy will take care of his dietary supplements and camping allowance before joining Team Ghana in Rio.

According to the CEO of Kofikrom Pharmacy, Mr Kofi Addo Agyekum his company is aimed at supporting the least financed sports.

“We want to help the least financed sports to grow that is why we have come on board to support weightlifting, he noted.”

On his part Christian Amoah thanked the company for their kind gesture and assured them and Ghanaians as a whole that he will do his best to raise Ghana’s flag at the Games.

Christian Amoah will be competing in the 85kg category at the Games in Rio.

Massive Boost for Ghanaian Weightlifter Ahead of Rio Olympics

Confirmed : Adriano Signs For Besitkas

Brazilian full-back Adriano officially signed for Turkish club Besiktas on Friday, moving from FC Barcelona for an initial fee of €600,000, which could rise up to €1.7 million if the Turkish side qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

Adriano, 31, signed his new contract with the Turkish club, ending a period of six years at the Catalan giants.

He landed at Barcelona in July 2010 from Sevilla, where he played between 2004 and 2010.

The versatile full-back, who can also play in midfield, made over 100 appearances for the Catalan giants over the course of six seasons but was never truly considered a player who had the calibre to start on a regular basis.

He has represented Brazil at the U20 level, and at the senior level, earning 18 caps for the Selecao between 2010-13.

Confirmed : Adriano Signs For Besitkas

Kingsley Boateng On Target In Bari Win

Ghana’s Kingsley Boateng found the back of the net for Bari 1908 in their seven-goal thriller with Trento.

The Italy-based attacking midfielder completed the scoring for the Serie B side with a composed finish in a 5-2 win over Trento.

The 22-year-old endured a nightmare run last season with no goal in 21 games but has promised ending that lengthy goal drought.

The versatile forward fired enough warning to his teammates ahead of the new campaign with an assist and a sumptuous finish to add, in the goal festival.

Kingsley Boateng will be expected to lead the line for the Serie B side as they embark on yet another marathon season in the second tier season.

Kingsley Boateng On Target In Bari Win

Samuel Tetteh Opens Scoring Account At Leifering

Black Stars forward,  Samuel Tetteh, opened his official scoring account to guide Leifering to a crucial away triumph.

The Austria-based attacking sensation registered the fourth goal for his side in a 1-4 vital win at Weiner  Neustadt.

The former WAFA SC attacker rounded-off the scoring for his side to extend their unbeaten start to life in the second tier league.

Tetteh capped his impressive start to the game with a composed finish to add to Mergim Berisha’s blistering treble.

Compatriot duo of Lawrence Atti Ziggi and Gideon Mensah, both featured for the table toppers as they continued their surge in the Austrian second tier league.

Gideon Mensah lasted 88 minutes on his Leifering debut  after joining from the senior side, Salzburg, barely two weeks on arrival.

Samuel Tetteh Opens Scoring Account At Leifering

GWF: Peace Ride Storms Accra

Ghana Weight Lifting Federation (GWF), in collaboration with Universal Peace Federation(UPF)  presents the Peace Ride ahead of the 2016 General Elections.

The one-day event, is to strengthen the peaceful atmosphere across the country with few months left to the December 7 Polls.

The race will see over 50 cyclists compete for podium place and domestic supremacy through the principal streets of the nation’s capital, Accra, in the early hours of Saturday,  July 30, 2016.

Cyclists will take off from the Tetteh Quarshie interchange, through the Airport road, Sankara interchange, Nima ring road through the Adabraka main road before winding up at the Accra Sports stadium dressed in national colours.

UPF will award the Sports Minister, Honourable  Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, who is expected to grace the two-hour event.

The program is of international repute and is expected to be made an annual event henceforth.

GWF: Peace Ride Storms Accra

Geoffery Acheampong Nets In Bastia Defeat

National Under 20 rear guard, Geoffery Acheampong, registered a consolation strike for SC Bastia in a 4-1 defeat to Brawnsweich.

The Right to Dream Academy graduate  inked a three-year deal with the French side during the summer transfer window after an impressive season with USL side, Santa Barbara.

The energetic right-back came off the bench to pull one goal back for his Ligue I side in the off-season shake up duel.

Compatriot, Phil Ofosu Ayeh, starred for the German Dibundendesliga outfit for the 90 minutes.

