Ransford Selasi Revels In League POTY Accolade

Italy-based Ghanaian youngster, Ransford Selasi, has expressed his joy at the Serie B player of the year award ahead of his debut season in the top flight.

The Pescara midfielder defended his trophy as the best Ghanaian player in the Serie B and has already drawn inspiration from the individual recognition.

FAVANZ Sports Consult, an Italy-based Ghanaian football firm, named Selasi as the best player with Ghanaian descent in the second tier league for the second time running.

Speaking to www.sportscrusader.com on the essence of the trophy to his burgeoning growth in the game, Selasi acknowledged  the organisers of the program and expressed his aim to win the Serie A edition next season.

“I am extremely grateful to Favanz sports consult for their efforts in acknowledging Ghanaian players based in Italy.

“I won the award last year and it is always good to defend your personal achievement,  a feat I am proud of as a player. Hopefully, the Serie A edition follows next season”, Selasi told sports crusader exclusively.

The midfielder dazzled across the season as Pescara booked top flight football ahead of the 2016/17 Serie A campaign.

Ransford Selasi is a reported target for a number of Italian clubs after his boisterous form in the Serie B.

 

Ransford Selasi Revels In League POTY Accolade

Ransford Selasi Inches Away From Serie A Football

Ransford Selassie look destined for Serie A football next season after a commanding win in the first leg of the Promotion Play Off finals.

The Pescara midfielder came on as a late replacement in a 2-0 win over Trapani ahead of the return leg on Friday.

Goals from Ahmed Bernali and Gianluca Lapadulla handed Pescara a 2-0 aggregate win and could clinch Serie A football if they avoid a heavy defeat in Sicily.

The Delfini made their intentions known from the onset with flurry of attacks on their Sicilians opponents and it paid off at the start of the second half.

Ransford Selasi in action for Pescara

Ahmed Benalli opened the scoring for Pescara before Lapadulla took his season tally to 30 goals in 42 appearances.

The Peruvian born Italian forward deflated the egos of the Sicily based Trapani with another screamer to end the tie as a contest.

Ransford Selassie came on in the final five minutes of the game for the hard working Viera.

The Ghanaian and his team mates will seal promotion to the Italian top tier of they avoid a heavy defeat in the return leg on Thursday.

Ransford Selasi Inches Away From Serie A Football

Agyemang Badu Escapes Relegation In Italy

Italy based Black Stars midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang Badu escaped relegation from the Serie A on a dramatic final day showdown.

The Udinese midfield anchor man suffered a 1-2 home reverse at the hands of relegated Carpi but sustained their top flight status by just a point.

Agyemang Badu enjoyed his second most prolific campaign from the middle of the pitch despite the warbling form of his side with four goals in his 34 appearances.

His struggling Serie A side however ended the season with two wins in the last 14 league matches in a miserable campaign for Luigi De Canio and the Zebratas.

The Stade Fruili outfit skipped the drop by just one point with 18 defeats across the league campaign.

Agyemang Badu reportedly courted interest from a number of domestic rivals which forced Udinese to place a 10m USD valuable on their Ghanaian import.

Agyemang Badu Escapes Relegation In Italy

Bright Addae Returns To Ascoli After Three Match Suspension

Italy based Ghanaian midfielder Bright Christopher Addae made a losing return to Ascoli after serving his mandatory three match for his red card against Trapani.

The 23 year old gargling defensive midfielder missed the last three matches for his midtable side but returned to take his place at the heart of the pitch in a 2-0 defeat at Novara.

The ex Wa All Stars utility midfielder defied his three week absence to show his worth despite finishing the game on the losing side.

Goals from Pablo Gobzacalez and Pancrazio Farago on either halfs proved too much for Ascoli to contain in the Italian Serie B.

Addae played a crucial role in the qualification of Ascoli to the second tier of Italian football and has already drawn attentions from a number of European clubs with his energetic runs and intelligent passing range.

The talented Ascoli defensive shield played a mammoth role in Sellas Tetteh’s 2009 FIFA U20 World championship winning campaign.

Bright Addae Returns To Ascoli After Three Match Suspension

Afriyie Acquah Scores In Torino"s Heavy Win Over Udinese

Italy based Ghana international Ebenezer Afriyie Acquah steerd Torino to a 1-5 away triumph over Udinese in the Serie A.

The explosive midfielder spiced up his commanding performance at the middle of the pitch with his trade mark long range drives to earn the bragging rights over his compatriot Agyemang Badu.

Acquah followed up an opening strike from Pontus Jandon with his third of the campaign to cap an impressive outing for Giampero Ventura’s men.

The hard tackling midfielder gave his visiting team a 0-2 lead just on the stroke of 45 minutes before returning to set up Josep Martinez for the third of the game.

The 24 year old has enjoyed a spectacular season yet again in the Italian top flight despite his off field setbacks since joining Torino from Sampdoria at the start of the season.

