Dembele Banned For Six Matches

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mousa Dembele has been banned for six games by the Football Association for violent conduct against Chelsea’s Diego Costa.

Belgium international Dembele appeared to eye-gouge forward Costa during Spurs’ 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Monday.

Referee Mark Clattenburg did not punish the 28-year-old during the game.

Dembele chose not to contest the charge, and will now be unavailable to manager Mauricio Pochettino until Spurs’ fifth game of next season.

He has made 29 appearances in the league this season, scoring three goals.

Dembele was one of nine Spurs players booked in the draw at Stamford Bridge – a Premier League record for one team.

BBC

Dembele Banned For Six Matches

First Six UK Athletes For Olympics Revealed

The first six members of the athletics squad that will represent Team GB at this summer’s Rio Olympics have been named by UK Athletics.

In the men’s marathon Derek Hawkins is included alongside younger brother Callum and Tsegai Tewelde, both of whom qualified at the London Marathon.

Alyson Dixon and Sonia Samuels also guaranteed their marathon spots in Sunday’s race in London.

Dominic King has also been selected for the 50km men’s race walk.

Callum Hawkins and Tewelde, who claimed asylum in Britain after competing for Eritrea at the 2008 World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, qualified as the first two Britons to cross the line in Sunday’s marathon.

Hawkins clocked a personal best time of two hours 10 minutes 52 seconds to finish eighth, while Tewelde was 12th in a time of 2:12:57 – both within the 2:14:00 qualifying time.

His brother Derek ran within the qualifying mark by clocking 2:12:57 to finish 14th and has now been awarded a discretionary place.

Dixon and Samuels, who finished 13th and 14th respectively, had already run the qualifying time of 2:37:00 in Berlin last September.

Sunderland runner Dixon tweeted: “Dreams do come true if you believe in yourself and work hard for it. I’M GOING TO THE OLYMPICS!!”

King competed for Great Britain in the 50km walk at London 2012.

The selection of the six athletes takes Team GB’s total for Rio 2016 to 53 across five sports, with 11 sailors, four slalom canoeists, six shooters and 26 swimmers having already been selected.

BBC

First Six UK Athletes For Olympics Revealed

GPL Match-Day Six Preview: Dreams FC v WAFA

Teams News

Dreams FC have a clean bill of health and will welcome back Emmanuel Harford after finishing serving his suspension for the red card he received in their game with Inter Allies at Tema.

WAFA also have no injury worries and Coach John Killa will hope to guide his academy lads to their first away point(s) of the season.

Preview

Dreams FC plays their third game in the Ghanaian top-flight league against WAFA at the Dawu Park and the new entrants will hope to keep their unbeaten run at that venue going.

In earlier matches, they have beaten Bechem United 1-0 and drawn 1-1 with All Stars. They will have full support at their adopted home venue as they go for their second home win of the campaign.

WAFA have lost all their away games to Chelsea and Aduana Stars by similar results 0-1 and will be eager to produce a better outcome in Sunday’s game.

Head-to-Head

No Record

Match Officials

REF: Cecil Fleisher

ASST 1: Ben Vormaxor

ASST 2: Ben Samari

4TH REF: Uriah Glah

MC: K.A Sarpong

GPL Match-Day Six Preview: Dreams FC v WAFA

GPL Match-Day Six Preview: New Edubiase United v Techiman City

Team News

New Edubiase United have very little injury worries and will hope their players will find the composure needed to perform as they host the league debutants at the Len Clay Stadium at Obuasi on Sunday.

Techiman City will hope star player Baba Mahama can continue with his efforts this season after winning the clubs player of the month award for March.

Preview

New Edubiase United will seek their second win of the season when they host Techiman City at Obuasi knowing the league debutants have lost all two away games played so far.

United have won one and drawn the other of their two home games and will be confident of maintaining their unbeaten run at the Len Clay Stadium.

They beat Ebusua Dwarfs 1-0 on Match-Day Two and drew goalless with Inter Allies in their next home game. They have scored just one goal at home this season and will want to add to that tally.

City has lost all their away games (2-4) to Hasaacas at Essipong and 0-1 Liberty Professionals at Dansoman and will be out to make amends this time.

Head-to-Head

No Record

Match Officials

REF: Jonathan Tetteh

ASST 1: James Osafo

ASST 2: Nii Kotey Kotei

4TH REF: Timothy Obuobisa

MC: M.I Salisu

GPL Match-Day Six Preview: New Edubiase United v Techiman City

GPL Match-Day Six Preview: Liberty Professionals v AshantiGold SC

Team News

Liberty Professionals have a full house and Coach George Lamptey will be confident of ending the unbeaten record of the defending league champions on Sunday at Dansoman.