Geoffery Acheampong Nets In Bastia Defeat

Fosu-Mensah Is Going Nowhere -Agent Confirms

Manchester United star Timothy Fosu-Mensah is going nowhere – according to his agent – amid reports Jose Mourinho wants to get rid of the youngster.

The 18-year-old, who can operate in both defence and midfield, made ten appearances during his breakthrough season for the Red Devils in the 2016/17 campaign.

However, doubts were raised over Fosu-Mensah’s Old Trafford future following speculation new manager Mourinho was ready to axe him – but these have now been put to bed.

‘All those rumors in media are from nowhere,’ Jonathan Barnet told Voetbal International.

‘Timothy Fosu-Mensah stays at Manchester United.’

The Netherlands Under-19 international is already a fan favourite after just one term with United and many supporters are predicting the youngster has a major role to play under Mourinho this season.

Fosu-Mensah Is Going Nowhere -Agent Confirms

Real Madrid Make a £38m Bid For Chelsea"s Star Man

Real Madrid have reportedly contacted Chelsea over a surprise transfer raid for defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic.

Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane is keen to bring in someone new in that position this summer, as his side look set to miss out on Juventus’ Paul Pogba to Manchester United.

 

Matic is now emerging as Real’s prime target, with the Serbian’s future uncertain after a poor season at Stamford Bridge last term.

Still, Chelsea are unlikely to let the 27-year-old leave too easily, with Sport claiming he could cost as much as £38million for Madrid to prise away.

Matic is one of the top midfielders in Europe on his day, and could shine in the slower-paced game in La Liga after a dip in his form in England.

Chelsea may no longer see the former Benfica man as first choice after signing N’Golo Kante from Leicester City this summer.

 

Real Madrid Make a £38m Bid For Chelsea"s Star Man

Mounriho Names Squad for Gala Game

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has named a 23-man squad for Saturday’s friendly against Galatasaray in Gothenburg, where Zlatan Ibrahimovic could make his unofficial debut.

The 34-year-old striker and Swedish icon, who retired from international football following his participation at Euro 2016 earlier this summer, looks set to register his first Reds appearance in his homeland after he was pictured training with his new team-mates on Thursday.

Ibrahimovic is joined in the squad by four other players who did not travel to China for the first leg of Tour 2016, presented by Aon – Matteo Darmian, Marouane Fellaini, Morgan Schneiderlin and Anthony Martial – following their participation in the latter stages of the European Championship in France.

New signings Eric Bailly and Henrikh Mkhitaryan could make their third appearances for United since their own transfers to the club, while captain Wayne Rooney is presumably in line to feature for the first time under Mourinho after sitting out the match against Borussia Dortmund in Shanghai.

UNITED SQUAD FOR GALATASARAY FRIENDLY:
Goalkeepers: De Gea, Johnstone, Romero,

Defenders: Valencia, Darmian, Jones, Rojo, Bailly, Blind, Shaw,

Midfielders: Herrera, Fellaini, Mkhitaryan, Young, Schneiderlin, Carrick, Mata, Lingard, Memphis,

Forwards: Ibrahimovic, Rooney, Martial, Rashford.

Mounriho Names Squad for Gala Game

Dreams FC Target League Title But...

Dreams FC head coach, Charles Kwabena Akunnor, has mentioned a top finish is a realistic target, but won’t miss any chance of winning the trophy should an opportunity present itself.

The premier league debutants have been in great form recording back-to-back heavy wins over Aduana Stars and Berekum Chelsea in recent games.

And with 4 points away from top club, Hearts of Oak, C.K. Akunnor admitted in an interview with Sportscrusader.com that, they want to retain their premier league status.

“We’ve a target which is to be successful and retain our position in the league. But internally, we have sight on the trophy should the opportunity present itself.”

Dreams FC, after the league break, will play away to embattled side, Kumasi Asante Kotoko.

Dreams FC Target League Title But...

Duncan Stars On European Debut

Italy-based Ghanaian youngster, Alfred Duncan, made his long-awaited European club competition debut away to Swiss side, Luzern, in the third round qualifiers of the UEFA Europa League.

The AS Sassoulo midfielder guided his Italian side to a crucial away draw at the Swisspor Arena to put themselves in pole position for a place in the gruop stages.