Acquah traded Parma for Sampdoria after the former’s demotion to the fourth tie of Italian football.

International team mate Emmanuel Agyemang Badu lasted the torturing 90 minutes for the home side as Torino run out 1-5 victors to move into the 10th slot.

Udinese meanwhile remains 6 points clear off the drop zone with two games to end the season.

Afriyie Acquah Scores In Torino"s Heavy Win Over Udinese

Kwadwo Asamoah Clinches Third Serie A Title

Italy based Ghanaian midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah has landed himself a third straight Serie A trophy after Napoli’s set back at Rome.

The Bienconeri’s utility Ghanaian endured a torrid campaign with Max Allegris men but has recently returned to form to help steer the Turin based side a fifth straight Scudeto and his personal treble.

Napoli’s 1-0 defeat at Roma means Juventus remains 12 clear at the top of the log with 3 games to play for in the campaign.

The reigning champions had a torrid start to their title defense with one win in the opening six Matches but has returned to master a run of 25 unbeaten matches in the league to get their season back on track.

The dominant Bienconeris put together a run of 9 straight wins in the last 10 matches including yesterday ‘s 2-1 away win at the Viola.

Asamoah joined Juventus from Udinese at the end of the 2012/13 Serie A campaign.

The Ghanaian has since won all three Scudeto trophies since his arrival at the Juventus Arena.

The injury ravaged former Liberty Professionals man managed just 11 appearance in the season after a lengthy spell on the treatment room.

Kwadwo Asamoah Clinches Third Serie A Title

Agyemang Badu Impresses In Udinese Defeat

Black Stars midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang Badu maintained his impressive form for his struggling Udinese in a 3-1 heavy defeat at Inter.

The talented midfielder shone at the middle of the pitch for the Zebratas headlined by his delicious assist to Cyril Theareu at the Guiseppe Meazza.

The Stade Fruili crowd favourite again illuminated his ailing side before late strikes from the Nerrazuris overturned the score line for Roberto Mancini’s men.

Agyemang Badu, who is enjoying his most prolific season as a professional, sumptuously teed up Cyril for the opening strike just 9 minutes into the game to put Udinese ahead.

The former Kumasi Asante Kotoko midfielder then resorted to his usual end to end runs in the opening half of the pitch until Stephanie Jovetic pulled parity for the host with 10 minutes to recess.

The Montegro hitman however doubled his personal tally on the 75th minutes after been put through by the workaholic Jonathan Biabiany.

Agyemang Badu then came close to levelling matters for Udinese with his trade mark pile drivers but for the army of defenders shielding Samir Handanovic in post for Inter Milan.

Substitute Edder Martins then clipped the wings of the visitors with the third for his side on the stroke of full time to win the clash on 3-1 score.

Badu has since returned an impressive 4 goals in his 31 appearances for Udinese amidst their indifferent form in the Serie A.

Agyemang Badu Impresses In Udinese Defeat

AC Milan Sack Coach

AC Milan have announced the sacking of coach Sinisa Mihajlovic, replacing the Serbian with youth-team boss Cristian Brocchi until the end of the season.

Defeat to Serie A leaders Juventus on Saturday left sixth-placed Milan with just two points from their last five matches.

Mihajlovic has been relieved of his role as #ACMilan coach. @misterbrocchi will now be in charge of the first team a statement from the struggling giants on Tuesday read: “Sinisa Mihajlovic has been relieved of his role as AC Milan coach.

“The club would like to thank Mihajlovic for the dedication and hard work carried out this season.”

AC Milan Sack Coach

Essien Receives Best Goal Award

Former Ghana international Michael Essien has finally received his best goal award.

Essien scored a screamer in Panathiniakos 2-0 win over Levadeiakos in the Greek Super League on January 24 and and it was nominated as the goal of the month after a thorough assessment by the Panhellenic Association Paid Footballers (PSAP).

The Ghanaian international goal emerged as the best of the month and he was officially given his accolade on Thursday.

He expressed his delight and promised to deliver more of such goals for his Club.

“For the award and the fact that scored a beautiful goal in Livadia, “ he said.

“Not scoring many goals, but when I do I make sure is good! I’m happy that I won this award and I hope to offer many more to Panathinaikos.”

The former Chelsea midfielder joined the Greek giants from Italian Club AC Milan prior to the start of the season and as so far made 10 appearances for the Club.

Essien Receives Best Goal Award

Kwadwo Asamoah ready to unleash discovered spell self after coming through worst spell of injury

Ghana midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah says he is ready to unleash his newly discovered self after coming through the worst moments of his life with injury.

The 26-year-old is now fully fit and back training with the first team of his Italian club Juventus.

Asamoah had battled his way through a series of injuries which lasted over a year.

This is the worst spell of injury to have faced the former Udinese man.

But the talented Asamoah says the injury revealed to him a hidden quality which he will be unleashing on his return.