Coach Bashir Hayford has no injury worries in his squad and will expect them to keep their momentum going with another assured performance.

Preview

Liberty Professionals lost their last league game 0-1 to WAFA at Sogakope, and, will be determined to get back to winning ways as they host the Champion Club at the Carl Reindorf Park.

Prior to that defeat in the Volta region, they had gone three games without defeat, a run that included home wins over Inter Allies (2-1) and Techiman City (1-0).

They sit ninth on the ladder, and, know a win over the Miners will push them up the table to boost their prophecy of finishing in the top four this season.

AshantiGold have drawn their last four games, and, Coach Hayford knows they need to start picking three points regularly if they hope to retain the title they won last season.

They have scored four goals all season, and, know this is not a good return as defending champions of the Ghana Premier League (GPL).

Last season, they did the double over Liberty, and, will be confident of producing another good result in the capital against a Liberty side that are one of the strongest teams at home in the Ghanaian game.

Head-to-Head (Since 2010)

02/08/15    Ashanti    1 – 0     Liberty

07/02/15    Liberty    0 – 1     Ashanti

01/06/14    Liberty    0 – 1     Ashanti

22/09/13    Ashanti    2 – 0     Liberty

29/05/13    Ashanti    2 – 0     Liberty

21/10/12    Liberty    0 – 0     Ashanti

29/04/12    Liberty    3 – 1     Ashanti

06/11/11    Ashanti    0 – 0     Liberty

02/05/11    Ashanti    2 – 0     Liberty

03/10/10    Liberty    2 – 0     Ashanti

Match Officials

REF: S.B. Bortey

ASST 1: B.A. Crentsil

ASST 2: Sam .O. Boateng

4th REF: Theresa Beremansu

MC: Umar Teni

 

GPL Match-Day Six Preview: Liberty Professionals v AshantiGold SC

GPL Match-Day Six Preview: Medeama SC V Bechem United

Team News:

Medeama SC have issues in their technical department with head coach Tom Strand and Technical Director, Evans Adottey at loggerheads, otherwise, their squad is a full one and should be ready for the game at the T&A Park on Sunday.

Bechem United have made changes in their technical team with Seth Osei Wire an assistant, being made the head coach. He will hope to start his reign on a good note win a win in Sunday’s encounter.

Preview:

Medeama SC hosts Bechem United at the Tarkwa and Aboso Park on Sunday and will be hopeful of recording their second home win of the season.

The MTN FA Cup champions have made an indifferent start to the season, winning just one of their opening five games and are already out of the knock out competition after losing to Liberty Professionals in the Round of 64.

They will therefore want to make amends in the league as that is the only route they can take to Africa next year unless they win the CAF Confederation Cup this year.

At home, they will be strong favourites to collect the three points after beating the same opposition 2-0 at home in this competition.

Bechem United are one of the poor travelers in the Ghanaian game and will need to up their game if they hope to return to the Brong Ahafo region with a point at least.

They have lost all the two games they have played away from Bechem this season – 0-1 to Dreams FC and 1-3 to Hearts of Oak and it could be a third defeat if they don’t up their game going into this one.

Head-to-Head

22/07/15              Medeama SC – Bechem United (2-0)

22/02/15              Bechem United – Medeama SC (2-1)

01/06/14              Bechem United – Medeama SC (3-0)

22/09/13              Medeama SC – Bechem United (1-1)

15/04/12              Medeama SC – Bechem United (3-1)

20/11/11              Bechem United – Medeama SC (1-0)

Match Official:

REF: J.A Amenya

ASST 1: Kwesi Brobbey

ASST 2: Abraham Jackson

4th REF: H.A. Henkel

MC: M.D Arthur

GPL Match-Day Six Preview: Medeama SC V Bechem United

GPL Match-Day Six Preview: Ebusua Dwarfs v Inter Allies

Team News:

Coach Joseph E. Sarpong of Ebusua Dwarfs has a full list of players to choose from as the play their third home game of the season.

Inter Allies welcomes back Lord Ofosuhene after serving a three match suspension, Gockel Ahortor, Evans Mensah and Emmanuel Nettey should also be available for selection, but, there are doubts over goalkeeper Kwame Osei who has a foot injury.

Preview:

Bottom club Ebusua Dwarfs will be looking to end their winless streak in the Ghana Premier League (GPL) this season when they host Inter Allies at the Robert Mensah Stadium in Cape Coast on Saturday.

The Abontua Abontua Boys have drawn two and lost three of the five games they have played so far, and will be eager for their first three points in front of their home fans.

Lead striker Bright Luqman will hope to continue with his fine scoring form after finding the net against Medeama SC in the league and Eleven Wise in the MTN FA Cup competition last Sunday.

Inter Allies have yet to win an away game this season- losing to Liberty Professionals and drawing with New Edubiase United in their two games.