The 23-year-old former Sampdoria, Livorno and Inter Milan box-to-box midfielder, carried his domestic form onto the European stage to hand Eusebio Di Francesco’s men a crucial first-leg advantage.

Duncan took the Serie A’s 2015/16 season by storm sealing qualification for European club football competition with AS Sassoulo ahead of AC Milan, in the process.

A cheeky Dominco Berradi spot-kick tied the scoreline for the visitors in the first-leg of the qualifiers ahead of the final lapses next week.

The Ghanaian registered 35 appearances for the Italians en-route to their European club football qualificatio

Duncan Stars On European Debut

Ghana Duo Steer HJK To Crucial Europa Win

Ghana duo of Anthony Annan and Richard Gadze guided HJK Helsinki to a vital away win in the final hurdles of the 2016/17 UEFA Europa league.

The pair steered the Finnish giants to a surprise 1-2 away first-leg win against Swedish side, IFK Goteborg ahead of the return leg next week.

Richard Gadze extended his impeccable form with the Finnish side, putting them in pole position for a place in the group stages of the tournament.

The 22-year-old forward played in his third European game of the season in the priceless win at Goteborg, Sweden.

Compatriot, Anthony Annan, starred prominently for the ambitious visitors throughout the game to boost their qualification chances, with the return slated for next week

The former Accra Hearts of Oak midfield gem lasted the full throttle of the game whiles Gadze made way later in the game after receiving a late booking.

Ghana Duo Steer HJK To Crucial Europa Win

"We Were Poor Against Liberty"- Hasaacas Captain

Hasaacas Skipper, Daniel Egyin has admitted that his side were poor in their 4-0 midweek defeat to a Liberty Professionals on match week 22 of the Ghana Premier League at the Carle Reindorf Park.

The Sekondi based side went into the game as the favorites based on recent form but the Scientific Soccer Lads proved too strong as they arrested a seven game winless streak.

And speaking to SportsCrusader.com after after the game, Hasaacas captain Daniel Egyin said his side lost concentration during during the game.

He added that, the entire playing body failed to play according to the instruction of the technical team and that reflected in the final result.

Egyin, however expressed optimism that Hasaacas will bounce back from the disappointing defeat in subsequent games.

Hasaacas are currently languishing in 15th position on the log with 25 points, and with just eight games to go, they are left with no other option than to start recording some vital wins.

Their next game will be at home to second place Aduana Stars at the Essipong Stadium on Sunday August 6.

"We Were Poor Against Liberty"- Hasaacas Captain

GN Bank DOL: Officials For Match Week 23 Announced

The Referees Association of Ghana (RAG)  and the Division One League Board has released the list of Match officials for this weekend’s round of matches in the GN Bank Division One League.

The following are the Match officials tasked with officiating the 23rd round of games in the GN Bank Division One League:

