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

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

Local Black Stars Move To Camp Ahead of Japan Friendly

Ghana’s local national team is report to camp today ahead of their friendly international with the Japanese U-23 side in Tokyo next month.

The local Black Stars will report at the Ghanaman Centre of Excellence at Prampram under the tutelage of Maxwell Konadu who will oversee their preparations for this international fixture.

The Assistant Coach of the full national team, the Black Stars, has called up 25 players to prepare for this encounter which is being organized to test the battle readiness of both countries for important assignments.

Japan have qualified to the football tournament at the Rio Olympics coming up in August and want to test their strength against African opposition as they are group in a pool that also includes Nigeria.

With both Ghana and Nigeria having virtually the same playing style, the Japanese FA deems it right to play Ghana before they head to the Olympics.

Ghana will also use this game to test the readiness of the local players ahead of the qualifiers to the next African Nations Championships (CHAN) in Kenya in 2018.

FULL SQUAD:

GOALKEEPERS

1. RICHARD OFORI                     – WA ALL STARS

2. ROBERT DABOU                     – ASHANTIGOLD

3. MUNTARI TAGOE                    – MEDEAMA

DEFENDERS

4. HAFIZ ADAMS                        – WA ALL STARS

5. AMOS FRIMPONG                   – ASANTE KOTOKO

6. ABDUL BASHIRU                     – DREAMS FC

7. DANIEL DARKWAH                  – ADUANA STARS

8. KADRI MOHAMMED                 – ASHANTIGOLD

9. ABDUL GANIYU                        – WA ALL STARS

10. AHMED ADAMS                        – ASANTE KOTOKO

11. NICHOLAS OPOKU                   – BEREKUM CHELSEA

MIDFIELDERS

12. GOCKEL AHORTOR                  – INTER ALLIES

13. ISAAC TWUM                           – INTER ALLIES

14. ERIC KWAKWA                         – MEDEAMA

15. KWEKU ASUANDZIE                 – WA ALL STARS

16. SABHAN LARYEA                      – HEARTS OF OAK

17. LATIF BLESSING                       – LIBERTY PROFESSIONALS

18. EMMANUEL OCRAN                   – WA ALL STARS

19. SAMUEL TETTEH                       – WAFA

20. EVANS MENSAH                        – INTER ALLIES

21. EMMANUEL OSEI BAFOUR        – ASHANTIGOLD

ATTACKERS

22. SADICK ADAMS                          – BEREKUM CHELSEA

23. RICHARD ARTHUR                      – WA ALL STARS

24. MUSAH IBRAHIM                        – HEARTS OF OAK

25. LAWSON BEKUI                          – DREAMS FC

Local Black Stars Move To Camp Ahead of Japan Friendly

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

David Luiz Buoyant Ahead Of Manchester City Tie

Paris Saint Germain defender David Luiz is in buoyant mood ahead of his team’s Champions League quarter-final tie against Manchester City tomorrow.

The Brazilian identified Sergio Aguero as City’s main threat and Luiz knows he will have his hands full marking the Argentine.

“City have had a tough season but they are still a big club with amazing players. We know Sergio Aguero is amazing. We need to pay attention because he can decide a game and he’s a match-winner,” he said.

“It will be a great game, a classic maybe and everybody is buzzing to take part in it. It is really important that we are at home first. OK, it is two games, 180 minutes but we have to start well and get ourselves into a good position,” he added.

But Luiz thinks that training with Zlatan Ibrahimovic every day will stand him in good stead, ‘You know, this guy is brilliant,’ David Luiz told the Daily Mail, “He’s an amazing player but he’s intelligent and clever with it too. He is getting better with experience, I think. He knows the positions to pick up, how to conserve energy, how to exploit defences and win games.

“’How do I cope in training? I kill him!’ Luiz joked. ‘But no, we are doing an amazing season here, we are not conceding many goals, we have had a lot of clean sheets. I’m happy with my game and with my team-mates,” Luiz concluded.

Credit: Sambafoot

David Luiz Buoyant Ahead Of Manchester City Tie

Neymar, Suarez Bet Ahead Of Brazil-Uruguay Clash

Luis Suarez has revealed that he and Barcelona teammate Neymar have a culinary wager riding on their imminent match up, as Brazil face off Uruguay in Recife on Friday evening in South American World Cup qualifying.

The club teammates will face off for their countries, with Suarez representing his country for the first time since the 2014 World Cup after serving a 10 match ban for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at that tournament.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Suarez revealed that he and Neymar have made a friendly bet on the outcome, “I have a bet with Neymar. The winner gets a burger. He is a great team-mate and we always make jokes at Barcelona.

“But whoever will win this game will be enjoying himself and he who loses will be hearing it from the other. Above all, we are team-mates and friends.”

Uruguay sit in second place in CONMEBOL qualifying, with Brazil back in 4th having already played tough away games in Chile and Argentina, Ecuador are the surprise pace setters in first place. The top four teams qualify for the World Cup in CONMEBOL qualifying.

Credit: Sambafoot

Neymar, Suarez Bet Ahead Of Brazil-Uruguay Clash