The urgency to win this one will be high on the camp of both sides, and, it should be an interesting game to savour for fans in and around the Central regional capital.

Head-to-Head  

04/06/14              Cape Coast:          Ebusua Dwarfs –Inter Allies (0-0)

15/09/13              Tema:                   Inter Allies – Ebusua Dwarfs (0-2)

Match Officials:

REF: Justice A. Poku

ASST 1: Richard Appiah

ASST 2: Alex Anning

4TH REF: Sylvester Adzoku

MC: Augustine Asante

GPL Match-Day Six Preview: Ebusua Dwarfs v Inter Allies

GPL Match-Day Six Preview: Hearts v All Stars

Team News:

Accra Hearts of Oak have an almost full squad to choose from as they go into Sunday’s top-of-the-table Ghana Premier League (GPL) clash with Wa All Stars at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi could consider Paul Acquah and Richard Akrofi for selection after shaking off their injury worries. Kennedy Appiah is also available after being passed fit to play. Samudeen Ibrahim, Thomas Abbey and Inusah Musah completely ruled out of this game as they are deemed not fit enough to play.

The injury situation at All Stars is not clear, but, with nothing new to report, they should come in with a clean bill of health as they take on the Phobians in a battle of two unbeaten sides.

Preview:

League leaders Accra Hearts of Oak will welcome Wa All Stars to the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday in a top-of-the-table clash as the GPL enters Match-Day Six this weekend.

The Phobians lead the standing with 13 points and will extend their lead at the top to five points with a win in this battle of two unbeaten sides.

Hearts will be going for their third home win of the campaign after earlier wins over New Edubiase United (1-0) and Bechem United (3-1) at the Accra Sports Stadium.

A third league win will see them maintain their hundred percent home record this season after also beating Wassaman United 3-0 in the MTN FA Cup competition last Sunday.

This will be their motivation as they head into this fixture knowing they will be coming out against a very stubborn opponent that have also looked impressive this campaign.

Hearts coach, Kenichi Yatsuhashi says they will not be complacent going into this game, and, will take it very serious knowing the magnitude of this fixture.

It is expected to be a very tough one for both sides with All Stars having won one and drawn the other of the two away games they have played so far.

They defeated Aduana Stars on Match-Day Two (1-0) at Dormaa before drawing 1-1 with debutants Dreams FC at Dawu, and, will not like to bow to a Hearts of Oak side they have had the better of in recent meetings.

The two sides have meet 16 times since All Stars joined the top-flight league in Ghana in the 2007/08 season with Hearts winning five of those encounters drawing three and losing eight.

Hearts have scored 15 goals and conceded 18 in these league fixtures.

Head=To-Head

2007/2008

Accra: Hearts of Oak – All Stars (3-0)

Wa: All Stars – Hearts of Oak (1-0)

2008/2009

WA: All Stars – Hearts of Oak (1-1)

Accra: Hearts of Oak – All Stars (1-1)

2009/2010

Wa: All Stars – Hearts of Oak (2-0)

Accra: Hearts of Oak – All Stars (1-2)

2010/2011

Accra: Hearts of Oak – All Stars (3-0)

Wa: All Stars – Hearts of Oak (1-0)

2011/2012

Wa: All Stars – Hearts of Oak (0-1)

Accra: Hearts of Oak – All Stars (3-0)

2012/2013

Accra: Hearts of Oak – All Stars (1-2)

Wa: All Stars – Hearts of Oak (0-0)

2013/2014

Wa: All Stars – Hearts of Oak (3-0)

Accra: Hearts of Oak – All Stars (0-3)

2014/2015

Accra: Hearts of Oak – All Stars (1-0)

Wa: All Stars – Hearts of Oak (2-0)

Match Officials:

REF: Ernest Baafi

ASST 1: Eric O. Mensah

ASST 2: Freeman Anwulo

4TH REF: Reginald Lathbridge

MC: Nii Komiete Doku

GPL Match-Day Six Preview: Hearts v All Stars

Raheem Sterling Out For Six To Eight Weeks

Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling will miss about six to eight weeks with a groin injury, meaning he might not play again this season.

Sterling, 21, picked up the problem in City’s 1-0 Premier League defeat against Manchester United on Sunday.

Eight weeks would see him return after the final day of the Premier League – 15 May – but before the Champions League final on 28 May.

England will monitor the player’s situation in the lead up to Euro 2016.

The Three Lions squad for the tournament will be announced on 12 May and manager Roy Hodgson has until the end of that month to submit his final 23-man list.

City keeper Joe Hart should only be sidelined for about two weeks after picking up a calf injury in the United match.

Credit: BBC

Raheem Sterling Out For Six To Eight Weeks