Accra Hearts of Oak in Crisis!

League leaders Accra Hearts of Oak have plunged themselves into crisis with the sacking of Serbian coach Kosta Papic.

With seven more matches to end the season, the Interim Management Team of the club dismissed the former Orlando Pirates coach citing the three successive defeats in the league as enough grounds for the decision.

Under the Serbian tactician, the Phobians have become a winsome side and led the league table with fourteen points from closest rivals at the end of the first round of the 16 club league. But the situation has slightly changed in the second round with their lead slashed to five points.

Perhaps what raised eye brows was the painful 1:0 loss to arch rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko in the 22nd week fixture at the Ohene Gyan stadium in Accra.

Subsequently, reports in Kumasi after another 1:0 loss to a nine man King Faisal team indicated that Management members including Frank Nelson and Thomas Okine verbally confronted Papic over his tactics in the dressing room in the full glare of the public.

The damage it seems had been done already and the news of the dismissal came as no surprise to insiders.
Nevertheless, this is a departure from the Hearts team that placed a disappointing eight last season. So, could the Management be over-reacting to a momentary loss in concentration on the part of the team?

Following a very successful first round, Papic left the country with clear-cut instructions to the Management to sign four players to consolidate the team’s position in the coming round.

In the absence of the Serbian, Hearts signed thirteen new players including veterans Sammy Adjei, Hamza Mohammed, Stanley Afedzi and promising former Asec Mimosa striker Mahadi Abubakari.
Most of the new players lacked match fitness and it showed in some of the friendly matches the club played. There was indeed not enough time for the new players to get into the stride and Papic chose to have faith in his first round team much to the chagrin of the top guns of the club who kept on insisting that the club should get value for its money.

To say the least, some of those new players have been very disappointing. Ex-national number one keeper, Sammy Adjei ran away from camp when he was informed of the decision of the technical team to put him in post for the club’s away league game to Obuasi Ashgold, Hamza Abdulai and Hamza Mohammed have also done very little to warrant a first team place.

The only exception has been former Real Sportive midfielder Esme Mends who has acquitted himself perfectly in his midfield role.

That is not to say that Papic did not have his own personal flaws. There were times that his substitutions and tactics were questioned openly by technical brains who were overly aware of the club’s rich historical background.

Even though, Hearts did manage to win games especially at their favourite Ohene Gyan stadium, they did so without a good tactical foundation and clear pattern of play unlike they have done in their most illustrious past.

But what is almost forgotten, is, the time those generations of Hearts was given to blossom and the quality of players in the team at the time was good.

The Papic regime will be remembered for bringing back the teams hunger for success. And considering the quality of players under his tutelage the results he achieved are quite awesome.

Former Liberty Professionals coach Nii Noi Thompson has been appointed in an acting capacity for the rest of the season and his first task will be against Real Tamale United on Sunday.
There will be keen interest in his starting eleven and also the result he will achieve in the post Papic era.

But one thing is for sure, the Premier League crown is not far from the Phobians but what matters most now is the future of the club.

The club will be better off investing in young players with potential like Tetteh Nortey, Philemon McCarthy and Karim Alhassan rather than to invest millions into players who are fast past their prime.

Can Ghana’s PLB be taken serious?

The Premier League Board (PLB) has again contrived to make nonsense its avowed aim of aligning the local football calendar with that of the European league.

The PLB has on numerous occasions unduly postponed matches supposedly to make way for national team assignments and the latest case is yet another interesting example.

The 22nd week Glo Premier League matches which were supposed to be played between May 30th and May 31st were rescheduled to June 6th and June 7th to make way for the Black Stars versus Cranes of Uganda friendly at the Tamale Stadium.

Despite the fact that only four locally based players namely Kotoko duo of Harrison Afful and Samuel Inkoom, Daniel Yeboah of Hearts of Lions and Philemon McCarthy of Accra Hearts of Oak made it to the senior national team.

There is clearly a regulation that states that clubs can call for a postponement of their matches if they contribute more than four players to the national team at a time.

And to make the situation worse, the PLB has again rescheduled the week 22 matches to make way for the Ghana-Mali 2010 World Cup qualifier at Bamako.

According to a report in The Ghanaian Times of Monday June 1, 2009, the move was influenced by the reaction from “some fans” who want the nation to be fully concentrated on the world Cup clash instead of having to watch a Hearts- Kotoko clash on the same Sunday.

So, why is the PLB not considering playing the league a day prior to the Stars’ clash?
The league’s organising body recently passed through some amendment during congress to have its name changed from Professional League Board to Premier League Board but nothing much has changed: it’s business as usual.

Decisions like this tend to bring down interest in the local game because people get tired of the haphazard manner in which the game is being managed with no concrete plan to follow.

More so at a time when everybody is concerned with the dwindling fortunes of the local game, such a decision would only go to reinforce the belief of the stereotypes that the FA is not really serious with the local league.

The constant changes also have implications for the fitness of the players. In fact Ace Coach Emmanuel Kwasi Afranie has complained that he finds it difficult keeping his players together every time the PLB calls for a break in the league bringing to the fore the wider implications on the country’s football future.

According to fitness experts a lot happens within a two week period of lack of activity.
The clubs try to make up for it by playing friendly matches to stay in shape.

The Glo premier league has already seen two separate two week breaks first to make way for the African Nations Championship in Cote d’Ivoire in February. There was also a break at the end of the first round. The question is; is there really a basis for another two-week break?
Wait a minute!

The Division One League Board also called for a month’s break following the end of the first round to allow the disciplinary committee to resolve all cases before it. Sadly after a month, not even one case has been seen to and the second round is due to begin this weekend.

Elsewhere, football leagues are run with well managed fixtures released ahead of time.
There is the odd case of disruptions due to weather conditions or security concerns but provisions are made to accommodate these challenges.

The football league in England was allowed to go on despite the participation of Manchester United in the recent Fifa Club World Cup in Japan without a fuss.

Is the PLB learning anything at all from these?!

Can the Black Stars make it to South Africa 2010?

Various interpretations have been given to the Black Stars’ performance in their 1:0 win over Benin in the World Cup qualifier at the Baba Yara Stadium on March, 29 2009.
The Stars were put on the back foot for long periods in the match but were fortunate to run away with the victory courtesy the first minute strike by Prince Tagoe.
In the aftermath of the match, some have openly questioned the commitment of the players to the national cause and head coach Milovan Rajevac has not been spared either.
The Stars showed promise when they were training for the game but their performance during the match kept most people guessing what might have happened.
A Former Chairman of the Ghana Football Association Ben Koufie was alarmed about reports which suggested that the Minister of Youth and Sports had clashed with Sulley Muntari over the thorny issue of winning bonuses five clear days to the match.
Another ex-Stars striker Augustine Arhinful is however quick to point out that despite the fact that the Minister did not help matters with his heavy handedness, the players were not likely to be affected by the row since they earn more than what was being offered at their clubs.
It’s true that the players stand to benefit more than the nation in the overall analysis if they qualify for the second successive occasion.
Their market values could skyrocket just as it did in the immediate aftermath of the 2006 World Cup in Germany and that is enough personal motivation.
There is no denying the fact that money was one of the factors which influenced the Stars’ qualification to the last world cup and it clearly showed in the way the Stars went in for challenges for the ball, during the competition.
There were early signs which suggested the players were going to demand an increase in winning bonuses, which stood at $8,000 but I think the issue could have been dealt with much better between the two sides, albeit diplomatically.
But that is not all. Milovan Rajevac is also at fault for the poor display. To start with, the decision to play right full back Samuel Inkoom on the left full back position despite the availability of fit Harrison Afful and Belgium based Nana Kwasi Asare was unpardonable.
The Serbian rationalised his selection saying he needed a quick player to deal with the threat from Benin. He added that Inkoom played according to his instructions when clearly the Kotoko defender struggled with the pace of the Benin attackers and found it problematic kicking the ball with his left foot.
The Serbian also gave a half fit Stephen Appiah and a non committal Sulley Muntari too much time on the pitch while emerging players like Kojo Asamoah was given too little time to perform.
The Serbian trainer would need to make some bold decisions and introduce competition in the team in order to bring out the best in the players because he would have no excuse if he fails and Ghana fails to make it to South Africa 2010.
Asamoah could be his bait for such a revival. The 20-year-old has proven with his 16 appearances for Udinese that he could fit into various roles in the midfield, both defensive and offensive.
On the way forward, it’s still baffling that the GFA did not send any scout to watch our next opponents Mali draw 1:1 with Sudan in Omdurman.
Rajevac and his assistants are now on a scouting mission in Europe to spy on the individual players at their club sides - amazing.
The ball is in your court GFA and Milovan Rajevac.

