New GHALCA First Test Looming

Before the new Executive Council of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA), is sworn into office (today), their first big test is looming.

GHALCA under the chairmanship of Alhaji Raji contracted a $9,000 loan from the Ghana Football Association (GFA), without the knowledge of the other members and without the proper administrative procedure.

When the issue escalated, it will be recalled that Messrs Raji and George Amoako, Treasurer of the Association claimed the money was meant to defray part of a $30,000 indebtedness to Nigeria side, Enugu Rangers for playing in the 2013 President’s Cup

Enugu Rangers denied receiving any money from the Association, and Sportscrusader.com can confirm that the Nigerian club is still owed the said amount, though the President of GFA, Kwesi Nyantakyi stepped in in trying to solve the issue.

Mr Raji who promised to refund the money, did not repay it to the Association, or settle Enugu Rangers their money either.

Sportscrusader.com can confirm that Enugu Rangers wrote to FA after the GHALCA elections last month, reminding them of the debt owed them; asking the new leadership to address the issue.

New GHALCA First Test Looming

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

Inter Win First Seria A Match Played Without Italians

Inter Milan’s victory over Udinese was the first ever Serie A match with no Italians starting for either team.

Striker Stevan Jovetic scored twice as Inter came from a goal down to boost their chances of remaining in the top four.

Cyril Thereau volleyed Udinese ahead, with Jovetic equalising from Mauro Icardi’s cross.

Jovetic chested in Jonathan Biabiany’s cross before substitute Eder scored in injury time to seal the win.

Line-ups

Inter Milan

1Handanovic

55 Nagatomo

25 Miranda

24 Murillo

5 Nunes Jesus Substituted for Perisicat 64’minutes Booked at 82mins

7 Kondogbia Booked at 65mins

83 Felipe Melo

77 Brozovic

10 Jovetic Booked at 31mins

11Biabiany Substituted for D’Ambrosioat 85’minutes

9 Icardi Substituted for Citadin Martinsat 80’minutes

Substitutes

8 Palacio

12 Telles

21 Santon

22 Ljajic

23 Citadin Martins

27 Gnoukouri

30 Carrizo

33 D’Ambrosio

44 Perisic

46 Berni

97 Manaj

Udinese

31 Karnezis

2 Wagué

5 Larangeira Booked at 61mins

30 Felipe Substituted for Matos Santosat 81’minutes

27 Widmer

7 Badu

22 Kuzmanovic

8 Fernandes Substituted for Hallfredssonat 85’minutes

21 Andrade dos Santos Substituted for Pasqualeat 76’minutes

9 Zapata Booked at 86mins

77 Théréau

Substitutes

11 Domizzi

18 Perica

19 dos Santos Torres

20 Lodi

26 Pasquale

34 Iniguez

55 Hallfredsson

75 Heurtaux

88 Matos Santos

89 Piris

97 Meret

99 Balic

Referee:

Domenico Celi

BBC

Inter Win First Seria A Match Played Without Italians

Yahaya Mohammed, First To Register Hat Trick For Aduana Stars

Since their entry into the Ghanaian top-flight league in the 2009/10 season, no player from Aduana Stars has ever managed to score a hat trick in a game until last Wednesday.

In their Ghana Premier League (GPL) game with Sekondi Hasaacas at the Nana Agyemang Badu II Park, Dormaa Yahaya Mohammed broke that jinx in their 4-0 win over the visitors.

Players like Bernard Dong Bortey, Alex Asamoah among others came close to claiming that record, but only scored a brace on a couple of occasions.

Mohammed claimed that piece of history against the leagues weakest defence as Aduana Stars romped to their biggest win so far this season.

He began his classy display in the 7th minute before scoring a second and third in the 48th and 50th minutes for the first hat trick of his career. Bright Adjei sealed victory for the home side with a 60th minute penalty.

And Mohammed said there is more in store for fans of the club insisting that Aduana Stars will rise to the challenge as the season wore on.

“We have only played eight matches in the league and there are 22 more games to play,” he said, adding that they will climb up the ladder and challenge for the title.

I promise to score more goals for the club as the games come, and, I believe by the time the season ends, we will be countered as among the clubs challenging for the title.

Aduana Stars as ninth on the GPL table with 10 points, seven behind the leaders Wa All Stars, and, will next play Medeama SC also at Dormaa in the GPL on Sunday.

Yahaya Mohammed, First To Register Hat Trick For Aduana Stars

WAFA Aim For First Ever Win Over Hearts

West Africa Football Academy (WAFA) will be seeking a first ever win over Accra Hearts of Oak when they take on the Phobians in a Ghana Premier League (GPL) Match-Day Eight encounter at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra this afternoon (Wednesday).