MATCH: B.A. United vs Liberty

Venue: Nkoranza

REF: Eric Dunu

ASST 1: Godwin Tordzro

ASST 2: Moses Mekpa

4TH REF: Andrew Boakye

MC: Osei Kwadwo

MATCH: Bawku UTD vs FC Tanga

Venue: Bawku Park

REF: Philip A. Forson

ASST 1: Joseph Kokroko

ASST 2: Isaac Nyarko

4TH REF: Sampson Azumah

MC: C.K. Azagseya

MATCH: Utrecht vs Wa Rockets

Venue: Tamale Academy

REF: Ebenezer Tetteh

ASST 1: Moses Keti

ASST 2: Kofi Acquah

4TH REF: Moro Osman

MC: Paul Afloalender

MATCH: Mpuasuman vs Mighty Royals

Venue: Japekrom Park

REF: Latif Kadir

ASST 1: Emmanuel Baah

ASST 2: Hussein Ibrahim

4TH REF: Christopher Asante

MC: Sah Joachin

MATCH: Steadfast vs R.T.U

Venue: Tamale Stadium

REF: David Kumah

ASST 1: Isaac Mills

ASST 2: Gabriel Boateng

4TH REF: Kwame Nsiah

MC: A.A. Alhassan

MATCH: All Stars vs Arsenals

Venue: Bolga Stadium

REF: Eric Sefa Antwi

ASST 1: Abdul Salam

ASST 2: Moro Abass Kasim

4TH REF: Sintuo Iliasu

MC: Sheni Musah

MATCH: Bofoakwa vs Berlin

Venue: Coronation

REF: Mensah Agbeko

ASST 1: Cephas Ballow

ASST 2: Antwi Bosiako

4TH REF: Daniel O. Appiah

MC: Attah Abrebresa

MATCH: Unity vs Guan Utd

Venue: Techiman

REF: Richard Antwi

ASST 1: Dautey Matinson

ASST 2: Isaac Asante

4TH REF: Jones Ekubiem

MC: Atta Kakra Fosu

MATCH: Cornerstones vs King Faisal

Venue: Baba Yara

REF: Kamal Deen Bawa

ASST 1: Daniel Diewllo

ASST 2: Nicholas Odame

4TH REF: Ibrahim Ayaaba

MC: Andrews Derry

MATCH: Tarkwa UTD vs Sharks

Venue: Esipong

REF: Prince Coffie

ASST 1: Roosevelt Tarweh

ASST 2: Edem Kpodo

4TH REF: Gabriel Safo

MC: James Adjei

MATCH: Deportivo vs GoldStars

Venue: Baba Yara

REF: Emmanuel Eshun

ASST 1: Garba Joseph

ASST 2: Halilu Alhassan

4TH REF: Dondolinaa Salifu

MC: Kwasi A.Boateng

MATCH: Karela vs Wassaman

Venue: Anyinase

REF: C.K. Adjei

ASST 1: E.O. Ankrah

ASST 2: Joshua Anane

4TH REF: Akuffo Yirenkyi

MC: G.T.S.K. Inkoom

MATCH: Wise vs Proud UTD

Venue: Guandu Park

REF: Mawuli Klu

ASST 1: Katamani Michael

ASST 2: Afetorgbo Kodjo

4TH REF: Numo Theophilus

MC: K.E. Saed

MATCH: Samatex vs Achiken

Venue: Samraboi

REF: Patrick Addy

ASST 1: John Nyarvor

ASST 2: Edward Omane

4TH REF: Douglas Kporxa

MC: M.E.Fletcher

MATCH: Dunkwa vs Vipers

Venue: Dunkwa

REF: Selorm Y. Bless

ASST 1: Richard Tsey

ASST 2: Stephen Balanguena

4TH REF: Daniel Ahiabor

MC: Dawson Amoah

MATCH: Starke vs N.Kotoko

Venue: Dunkwa

REF: Ali Fuseini

ASST 1: Pascal Mawusi

ASST 2: Anthony Akakpo

4TH REF: Ali Mohammed

MC: Kwaku Buckman

GN Bank DOL: Officials For Match Week 23 Announced

National Women’s League: Officials For Week 12 Announced

The Referees Association of Ghana (RAG) and the National Women’s League Board has released the list of Match officials tasked with officiating the 12th round of matches  in the ongoing national women’s league this weekend.

Below are the names of match officials and the fixtures they’ve been tasked to officiate:

MATCH: Samaria ladies vs Police ladie.

Venue: ATTC Park

Ref : Christine Ziga

Asst 1 : Esther . A. Desert

Asst 2 : Winifred Aduako

4th Ref : Comfort Atiaely

MC : Justina Nyarko

MATCH: Ladystrikers vs Halifax

Venue: Robert Mensah

Ref : Theodora Asabea

Asst 1 : Emmanuela Aglago

Asst 2 : Benedicta Ayedzi

4th Ref : Rita Klu

MC : Philomina Afful.