Former Ashgold Coach For Tema Youth

Former Ashgold and Free State Stars coach David Duncan is in the fray to succeed Isaac Opeele Boateng as coach of Tema Youth, the Premier League side.

Sources close to Tema Youth say negotiations are at an early stage between Duncan and the club over a possible engagement.

Isaac Boateng resigned from the club yesterday and is due to take over as Assistant coach of Kumasi Asante Kotoko.

Tema Youth lies 2nd on the league table after seven weeks of action in the Glo Premier league. The club currently boasts of the league’s top scorer, Edward Afum, who has five goals so far.

Duncan was recently relieved off his job at South African Premier League side Free State Stars.
The official statement indicated that the coach ended his three-month romance with the club last year after a mutual agreement.

However, Duncan revealed later that his departure from the club was due to a sponsorship contract the club secured which required them to appoint a white coach.

The out spoken former national under 17 national team coach is known for his no nonsense approach to the game.

He has previously clashed with some management members of the Ghana Football Association during the Black Starlets qualification campaign to the Fifa World Cup tournament in Peru in 2007.

If the deal goes through, Duncan would join hands with the clubs technical director, James Kuuku Dadzie in managing the affairs of the team for the rest of the season.

Duncan brings to Tema Youth a wealth of experience having coached clubs including Accra Great Olympics (2001-2003), Sekondi Hasaacas (2003-2004), Obuasi Ashgold (2005-2008) and the national under 17 team, the Black Starlets between 2004-2005.

The Hearts second half magic! - Real or imaginary?

Coach Papic -what's the secret?

Accra Hearts of Oak are already enjoying a very good run of form in the Glo Premier league.

The Phobians lead the league standings after the seventh week with 16 points.But a cursory look at their goal scoring abilities this season reveals that most of their goals were scored during second half performances.

Hearts have so far scored eight goals out of a total goal haul of 10 during their second half performances.

When asked what might be the cause of the team’s second half resurgence, Hearts coach Kosta Papic gave two possible reasons - team spirit and sheer coincidence.

Indeed, admittedly, the team has gradually gathered steam after a shaky start in the season. Despite not playing the best football they still managed to score and eventually end up as winners.

Well, that is characteristic of a good team because teams do not necessarily have to play that well week in week out to win matches.

There are stories being told about how Papic inspires his team especially after drab first half performances and in the process gets the best out of them.

But could it all be by sheer coincidence?

The victories won by the Phobians have a common attribute. The opposite teams are presented with several goal scoring chances which they fail to take advantage of and in the end they lose.
Serbian coach Kosta Papic has complained on countless occasions in post match interviews about the attitude of his players despite winning matches.

Simply put, the players were at a loss as to what the Serbian was trying to impact into them but yet still managed to defeat four teams at the Ohene Djan stadium- including Sporting Mirren, Kessben FC, and Gamba All Blacks.

Their best away performance to date has been the 2:1 win over RTU in the week seven encounter at the Tamale Stadium with the only blemish being the comprehensive 2:0 loss to league debutants Bechem Chelsea at Sunyani.

From afar, Papic seems to be the type who likes the patient approach to games. He usually wants the attack to be developed from the full backs with occasional breaks down the middle.
But try explaining that to any Phobian supporter who has been to any of their recent matches and I’m sure you will be given a weird look!

The truth is Hearts of Oak has failed to gel for a long time since the team placed a disappointing 8th in the last league season.

The midfield gelled for long periods during their last home encounter against Gamba All Blacks but they lacked width. Hearts were generally narrow in the attacks. No wonder left full back Michael Donkor’s provided the two passes that led to the two goals.

Well, it is only time that will reveal the true nature of the character behind the output. It is yet to be seen if there is indeed a secret behind “Hearts’s second half miracle”. It is yet to be seen if the big games against Liberty Professionals, Tema Youth and Kpando Hearts of Lion would give a clue to that.

By Kofi Amozi

THE MADNESS RETURNS

By Erasmus Kwaw

The game on the local seen was brought into disrepute yet again on Sunday January 4, 2009 in Kotoko’s 2:1 loss to Sporting Mirren in their Glo Premier League encounter at the Ohene Djan stadium, in Accra.

For a moment it seemed the May 9, 2001 stadium disaster which claimed the lives of 126 people was been replayed, when irate supporters of Kumasi Asante Kotoko went on rampage during the match attacking everything and everyone they could lay hands on.

Play was halted for close to 20 minutes as security officials and Kotoko management members tried in vain to calm these irrational supporters at the East stand of the stadium.

The hooligans were incensed at the decision by Tamale based referee Seidu Bomison to disallow Alex Asamoah’s 87th minute goal and threw all kinds of missiles onto the field of play to cause harm to the officials at the far side.

The goal, if allowed would have enabled the Porcupine Warriors earn a point from the match after going down 2:1 earlier to Sporting Mirren.

The fans had lots of concern with the level of officiating exhibited by the referee and his assistants who seemed to disagree for most part of the game.

On some occasions, he looked on as players were brought down and he took some decisions that the fans found inappropriate.

The referee also failed to give Kotoko the advantage when they clearly had a good chance to go on the attack but instead whistled for an infringement against them.

Mr. Bomison does not appear to be new to controversy when it comes to matches involving Kotoko and other local teams.

The Communications Director of Kotoko, Kwame Baah-Nuakoh recounts some problems with Bomison in the past.

“This is not the first time I have commented about Seidu Bomison,” he said.

“I have written letters to the FA about the conduct of Bomison insisting that there would be a disaster the next time he is appointed to officiate matches involving Kotoko” he added.

Baah-Nuako went on to give instances in which Kotoko had been treated unfairly, “Bomison gave Hearts a last minute dubious goal against Kotoko four years ago at Sunyani. At a time Kotoko were leading, he made sure Hearts equalized.”

“Again when Kotoko played against Hearts at the Robert Mensah Stadium in Cape Coast two years ago, he sent off Ahmed Toure for an incident the striker was no where near to.”

Baah-Nuakoh, however admitted that his team did not play well in the game.Club sources tell this writer that midfielder Jordan Opoku tied the knot on Saturday and Kotoko danger man Francis Coffie was his Best Man.

The two players were missing in action on Sunday with the blessing of the club’s management because Jordan Opoku had apparently sought permission for the wedding last year.

In fact Kotoko looked disjointed for most part of the game. Belgian coach, Maurice Coorman also played some of his key players out of position.

Right full back, Samuel Inkoom was played at the left full back position thereby limiting his overlapping runs on the flank while Godfred Yeboah, a natural left footer, was played in central defensive position. Added to that is Striker Frederick Quayson who played as a defensive midfielder in the game.

The Porcupine Warriors were indeed fortunate when Sporting Mirren’s defender Richard Sosu headed into his own net 28 minutes in the game .

But Mirren equalized eleven minutes later after Samuel Solomon’s beautifully taken free kick beat Erick Nii Bah.

www.ghanabusinessnews.com

2008 OLD ARCHIVES

Friendly against Tunisia would be crucial - Amoah


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By Erasmus Kwaw

Black Stars striker Mathew Amoah says the friendly against Tunisia is crucial to determining the readiness of the Stars for the 2010 World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Ghana is in Group D with Benin, Mali and Sudan for the final round of qualifiers, which begins in March 2009.

The Stars go into Wednesdays encounter against the Cartage Eagles without five key players including Michael Essien, John Mensah, Anthony Annan, Asamoah Gyan and Shilla Illiasu due to injury.

But speaking to Citi Sports, Mathew Amoah insisted that the match has a crucial bearing on the Stars campaign to qualify for the World Cup.

“I think this match will prove if we are prepared to play against Benin, Sudan and Mali,” he said.

“If we are hundred percent prepared and if we win Wednesdays match then the coming matches will be much easier for us to play and win, and qualify for the World and the African Cup of Nations.”

Meanwhile, the Vice Chairman of the Ghana Football Association, Fred Pappoe has justified the decision to exclude Sulley Muntari.Muntari made a return to Inter Milan last weekend after about three weeks on the sidelines.

The midfielder was substituted in the second half of Inter’s 2:0 win over Palermo in the Italian Seria A on Saturday.

