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Kurt Okraku extends Christmas greetings to Ghanaians in China, promises to improve football in one-year time

The country’s football association boss has extended his warmth greetings to Ghanaians in the diaspora and has assured them of improving the sport back home

Ghana Football Association president Kurt Okraku believes there will be massive improvement in the local football come 2020 as part of his Christmas messages.

Speaking to Ghana Sports Page 1 host Sir Martin Tawiah (K.T) in China, Okraku thanked everyone for their support and reiterated that he will work very hard in order to bring back football to the highest level amid the infamous Number 12 by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas which which brought everything to a halt.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support since I came to lead the football association especially those in China who still monitor everything back home,” Okraku said.

“As we are celebrating Christmas, I want to wish all the best of moment and continue to assure that we will experience positive changes in football come next year December.

“Everyone will be happy with the growth so let us keep on supporting one another for the betterment of the game,” he added.

With the 2019-20 Ghana Premier League season kicking off this Sunday, Okraku’s administration has been able to settle issues regarding referees’ allowances among others.

Also, each of the eighteen clubs have been given 30 new balls produced by Kipsta, while each of the match venues will have eight balls for match days.

Ghana FA ditches Mitre balls, shares new product for Ghana Premier League

The football association has decided to do away with the type of football that has been used for the last five seasons

Ghana Football Association has been sharing matchday footballs to the eighteen top-flight clubs ahead of the kick start 2019-20 Ghana Premier League season and suprisingly, they are not Mitre balls, AshesGyamera.com can confirm.

With each club getting 30 balls for training and eight balls for each of the 18 venues, our sources have revealed that Kipsta F-110 is the new football that players will be using each matchday.

Kipsta football complies with international federation standards and are rated higher recently in several countries especially in Europe. The hand-stitched construction of Kipsta balls makes them highly durable and are also made up of latex and butyl bladder.

These kind of footballs have a characteristic of minimal water absorption which makes them good to be used even when it rains.

The new season will officially start on Sunday December 29 with interesting fixtures across the country including Hearts of Oak hosting Berekum Chelsea while Asante Kotoko welcome Techiman XI Wonders to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

King Faisal announce signing of Premier League winner Osman Bashiru

The Green and Whites have officially outscored their new signing as they seek to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season

King Faisal have announced the signing of Ghana Premier League veteran striker Osman Bashiru ‘Gambo’ in a one-year deal.

The striker rejoins his boyhood club after almost six seasons away having left to join city rivals Asante Kotoko and later had stint with Ashanti Gold.

Interestingly, Bashiru joins this time with a lot of experience as he is regarded as one of the few players to have won the league title back-to-back with two different clubs.

He achieved that feat during 2013-14 season with Asante Kotoko and 2014-15 season with Ashanti Gold after scoring several goals.

On Sunday, Bashiru will be hoping to hit the ground running when King Faisal travel to Dawu to face Dreams FC in the league’s opening day.

Breaking: Seven TV stations bid to telecast Ghana Premier League

The top-flight will soon be beamed live on television as the football association continues process to announce rights holders

Ghana Premier League and other leagues organised by Ghana FA will soon have new television rights owners as the process to select the best company continues.

Following the mutual agreement to terminate StarTimes’ ten-year deal with GFA, the football body is now in the market for a new contract and AshesGyamera.com can report that Supersport who previously had the rights are now leading the race.

Although, StarTimes, Fox Sports and Ghana Television have also made a bid together with three other companies according to reports, Supersport may eventually be named the new rights holders.

“The Ghana Football Association wishes to inform its stakeholders that at the end of the deadline for submission of bids for Television Broadcast Rights of the various GFA-organised competitions, the GFA received bids from seven organisations for the television rights,” a GFA statement read.

“The GFA has since been evaluating the bids and it will announce a decision next week.

“For Radio Commentary Rights, the Association has decided to extend the period for expression of interest by radio stations to 5 p.m. on Tuesday December 31, 2019,” the statement added.

AshesGyamera.com understands that Supersport may collaborate with GTV Sports + when they win the bid in order to get the game closer to Ghanaians since GTV is free to air and doesn’t require monthly payments to view.

Koffie named as Great Olympics new coach

The Wonder Club have swiftly replaced their former who vacated his position few days to the start of the top-flight

Ghana Premier League returnees Great Olympics have announced George Koffie as new manager following the resignation of Isaac Nii Armah.

Koffie, who boasts of CAF License A coaching certificate will be in the dugout on Sunday for his first real test when they travel to Obuasi to lock horns with Ashanti Gold in the opening day of 2019-20 Ghana Premier League.

With a set target of guiding the Accra-based club to avoid relegation, Koffie will be counting on experienced players like Bernard Don Bortey and Emmanuel Clottey to grind results.

Olympics were one of the two clubs along with King Faisal who were promoted to the top-flight by Congress in order to play an 18-club league this season.

