No Olympic Show For Messi

Argentina captain Lionel Messi concedes he is disappointed he will not represent his country at the Olympic Games in Rio.

The Barcelona talisman was left out of his nation’s Olympic squad in order to take part in the Copa America Centenario, which begins on June 3 and will be held in the United States.

Argentina coach Gerardo Martino stressed that Messi, who won gold at the Beijing Games in 2008, agreed with the decision as Argentina aim to make up for last year’s disappointing Copa America final loss to Chile.

Having savoured the 2008 Olympics and the U20s World Cup in the Netherlands in 2005, Messi is frustrated to miss the event in Brazil.

“I would have liked to go because it was a spectacular experience for me to play in the Olympics, just as it was for the U20 World Cup,” Messi told ESPN.

“Not just because we won, but for the experience I gained.

“It was a great experience to stay in the Olympic Village and meet other elite athletes from other sports and to be just another athlete among them; that was very spectacular even though we didn’t spend a lot of time in the village.

“The World Cup is great but the Olympics are something special.”

Skysports

No Olympic Show For Messi

I Have No Contact With Kotoko – Coach Keni

Coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi of Accra Hearts of Oak has denied rumours gaining currency that he is flirting with bitter rivals Asante Kotoko and could be opened to a move to the Porcupines.

The Japanese-American is owned two months’ salary (February and March) plus other bonuses, and, his refusal to accept his pay when management of the club tried to pay him, fueled speculations about those rumours.

However, Coach Keni insists he is happy with the Phobians and only want the best with the technical staff and playing body he works with.

“I refuse to accept my pay because my assistants and players are owned salaries and bonuses and this is not acceptable to me as a coach,” he wrote on his facebook wall.

He insisted that he has had no contact whatsoever with the people at Asante Kotoko and pledged his loyalty to the capital club, saying that the $2,000 he receives a month, is not an issue in this situation.

“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.

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Have No Contact With Kotoko – Coach Keni

"There Are No "Mafias" At Sports Ministry" - P.R.O.

Public Relations Officer of Ministry of Youth and Sports, Otoo Plahor has emphasized the need for the media to stop painting the image of ‘mafiarism’ at the Ministry something he said doesn’t utter well for its brand.

Previous Sports Ministers have hallucinated to the fact that there are some elements at the Sports Ministry management structure that do not share the respective vision of the various Minister and always want to have things done their way.

In a interview with sportscrusader.com, Mr Plahor said, “we are all new people here at the Ministry, so there is a need for us to set a new agenda that can lead to a positive branding of the here”.

Mr Plahor also emphasized the role of the media in this new agenda that will help streamline the vision of the current Sports Minister in his endeavors, so that he can achieve his prior priority.

He further stressed on the need for positive branding which will lead to more corporate organizations showing interest in sponsoring various events of the Ministry to augment their budget in developing all sectors.

"There Are No "Mafias" At Sports Ministry" - P.R.O.