MATCH: Subayo vs Northern ladies

Venue: Obuasi Sec Tech

Ref : Mariama Yunsua

Asst 1 : Diana Kpeongyiri

Asst 2 : Afiatu A. Bawa

4th Ref : Rita Boateng

MC : Hannah Benin

MATCH: Prisons vs Real Upper Ladies

Venue: Coronation Park

Ref : Theresa Beremansu

Asst 1 : Mary Tei

Asst 2 : Janet Aidoo

4th Ref : Doris Ekem

MC : Stella Bissi Govo

MATCH: Lepo ladies vs Ampem Darkoa 

Venue: Bagbaga Park

Ref : Fulera Bamie

Asst 1 : Francisca Norgbedzi

Asst 2 : Dorcas Kwakye

4th Ref : Vanessa Wiafe

MC : Ahmed Mansura

MATCH: Immigration vs Hasaacas

Venue: El wak

Ref:Juliet Afriyie

Asst 1 : Doris. E. Darko

Asst 2 : Ernestina Amakye

4th Ref : Patricia Gurah

MC : Christina Tetteh

MATCH: Soccer Intellectualls vs Bafana

Venue: UEW Ajomako

Ref : Doris A. Nstiful

Asst 1 : Vivian Bediako

Asst 2 : Gifty Doku

4th Ref : Eugenia Asigri

MC : Efua Sekyiwa Acquah

MATCH: Fabulous vs Ashtown

Venue: Wesley College Park

Ref : Juliet Appiah

Asst 1 : Augustina Grand

Asst 2 : Alice Chakule

4th Ref : Beatrice Thaud

MC : Gloria King

National Women’s League: Officials For Week 12 Announced

GPL Match Report: Aduana Stars Move to Second Place with Medeama Win

Aduana Stars forward Yahaya Mohammed was the hero as the Dormaa based side recorded a slim 1-0 win over Medeama SC in their Ghana Premier League Match Week 22 outstanding match at the Tarkwa T and A park on Thursday.  

The victory takes  the Ogya lads above Wa All Stars in second place with the Wa based side having a game in hand.

The fixture, originally slated for Wednesday July 27, was rescheduled due to Medeama’s engagement in the CAF Confederations Cup.

The Mauves and Yellow came into the game following an impressive 3-1 win over Tanzanian side Young Africans last Tuesday.

But despite largely dominating the game, it was Yahaya Mohammed who ensured that his side clinched all the three points with a 77th minute strike.

Medeama pushed on for the equalizer but their efforts proved futile.

The Tarkwa based will now look to put the disappointing defeat behind as they prepare to honour two more outstanding fixtures- against Techiman City in Tarkwa and Wa All Stars in Wa.

GPL Match Report: Aduana Stars Move to Second Place with Medeama Win

World Cup 2018 : I Will Do Everything Possible To Qualify the Black Stars - Grant

Coach of the Black Stars of Ghana, Avram Grant has reiterated his foremost and impending desire of qualifying Ghana to its fourth successive despite being drawn in a tough Group D with Egypt, Uganda, Congo for their final round qualifier to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

The Black Stars have faced criticism by majority of Ghanaians fans who think the Black Stars cannot make it to their next World Cup after their shambolic performance accompanied with some disgraceful act that marred their campaign at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

 

During a press briefing after a visit to the camp Ghana’s national U -17 side the Black Starlets, Coach Grant said: “its a very tough group, Egypt have an impressive generation of players and there wouldn’t be an easy game in the group, it is our target to make out from the group, and i will do everything possible to qualify Ghana to the World Cup”.

 

Ghana will open its 2018 World Cup final round qualification campaign with two successive matches against Uganda at home (2nd October,2016) and Egypt away (6th October, 2016).

 

 

 

World Cup 2018 : I Will Do Everything Possible To Qualify the Black Stars - Grant

Mourinho Axes Nine Players From Current Squad

Manchester United held their latest training session at Carrington today, with several star players in attendance including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who joined in with the squad for the first time.

There were, however, also some notable absentees. Here’s a rundown of the players who weren’t present today.

1.Bastian Schweinsteiger– The experienced midfielder is still on holiday following his involvement with Germany at Euro 2016,but it reported that he is not wanted by Mourinho for the upcoming season

2.Timothy Fosu-Mensah– The youngster was hugely impressive last season as he made the breakthrough into the first-team.

3.Paddy McNair– The young defender has been linked with a loan move to Celtic, which could explain his absence today.

4.Will Keane– The forward, at the age of 23, is at the stage of his career where he needs to be playing regularly, and it appear that he is attempting to finalise a move elsewhere.

5.Andreas Pereira– The talented young midfielder has been informed by Mourinho that he can leave on loan in order to further his development.

6.Adnan Januzaj– The winger is another player who appears likely to leave United on a temporary basis during this transfer window, and he will be hopeful of faring rather better than he did during a challenging spell with Borussia Dortmund last season.