However, Fred Pappoe tells Citi Sports the players need time to recuperate from their injuries before joining the stars.

“Sulley just came out of an injury and he played his first game in about three weeks over the weekend.

“So you don’t saddle him with that kind of hazards.

"He plays a match and you expect him to board a plane travel for six hours, come and play and within 48 hours he would be getting back again, that is a bit inhuman so let him recover fully.”

Pappoe added that, “He is very much a part of the team, he has no problems and he has our blessings to concentrate and regain his position and his fitness.”




I want to be goal king - Anas

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By Erasmus Kwaw

Accra Hearts of Oak striker David Anas is confident of dethroning goal king Eric Bekoe in the 2008-2009 Onetouch league season.

Eric Bekoe scored 17 goals in the season.

Anas was the joint second top scorer in the last league season.

He scored 13 goalsAnas, since joining the Phobians has scored four goals in five matches in the pre season.

He tells Citi Sports that he is confident of capturing the league crown in the 2008/2009 league season.

“For this season I want to set myself the target of winning the goal king race, so we are just preparing ourselves to do well even though we don’t know ourselves very well, but I’m hoping that by the beginning of the league everything will be okay,” he said.

He added, “I know for sure that my team mates will help me to be able to do that and I trust my Lord to help me achieve that.”

Anas scored on 38 minutes as Hearts lost 2:1 to Liberty Professionals in the Baah Wiredu Challenge Cup match at the Ohene Djan Stadium on Sunday November, 16th 2008.

Despite the defeat, Anas says the result of the match does not matter very much.“Actually, its preparations for the team, we are preparing for the league and we don’t need a win,” he said.

According to him, “we were just testing our fitness, checking our formation to see how to go in for the league.”

Source: ghananewstoday.com



I did not stand for elections because of Olympics fiasco - Sandy

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By Erasmus Kwaw

The Out-going Chairman of the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) Sandy Osei Agyemang says the recent fiasco at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games is not to blame for his decision not to stand for re-election.

Ghana’s preparation to the games was marred by the late release of funds to sponsor athletes to compete in international competitions.

As a result, only three athletes qualified to participate in Beijing.The Congress of the GAA would elect new officers for a four year term on Wednesday, but Sandy Osei Agyemang denies that the fiasco at Beijing played no part in his decision.

“Those things do happen and I’m sure controversy is not new to athletes he said.

“The fiasco was due to lack of support financially from the authorities and also because we could not have enough athletes willingly to take responsibility to qualify.”

He added that, “I think three years is good enough. There has been some agitations so let somebody else come and lets see what they can do.”

Professor Francis Dodoo and George Lutterodt will be vying for the chairmanship of the Association.

Professor Dodoo is a former national athlete while Lutterodt is the immediate former chairman of the GAA.

Sandy Osei assesses the two candidates.“Mr. Lutterodt, I have a communication with many times. Even before I replaced him I used to contact him.

“But the other gentleman, Dr. Dodoo, I have been here and we never got the chance to talk.

“My only concern is that, if a person wanted to help, he could have helped while not even contesting because you don’t have to be chairman before you decide to help.

“I have been around so if there suggestions or inputs it could have been given along the way to make the sport better.”

“I hope the best man wins and I will give my support to whoever wins.”However, Professor Francis Dodoo disproves Sandy’s assertion.

He tells Citi Sports he has always been part of the effort to get Ghana athletics back on its feet.“Members of his association have known, the 43 years that I have been here, that I was really interested in helping,” he said.

“If he say’s we refused to participate then perhaps he can suggest times we were invited and we failed to come.

“Last year we invited Sandy to the Colts Track meet even though the Association did very little with its organisation.“

It was the inter schools and colleges people who did everything but Sandy came there and pretended as if he was the one doing everything.”

Professor Dodoo concluded that “I think if there needed to be anything, then there needed to be some indications on his part of his willingness to have us on board.”

Source: ghananewstoday.com






Paintsil eager to play in match against Tunisia

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By Erasmus Kwaw

Black Stars defender John Paintsil is relishing the prospect of meeting Tunisia in a friendly on Wednesday November 19 at the Ohene Djan stadium.

The Carthage Eagles beat the Black Stars in an international friendly match in 2006 as the Stars round up preparations towards the African Cup of Nations in Egypt.

The game is part of the team’s preparations towards the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in 2010.Ghana will be battling with Benin, Mali and Sudan in Group D for the qualification to the 2010 African Cup of Nations and World Cup tournaments.

Ghana was therefore expected to play West African opponents in the lead up for qualifiers which begins in March, 2009.

Speaking to Citi Sports from his base in England, Paintsil says the Carthage Eagles would serve as the ideal opposition as the Stars prepare for 2010 qualifiers next year.

“They are a better team and a better side and very good” he said.“So to play with Tunisia is like playing Mali, Benin and Sudan.”

“There is no big team or small team anywhere. Every country now is good enough to play anybody.”

“Tunisia beat us 2:0 in their home grounds and it would be good for us to revenge.”

Source: ghananewstoday.com




Quansah is like Essien - Duncan

Abeiku Quansah
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By Erasmus Kwaw

The chairman of Ghanaian Division One side Windy Professionals, Robert Duncan is predicting greatness for Abeiku Quansah following his transfer to French League one side OGC Nice.

The 18 year old who scored the decisive goal that qualified the Black Satellites for the 2009 African Youth Championship signed a three-year deal with Nice on Monday after impressing on a trial.

Quansah’s story is similar to that of Chelsea football star Michael Essien who also began his football career from Winneba.

Essien moved from Liberty Professionals to French club Bastia in July, 2000 before making two big moves to Lyon and Chelsea.

Robert Duncan told Citi Sports he is confident Abeiku Quansah has the right qualities in order to succeed in France.

He said, “I know the beginning of both Essien and Abeiku from Winneba district, from primary to junior secondary school level.”

According to him, “Abeiku always listens to instructions and plays to the instructions of the coach while respecting every player.”

“And looking at both of them character wise, Abeiku can succeed if he goes on with his humility and the seriousness he attaches to his game, then he can become the next Essien or even better,” he added.

Abeiku Quansah becomes the fourth player from the Black Starlets team of 2007 to have moved abroad following the transfer of Daniel Opare, Ransford Osei and Sadick Adams.

Source: ghananewstoday.com




Ben Koufie pays tribute to Robert Mensah

Ben Koufie
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By Erasmus Kwaw

Former Coach and football administrator Ben Koufie has paid glowing tribute to Ghana’s all time best national goalkeeper, the Late Robert Mensah.Sunday November 2, 2008 was the 37th anniversary of his death.

On November 1, 1971 a 31-year-old electrician, Isaac Melfah was reported to have followed Mensah out of a drinking pub at Tema after an argument and stabbed him with a beer bottle.

Mensah died a day after from wounds he sustained as a result of the assault at the Tema General Hospital, on November 2, 1971.

Robert Mensah, who died at the age of 32 is remembered as arguably one of the best goalkeepers the African continent has ever produced.

He won the best goalkeepers award at the 1968 African Cup of Nations in Sudan. Ben Koufie who was the coach of the Black Stars says Robert was one of a kind at the time.

He said, “Robert was a character. He was a character in the sense that, sometimes it was difficult to get Robert to come to camp but the moment he enters in, he is a different player all together very serious and conscious of whatever he did.”

“He trained with all his soul and you will be surprised he led the team in all prayers in the mornings and evenings.”

“The problem was always how to get him to the camp but when he is in he is very useful to the team.”

Information about the death was scanty in the beginning but it soon turned into reality as news about the death spread like wild fire throughout the country and beyond.

Ben Koufie like many received the news with shock.“It was shocking! I remember very well I was watching a league game at Cape Coast when we had the flash in the news that Robert had been stabbed the previous night at a pub in Tema.

“So we left the field and drove straight to the Tema hospital where we saw Robert in bed. “It was shocking!

He tried to speak to us but, he looked up, saw us, wanted to speak to us but unfortunately he couldn’t and he turned and faced the wall.

“Very sadly,” he added.

Mensah’s short career started at Cape Coast with Mysterious Dwarfs.

He joined Independence Club in Sekondi before moving to Kumasi Asante Kotoko. He also had a short stint with Tema Textiles Printing.

Much as he was praised for his contribution to the game, there were also some low downs.

His team mate at Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Ibrahim Sunday said Robert wasn’t the best of disciplined players.

