The "No Money" Syndrome Is Affecting My Work - Grant

Coach of the Black Stars, Avram Grant, has lamented how ‘non-availability’ of funds for the Black Stars is making it difficult for him  to fully execute his technical mandate so as to enable Ghana to be successful in her endeavors.

 

Ghana’s opponent in the 2018 World Cup qualifier have been in action this weekend, and Grant found it appropriate to send scouts but couldn’t make it a possibility due to the unavailability of funds.

In a post-match interview after Ghana were held by Rwanda in  the last Afcon 2017 qualifier, Grant said; “I’m not happy about not sending scouts to the game of our group opponent in the World Cup because it’s a normal thing to do, but the wranglings confronting the national team with regards to the non-availability of money, made it impossible for me to send scouts.

“Professionally, sending scouts around is the ideal monitoring system against your opponent, but nonetheless, we will watch videos and see the best possible action we have to take.”

Ghana will kick-start her 2018 World Cup qualification campaign in October with a double header against the Cranes of Uganda(2nd October) and the Pharaohs of Egypt (6th October).

The "No Money" Syndrome Is Affecting My Work - Grant

Sportscrusader.com Lower Leagues Team Of The Week

The Sports Crusader Lower Leagues Team of the Week is an initiative introduced by the fastest growing sports web portal in Ghana to demonstrate how Ghanaian players perform for their various clubs abroad.

To set the records straight, as we have always done, players are selected based on the following criteria:

1.The Coefficient of the league they play

2. The competition they are in (If they are not playing league matches)

3. Consistency.

4. The competition they face from other players playing for the same position.

5. The positions they play

6. The number of minutes played in the game, and

7. The contribution of the player to the success of the game.

David Atanga took his season’s tally to10 goals in 24 league appearances over the weekend to secure his place in our team of the week for the lower league Ghanaian players abroad.

Alongside the bony framed Liefering forward upfront are Clifford Aboagye and Jonathan Opoku in a dreaded attacking trio.

At the middle of the pitch are Divine Naah, Richard Boateng and Derreck Boateng in a 4-3-3 flexible system that has Bright Addae, Nuru Sulley, Isaac Donkor and Maxwell Acosty in the back four.

Goalkeeper Razak Braimah maintains his place between the sticks despite his 1-0 defeat with Cordoba over the weekend.

Below is the Sportscrusader.com Lower League Team of the Week and the number of minutes each player played.

1. RAZAK BRAIMAH-90’ CORDOBA

2. Nuru Sulley-90’ Alanyaspor

3. Maxwell Acosty Boadu- Latina

4. Isaac Donkor-75’ Bari

5. Bright Addae-90’ Ascoli

6. Divine Naah-90’ NAC Breda

7. Richard Boateng-90’ Granada II

8. Derreck Boateng-90’ Rayo OKC

9. JONATHAN OPOKU-90’ VV VENLO

10. DAVID ADONA ATANG- 90’ LEIFERING

11. Clifford Aboagye-90’ Granada II

SUBS

12. Richmond Boakye-30’ Latina

13. Kinglsey Boateng-30’ Bari

14. Yussif Chibsah-90’ Ljunskile

15. DENNIS AGYARE ANTWI-90’ JERV

16. Kinglsey Sarfo-90’ Siruis

17. Hiram Boateng-90’ Plymouth Argyle

18. Thormas Boakey-45’ Vaberg

Sportscrusader.com Lower Leagues Team Of The Week

Sportscrusader.com Lower Leagues Team Of The Week

The Sportscrusader.com Lower Leagues Team of the Week is an initiative introduced by the fastest growing sports web portal in Ghana to demonstrate how Ghanaian players perform for their various clubs abroad.To set the records straight, as we have always done, players are selected based on the following criteria:

1. The Coefficient of the league they play.

2. The competition they are in (If they are not playing league matches).

3. Consistency.

4. The competition they face from other players playing for the same position.

5. The positions they play.

6. The number of minutes played in the game.

7. The contribution of the player to the success of the game.

Moses Odjier stole the headlines for the wrong reasons after his expulsion from Salernitana’s 3-1 win over Livorno in the Serie B. The pocket size however had done enough to steer his side further away from the drop.

Jonathan Opoku took his season tally to 13 in a 1-0 win for VV Venlo in the Dutch Erste league. The rampant forward has been partnered upfront with Erixon Danso and Richmond Boakye Yiadom.