7.Axel Tuanzebe– A young defender who has impressed for United during pre-season, Tuanzebe wasn’t involved with the first-team today and it appears that he may have been training with the U23s instead.

 

8.Tyler Blackett

 

9.Cameron Borthwick-Jackson

 

Mourinho Axes Nine Players From Current Squad

We Will Fight To Survive The League - Lamine Nasir

New Edubiase United influential midfielder Lamine Nasir has said his side will ‘fight’ to save their Ghana Premier League (GPL) season.

The club has 21 points and sit bottom of the GPL table with eight games to end the season and, most pundits have written off their chances of staying up.

But the experienced enforcer believes their campaign is not doomed to failure and with eight games to go, has hope that they will stay up.

“The season is not over as we still have 24 points to fight for”, he said, adding that they will fight for every single one of them for the reminder of the campaign.

He insisted that they will strive to stay up as they have the personnel to attain such a feat and will take the rest of the games as cup finals.

Nasir scored the match winner on Wednesday when New Edubiase United beat their regional rivals Asante Kotoko 2-1 at the Nana Gyamfi Park in the Match-Day 22 GPL game.

The will take on reigning champions AshantiGold SC at Obuasi when the GPL returns next weekend with the round of 23 games.

Further games will come against WAFA, Techiman City, Wa All Stars, Inter Allies, Bechem United, Ebusua Dwarfs and Accra Hearts of Oak in encounters they cannot afford to drop points if they are to indeed save their season.

We Will Fight To Survive The League - Lamine Nasir

Kotoko-Hollard Sponsorship Deal In Pictures

Hollard Insurance Ghana Limited has signed a five-year renewable sponsorship agreement with Ghana Premier League side Kumasi Asante Kotoko.

This deal was initiated by Big Cash Ghana Limited and Impilo Global Investment of South Africa, and would enable Kotoko to secure good training pitches, a Sports Academy, a Sports Hall and a Secretariat among others.

There would also be an exchange programme for coaches, players and the technical team, as well as an insurance cover for the playing body and management and also the recruitment of quality players.

These are some pictures on the signing of the deal in Accra:

Kotoko-Hollard Sponsorship Deal In Pictures

MTN FA Cup Semi-Final Double-Header In Kumasi On Sunday

The Ghana Premier League (GPL) takes a break this weekend to make way for the MTN FA Cup semi-final duels which comes off in Kumasi on Sunday.

Both games will be played at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi and will see two Premier League clubs taking on opponents from the second tier competition.

It will be the first ever double-header semi-final games in the history of the competition to be played at the same venue and will see GPL outfit Bechem United facing Wa Rockets of the GN Bank Division One League (DOL) in the first semi-final match which will kick off at 3:00pm.

Bechem United kicked out Asante Kotoko on penalties in the quarter-finals stage and will be the odds on favourites to advance to the final of the competition.

Wa Rockets advanced to this stage after beating Wa All Stars 1-0 in a fierce Upper West regional derby played at the Wa Park.

The second game of the day will kick off at 6:00pm and will see the 1986 winners Okwahu United of the DOL taking on Premiership side, Liberty Professionals at the same venue.

Okwahu United beat Premiership outfit, WAFA 1-0 at the quarter-final stage of the competition with Liberty accounting for another DOL side, Elmina Sharks 3-0.

The FA Cup Committee has announced ticket prices for this weekend’s games as:

Popular Stand – GH¢ 3.00 (MTN Credit included)

VIP – GH¢ 10.00 (MTN Credit included)

 

MTN FA Cup Semi-Final Double-Header In Kumasi On Sunday

Ghana Premier League Takes A Short Break

The Ghana Premier League (GPL) takes a short break to make way for the MTN FA Cup semi final duels to be played this weekend at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

It is expected to resume on the weekend of August 6 and 7, 2016 with the round of 23 games at all league centers nationwide.

After the round of 22 games, Accra Hearts of Oak have opened a four point’s gap at the top of the competition with Wa All Stars, Dreams FC Aduana Stars, Medeama SC and Kumasi Asante Kotoko following in that order.

Life at the bottom also looks very interesting with seven clubs positioned 10^th to 16^th, separated by just six points on the ladder.