When asked what lesions the present generation could learn from the death of the one time football icon, he said sportsmen must strive to first achieve self discipline.

He said, “the lesson that we can learn from his death is self discipline.

“Robert was a great goalkeeper but at the same time he was a troublesome player who was not very disciplined but played very well in goal.”

“It was his lack of discipline that caused his death and so player’s, not only Ghanaian players, but every sportsman should first of all be very self disciplined, and guard themselves very well.”

Source: ghananewstoday.com




Nyaho backs Commodore
Dr. Nyaho Tamakloe

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By Erasmus Kwaw

Former Chairman of Accra Hearts of Oak Dr. Nyaho Tamakloe is backing under-fire Board Chairman, Commodore Mensah to steer the club out of the current crisis.

Commodore Mensah has come under increasing pressure from the supporters of the club to resign.

The supporters are blaming him for the poor performances of the team in recent times.Calls for his resignation intensified after the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the club Vincent Odotei resigned from his post last week.

But Tamakloe says sacking Commodore would not solve the problem. Speaking to Citi Sports he said, “if a section of our supporters are pushing for the chairman of the Board to go then I think we will be getting ourselves into trouble and to me that will create a chaotic moment and I disagree with it entirely.”

Time may not be on the side of Hearts with the league scheduled to begin on November, 23rd but Dr. Tamakloe believes the Board can turn things around.

Dr. Tamakloe said “Hearts has gone through more serious problems but if the Board is allowed to work properly with Commodore in charge, I think definitely they should be able to get the boy’s ready for the league.”

Meanwhile, Accra Hearts of Oak will attempt to put the board room wrangling behind them when they take on Wa All Stars in a friendly match at the Ohene Gyan stadium on Sunday.

Both clubs will be hoping to test their players before deciding to register them for the new league season.

Source: ghananewstoday.com




GAA chairman to go
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By Erasmus Kwaw

The Chairman of the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) Sandy Osei Agyemang’s mandate would not be renewed when it expires next month.

Mr. Agyemang, whose tenure of office began in 2003, received no nomination for the position after the deadline for the submission of nominations elapsed on Wednesday October 29, 2008.

The General Secretary of the GAA, Erasmus Adukor confirmed to Citi Sports that a retired athlete Professor Francis Duodu and a former chairman of the Association George Lutherodt were the only ones nominated to contest for the position at Congress on November 12, 2008.

Sandy Osei Agyemang, who is currently out of the country, has not given any reason why he would not be going for a second term in office.

Members of the Association were required to nominate candidates for the positions of Chairman, Vice Chairman, General Secretary and Treasurer.

Nominations opened on October 11after an emergency Committee meeting of the GAA.

Source: ghananewstoday.com







Zaytuna, Jets expelled from GFA
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By Erasmus Kwaw

Relegated Zaytuna United and division one league side Tudu Mighty Jets have been expelled from the Ghana Football Association (GFA), by the Congress of the FA.

The first ordinary session of Congress on Tuesday, October 28 2008 unanimously decided to expel the clubs for breaching the statues of the FA which bars clubs from sending the FA to court.

The two clubs sent the FA to court contrary to Article 17.1.11.1 of the GFA Statutes which forbids clubs, officials or member of a club, player or supporter of a club of the Association to take the GFA to the law courts of the land on matters arising out of the statutes and regulations of the Association.

It is buttressed by Article 17.1.11.5 which states that "any club which violates the provisions of the statutes and regulations of the Association shall henceforth cease to be a member of the Association."

Zaytuna sent the FA to court after the disciplinary committee dismissed its case against Real Tamale United for allegedly fielding an unqualified player in their One-touch premier league encounter last season.

Division on league side, Tudu Mighty Jets also sent the FA to court after they were convicted of playing a match of convenience in the middle league, two seasons ago.

Similarly, a director of Nania FC Maha Ayew, wife of soccer legend Abedi Ayew Pele, has also been barred from participating in any football related activity in the country after taking the FA on.

Meanwhile, the Football Association is awaiting a report from its legal advisors to take a decision on Nania FC who’s Director, Maha filed the writ.

The decision is largely expected to affect the Division One League as Mighty Jets and Nania were to be re-admitted automatically after serving a year's ban.

Speaking at the congress, the President of the GFA says he believes the punishment is justified.“In the past two years, all those who took the FA to court have had their cases thrown out for being unmeritorious and frivolous.”

“The same thing happened today at the High Court, Zaytuna have decided to take the matter to court when they have not exhausted the process available to them.

“There is yet a process of review which is available to them but they rushed to court, but the first application has been thrown away,” he said.

He added, “and this afternoon there was an application to stop this congress from going on which has also been thrown away.”

Meanwhile, the director of operations of Zaytuna Oloboi Commodore says the FA is not acting in line with the rules and regulation.

Commodore has indicated his club’s readiness to continue its case against the FA and is unperturbed at the latest setback to his club’s fight to stay in the league.

Source: ghananewstoday.com




Nyaho Tamakloe praises Rajevac
Milovan Rajevec - Black Stars coach

Comments: 2 Views: 400

By Erasmus Kwaw

A former chairman of the Ghana Football Association Dr. Nyaho Tamakloe has given Black Stars coach Milovan Rajevac the thumbs up after only three months in charge.

The 54-year-old Serbian, who succeeded Frenchman Claude Leroy, led Ghana to the final round of qualification to the World Cup after a three nil win over Lesotho in Sekondi.

He has so far won one match while losing two in his three months stay with the team but Dr. Tamakloe who was one of the big shots who backed the Serbian for appointment says he has done enough to bring competition into the team during his short stay in the country.

“You can see the football we played in South Africa. None of our first line players played and any objective football analyst would see that the players did extremely well and I’m told the coach himself was happy with it.

"This is the way you unearth potential talents and I believe he is going to thrive,” he said.

Dr. Tamakloe who famously replaced most of the Accra Hearts of Oak playing body with youngsters during his chairmanship at the club in the 80’s also sounded a warning to the regular players of the Black Stars.

He said, “all I will say is that some of our elder players who think they cannot be moved have to sit up now because some of the boys I saw there are good footballers and very soon they may probably take up the positions of the so called regular players that we have in the Black Stars.”

Rajevac now faces the difficult task of leading the Stars to go past tricky competition in Mali, Benin and Sudan in Group D of the World Cup and Africa cup of Nations qualifier.

Source: ghananewstoday.com



Hearts Board confirms CEO’s resignation
Comments: 1 Views: 373

By Erasmus Kwaw

The Board of Accra Hearts of Oak has confirmed the resignation of the club’s acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Vincent Odotei.

The Board Chairman of the club, Commodore Mensah tells Citi Sports that they have accepted the resignation of Mr. Odotei.Odotei, who has been under pressure from some supporters of the club to resign from his post.

According to Mensah, Odotei yielded to their fans request on Thursday, October 23, 2008.

It followed a demonstration at the Hearts’ Secretariat on Thursday during a Board of Directors meeting.

Some of the irate supporters were wielding placards demanding the immediate resignation of the CEO and the Board Chairman of the club.

In an interview with the chairman of the National Chapters Committee (NCC) of Hearts, Alhaji Amadu Moro Braimah, he claimed that the supporters were organised by a Board member to undertake the demonstration.

Alhaji Braimah, who was present at the meeting, denied the NCC’s involvement in the demonstration, saying he knew nothing about it.

The appointment of Vincent Odotei, who succeeded Mr. Harry Zakkour three months ago, generated some controversies among some management members and a section of the supporters

The Board chairman instituted an investigative committee last week to ascertain or establish otherwise, allegations of financial impropriety against Mr. Vincent Odotei.

During his short stay, some supporters of the club on two occasions have demonstrated against his appointment at the club’s secretariat.

Source: ghananewstoday.com



Gargo could stay – Herbert Mensah
Mohammed Gargo
Comments: 0 Views: 421

By Erasmus Kwaw

Mohammed Gargo could stay on at Ashgold, says Herbert Mensah.

The sacked Ashgold Coach could have a place on the technical set up of the miners.

The Chief Executive Officer of the club, Herbert Mensah says he could consider making the former coach of the side a part of the technical team if he has the right attitude.

Gargo, who was member of the Starlets 1991 World Cup squad, led the Miners to a fifth place finish last season after taking over from David Duncan.

The club’s new owners however, seem not to be impressed with his coaching qualification and pedigree.

