Ibrahimovic Scores Double In Final PSG League Game

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice in his final Paris St-Germain league appearance in a game which was briefly stopped for a standing ovation.

PSG’s all-time top scorer is leaving the club this summer and after 10 minutes the game with Nantes was halted while fans applauded their number 10.

By scoring twice, he broke another club record – for most goals by a PSG player in a league season, with 38.

He chested in an opener, and headed home to make it 4-0 late on.

His 89th-minute goal saw him overtake Carlos Bianchi’s 37-goal league haul of 1977-78.

The 34-year-old Swede has scored 154 goals in 179 appearances in his four years in France. Next Saturday’s French Cup final against Marseille will be his final game for the club.

PSG have won Ligue 1 in each season Ibrahimovic has been at the club, with the veteran – who has been linked with a move to LA Galaxy – winning the golden boot three times.

His 38 goals in 31 league games this season saw him finish 17 goals above second-placed Alexandre Lacazette of Lyon.

BBC

Ibrahimovic Scores Double In Final PSG League Game

Okwawu United – Sekondi Hasaacas MTN FA Cup Game To Go Ahead

GN Bank Division One outfit, Okwawu United will hope to cause a minor upset when they host Sekondi Hasaacas of the Ghana Premiership in their round of 16 tie of the MTN FA Cup competition on Sunday.

The game will be played at the Nkawkaw Park, and, it is set to go ahead after earlier moves by the hosts to pull out of the competition.

At home, United will be favourites to win this one as they have been very strong at the Nkawkaw Park this season in the Division One League (DOL), winning all but one of their matches.

Hasaacas have been very poor travelers in the Ghanaian game for quite some time now, it will find it difficult to produce a result against the DOL high-flyers.

United are chancing a place in the top-flight league next season, and, will be high on confidence as they head into this battle.

Hasaacas have lost all their away games in the Ghana Premier League (GPL) this season, and, it will be interesting to see where they will draw inspiration from as they visit traditionally one of the most difficult venues in Ghana football.

Okwawu United – Sekondi Hasaacas MTN FA Cup Game To Go Ahead

Medeama - Liberty Game Postponed Again

Ghana’s sole representative in African club competition, Medeama SC’s outstanding Ghana Premier League game against Liberty Professionals has been postponed again.

The Mauve-and-Yellow game was postponed due to their participation in the 2015/16 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederation Cup competition last weekend.

They returned from South Africa on Monday night after losing 3-1 to Mamelodi Sundowns in the first leg tie.

But their outstanding game against Dansoman based, Liberty Professionals has been postponed indefinitely as the Premier League Board (PLB) and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) find an appropriate time for the match-day 11 game to be observed.

With this development, Medeama will have ample time to prepare for the herculean task of over-turning the 3-1 first leg deficit when they host the newly crowned South African league champions on Wednesday at the Essipong Sports Stadium.

Medeama - Liberty Game Postponed Again

Ronaldo May Miss Man City Game

News coming in indicates that MRI scans have confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo has suffered a tear in his hamstring, which is likely to sideline him for Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg encounter with Manchester United.

The 31-year old could miss decider against the English side next week after tests confirmed that the forward has suffered a muscle tear.

He missed last Tuesday’s goalless draw at the Etihad Stadium after an MRI scan confirmed that he had suffered a tear in his hamstring.

A return date to the field for the super star has not been fixed, and, he could miss several games, including next week’s Champions League semi-final second-leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Ronaldo, who has scored 47 goals in 45 appearances this season, suffered the injury during the 3-0 victory over Villarreal in their La Liga clash on April 20.

 

 

Ronaldo May Miss Man City Game

Injury Boost For Hearts Ahead of Kotoko Game

Accra Hearts of Oak have been handed a major injury boost with news that six of their injured players have returned to training ahead of their league game with Asante Kotoko.

The Phobians will host the Porcupines in the topmost liner of the Match-Day 10 Ghana Premier League (GPL) games on Monday, 2 May at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra.

Fans of the club will be happy to know that Samuel Yeboah, Ashitey Ollenu, Kennedy Appiah, Selasi Adjei, Musah Inusah, and Evans Gbeti have all returned to training ahead of the big game.