At the middle of the pitch are Derreck Boateng, Albert Adomah and Dennis Agyare Antwi for the lower league based Ghanaian players.

Razak Braimah enjoyed spectacular outings for Cordoba between the sticks to keep alive their promotion hopes in the Spanish Segunda division.

Below is the Sportscrusader.com lower league Team of the Week and the number of minutes each player played.

1.       RAZAK BRAIMAH-90’ CORDOBA

2.       LEEROY OWUSU-90′ AJAX II

3.       EMMANUEL NTIM-90′ VALENCIENNES

4.       NURU SULLEY-90’ ALANYA

5.       DANIEL SOWATEY-90’SHUMEN 1929

6.       DERRECK BOATENG- 90′ RAYO OKC

7.       ALBERT ADOMAH -90’ MIDDLESBOROUGH

8.       DENNIS AGYARE ANTWI-90′ JERV

9.       JONATHAN OPOKU-90’VV VENLO

10.   RICHMOND BOAKYE-25′ LATINA

11.   ERIXON DANSON -90 EMMEM

RESERVES

12.   KWAME NSOR- SEIRANG

13.   KINGSLEY SARFO-90′ SIRIUS

14.   ISAAC DONKOR-80′ BARI

15.   ABU AGOGO-90′ SHREWSBURY

16. ERIC OCANSEY-85’ EUPEN

17.   PAUL ADDO-90′ BRYNE

18. CLIFFORD ABOAGY- 64′ GRANADA II

Sportscrusader.com Lower Leagues Team Of The Week

Sportscrusader.com Team Of The Week

The Sportscrusader.com Team of the Week is an initiative introduced by the fastest growing sports web portal in Ghana to demonstrate how Ghanaian players perform for their various clubs abroad.

To set the records straight, as we have always done, players are selected based on the following criteria:

1. The Coefficient of the league they play

2. The competition they are in (If they are not playing league matches)

3. Consistency

4. The competition they face from other players playing for the same position.

5. The positions they play

6. The number of minutes played in the game, and

7. The contribution of the player to the success of the game.

Adam Larson Kwarasey remains sidelined for Portland Timbers in the MLS but lack of goal keeping rivals means he will keep his place between the sticks on his possible return next week for the Timbers.

In front of him however will be a new looking back four that has Daniel Opare and Baba Rahman as Wing-backs whiles John Boye returns to partner Nana Asare at the heart of the defense. Opare steered Augsberg to an unlikely victory at the Volswagen Arena on his third straight appearance in this season.

At the middle of the pitch lies Alfred Duncan, whose combative nature proved crucial for AS Sassoulo over Torino in the Serie A. The 22 year old is being flanked by Mubarack Wakasu and Frank Acheampong on either sides.

An attacking trio of Jeff Schlupp and the Ayew brothers will be tasked with the attacking prowess of the team. The ranking of the Premiership favoured the Ayew brothers despite other players souring high for their clubs.

The sportscrusader.com team of the week is seen below:

1. Adam Kwarasey- Portland Timbers

2. Daniel Opare-90′ Augsburg

3. Baba Rahman- 90′ Chelsea

4. John Boye-90′ Sivaspor

5. Nana Asare-90′ Gent

6.Alfred Duncan- 90′ AS Sassoulo

7. Frank Acheampong-90′ Anderlecht

8. Mubarack Wakasu-28’Las Palmas

9. Jordan Ayew- 60′ Aston Villa

10. Andre Ayew-90′ Swansea City

11. Jeff Schlupp- 82′ Leicester City.

Reserves.

12. Emmanuel Boateng- 90′ Galaxy

13. Harrison Afful-90′ Columbus Crew

14. Agyemang Badu-90′ Udinese

15. Charles Sarpong -90′ Philadelphia Union

16. Mahatma Otoo-90′ Sogndal

17. Alhassan Wakasu-90′ Rio Aves

18. Asamoah Gyan-47’Shenghai SPIG.

Sportscrusader.com Team Of The Week

GPL Preview: Can Kotoko Continue Revival Against New Edubiase?

If the revival of Kumasi Asante Kotoko in post-Duncan era, is a coincidence, the fraternity of the club, will hope it continues indefinitely.

The Porcupine Warriors will face struggling New Edubiase at the Baba Yara sports stadium on Match Week 9 of the 2015/16 Ghana Premier League (GPL).