Speaking to the media in Accra, Mr. Herbert Mensah said, “I spoke to Gargo who had a great attitude and he understood that he is not qualified, but wants to become qualified and wants to become part of the dream.”

Adding that, “if he has that attitude we will work with him, we will help him acquire coaching badges, and who knows if he has the right character he might have a future coaching the Black Stars because of his mental aptitude and the rest.”

Since taking charge of the team, the new administration has contracted former Orlando Pirates coach Momo Medic.

But there are indications that there is a possibility that former coach of Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak coach Ernst Middendorp, may return to Ghana.

But Herbert Mensah is quick to add that the club is yet to decide on a substantive coach.

“I haven’t signed any body yet so anybody who says I have signed anybody knows more than I do,” he said. “We will have in early November, a German Bundesliga coach of a high level, we have great faith in German and Dutch coaches because of their great coaching methods and their youth development.”

The Ashgold job is Gargo’s only experience in club football after he retired from active football. Gargo was appointed by the Kodjo Fianoo led administration last season.

An international sports management consortium, Fortia Limited took over the team in early October having taken over 100% shares in the club from AngloGold Ashanti.

Source: ghananewstoday.com


African teams are avoiding us – Paintsil
John Paintsil
Comments: 0 Views: 434

By Erasmus Kwaw

Black Stars defender John Paintsil claims that some teams in Africa want to avoid meeting Ghana in the next round of qualifiers for the joint World cup and African Nations Cup.

The Stars played in the last world cup in Germany and are seeded with Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Egypt and Cameroon for Wednesday October 22, 2008’s draw in Zurich Switzerland.

Ghana would be drawn against one team each from pot two, three and four.

The Carthage Eagles of Tunisia, Algeria, Guinea, Mali, and Morocco are in Pot two, while Pot three has impressive first round qualifiers Benin and Burkina Faso as well as Gabon, Kenya and Zambia.

Pot four has Malawi, Mozambique, Sudan, Togo and Rwanda.Speaking exclusively to Citi Sports ahead of the draw, John Paintsil says the Black Stars are feared by their rivals.

He said, “What I know is that some African countries would want to avoid playing with us in the same group.”“I know because I play with some of the African players in the premiership and I have been meeting some of them and they say they don’t want to be in our group.”

Ghana qualified in a rather tight Group Five ahead of Gabon and Libya on goal difference.

Paintsil is however, keen not to underrate any opponent.“But we know that in football we don’t play with names because look at what happened to us during the first round qualifiers to the main group, we were having the same points with Gabon and Libya. It wasn’t easy for us.”

“So we are praying to God that he would give us a good group that we can deal with.”He added that, “we are not scared of any team that we will meet.”

The winners of the groups would automatically qualify for the 2010 World cup in South Africa while the first three teams in each group qualify for the 2010 African Nations Cup in Angola.

Source: ghananewstoday.com



Hearts to sign on Anas
Comments: 1 Views: 375

By Erasmus KwawAccra

Hearts of Oak is on the verge of signing on Sekondi Hasaacas striker David Anas.

The 24 year old scored 13 goals in 15 matches last season making him the joint second highest goal scorer in the league.

He joined Hasaacas in the second round of the 2007/2008 league season.

Anas played for the then division one league side Bafana Bafana in the Western Region before moving abroad to play for Police FC in Malaysia in 2006.

A positive deal will come as welcome news for Hearts coach Kosta Papic who has underlined the need for a potent striker to make his rebuilding process complete.

Papic, who has been in charge of the phobians for the past five months, has not hidden his desire to sign on a good finisher ever since the club began playing friendly matches as part of its pre-season training.

The Serbian trainer played defender Joseph Techie Menson in that role when Hearts last played the Black Starlets at the El Wak Stadium.

Despite the presence of strikers Erick Gawu and Ekow Ghansah in the team, Papic still maintains that his team is not yet complete without a potent striker.

He told Citi Sports that, “we need a finisher who is capable of scoring goals for us. We have to play faster football and we must create more chances.”

“The team we have now is just the baby of what we want to do in the future and the sooner we get that better and stronger, it would be better for us.”

Source: ghananewstoday.com



Hearts is struggling - Papic
Kostadinov Papic - Hearts' coach
Comments: 0 Views: 400

By Erasmus Kwaw

The Head Coach of Accra Hearts of Oak, Kostadinov Papic has admitted that the club is struggling in its quest to build a winsome team since he took over.

Speaking after watching his side’s two friendly matches against the Black Starlets on Sunday October 19 2008, Papic said the Phobians are still well short of the team he wants to build.

The Serbian Coach who took over the club five months ago admits to Citi Sports that the club is not in the best of shapes.

He said,” We have been struggling for the past two or three months.”

Hearts lost 2:1 to the Starlets in the first match while drawing 1:1 in the second match.

Papic says the second team which comprised of regulars, Joseph Techie Menson, Eric Gawu and new players including Jonathan Tetteh and Ohene Addo performed better in relation to the first team.“

The first team struggled but the second team did much better because they had a game plan. We still need to polish every position in our team till we get there,” he admitted.

These are indeed dark days for the Accra based side as it struggles to build a team that will do better than the eight place it achieved last season.

The Chief Executive Officer of Hearts, Vincent Odotei is currently being probed by a two man investigation Committee for alleged financial impropriety in the transfer of players to the club.

However, Papic says only time would tell if the internal wrangling would have an effect on the team.

Source: ghananewstoday.com



Ministry to review Sekondi Stadium lapses
The Sekondi stadium
Comments: 1 Views: 362


By Erasmus Kwaw

The Ministry of Education Science and Sports says it would take steps to address the lapses that occurred during the Ghana versus Lesotho encounter at the Sekondi Stadium Saturday October 10, 2008.

The stadium which has a capacity of 20,000 was overcrowded due to a combination of security and ticketing problems.

About 15 people got injured after some spectators broke down two of the gates at the stadium.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sports, Osei Bonsu Amoah told Citi Sports that the Ministry would review the organization of the match on studying the match report.

He said, “We expect a report from the Sports Council, we will have a meeting on it and then address the challenges.”

“For instance in a place such as Kumasi, even during average matches they sometimes have as much as 600 policemen but at Sekondi they had 200.

Learning from it I think next time there is a high profile match, we should have more than 200 policemen,” he said.

According to him, “it is just a matter of giving an overview of events, I mean looking at what has gone on and how to address it so that it doesn’t reoccur.”

It was the first time that the Black Stars were playing at the Sekondi Stadium as part of the effort of the Ghana Football Association to rotate the national team matches around the country.

Source: www.ghananewstoday.com



Incident won’t mar relations with GFA - SAFA
Comments: 0 Views: 371

By Erasmus Kwaw

The South African Football Association (SAFA) says its relationship with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has not been affected by the pre-match exchanges between officials during last Wednesday’s friendly in Bloemfontein.

The Communications Director of the GFA Randy Abbey clashed with some members of the Bafana Bafana technical bench concerning the number of substitutes to be used for the match.

SAFA Director of Communications & Media Morio Sanyane in an interview with Citi Sports says the incident was unnecessary and could have been avoided.

Sanyane says despite the altercation on the touchline, SAFA still has a perfect relationship with the GFA.

He said: “No way! Wednesday’s incident was just an isolated thing. I think it was so unnecessary. “

“From the South African Football Association’s perspective we have a fantastic relationship with the Ghana Football Association.”

“We don’t know whether it is going to affect relationships between us.”

The GFA spokesman, Randy Abbey confronted the match commissioner on the fact that the South Africans had presented more than the required seven substitutes for an international match of that nature.


But Sanyane maintains that there was an agreement between the two parties at the pre-match briefing.‘

There was a pre-match meeting that was held between the management of the Black Stars and the Bafana Bafana.

They agreed on the number of substitutes on the technical area but just before kickoff, the Communications Director of the GFA protested the number of players on the bench and that lead to the exchanges when the assistant coach of Bafana Bafana approached him to tell him there had been an agreement earlier,” he said, adding “unfortunately they started using words that were not good.”

Although the GFA spokesman maintains that there was no agreement to the latter, Sanyane is quick to point out that the situation could have been avoided.

“Well from our part it was unnecessary but the good thing is that it was diffused and that the game got underway,” he said.

The friendly match was the eighth meeting between the two sides since 1996.

Source: ghananewstoday.com



Zaytuna coach’s nomination for best coach award questioned
Comments: 0 Views: 339

By Erasmus Kwaw

The Chief Executive Officer of Berekum Arsenals, Oduro Safo has expressed reservations about the nomination of the Coach of Zaytuna FC for coach of the season.