Since joining the Ghanaian top-flight in 2004, WAFA formerly Feyenoord Academy, they have encountered the Phobians eight times in the league, but, have yet to taste victory over the capital club.

Hearts of Oak have won six of those encounters with the other two ending in a stalemate. WAFA will therefore hope to break that jinx in this afternoon’s game.

However, this season, the Academy boys have lost all their away games by a similar result, 0-1 against Chelsea (Match-Day Two); Aduana Stars (Match-Day Four) and Dreams FC (Match-Day Six)

Beating Hearts will be a huge task as the Phobians have won two of their three home games and lost the other. They will hope to make it three wins out of four games on home soil.

Whether Hearts wins or WAFA claims a first ever win over the Phobians will be answered this afternoon at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra.

Bellow is the head-to head record of the two teams

2004             Feyenoord 0 – 1 Hearts

Hearts 3 – 0   Feyenoord

2005/6          Hearts 2 – 1 Feyenoord

Feyenoord 0 – 0 Hearts

2006/7          Hearts 2 – 1 Feyenoord

Feyenoord 0 – 2 Hearts

2014/15        Hearts 1 – 0 WAFA

WAFA 0 – 0 HEARTS

2016             Hearts? – ? WAFA

WAFA Aim For First Ever Win Over Hearts

Parma Promoted To Serie C In First Season After Bankruptcy

Parma have returned to Italy’s professional ranks after the reborn club clinched promotion in their first season following bankruptcy.

The new club secured promotion to the third tier with a 2-1 victory over Delta Calcio Rovigo on Sunday.

The two-time Uefa Cup winners were wound up last summer after racking up debt of more than 200m euros (£143m).

“The message that comes from Parma is that we’re back,” said captain Alessandro Lucarelli.

Parma have eased through Serie D, the highest level of amateur football in Italy, setting a league record of 85 points from 35 matches.

The new club, formed in July, is backed by pasta maker Guido Barilla with former coach Nevio Scala as president.

Scala, 67, guided Parma to three of their four European successes in the 1990s.

In addition to two Uefa Cups, between 1992 and 2002 Parma also won the European Super Cup, European Cup Winners’ Cup, three Coppa Italias and an Italian Super Cup.

“We are enjoying the rewards of an extraordinary ride,” said Scala.

“Let’s enjoy the victory, as it’s the first of a process that we hope will see us as contenders again next year.”

Coach Luigi Apolloni, the former Italy defender who played for Parma between 1987 and 2000, added: “This was a victory for the whole city.”

Credit: BBC

Parma Promoted To Serie C In First Season After Bankruptcy

Pay My Assistants, Players First – Coach Keni To Hearts

Accra Hearts of Oak Coach, Kenichi Yatsuhashi has told the Club’s Board and Strategy Committee to pay his assistants and the players he works with first before he takes his share.

The club has not paid their Japanese-American trainer for two months (February and March) wih his backroom staff and players also not being paid during this period.

Sportscrusader.com sources also revealed that winning bonuses and other promises made to the players and technical team have also not been paid since the league started.

Last week, the Management of the club made an attempt to pay the coach monies owned him, but he rejected those advances and made it clear that he will only take his salary and bonuses after his assistants and players have been paid first.

Coach Keni has also debunked rumours that he is unhappy with his salary of $2,000 a month.

Writing on his facebook wall, he said he understands the situation in Ghana and is happy with the contract he signed with Accra Hearts of Oak and will respect it.

“All I want is to see my players and assistants paid and after, I will take my salary, he wrote, adding that he wants to work with a happy family were trust and confidence exists.

Coach Keni has led Hearts to a promising start to the season and are second on the Ghana Premier League log, three points behind leaders Wa All Stars after seven games.

Pay My Assistants, Players First – Coach Keni To Hearts

Albert Adomah suffers first league defeat since November at the Ashton Gate.

A late header from Wes Burns inflicted a painful defeat on Middlesbrough for the first time since November 2016.

The table topping visitors crushed to a 90th minute header at the Ashton Gate in a thriller 1-0 defeat away to Bristol City in the championship.

Adomah lasted the full throttle of the game as Borough dropped points for the first time since November.

The 27 year old attacker tallied his 28th appearances for the record breaking Boro at the dreaded Ashton Gate in the Coca Cola Championship.

A thrilling first 45 minutes failed to breach Boro’s stingy defense that has failed to concede in a goal in over 820 minutes in the league.

Aitor Karankas division toppers came close to extending their six point when Adomah was tripled inside the 18 yard only for the referee to adjudge the scene as outside the box.