Kotoko will be buoyed by the resurgence in the last three games, but the game will be a tricky one considering the success New Edubiase have chalked against Kotoko at the stadium.

Both teams have won 2 matches in their six matches played in Kumasi, and that could be the impetus for “Yenkonkoaa” boys when they line up against Anthony Commey’s side.

Coaches believe every game against the same opposition is different, and that could be key in Michael Osei’s approach to the game.

The change in technical direction which kept the club in comical and ridiculous state, seem to be a blessing in disguise, as Kotoko gradually edge towards the confidence they had during the pre-season.

Some individuals are rising to the occasion of being Porcupines, and they will unleashed the arsenals they are made of to keep Kotoko’s home superiority intact.

New Edubiase on the other hand, is at the foot of the league table, and relegation survival fight will be at the back of their minds when they step on to the pitch.

New Edubiase have not won an away in the ongoing league, their best being a draw against WAFA. The last time New Edubiase won an away league game, was in 2014 against Asante Kotoko.

Accusing finger is pointed at New Edubiase’s inexperience after the sale of key players in Nuhu brothers and Abraham Asiedu Attobrah.

Asante Kotoko and New Edubiase have met 12 times, and they are at par. Both sides have won three apiece, with the other three ending in a stalemate.

GPL Preview: Can Kotoko Continue Revival Against New Edubiase?

Gambia Sports Minister Slams CAF Officials

Gambia’s Minister of Youth and Sports , Alieu K. Jammeh has hit out at CAF match officials regarding their performance in the wake of his country’s 2-1 loss to Mauritania in their first leg clash in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier played in Nouakchott on Friday March 25.

Minister Jammeh said “it is high time CAF began to take necessary actions against bad refereeing, adding that “bad refereeing is destroying our football in Africa”.

Minister Jammeh was speaking to journalists on Tuesday March 29 after The Gambia national team was held to a goalless draw by Mauritania in the second leg played at the Independence Stadium in Bakau in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

He stated that everybody agreed that it was as a result of bad refereeing that The Gambia lost to Mauritania in the first leg.

“The Gambia scored a clear goal that was wrongly disallowed and there was additional time given unnecessarily and that immediately Mauritania scored their second goal the match was declared ended by the referee,” he expressed concern.

He therefore called on CAF to take necessary action against the Liberian central referee Isaac T Z Montgomery that officiated the Mauritania-Gambia game in Nouakchott.

Mr Jammeh said the Liberian referee had done “disservice to Africa and African football and to himself as an African and should be ashamed of himself”.

“It is a disgrace that a referee of his level would make such poor decisions,” he further said, pondering why such an African could take such wrong decisions”.

Gambia Sports Minister Slams CAF Officials

Weightlifting: Christian Amoah Vows To Make Ghana Proud

Ghanaian weightlifting prospect, Christian Amoah has reiterated his zeal to make Ghana proud, when it comes to weightlifting on the local and international scene.

 

The 17 year old, who just recovered from a month long injury, has been training vigorously to pick up form ahead of Olympic qualifiers.

In an interview with sportscrusader.com, Amoah said “it feels great to be back once again, i entreat all Ghanaians to support me  and i will make them love me with me exploit”.

Amoah, who is ranked 49th in the world has been one of the brightest spot in the spot and has exhibited some real talent in the sport of Weightlifting.

Earlier this year the President of the Ghana Weightlifting Association (GWA), Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah tipped the youngster to go very far in the sport and has vowed to support him to succeed.

Weightlifting: Christian Amoah Vows To Make Ghana Proud

We Are Eager For The Italian Double - Asamoah

Ghanaian midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah has reiterated the zeal of his club Juventus on winning their second consecutive Coppa Italia and Scudetto.

 

Juventus currently occupy top spot on the Serie A league table with a clear three points lead over Napoli and have already booked a  cup final ticket with the AC Milan having won the both competitions last year.

 

“We started badly, then we’ve succeeded in a great comeback,” Asamoah told Sky. “Now we can’t throw away what we’ve done. At the end all that counts is who wins.

 

“We’ll have to make an extra effort in these last eight games. They’ll all be difficult, and to get the Scudetto we’ll have to win at least seven, but we’re ready.

 

Asamoah season has marred by series of injury which has made him miss out on international outings for Ghana and for his current club side

We Are Eager For The Italian Double - Asamoah