Fadi Omar, whose team got relegated last season, is nominated together with Hearts of Lions’s Francis Oti Akenteng and Kotoko’s Bashir Hayford for the award.

The Professional League Board says the short listing was done by the 16 clubs of the last league season.

This notwithstanding, Oduro says Fadi Omar is not worthy of a nomination.

He said, “Clubs go on relegation due to so many factors.

But to me Fadi has no business being nominated.”

“A club can go on relegation even if they play well due to administrative reasons but Zaytuna did not play well.”

“They did not go on relegation because of administrative reasons.

They didn’t play well so Fadi Omar does not deserve to be where he is,” he said.

Source: ghananewstoday.com


Kotoko tops league awards nominations list
Comments: 0 Views: 378

By Erasmus Kwaw

Kumasi Asante Kotoko tops the list of nominees for the Onetouch League Awards nights for the 2007-2008 league season.

The League Champions received ten nominations for various award categories at the official launch of the Awards Night by the Professional League Board at the Airport West Hotel on October 15, 2008.

Striker Erick Bekoe and Harrison Afful received nominations for the Most Valuable Player award alongside former Kpando Hearts of Lions player Dominic Adiyah for the right to take home a brand new VW Suran car donated by Universal Motors.

Erick Bekoe who scored 17 goals last season is the sole player nominated for the Goal King Award.

Afful Harrison would be gunning for the best defender award alongside teammate Samuel Inkoom while Suleiman Abdulai is included in the three man short list for the best goalkeeper award.

The Club’s chief Executive Officer Sylvester Asare Owusu, Head Coach, Bashir Hayford and Supporters are all in the running for some awards.

Accra Hearts of Oak’s duo of Kofi Abanga and Tarik Gibril were nominated for the discovery of the year award with Liberty Professional’s striker Latif Salifu also in the reckoning.

The Awards night would come off at the Round Pavillion of the Trade Fair Centre on October 24, 2008.

According to the PLB, the winners of the awards would be determined by 40% votes from the public, 40% from the 16 league coaches and 20% votes from the Ghana Football Association.

Source: ghananewstoday.com


One Touch Premier League starts Nov. 23
Mr. Welbeck Abra Appiah
Comments: 1 Views: 402


By Erasmus Kwaw

The Professional League Board (PLB) has announced that the 2008-2009 One Touch League season would begin on November 23rd 2008.

This follows the completion of the Division One Middle League last week.

Three clubs Saint Mirren, Bechem Chelsea and Sekondi Eleven Wise have qualified to participate in the elite division.

The Chairman of the PLB, Welbeck Abra Appiah in an interview with Citi Sports says the date was arrived at taking into consideration the date for the December 7th General elections.

He says the measure is to try and dispel political tensions in the run up to the general elections on December 7.

He said: “We will not play any match on that Sunday but a week later we will continue. So we will want to have a calendar where we will start on November 23 and then play at least three matches, break for a week and continue after the elections.”

The league was expected to have commenced in October but the late start of the Division One Middle League threw the plans of the PLB off gear.

As part of measures to rid the new league season of petty squabbles, the PLB has been involved in meetings with stakeholders lately.

“There were a lot of issues we talked about, including the stripes and colours of jerseys teams use.”

“We have tried to convince the clubs to accept the fact that we will be having these jerseys based on predominant colours instead of insisting that this is the jersey you must use,” he said.

Source: ghananewstoday.com



Hearts seal three-year deal with MTN
Comments: 0 Views: 330


By Erasmus Kwaw

Champion club Accra Hearts of Oak has sealed a three-year sponsorship deal with mobile phone company, MTN.

The deal which is worth GH¢4,050,000.00 has a direct cash package, winning bonuses, MTN products and a supporter’s mobilization programme.

Under the terms of the deal, the mobile phone company would purchase a new team bus and a 4x4 vehicle for Hearts.

In an interview with Citi Sports, at a ceremony to outdoor the deal on October 14 2008, the board chairman of the club, Commodore E. M. Mensah said the deal is a welcome relief.

“The significance of today is more to be seen in the quantum of sponsorship,” he said.“Originally, it was GH¢315,000 now it is GH¢1,350,000 a year - a three fold increase.”

“If you consider the difficult challenges we have encountered in football administration, especially low patronage at the stadium, then this is a welcome relief.”

MTN also used the occasion to announce its two-year sponsorship package with Captain of the Black Stars, Stephen Appiah.

The deal also covers an undisclosed cash package and MTN products.

Source: ghananewstoday.com



Paintsil: We have learned our lessons
John Paintsil
Comments: 0 Views: 343


By Erasmus Kwaw & Nana Boakye-Yiadom

Black Stars defender John Paintsil says the team has learnt some valuable lessons following their qualification to the next round of qualifiers for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations Cup and World Cup.

The Black Stars, who beat Lesotho 3:0, topped Group Five thanks to the 1:0 win by Gabon over Lesotho. Group Five, which was originally thought of as an easy one for Ghana, turned out to be the most competitive group.

Although the Stars edged Gabon on a goal difference to qualify automatically with both nations accumulating 12 points each, Paintsil says the Stars have learnt a good lesson out of the situation.

“This is a good lesson that we have to learn, next time we don’t have to wait until things get crucial for us, like it happened on Saturday,” he said.

The Fulham defender also hinted that the Stars might have underrated their opponents.

He said, “if we compare player to player with the other teams, we are streets ahead but names don’t play football.”

Adding that, “if names play football we would have qualified in advance but Libya and Gabon gave us a tough time.

“We weren’t ourselves when we came to camp and we have to make sure this thing does not happen never again.”

Paintsil says he was surprised by the performance of Liberty Professionals midfielder Daniel Yeboah in Saturday’s qualifier in Sekondi.

Yeboah, who was playing his first match for the Black Stars, played his role as a holding midfielder to perfection, allowing Stephen Appiah, Anthony Annan and Sulley Muntari to attack the Crocodiles at will while covering up the back four.

“He deserves to be the man of the match. Honestly, I was shocked to see him play like that. He was playing with the Black Stars for the first time and the performance he put up was absolutely fantastic and I believe that we will continue with him in the national team.

He is a very good player and we are proud of him.”

Meanwhile, Ghana has been seeded alongside Nigeria, Cameroon, Egypt and Ivory Coast for next week’s final round draw for the 2010 African and World Cup.

The seeds were made taking into consideration the position of the teams in the current FIFA Rankings.

Algeria, Guinea, Mali, Tunisia, and Morocco are in Pot two,while Pot three has Benin, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Kenya and Zambia.Malawi, Mozambique, Sudan, Togo and Rwanda make up pot four.

The draw would be done in Zurich, Switzerland on October 22, 2008.

The winners of the groups would automatically qualify for the 2010 World cup in South Africa while the first three teams in each group qualify for the 2010 African Nations Cup in Angola.

Source: ghananewstoday.com



I knew we could qualify - Tetteh
Coach Sellas Tetteh
Comments: 73 Views: 477


By Erasmus Kwaw

The Coach of the Black Satellites, Sellas Tetteh has insisted that he always had confidence in the ability of his team to qualify for the African Youth Championships despite the slim win advantage they took to Gambia.

The Black Satellites beat their Gambian counter parts 1:0 in Banjul on Sunday October 12th, 2008 to book a place in Rwanda 2009 having won the first leg 2:1.

The team’s chances looked slim against a Gambian team who were favourites to over-ride the satellites at home.

But Sellas Tetteh says he was never in doubt about the capabilities of his team.“For so long a time I was insisting that my 2:1 win was a good and respectable result for me to have a realistic advantage over my opponents.”

“Regarding that, I asked my technical team to prepare the boys mentally, well conditioned and well committed to the game. I think that also translated into the boys and eventually it materialised. It’s a delight of a coach and I’m so happy about it.”

The captain of the side, Andre Dede Ayew played for the first time with his colleagues. Abeiku Quansah and Jonathan Mensah were also invited to beef up the Satellites ahead of the clash.

It was France based Abeiku Quansah who scored the all important goal for Ghana late in the game to ensure qualification for Ghana.

Sellas Tetteh says the inclusion of the trio was crucial to the success of the team.“Their inclusion brought a lot to the game.

It cushioned the team somehow, brought a lot of confidence, strengthened and it realistically prepared the team for the assignment,” he said.