The bottom three are Inter Allies 14^th, Sekondi Hasaacas 15^th and New Edubiase United 16^th but, the following clubs Bechem United 13^th, Techiman City 12^th, AshantiGold SC 11^th and Ebusua Dwarfs 10^th are all not safe and could be drawn into the relegation bracket as the season wore on.

When the competition resumes, leaders Hearts of Oak will trek to Sogakope to face seventh placed WAFA at the Red Bull Arena with Wa All Stars who are second, playing Bechem United at Wa.

Dreams FC will visit the Garden City to play Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi; Inter Allies will host Medeama SC at Tema with Techiman City playing Ebusua Dwarfs at Techiman.

Berekum Chelsea will host Liberty Professionals at Berekum; Sekondi Hasaacas will welcome Aduana Stars to the Sekondi Stadium at Essipong with AshantiGold SC playing New Edubiase United at the Len Clay Stadium in Obuasi.

Ghana Premier League Takes A Short Break

Badminton Clears Russian Players For Olympic Games

Badminton is the latest sport to clear Russian competitors to take part in the Olympic Games as the nation’s athletes begin to travel to Brazil.

Governing bodies must rule on whether Russian athletes can compete in Rio following the country’s doping scandal.

So far 108 of the 387-strong Russian team have been banned from the Games, which get under way on 5 August.

The final line-up will be announced on 30-31 July, according to the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).

“We have had a rigid drug-testing programme, especially leading up to Rio 2016, and all four Russian athletes have been tested in and out of competition and their samples have been analysed outside of Russia,” said Badminton World Federation’s (BFW) Thomas Lund.

Boxing, cycling, golf, gymnastics, handball, taekwondo, weightlifting and wrestling are still to confirm their eligibility decisions.

“We will tell how many people will go in the next few days,” said Alexander Zhukov, the head of the ROC.

‘We will fight for those not able to go’

About 70 Russian athletes left Moscow for Brazil on Wednesday, following a farewell ceremony hosted by Russian president Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin.

“They have got us fired up but in a good way,” said handball player Polina Kuznetsova of the cheering crowd at Moscow’s Sheremetevo airport.

“We are going to fight more to prove that it is difficult to break Russia. We will fight for those who were not able to go.”

Olympic champion pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva and world champion hurdler Sergey Shubenkov are among 67 of the 68-strong athletics team to have been banned by the International Athletics Federation (IAAF).

Isinbayeva corrected reports on Thursday suggesting she might be the Russian team’s flag bearer in Rio, despite not being able to compete.

“We should clarify one very important thing!” she said via Instagram. “Flag bearer at the Olympics in Rio have already been defined, it is a great athlete, Olympic champion Sergey Tetyukhin (volleyball).”

BBC

Badminton Clears Russian Players For Olympic Games

GPL Match-Day 22 Review: Hearts Extend Lead

Accra Hearts of Oak extended their lead at the top of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) table to four points despite drawing 1-1 with reigning champions AshantiGold SC at the Accra Sports Stadium in their midweek clash on Wednesday.

This was the top-liner of the Match-Day 22 fixtures which also saw wins for Bechem United, Dreams FC, Liberty Professionals, Inter Allies, Ebusua Dwarfs and New Edubiase United.

In the seven matches played, 18 goals were scored as six teams recorded wins with only the encounter in Accra between the Phobians and the Miners failing to produce a winner.

Accra: Accra Hearts of Oak v AshantiGold SC (1-1)

Accra Hearts of Oak played out a 1-1 draw with AshantiGold SC in a closely fought encounter played at the Accra Sports Stadium. The Phobians were hoping for a double over the Miners after winning the first round tie 2-1 at Obuasi, but, it was not to be as AshGold held on as they seek to revive their season.

Captain Robin Gnange gave Hearts the lead after converting a penalty midway through the first half but, AshGold fought back gamely to cancel that out later in the session through Antony Yarful as the spoils were shared.

Hears have 39 points from the 22 games they have played and lead the second placed team by four points with eight games to end the season. AshGold are 11^th with 26 points after earning their 14^th drawn game of the season.

Bechem: Bechem United v Techiman City (2-0)

Bechem United returned to winning ways with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Techiman City at the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park, Bechem.

The win was the seventh of the season for the Hunters and moves them out of the relegation zone with eight games to end the season. They have 26 points and sits in 13^th position on the table.

