Tennis: Maria Sharapova May Not Play Again

Former world number one Maria Sharapova may never play again following her failed drugs test, the president of the Russian Tennis Federation says.

The Russian, 29, tested positive for meldonium at January’s Australian Open.

When asked if Sharapova would play any more tournaments, Shamil Tarpishchev told R-Sport news agency it was “very doubtful” and added the five-time Grand Slam winner was in a “bad situation”.

In March, Sharapova said she was “determined to play tennis again”.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) provisionally suspended Sharapova on 12 March.

She is waiting to hear the full extent of her punishment, which could be as much as a four-year ban, although experts say a six-month or 12-month suspension is more likely.

That is because the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) admitted in April that scientists were unsure how long meldonium stayed in the system.

It even suggested athletes who tested positive for the substance before 1 March could avoid bans, provided they had stopped taking it before 1 January.

However, Sharapova has already admitted she continued taking meldonium past that date, saying she was unaware it had been added to the banned list as she knew it by another name – mildronate.

BBC

Tennis: Maria Sharapova May Not Play Again

Captain"s Prize At Celebrity Golf Club May 21

This year’s Captain’s Prize competition at the Celebrity Golf Club (CGC) will be played on Saturday, May 21 Sportscrusader.com can confirm.

The competition will be sponsored by outgoing captain of the club, Francis Akwasi Opoku, an Accra based lawyer who is stepping down after two years as captain of the club.

This will be the first in a long time since this competition has been held, and it is expected to bring together golfers from all the major clubs in Ghana and beyond.

Mr Akwasi Opoku has told sportscrusader.com that after two years of dedicated service to the CGC, he bows out with head held high after achieving some remarkable successes during his tenure.

“This is an opportunity to say thank you to to the club for the role handed me to serve as club captain, something I have really enjoyed and appreciated,” he said.

He added: “In this upcoming event, I expect to see golfers coming from the Tema Country Golf Club, Achimota, the Royal Golf Club, Kumasi, Takoradi, Obuasi, Tafo as well as friends from the Ikeja and Abuja Clubs in Nigeria, Abidjan and Lome Clubs”.

He said the competition will be a landmark occasion where he will also say thank you to all the corporate sponsors that have being associated with the club over the last couple of years.

He named them as MTN Ghana, Goldfields Ghana, Holiday Inn Hotel, Coca Cola, Karlo King, Bank of Africa, First Atlantic Bank, Old Mutual, Oak Plaza Hotel, Kenya Airways and Emirates among others.

The competition he added, will also be sponsored in collaboration with his ‘WAHALA Corporates’ some of whom are mentioned above.

Among the landmark achievements under his watch at the CGC have been bring these corporates on board, the construction of a changing room for men, tee boxes on the course of  the club as well as a new management system for the club among others.

Mr Akwasi Opoku hoped the new committee that will take over from him, will even do more to take the club to new heights.

He officially steps down as Club Captain on May 28, 2016 after the club’s Annual General Meeting.

Captain"s Prize At Celebrity Golf Club May 21

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

Japan To Host Ghana In International Friendly May 11

Ghana’s local national team will take on the U23 side of Japan in an international friendly on May 11 ahead of some important assignments for both nations.

The Japanese have qualified to the Olympic football tournament in Rio in August and needs games under their belt to get in shape for the tournament.

They have been drawn in Group B for the competition and will play alongside Sweden, Colombia and Nigeria who picked one of the African tickets for the event.

With Ghana in the same region as Nigeria, the Japanese are hoping to test their strength against a country of similar stature.

The local Black Stars will also use this upcoming international to prepare for the qualifiers for the Championship of African Nations (CHAN) tournament to be held in Kenya.

Coach of the Ghanaian side Maxwell Konadu has invited 25 locals to camp to prepare for the upcoming friendly as they hope to give the Japanese a good run for their money even on home soil.

The players are expected to report for camping at the Ghanaman Centre of Excellence in Prampram on April 25.

Full squad:

Goalkeepers

Richard Ofori (Wa All Stars), Robert Dabou (AshantiGold), Muntari Tagoe (Medeama)

Defenders

Hafiz Adams (Wa All Stars), Amos Frimpong (Asante Kotoko), Abdul Bashiru ( Dreams FC), Daniel Darkwah (Aduana Stars), Kadri Mohammed (AshantiGold ), Abdul Ganiyu (Wa All Stars), Ahmed Adams (Asante Kotoko), Nicholas Opoku (Berekum Chelsea)

Midfielders

Gockel Ahortor (Inter Allies), Isaac Twum (Inter Allies), Eric Kwakwa (Medeama SC), Kweku Asuandzie (Wa All Stars), Sabhan Laryea (Hearts of Oak), Latif Atta Blessing (Liberty Professionals), Emmanuel Ocran (Wa All Stars), Samuel Tetteh (WAFA), Evans Mensah (Inter Allies), Emmanuel Osei Baffour (AshantiGold)

Forwards

Saddick Adams (Berekum Chelsea), Richard Arthur (Wa All Stars), Musa Ibrahim (Hearts of Oak), Lawson Bekui (Dreams FC).

Japan To Host Ghana In International Friendly May 11

SWAG Awards fixed for May 28, 2016

The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has said the 41st edition of the MTN-SWAG Awards will be held on May 28, at the Banquet Hall State House, Accra.

Addressing a press conference in Accra on Monday, Mr. Kwabena Yeboah President of SWAG said unlike previous years when the event was held deep in the year, they have resolved to organised it by close of May 2016.

He said this will make the event much more current and relevant as the nominees will remain fresh in the minds of the people.

He said, the Association will ensure the necessary measures are put in place to ensure they stick to the timeline given.

Mr. Yeboah also noted that, plans are place to organised the 2016 event in December this years as the measure to align the calendar with the trend of the event.

Mr Yeboah announced nominees for the 41st event with Andre Ayew, Bashiru Hayford, Yussif Bassigi and Asamoah Gyan seeking honours in the most prestigious Sports Personality of the Year Award.

SWAG Awards fixed for May 28, 2016