Source: ghananewstoday.com


Lesotho coach tips Stars
The Black Stars celebrating a goal
Comments: 0 Views: 418


By Erasmus Kwaw

The Coach of the Crocodiles of Lesotho, Milosavljevic Zavisa has tipped Ghana to qualify for the World Cup.

“I’m sure Ghana can be one of the favorites to qualify for the World Cup,” he said.

The Serbian was speaking after his side lost 3:0 to the Black Stars on Saturday.

Zavisa tells Citi Sports that Ghana is the most impressive team he has played against and recons the Black Stars have what it takes to make it to South Africa 2010.

“Milovan Rajevac is one of the best coaches and he can do it.

The Black Stars played a good pressure game and they also played very well.

It is a good national team, the type that can beat all other national teams.”

Sulley Muntari and Junior Agogo scored within a space of five minutes in the first half to settle the nerves of the over 20,000 spectators who were cramped into the stadium.

And Mathew Amoah put the game beyond the Basotho in the 63rd minute, rounding up the goalkeeper before slotting home.

Ghana together with 19 other nations would be grouped into five groups of four in a draw to be held on 22nd October, 2008 in Zurich, Switzerland for the next phase of qualification.

The group winners will qualify for the World Cup with the top three in each group going to the Nations Cup.

Source: ghananewstoday.com



Appiah: I am fit to play on Saturday
Stephen Appiah - Stars' Captain
Comments: 1 Views: 421


By Erasmus Kwaw

The Captain of the Black Stars Stephen Appiah says he is fit to play in Saturday’s match against Lesotho.

He told Citi Sports that he is okay and can play the full ninety minutes.

He also said the Black Stars have no excuse but to win on Saturday.

Appiah was speaking after visiting the Sekondi Stadium last Wednesday night, October 8, 2008.

The Stars who are lodging at the Raybow Hotel, are finalizing their preparations towards their joint Africa Nations Cup and World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.

After touring the 20, 000 capacity stadium, Appiah was highly impressed with what he saw.

“This is a fantastic stadium all the guys here are talking about it. It’s not all that big but the style is nice and the pitch is fantastic” he said.

“We don’t have any excuse for Saturday. It’s our last game to qualify for the next stage. We can’t come and disgrace ourselves here.”

Appiah also said he is fit to play in the match despite not playing in competitive football for the past nine months.

“Well, now I’m Okay. I have trained for nine months it’s different from running or playing active football.

I can say that I can play eighty or ninety minutes, it just depends on how the game goes. I’m fit to play in the game.”

Adding that, “I want to tell Ghanaians that they should come and cheer us up and we will not disappoint them.”

Meanwhile, a member of the Black Stars Management Committee, Sam Arday has dispelled concerns regarding the Stars’ poor display in Wednesday’s friendly match against Feyenoord Football Academy.

Mr. Arday, a one time coach of the Stars was speaking after the Black Stars were held to a 1:1 drawn game by Feyenoord at the El Wak Stadium.

The Stars found the going very tough and did not create enough chances to score.

Mr. Arday who also won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup with the national Under-17 team the Black Starlets in 1995, is however not reading much into the result of the game.

“I think on Tuesday the Stars did a lot of break-down exercises and that accounted for their not scoring many goals” he said.

“And they also went to the gym because the coach realised in the last match that the condition of the players was not up to standard and that is the reason why he is employing this regime.”

“So Feyenoord were playing the game while the Stars were actually training, that is the difference.

"So you come to Sekondi and watch the Black Stars play. This time they have prepared so much.”

Meanwhile, the Basotho arrived in the country Wednesday night and are scheduled to leave for Sekondi Thursday morning.

A contingent of 18 players and seven officials of the team is currently at the M-Plaza Hotel.

Source: ghananewstoday.com


Samartex unhappy with venue changes
Comments: 0 Views: 361

The Coach of Division One League side Samartex has critised the division Lne League Board, (DOL) for its poor organization of the middle league.

Tony Mensah has questioned the decision of the DOL to change the original venues for the league. Zone Two matches were shifted from the Ohene Gyan Stadium and El Wak Stadium to the Dansoman Carl Reindolf and the Tema Stadia instead.

This was after officials failed to secure the venues for the final qualifying round to for the elite premiership.

But Mensah says the DOL handling of the league has been nothing but unconvincing.“From the onset we were told all the matches were to be played at the Ohene Gyan and El Wak Stadia but out of the blue we saw that all the matches had been shifted to Tema and Dansoman” he said.

“We were shocked because it wasn’t in the initial plan. But this is Ghana and we have to accept it and play.”

Mensah also said, “I will tell the division One League Board that the organisation of the middle league was very bad because they should have kept us informed earlier, but they waited to about two days to the match before informing us”.

His comments follow similar ones by the coach of Norchip, Prince Nana Acheampong who also critised DOL’S handling of the final qualifying round alleging that the platform has been created for some clubs to qualify for the league.

Meanwhile, Samartex and Sekondi Eleven Wise are set for a final Zone Two show down at the El Wak Stadium on October 8 2008 after both sides won Sunday.

Samartex edged Norchip 1:0 through Oddi Quaye’s 3rd minute strike while Wise also beat West Ham 1:0 at the Tema Park.

In Zone One, B.A United have to beat Bechem Chelsea in their last Zonal match to complete their qualification back to the league.

The Brong Ahafo based side earned their second win in the zone with a four nil victory over Upper Stars at the Prempeh College Park in Kumasi.

While, Bechem Chelsea did likewise, beating Soccer Warriors 5:1 at the Baba Yara Stadium. Both teams have 6 points, separated only on goal difference.

Elsewhere, Zone three witnessed its opening matches with Saint Mirren drawing 1:1 against Power FC at the Cape Coast Robert Mensah stadium.

Royal Knight made a bright start to their campaign winning 2:0 against Fair Point at Sekondi.

The league resumes with mid week matches on Wednesday.

Three slots, one for each zone is available for qualification to the elite Onetouch Premiership.

Source: ghananewstoday.com


Crocodiles lie low ahead of qualifier against Stars
Comments: 0 Views: 441


By Erasmus Kwaw

The Coach of the Lesotho national team is wary of the possible threat posed by the Black Stars ahead of their trip to Ghana.

Serbian coach of the crocodiles, Milosavljevic Zavaefa tells Citi Sports in a telephone interview that the Stars are favourites in their joint Africa Nations Cup and World Cup qualifier at the Sekondi Stadium on Saturday October 11, 2008.


The Basotho lost narrowly after scoring two goals in stoppage time. The Stars beat them 3:2 at home in the Group Five match at Bloemfontein.

Zavaefa admitted to Citi Sports that his team’s chances of winning the match are very slim.

“The Black Stars are absolutely favourites for the match but we still need to play the best we can.

"We need experienced and young players for our team because we need to revamp our national side.”

He added, “we know our quality but we will try our best.”

Ghana needs the three points badly to make qualification certain and the Stars would stop at nothing to beat the Basotho, and they must convincingly.

They would however have to do it without midfielder Michael Essien who is injured. And Zavaefa is not convinced the Stars will miss him.

“I’m not really sure they will miss Essien, because Ghana can equally bring in another quality player to replace him.

"But it’s still a big loss. I think he is the best Ghanaian player around. But it is not advantage to us since Ghana can fall on other player,” he said.

The Crocodiles are out of contention for qualification to the second round of the competition.

They are scheduled to arrive in Ghana on Wednesday, October 8th 2008 and will be flown to Sekondi for the encounter.

Source: ghananewstoday.com



Afful hopeful of joining Black Stars
Harrison Afful
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By Erasmus Kwaw

Black Stars defender Harrison Afful is confident of a place in the national team despite his inactivity recently.

The 22-year-old has been restricted to playing friendly matches rather than competitive matches at Gomoa Fetteh Feyenoord Academy after his loan spell at Kumasi Asante Kotoko ended.

The defender is yet to play a competitive match following the Stars’ 0:1 loss to Libya last month.

This comes after negotiations between Kotoko and Feyenoord over a new deal stalled and an expected move abroad failed to materialize.

But with the Black Stars qualifier against Lesotho fast approaching, Black Stars coach Milovan Rajevac is likely to take a second look at the defender before deciding on his fate.

But in an interview with Citi Sports, Afful says he is in good shape to play for the Stars.

“I’m not worried at all. I know by all means I will make it into the national team whiles I’m clubless” he said.