The six were all took part in Tuesday’s training at the Legon Ajax Park and and were included in the traveling party by Coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi to their secret camp ahead of the Kotoko clash.

Striker Samuel Yeboah has not featured since Hearts’ game with Techiman City having complained of illness and later a foot injury, he could be in the squad for Monday’s game.

Ashitey Ollenu has not featured since the MTN FA Cup defeat to Samartex, missing two games in the process, but, the winger is back to fitness and could also be selected for the game.

Left back Kennedy Appiah has fully recovered from a thigh injury and has pitched camp with his colleagues.

Striker Selasi Adjei has overcome his troubling knee injury and has been training with the team; along with long time absentee Musah Inusah, with the defender having won the fight against a niggling ankle injury.

Goalkeeper Evans Gbeti has also returned to the side after picking up a back injury prior to the Samartex game.

This should welcome news to all fans of the Phobians as they go in search of their sixth GPL win of the season against Kotoko in Accra next Monday.

Injury Boost For Hearts Ahead of Kotoko Game

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

NBA 2016 Playoffs Spurs, Heat, Cavaliers, Clippers Win Game One

The 2016 National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs began over the weekend as the race to become champions heats up.

There were wins for the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heats.

Game One of the Playoffs in the Western Conference started with Golden State’s 104-78 blowout of Houston and followed with Oklahoma City’s 108-70 thumping of Dallas on Saturday.

On Sunday, it was San Antonio continuing the trend with a 104-76 drubbing of Memphis and the Los Angeles Clippers handing the Portland Trail Blazers a 20-point beatdown, 115-95.

In the Eastern Conference first round on Sunday, the Cleveland Cavaliers got 20 points each from LeBron James (22 points, 11 rebounds, six assists), Kyrie Irving (31 points, six assists, five rebounds) and Kevin Love (28 points, 13 rebounds) to take a 1-0 series lead over the Detroit Pistons, while Luol Deng (31 points, seven rebounds) and Hassan Whiteside (21 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks) led Miami to a 123-91 blowout of Charlotte.

Recap of the scores:

CAVALIERS 106, PISTONS 101 – Cleveland leads 1-0.

Game Two is on Wednesday in Cleveland.

HEAT 123, HORNETS 91 – Miami leads 1-0.

Game Two is on Wednesday in Miami.

SPURS 106, GRIZZLIES 74 – San Antonio leads 1-0

Game Two is on Tuesday in San Antonio.

CLIPPERS 115, TRAIL BLAZERS 95 – Los Angeles leads 1-0.

Game Two is on Wednesday in Los Angeles.

Monday’s schedule:

Indiana Pacers will be at Toronto Raptors with the Pacers leading 1-0

Dallas Mavericks plays at Oklahoma City Thunder with Thunder leading 1-0.

Houston Rockets plays at Golden State Warriors with the Warriors leading 1-0.

NBA 2016 Playoffs Spurs, Heat, Cavaliers, Clippers Win Game One

Ghana Goalkeeper Kwarasey Injured In MLS Game

Ghana goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey has suffered an injury playing for his Portland Timbers side in a Major League Soccer (MLS) game on Saturday.

The extent of the injury will be made known after club doctors assess the damage done to the 28-year old Ghana international.

Kwarasey is largely considered to be Ghana’s safest pair of hands and recently ended his self-imposed international strike after settling an impasse with goalkeeper’s trainer Nasamu Yakubu.

He was called-up for Ghana’s 2017 double-headed AFCON qualifiers against Mozambique but was an unused substitute in both games.

 

Ghana Goalkeeper Kwarasey Injured In MLS Game

Sabahn Laryea Back For Hearts’ MTN FA Cup Game

Accra Hearts of Oak midfielder Sabahn Laryea is available for selection for his side’s MTN FA Cup round of 32 game with Samartex FC on Saturday.

The player has duly served the one match suspension imposed on him after he picked a third yellow card of the season prior to their last game.

Laryea picked up a third yellow card of the season in the 1-3 loss to Wa All Stars in Accra, and, therefore missed Hearts’ Ghana Premier League game with Techiman City at the weekend.

His position in the starting line-up was taken by Leonard Tawiah as the Phobians drew goalless with the league debutants in that away encounter.