“Now, everything is about the mentality that I am bringing back to the field,” he told Metro TV.

“This (the injury) has really made me strong because I have learnt so many things.

“With this injury, there were some things that I thought was normal and the things that I had inside me, I wasn’t showing. So this is the time for me to show it.”

Kwadwo Asamoah will be included in Juventus’ Champions League squad for the second half of the competition having been excluded from the initial squad due to his injury.

Kwadwo Asamoah ready to unleash discovered spell self after coming through worst spell of injury

Stomach bug prevents Kevin-Prince Boateng from featuring on Milan return

Kevin-Prince Boateng was unable to make his first appearance on his return to AC Milan in Wednesday’s shock defeat to Bologna over an illness a few hours to kickoff.

The 28-year-old had been named in the Rossoneri squad for the Serie-A clash but had to be withdrawn after suffering a stomach bug.

Boateng was hoping to make his first start on his return to the Italian club after his move was confirmed by the Italian FA on Tuesday.

He however had to watch painfully from the stands as Milan slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Bologna.

An 82^nd minute strike from Emanuele Giaccherini was enough to sink the hosts to get their 2016 to the worst possible start.

Boateng can now only be hopeful to make a full recovery from his latest illness to play for Milan when they travel to face Roma on Saturday.

He made 100 appearances in his previous spell with the Rossoneri, scoring 17 goals and helping the Diavolo to win the 2011 Italian Serie A title.

Stomach bug prevents Kevin-Prince Boateng from featuring on Milan return

Kwadwo Asamoah set for first start in 2016 for Juventus after being named in squad to face Verona

Ghana midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah is likely to line up for Juventus in their first game of 2016 when they take on Hellas Verona on Wednesday after being named in the 22-man squad.

The 27-year-old endured a tortious 2015 where he made just three league appearances as he battled a series of injuries.

Asamoah was however passed fit to rejoin the side for matches at the tail end of the first half of the season.

He was also given permission to travel to Ghana to be with his family and friends for the Christmas and New Year festivities.

The former Udinese man has trained fully with the side on his return from the winter break and has been named in the side’s 22-man squad for Wednesday’s Serie-A clash at home to Hellas Verona.

Juventus recovered from a stuttering start to their title defence to finish 2015 strongly with seven wins on the bounce to move to fourth in Serie-A before the winter break.

Juventus squad for Hellas Verona clash:

Buffon, Chiellini, Caceres, Khedira, Zaza, Marchisio, Morata, Pogba, Hernanes, Alex Sandro, Cuadrado, Bonucci, Padoin, Dybala, Asamoah, Rugani, Neto, Lichtsteiner, Sturaro, Evra, Rubinho, Vitale.

Kwadwo Asamoah set for first start in 2016 for Juventus after being named in squad to face Verona

AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi hits out at fan for questioning return of Kevin-Prince Boateng

AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi has defended the club’s signing of midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng, insisting he is at least better than boo-boy Alesio Cerci.

Boateng has been handed a short-term contract to make a return to the Rossoneri in his latest attempt to revive his career.

The Ghanaian quit Milan for Schalke three years ago when he was on top of his game.

But with depreciated form and disciplinary issues, Milan fans are divided on whether the return of the ex Portsmouth forward was the right decision.

One of such skeptical fans asked club owner Silvio Berlusconi whether Boateng’s return was prudent.

Berlusconi’s replied by pointing out to some under-performing players at the club despite his huge investment at the start of the season.

“Don’t you think he is better than Cerci?” he quizzed the fan.

“Zapata useless. Don’t tell me.

“I spent €150m this year but I don’t know when we’ll return to win, wouldn’t you be angry?”

Berlusconi’s response is gaining currency in the Italian media with many considering his comments as overly harsh meant to distract attention from the main issue of the prudency of Boateng’s return.

Alessio Cerci has meanwhile endured a difficult spell since joining Milan at the start of the season on loan from Atletico Madrid.

He has often been booed by Milan fans for his several below-par performances.

AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi hits out at fan for questioning return of Kevin-Prince Boateng

Boateng"s versatility will help us - AC Milan chief Adriano Galliani

AC Milan chief Adriano Galliani has hailed the return of Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng ahead of the second half of the season.

The 28-year-old has signed a short-term contract with the Rossoneri in his latest attempt to revive his career.

Boateng left Milan three years ago to join Schalke 04 while he was relatively in good form.

But the suspended Ghana international had several run-ins with officials at Schalke, leading him being frozen out at the German club.

But Adriano Galliani who is credited with leading talks to bring Boateng back to Milan feels the former Portsmouth man’s versatility will come in handy for the club.

“Boa is a versatile player,” Galliani told Milan News.

“He can play many roles, he’s good and I think he’ll help us in various areas of the pitch.”

Boateng hopes to secure a longer-term contract when his current deal expires at the end of the season.

Boateng"s versatility will help us - AC Milan chief Adriano Galliani