English winger Steward Downing unleashed his trademark free kick but Richard Donnel in post for the host parried it way.

The two sides came out out recess poised for that elusive goal in the thrilling fixture with contrasting fortunes.

The tie look destined to end in the 0-0 scoreline until Wes Burn scored a very late header to breach the defence of the Teasiders for the first time in 912 minutes in the league.

Adomah has since scored 6 goal for Aitor Karankas promotion chasing side in the Championship. Hull City spanked Charlton 6-0 to close the gap to just two points though Middlesbrough has a game in hand.

Albert Adomah suffers first league defeat since November at the Ashton Gate.

GHALCA Veep rates First Trust G6 Tournament as successful

Vice President of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA), Isaac Koomson has rated the First Trust G6 invitational as a hugely successful event.

The off season tournament was introduced to replace the traditional Top 4 pre-season curtain raiser in the country.

Kumasi Asante Kotoko announced their return to form with a place in the grand finale against feared nemesis Aduana Stars at the Essipong stadium on Saturday January 11, 2016.

The excited Vice president of the event’s organiser expressed his satisfaction with the way the inaugural edition of the pilot based tournament panned out.

Koomson labelled the four day football festival as very satisfactory despite an earlier set back from the flood lights at the Essipong.

He further lavished kind words on the football family in general after showing keen interest in the tournament.

He told sports crusader, “The tournament has been very successful in all aspects. The interest people have shown in the competition tells you that nobody left anything to chance and it is lived up to its expectations”.

He further revealed his surprises at the indifferent form of Ashgold and Medeama SC during the course of the gathering.

“If anything at all I would have expected the Champions to do better. I expected Ashgold to show that they are the champions or Medeama SC to show that they are the FA Cup winners but this is a preseason competition and we are likely to get new champions.” the GHALCA Veep told sports crusader.

Kumasi Asante Kotoko thumped Berekum Chelsea 3-1 before being held by Ashgold as they seal a final showdown with Aduana Stars at the Essipong stadium.

The Dormaa based side equally zoomed into the final clash with a heavy win over Medeama after a stalemate with eliminated Hearts of Oak.

GHALCA Veep rates First Trust G6 Tournament as successful

Kick-Off time of First Trust G6 Tournaments revised

Organisers of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) First Trust G6 tournament has revised the kick off times of the ongoing tournament due to power failure at the Essipong Sports Stadium.

The gesture is to enhance the smooth running of the three day tournament after power failure prematurely ended Hearts of oak’s clash with Aduana stars.

The initial 4pm starting points has been revised to 1:30 for the second day of the off season tournament.

Kumasi Asante Kotoko’s opening clash with Berekum Chelsea initially billed to kick off at 4pm has been brought forward to 1:30pm, whilst Hearts of Oak has been relieved from another “dumsor”fears with a 3:30pm kick off against Medeama SC in the oil city.

The new proposal will see both matches played in the absence of flood lights after suffering massive setback in the opening matches.

Profligate Miners allowed Berekum Chelsea off the hook in the opening round of the tournament despite their commanding display of total football at the Essipong stadium.

Organisers of the event has inculcated many new innovative moves to spice up the tournament including free gate for students and transport for the fans.

Kick-Off time of First Trust G6 Tournaments revised

Eric Donkor fires warning to rivals ahead of First Trust G6 openers.

High flying Kumasi Asante Kotoko full back Eric Donkor has issued a verbal warning to the remaining five teams ahead of the kick off in the First Trust G6 tournament.

The in-form utility man has his eyes firmly set on the inaugural First Trust invitational tournament after a heavy 5-0 romping of Serbian side FK Jogadino in the Anniversary match.

The 23 year old wide man led the demolition exercise with two powerful strikes and has his eyes firmly set on the maiden trophy set to usher in the new season.

Kumasi Asante Kotoko put to bed their indifferent 2014/15 FCPPL with two off season trophies against Ashgold and FK Jogadino but their utility man is looking at making it a trebble before the season kicks off.

Donkor cited the need to restore the winning habbit of the reds as they head into the curtain raiser tourney.

He told sports crusader, “it is another competition that we simply had to win so as to motivate us before the new season kicks off.

Winning the First Trust G6 trophy will bring the smile back on the faces of the club’s supporters and add to the trophy cabinet as well”

The 24 times domestic champions kicks off their First Trust G6 tourney on Friday January 8, with a block buster clash against Berekum Chelsea at the Essipong stadium at exactly 4pm.

The oseikrom boys ended the 2014/15 season trophy less after missing out on the FA Cup trophy and the league title as well.

Eric Donkor fires warning to rivals ahead of First Trust G6 openers.