Abednego Tetteh and Yaw Annor scored the goals for the home side as they won this Brong Ahafo regional derby leaving Techiman City in 12^th position with also with 26 points but with a game in hand.

Tema: Inter Allies v Wa All Stars (2-0)

Tema based Inter Allies FC scored an important 2-0 home win over Wa All Stars at the Tema Park as they continue with their battle of surviving the league at the end of the season.

Goals by Enoch Adu and Gockel Ahortor helped them to their sixth win of the season as they moved to 14^th on the table but still in the relegation zone with 25 points. T

Defeat was the sixth of the season for Wa All Stars who are second on the log with 35 points but with a game in hand as they chase their first major trophy in Ghana football.

Dansoman: Liberty Professionals v Sekondi Hasaacas (4-0)

Liberty Professionals won for the first time this second round by recording a resounding 4-0 victory over troubled Sekondi Hasaacas at the Karl Reindorf Park, Dansoman.

Latif Atta Blessing scored a hat-trick for the Scientific Soccer lads with Felix Addo being their other goal scorer as they posted their eighth win of the season.

Liberty are eighth on the ladder with 29 points with Hasaacas who are still in search of their first away win of the campaign, down in 15^th position with 25 points from 22 games.

Cape Coast: Ebusua Dwarfs v WAFA (1-0)

The good form of Ebusua Dwarfs continued on Wednesday as they beat the West Africa Football Academy (WAFA) 1-0 at the Robert Mensah Stadium, Cape Coast.

Bright Luqman scored the only goal of the game as the Abontoa Abontoa Boys settled for their seventh win of the season to extend their unbeaten run to three games.

They are 10^th on the table with 27 points with WAFA who recorded their eighth defeat of the campaign, dropping to seventh on the log with 30 points.

Bekwai: New Edubiase United v Asante Kotoko (2-1)

Struggling New Edubiase United beat Kumasi Asante Kotoko 2-1 at the Nana Gyamfi Park, Bekwai as they strive to get out of the relegation zone.

Toffic Mohammed and Nasser Lamine scored the goals for New Edubiase United with Amos Frimpong getting the consolation for the Porcupines.

New Edubiase United remain bottom of the log with 21 points from the 22 games they have played with Kotoko in sixth position with 33 points with their campaign floundering.

Dawu: Dreams FC v Berekum Chelsea (4-0)

Debutants Dreams FC gained grounds on the leaders with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Berekum Chelsea at the Dawu Park as the recorded their 10^th win of the season.

Goals by Samuel Abeiku Ainooson Michael Sarpong Emmanuel Hayford and Emmanuel Eli Keke condemned Chelsea to their 11^th defeat of the campaign and still without an away victory.

Dreams FC have moved to third on the table with 35 points with Berekum Chelsea in ninth position with 29 points from the 22 games they have played.

 

GPL Match-Day 22 Review: Hearts Extend Lead 

I Will Solve Hearts Poor Goal Conversion Rate - Tranguil

Coach of Accra Hearts of Oak Sergio Traguil has admitted to his sides poor goal conversion rate since his arrival at the club but has promised to solve that problem as soon as possible.

The Phobians laboured to a 1-1 draw with reigning champions AshantiGold SC in their Match-Day 22 Ghana Premier League (GPL) encounter on Wednesday at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra.

Traguil, took over Hearts in the second round of this season’s competition as his side sits top of the ladder with 39 points, four better than second placed Wa All Stars with eight games to end the season.

His side’s scoring rate is at a low and this has prompted observers to question whether they can hold on to their lead and win the championship at the end of the campaign.

However in a post match interview after the stalemate with AshantiGold in the GPL, Coach Traguil said: “We are trying to improve on our weakness; goal scoring has been a problem for us maybe because the players have too much anxiety when they approach the goal area and we miss the chances.”

“I will try and solve the problem for our team, we create many offensive movements but sometimes the players forget that it is all about team work and I am working on that”, he added.

Hearts of Oak will travel to Sogakope for their next GPL game against WAFA and, will seek to maintain their unbeaten away run in the league against the academy lads on Sunday, August 7, 2016.

 

 

 

 

I Will Solve Hearts Poor Goal Conversion Rate - Tranguil