“I know I will play because I have been working very hard here. Coach Sam Arday has been advising me and we have been working all day.

"Though people have not been seeing me, I have been working very hard so I know by all means I would be featured in the first eleven.”

The former Kumasi Asante Kotoko defender is also hopeful that a permanent solution would be found for him very soon.

“For now everything lies on God and my management, but as at now I think they have been making plans for me to travel abroad.

But I have been telling them that if the plans are not ready yet then they will have to sit down with Kotoko and make an arrangement so that I can play for them and if we get any success abroad then I leave.”

Citi sources say Gomoa Fetteh Feyenoord is ready to give the left full back on loan to Kotoko, a proposition the Porcupine Warriors do not agree to preferring to rather sign him on.

The disagreement leaves Afful in danger of losing out on a place in the national team following the team’s poor showing in last month’s qualifier against Libya.

He made his debut in the Black Stars 4:2 win over Ivory Coast in the African Nations Cup third place match at the Baba Yara stadium.

He has since played in all of the national team’s friendly and qualifying matches.


Source: ghananewstoday.com



Coach Tetteh confident of victory in The Gambia
Coach Sellas Tetteh - hopeful
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By Erasmus Kwaw

Sellas Tetteh says he is confident the Black Satellites would qualify for the African Youth Championship despite the 2:1 slim win over The Gambians Sunday September 28, 2008.

The Satellites struggled to beat their Gambian counterparts in the last round of the qualifiers for Rwanda 2009.

The Satellites went down in the 24 minutes when goalkeeper Joseph Addo parried a Paul Jatta cross into his own net.

However, Rabiu Mohammed and Samuel Inkoom scored within three minutes in the second half as the team rallied back.

Sellas Tetteh’s boys clearly found the going very difficult against their opponents who frustrated them by defending and attacking very well as a team.

Ghana has not qualified for the championship since 2001, but Sellas Tetteh says the battle is not lost yet lost, he said, “we conceded a very bad goal and the opponent got the stability to play but we came back in the second half and that shows the competence of the team.”

Adding, “we are ready, we will go and face them and I bet you, we will come out with victory.”

The Captain of the Satellites Ransford Osei, who had a bad day, wasted an opportunity to put his side on level in the 42nd minute after his penalty kick was saved by the Gambian goalkeeper.

The Israel based striker was replaced by Isaac Donkor in the second half and the substitute played a part in the two goals the team scored.

Sellas conceded that the substitution of Ransford Osei was very crucial to the team’s win.


“Ransford was our captain, top marksman and as a coach if your top marksman is not performing as expected you have to be a little bit patient with him.

I did that and I took him off at the right time.”

Meanwhile, Tema Youth Coach and Sports Columnist Isaac “Opeele” Boateng said he was disappointed with the performance of the team.

He told Citi Sports that Sellas Tetteh must be blamed.“Sellas Tetteh is my friend but I have to blame him.

"Why should you put Ekow Benson on the bench and bring him on for the last twelve two minutes.

"Benson is an experienced player he plays for the local Black Stars team and he announced his presence when he came on and that was what we were missing.

"I don’t understand why they allowed certain players to play for that long when things were not going right.

Boateng also suggested that the right players must be invited for the national team.

“I think next time we should make sure that certain things don not influence us in terms of selection and the rest.

"We should try and put things in order because this particular team is the future Black Stars. If we don’t qualify for the World cup, the future of the national team would be doomed.”

The Satellites had enough chances to reap a bumper harvest at the end of the encounter but sadly they could only afford a 2:1 victory.

Ghana has failed to qualify to the African Youth Championship for three consecutive times.

Source: ghananewstoday.com


Kotoko eyes Kuffuor
Samuel Osei Kuffuor
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By Erasmus Kwaw

Champion club, Kumasi Asante Kotoko could possibly sign on Samuel Osei Kuffuor.

The Porcupine Warriors are not ruling out the possibility of signing on the former Black Stars defender.

The Communications Director of Kotoko, Kwame Baah Nuakoh told Citi Sports that even though Kuffuor is yet to officially make clear his intentions to the club, they would consider it if he does.

“Well of course it is based on our assessment of what he brings to out team,” he said.

“If at the end of the day we feel he can make any impact on our team which could lead to the progress of the club why not?

”The 32-year-old was released by Dutch side Ajax in May having played only two matches.

He joined Ajax from Italian side AS Roma on a free transfer.

Although, the former King Faisal player has not decided to end his football career yet, he did not hide his desire to don the red jersey when he spoke to the BBC.

Baah Nuakoh was however, quick to stress that the decision to bring Kuffuor to Kumasi does not lie entirely in his hands.

“I’m not in a position to take that decision or speculate on it.

"Whether we will accept is something that the management of the team has to discuss once contacts are made.

"So I will rather not want to speculate on what decision we will take,” he concluded.

"If the former Black Stars defender joins the Porcupine family, he would add to a growing list of former national players who in recent times have joined the local football scene after retiring from Europe.

Nii Odartey Lamptey for instance played for the porcupine warriors in the 2005/2006 league season while Ishmael Addo joined Accra Hearts of Oak last season.

The list also includes Mohammed Gargo who played and later became coach of Obuasi Ash Gold.

Arguably, one of Ghana’s most decorated footballers ever, Kuffuor’s career highlights spans the period between 1990 and 2008 where he won almost everything from Fifa under 17 World Cup to UEFA Champions league, capping it with an appearance in the 2006 Germany World Cup.

He made 95 appearances in the national team colours before calling it quits at the end of the 2006 Germany World cup.

Source: ghananewstoday.com


Azumah backs Bastie’s decision to go professional
Bastie Samir - wants to go professional
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By Erasmus Kwaw

Former WBC featherweight Champion, Azumah Nelson says he backs Amateur Boxer Bastie Samir’s decision to turn professional.

“If he doesn’t go professional, where does he go?” he asked.

Bastie Samir was one of only two members of the Black Bombers who managed to reach the one-sixteenth stage of the Beijing Olympics boxing competition after knocking out his Nigerian opponent Dauda Izobo.

Samir made known his desire to turn pro on his return to the country after the games.

There were however suggestions that the young boxer might be rushing his bid to fight in the professional ranks which could have repercussions for his future.

Azumah Nelson, who held the WBC featherweight title for close to a decade, says Bastie Samir has gained enough experience to enter the professional ranks.

“If you are an amateur, what you do is you pray to go to the Olympics and when you return you have to turn pro because you have nothing more to prove.”

The boxing "Professor" added that “the Olympics has given Bastie Samir the needed exposure to fight at the professional level”.

Meanwhile, plans are already underway for the boxer to fight on the under-card of the Joshua Clottey/Antonio Margarito Welterweight unification bout in November.

Samir claims his decision to quit amateur boxing is as a result of the unfair treatment he and his colleagues received at the Beijing Olympic Games where he feels the judges robbed them.

He told Citi Sports that the Games presented an opportunity to market himself and he believes he is now ready to take professional boxing by a storm.

The former Black Bomber, Samir has been fighting in the amateur division for five years.

He represented Ghana in the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia in 2002.

He also participated in the African championship in Madagascar in 2007 as well as the World championship in the U.S.A in the same year.

Source: ghananewstoday.com


Azumah Nelson Foundation to be launched
Prof. Azumah Nelson
Comments: 1 Views: 475

By Erasmus Kwaw

The Azumah Nelson Foundation will be officially launched at the State Bouquet Hall on Saturday, September 27, 2008.

The project which is estimated at about $23 million will establish an educational and sports facility at Akuse to groom the less privileged in society and help them to realize their dreams.

The facility if completed will contain a boxing gym, a football field, athletics tracks, and swimming pool among other sporting facilities.

It will also have academic facilities and a hostel to house the children.

A member of the Azumah Nelson Foundation Eben K. Hoode told Citi Sports, “for the launch itself we are inviting some of his former opponents in the ring including Juan Laport and Marcos Vilasana.

They have all indicated they will be in Ghana for the launch.”“We also have the WBC high powered delegation coming into the country.

I mean almost everybody who has been associated with the champ in his legendary status have shown some kind of interest,” he said.

According to Mr. Hoode, they are all expected to arrive in the country on Wednesday September, 24, 2008 where they will be accorded with Ghanaian hospitality.

Azumah has donated a 50 acre land at Akuse in the Eastern region for the construction of the project. The beneficiary children will enjoy free accommodation, free food and free tuition fee.

Source: ghananewstoday.com