Laryea expressed satisfaction about the team’s performance in last Sunday’s game, and thanked his colleagues for being up to the task as they came out unscathed in that difficult encounter.

“I will like to thank my teammates for leaving up to the task in last Sunday’s game in Techiman, as we kept our unbeaten away run intact in that goalless draw game,” he said.

He was swift to point out that the side will look to take the games as they come and believes that Accra Hearts of Oak will rise to the task on Saturday as they engage Division One side, Samartex FC in the FA Cup competition.

Laryea will look to play a part in that game as Hearts seek to book a place in the next round of the competition by overcoming the lower tier side in their own backyard of Samreboi in Ghana’s Western region.

Sabahn Laryea Back For Hearts’ MTN FA Cup Game

Kobe Bryant Scores 60 Points In Final NBA Game

Five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant scored 60 points in his final game after a 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers as they came from behind to beat Utah Jazz 101-96.

It was the sixth time the NBA’s third highest scorer had scored 60 points in a game, beaten only by Wilt Chamberlain.

“You can’t write something better than this,” said 37-year-old Bryant, who made his Lakers debut in November 1996.

Basketball fans paid up to $27,500 (£19,315) to see Bryant’s final game.

Bryant attempted 50 shots on the night, the most by anyone in an NBA game in the last 30 seasons.

Kobe Bryant stats

Five-time NBA champion
Third on the NBA’s all-time scoring list
18-time an All-Star, 11 times first-team All-NBA
Tops Lakers’ all-time points, three-pointers, steals and games played

He led the Lakers as they overturned a 20-point deficit at half-time, scoring 23 points in the fourth quarter of his 1,556th game with the team.

Bryant finished with 33,643 regular-season points – third on the NBA’s all-time scoring list behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387) and Karl Malone (36,928).

He checked out with 4.1 seconds left, as a sell-out crowd at the Staples Center chanted: “Kobe! Kobe! Kobe!”

The 18-time All-Star addressed the crowd, saying: “What can I say? Mamba out.”

Lakers legend Magic Johnson had earlier told the crowd: “He never cheated us as fans, He has played hurt, and we have five championship banners to show for it.”

Credit: BBC

Kobe Bryant Scores 60 Points In Final NBA Game

Hearts Coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi On Techiman City Game

Accra Hearts of Oak head coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi spoke with your authoritative paper, Hearts News, ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Techiman City in the Ghana Premier League.

Read a transcript of the interview he granted the club’s official newspaper, the Hearts News:

On the team news:“Foovi came back yesterday and Soulama joined us a few days back so two players are available. For the injury concerns, nothing changes. Thomas Abbey is out; Yamoah is still out; Samudeen is still out; and we have Selasi also out, he had a minor injury but we took a precaution. He rested today, but it is nothing unusual so he should be available for our next training. Other than that we are healthy.

On the preparations for the Techiman City game:I think we had two sessions yesterday and today; It’s one of the best training sessions we have had so far. We are confident and we are prepared.

On whether the team has lost confidence:No, our confidence is not down at all because we lost one game. Let’s say if we play our best game and then we lost; then I think we will lose confidence. But it is not like we played our best game against AllStars and lost. We had problems but it was not physical problems or mental problems. We had other problems to fix and we fixed it and we are 100% and we are confident.

On the defensive problems from the last game:Well, we conceded three goals but that is something I would like to keep to myself. I am not going to reveal everything to the public. Our players know and we also know [the problem] and it does not exist anymore so we are confident.

On why it would be difficult against Techiman City:Techiman City is a good side; but I think nothing is different. Every team will give a big challenge against Accra Hearts of Oak and you know it’s a big name and everyone wants to win against Hearts of Oak so we have to be on our best game all the time.

On his perfect training methods that has got other teams worried:I think it is not insulting to me [that people are wrongly accusing my side of doping] but I told them that when I first had my breakfast as Kooko (porridge), I felt very energized and I told all the players to drink Kooko so if Kooko is a banned substance, they can all accuse me; but I think it is not.

I am just very sorry for people accusing me [and the team] but I think it is ignorance. Hard training and good programme [is our secret]. We are improving in every training session and so the players are improving in every day.

On what is helping the team to be physically strong:The Polar products are helping us a lot because we can analyze what happens to their heart and their bodies, but that is not the only thing. We observe the players because we have three coaches who are very experienced in coaching; and we put together to make progress.

