Category: Sports

Ghana FA officials influence Black Stars & other national teams call-up, says Palmer

The former Executive Council member has revealed that player selections to form the various national teams are not done fairly in the country

Disappointed Ghana Football Association presidential aspirant Wilfred Kwaku Osei ‘Palmer’ has insisted that players that are selected to the senior national team and other teams to represented the country are usually influenced by top members of the association.

According to the former Black Stars Management Committee chairman, nepotism takes centre stage at the detriment of the development of the game since some officials use their influences to invite players that do not match the requirements needed to solve a technical problem in various national teams.

“It is an open secret that GFA officials influence the selection of players into the national team. There are some players who come to the national team but are not fit to be in the team,” Palmer told Daily Graphic.

“Instead of we looking at things from a technical perspective, we tend to look for players very close to us to be part of the team, irrespective of their level or quality of skills they have.

“If you have your doubts, you can talk to the ex-coaches and they will tell you a lot,” he added.

Palmer is still banking his hopes of becoming Ghana FA on Court of Arbitration for Sports to overturn a ruling which barred him from contesting for the position last year.

A positive ruling from CAS would mean that a new election will be held since the one that brought Kurt Okraku into office would be nullified.

GUSA 2020: Journey Begins With UDS Winning 3 Games, UCC in a Pool of Victory, as Abdul Salam Carries the Day for UEW.

The Potential winners in the tournament UCC, UEW, UDS and KNUST started their journey with smooth victories in their numerous games today.

The top Ghanaian Universities, UCC, UEW, UDS and KNUST who are partaking in the 2020 Ghana University Sports Association games have started sending signals to their opponents after they displayed a fantastic performance in their matchday one fixtures in the ongoing tournament in Legon, Accra.

Starting from UCC, the defending champions for the main GUSA played and won 2 games. UCC men thrashed GIJ men 80-17 while UCC women had a walkover over UPSA after the latter did not report on time for the game.

UEW involved in a tough game with UENR in the men soccer earlier today. The only difference amongst the two sides was Abdul Salam Abdul’s goal in the 48th minute which carried the day for UEW.

The Teacher school also engaged in the basketball game and won 77-12 over UHAS. Meanwhile, UEW’s game against UG was called off after the former could not get their accreditation on time.

Approbus to UDS, they played three and won all games today. The developers played the highest number of games and won with ease. In the basketball men, they beat UMat 66-58, won 3-0 over KNUST in the men’s volley and 1-0 over UPSA in the men’s soccer.

The least results amongst the giants goes to KNUST who won one game and lost one. The technocrats humiliated GIMPA 61-18 in the basketball men and later succumbed to UDS by 3-0 in the volleyball men.

There are tight and interesting fixtures scheduled to take place tomorrow in the ongoing tournament.

UCC are the defending champions for the main GUSA after they won the tourney in 2018 in Tamale.

By: Fareed Mohammed Awal.

South Africa coach Ntseki praises ‘incredible’ tactics of Kwesi Appiah after defeat

The Bafana Bafana suffered defeat in the opening game of the qualifiers and their coach believes they lost the tactical fight

It was a night to remember as Ghana made a huge statement in their bid to qualify for 2021 Africa Cup of Nations by defeating South Africa 2-0 at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium on Thursday.

Goals from Atletico Madrid star Thomas Teye Partey and a screamer from 19-year-old Kudus Mohammed on his debut were enough to seal the win for Black Stars and further ease the mounting pressure on coach Kwesi Appiah.

After the game, Bafana Bafana boss Molefi Ntseki was full of respect for Appiah as he believes tactical genius of the former Asante Kotoko defender coupled with quality players did the trick in the game.

“I was saying that it is not a personal war. I’ve got so much respect for Kwesi Appiah and I was saying it is a war of tactics and tactics will always win you games,” said as quoted by AshesGyamera.com.

“At the same time you need to have players who can also put in efforts into the tactics and I think if you look at Ghana, they put in so much effort and managed to get the two goals.”

He added: “We are not saying our players did not put in effort but unfortunately for them we could not win the match so I think if you want me to say it, yes Kwesi Appiah is the tactical one.”

Ghana now sit second with three points in Group C behind Sudan and will travel to Sao Tome for the second game on Monday.

Ghana parliament set audacious targets to new GFA as Black Stars must win Afcon & reach World Cup semis

The legislature of the West African country has set a daunting task for the newly formed football association

Ghana’s Parliamentary Select Committee for Sports has tasked the country’s football association to end the trophy drought in the shortest possible time.

After the Black Stars won the 1982 Africa Cup of Nations, they have failed in all attempts to add to their trophy cabinet another title, reaching the semi-finals five times since 2008 and the final in 2010 and 2013.