Nii Odoi becomes Hearts of Oak interim coach as David Duncan nears a return

The Phobians are looking at the option of appointing the outspoken gaffer as their coach as Kim Grant struggles with qualifications

Hearts of Oak are on the verge of appointing David Duncan as the club’s new head coach following the decision to allow Kim Grant to step aside due to lack of qualification.

With Ghana Football Association’s new requirements of Caf License A or its equivalent of UEFA License A before a coach can manage a top’-flight side currently, Hearts are forced to go into the market as their coach lacks the necessary requirement since he boasts of UEFA License B.

In the wake of the uprising tension, AshesGyamera.com can confirm that former boss Nii Noi has returned to guide the Phobians ahead of their opening day game against Berekum Chelsea on Sunday.

However, reports suggest that Nii Noi will be replaced with a new coach and it is most likely to be David Duncan who was infamously sacked despite guiding the Phobians to second place on the log at the time he was relieved from his post.

Although, a section of Hearts supporters aren’t enthused by the reports since Duncan has gone on to have a stint with their arch rivals Asante Kotoko, he may likely be given the nod since he has the required license.

King Faisal appoint Otec FM’s Awal Mohammed as new PRO

The Inshallah Boys have named the fast-rising broadcaster as their new spokesperson ahead of the new campaign

Ghana Premier League side King Faisal have announced the appointment of Awal Mohammed ‘De Monza’ as the club’s new director of communications.

Awal, who works with Kumasi-based Otec FM will head the communication department of the club as he together with other members to be announced later will disseminate information to the general public during the 2019-20 season.

Not new to this position, Awal who is a product of Sunyani Technical University, previously had stint with B.A United and manned similar position to admiration of many in Brong Ahafo and the entire country.

As a Muslim, he is dedicated to his religion’s ethics teaching.

King Faisal regained their top-flight status following an agreement by congressmen at the last extraordinary congress to push the number to eighteen.

I’m looking forward to a better season with Liberty, says Arko

The Scientific Soccer Lads skipper is brimming with confidence ahead of the kick start of the new season

Liberty Professionals general captain Ernest Papa Arko is confident of a good start to the 2019/2010 Ghana Premier League season despite losing their last pre-season match 1-0 against Great Olympics.

The Dansoman-based club placed third during the Normalisation Committee competition out of eight clubs in Premier B group but they are hoping to have an improved campaign this term following the inclusion of youngsters Abraham Wayo and Francis Tanko.

“We are looking forward to a better performance in the new season. We have worked hard during the pre-season and it is now time for it to pay off on the pitch,” Arko said.

Meanwhile, Liberty defender Samuel Amofa also added that ‘although he knows the season is going to be difficult, he is focused on being consistent in order to maintain the good record built during the Normalisation Committee competition.’

Liberty will host Wa All Stars on opening day on Sunday before they travel to Golden City to face Berekum Chelsea.

By: Getson Emmanuel

‘Grant deserves more time’, Polo backs underfire Hearts coach

Mohammed Polo has jumped to the defence of under-fire Hearts of Oak coach Kim Grant ahead of the start of the new season.

The Phobians suffered a 2-1 defeat against rivals Asante Kotoko in 2019 President Cup and that has sparked division among the supporters since they believe their preparations for the new season has been terrible.

However, the club’s legend has different opinion and insists Grant deserves more time to achieve results.

“Hearts of Oak supporters should give Kim Grant time to work,” Polo told Otec FM.

“Their reactions towards him whenever he losses a friendly game is not appropriate. He needs more time to work in order to achieve his targets.

“I know there is pressure on the team but things will be worse if the pressure continues like this. The changing of coaches hae affected the club so it is time for the supporters to know that football is a process and it takes time to get what you want, ” he added.

Hearts will welcome Berekum Chelsea to Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday when the 2019-20 Ghana Premier League kicks off.

Great Olympics target Top Four finish in Ghana Premier League, says PRO

The Wonder Club’s spokesperson has vowed they will achieve a Top Four finish in the top-flight following their return

Accra Great Olympics communication director Saint Osei believes they have one of the best squads ahead of the start of 2019-20 Ghana Premier league season.

Speaking to Kumasi-based Boss FM, Osei reiterated they are ever ready for the start of the season and would secure a Top Four finish amid reports that head coach Isaac Nii Armah has resigned few days to their first game.

“We have built a strong team and ready to compete in 2019-2020 Ghana Premier League,” he said.

“Our team will be in the Top Four at the end of season because our players are eager to fight for the club. We will fight with the big clubs [like Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko] and make sure we easily defeat the small cogs to achieve our aims,” he added.

Olympics, who will open their campaign with a trip to Obuasi to face Ashanti Gold on Sunday, gained promotion to the top-flight in October during the Extraordinary Congress when congressmen adopted for an 18-team league which also favoured King Faisal.

The decision was successfully approved at the Ordinary Congress held last week and three clubs instead of five will be relegated after the season.

By: Fareed Mohammed Awal