On his message to the fans:Definitely, the fans should be in Techiman in their numbers. What happened last time was not good for both the fans and us the team. We are both responsible for making the mistakes; but players and coaches must correct their own mistakes. As well as the fans made their mistakes, but I understand that they were unhappy but let’s go back together and try to win the game.

 

 

Hearts Coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi On Techiman City Game

Defeat Is Part Of The Game, We Will Respond – Robin Gnange

Accra Hearts of Oak captain, Robin Gnange says his team will respond to their first league defeat of the season insisting that they should be countered among the favourites for the title at the end of the campaign.

The Phobians lost 1-3 at home to Wa All Stars last Sunday in their Match-Day Six encounter of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) to concede top spot to the northern club.

But Gnange says defeat is part of the game and do not expect any club to go undefeated of the 30 matches each that they will play.

“It was not a good game for us, we came all out for victory but unfortunately we did not get it,” the Ivorian said after the game, adding that defeat is part of football.

“We are not down because we have more matches to play and we will go back to correct our mistakes and I believe in our next game, we will bounce back,” he added.

Hearts will travel to the Brong Ahafo region to play Techiman City in their next GPL game on Sunday and Gnange believes it is the perfect opportunity for them to respond.

“Our next game is away and we hope to deliver on Sunday to make our fans happy, he said, adding that they are determined to place Hearts of Oak in pole position at the end of the season.

 

Defeat Is Part Of The Game, We Will Respond – Robin Gnange

We Take Wassaman Game Serious: Coach Yatsuhashi

Accra Hearts of Oak coach, Kenichi Yatsuhashi has said there will be no different approach to their MTN FA Cup game against Wassaman United on Sunday as the second tier side are serious contenders.

The Phobians will welcome the GN Bank Division One side to the Accra Sports Stadium in a Round of 64 encounter in the knockout competition and will be huge favourites to win.

However, Coach Yatsuhashi has put aside that favourite insisting that they will be no different approach to this game as against what they have done the Premiership so far.

The Phobians have made a bright start in this season’s top-flight league in Ghana, and, sit top of the standing after five games with 13 points with an unbeaten record to boost.

But the Japanese-American said his charges will not take this game lightly and are preparing very well knowing what Cup games represent.

“Every game is important and so is this one,” he told the club’s official newspaper, the Hearts News ahead of this Sunday’s fixture.

“The fact that they are a lower tier side will not affect our preparations and we are focused on winning this game to advance to the next stage of the competition,” he said.

“They will come in looking to cause an upset as all small teams like to do in Cup games, we will therefore not take them lightly as they could surprise us,” he added.

The Coach is hoping to guide Accra Hearts of Oak to success this season and that includes winning the FA Cup as well, a competition they have not won since 2000.

We Take Wassaman Game Serious: Coach Yatsuhashi

My Game Has Seen Massive Improvement – Samuel Akurugu

Goalkeeper Samuel Akurugu has told Accra Hearts of Oak’s official newspaper, the News that his game has improved since joining the capital club at the beginning of this season.

He is hoping to bid his time with the Phobians and hopes to derive the positives that will come his way along the line.

The shot-stopper was signed from Sekondi Hasaacas and is in competition with Burkina Faso International Soulama Abdoulaye, Evans Agbeti and Mutawakilu Seidu for the number one position at the club.

That spot is firmly being held by the experienced Soulama, but, Akurugu said he loves every moment working with his colleagues as well as with their trainer, Nasamu Yakubu.

“All these characters have had a positive impact on my career since I joined Hearts of Oak, and every day at training, I learn something new,” he said.

Akurugu has made one competitive appearance for Hearts of Oak this season, when he stepped in for the injured Soulama in their 2-0 league victory over Medeama SC at Tarkwa.

“I understand the present situation on the ground at the club, and, this is a laid down structure that has been well explained to us,” he said.

He added: “I know opportunities will come my way and I am ever ready to step in whenever I am called upon to play to help the team to success”.

“I am a very young goalkeeper and it will be good to listen and learn from my seniors as this can only help improve my career,” he stated.

My Game Has Seen Massive Improvement – Samuel Akurugu