 

Also, the Black Stars after qualifying to the Fifa World Cup on three consecutive occasions and reaching the quarter-finals in 2010, failed to make it to the tournament in the last edition. Kurt’s administration has been tasked to guide the team to Qatar 2022 and at least reach the semi-finals and become the first African country to achieve that feat.

Lastly, the new Ghana FA has been tasked to run a corruption free administration as well as improve the local league and make it attractive for investors.

 

Junior Agogo pronounced dead in London -reports

The former international has kicked the bucket after battling a long term sickness in London

Former Ghana striker Junior Manuel Agogo has been pronounced dead on Thursday in London, AshesGyamera.com has learned.

The 40-year-old who suffered stroke in 2015 and has been battling the illness since was rushed to the hospital several days ago but could not survive amid the interventions of the doctors.

Agogo, who had stints with Championship side Nottingham Forest and Egyptian giants Zamalek was best remembered for his role during the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations where Ghana clinched bronze.

He was usually partnered in the Black Stars’ striking department with Asamoah Gyan and even assisted the latter in his first ever goal at the Afcon in a 2-1 victory over Guinea.

Details of his funeral arrangements will be announced later.

 

Commey defeats Beltran, awaits new opponent to defend IBF World title

Richard Commey started fast, Ray Beltran managed to hang in, and in the end, Commey’s power was too much for the weight-drained and aging Beltran.

Commey improved to 29-2 (26 KO) with an eighth round stoppage of Beltran (36-9-1, 22 KO), having already dropped Beltran twice in the opening round and again in the fifth.

Beltran, who missed weight on Friday, gamely scrapped and hung around in the fight, with Bad Left Hook having Commey up 67-63 on two separate cards going into the eighth round, meaning that Beltran had won — on our cards, at least — three of the first seven rounds, and that the knockdowns were making the significant difference.

But when Commey caught Beltran with a left hook early in the eighth, it was over. Beltran got up and was ready to continue, but referee Eddie Hernandez Sr called a halt to the fight, which was fair enough.

Commey, who holds the IBF lightweight title, will now await what’s next. It could be the winner of the July 19 fight between Teofimo Lopez and Masayoshi Nakatani, which is an IBF eliminator, or it could be the winner of the Vasiliy Lomachenko vs Luke Campbell fight on Aug. 31. If it’s the latter, Commey against the winner would be a full unification at 135 pounds.

As for the 38-year-old Beltran, he’d already moved up to 140 for his last fight, but took the chance at another world title shot for this one. It didn’t work out, on the scales or in the ring, but there’s still some fight left in the old warrior, too, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he still has a few good nights left in him at 140.

-BadLeftHook

AC Master’s sports agency sign Black Queens’ Adams

The midfielder has put pen to paper with the Chinese-based football agency ahead of the new season

Ghana winger Grace Adams has signed a long-term contract with AC Master’s of Sports Management in an undisclosed fee ahead of the 2019-20 season, AshesGyamera.com can confirm.
The former Black Princesses skipper completed the deal with the Sports representative agency owned by Martin Tawiah on Wednesday, June 5, and they will manage and promote her football career henceforth.
AC Master’s of Sports Management is an agency engaged in the representation and integral management of sportsmen across the globe.
Adams, 24, led Ghana during 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup held in Canada and caught the eye of many scouts through his consistent performance. She scored one goal in nine appearances in both the qualifiers and the World Cup finals.
Adams, who is currently a member of the female senior national team of Ghana and holds a bachelor’s degree in Art and Baccularrate from University of South Florida, scored three goals and assisted twice in 27 appearances during the American Athletic Conference and NCCA Tournament in 2018.

Caf rejects Nana Agyemang Badu Park for Caf Confederation Cup group stage

The continent’s football governing body has asked the Ghanaian champions to find a new venue ahead of the Confederation Cup group stage

By: Evans Gyamera-Antwi

Confederation of African Football (CAF) has rejected Aduana Stars’ submission to use Nana Agyemang Badu Park in Dormaa Ahenkro for their home games in the group stage of the Caf Confederation Cup group stage, AshesGyamera understands.

The Fire Club after defeating Fosa Juniors from Madagascar to make it to the group stage, were handed group A of the competition which has Asec Mimosa from Cote d’Ivoire, Raja Casablanca of Algeria and Congolese side AS Vita but their venue lacks electronic scoreboard, adequate media center and floodlights as well as other factors which will aid live telecast since all games will be beamed on TV.

Aduana will travel to Abidjan for the first game against Asec on May 6 before they host Raja on May 16 at a new venue which will be communicated later as they are the only club to have their home ground rejected.

According to AshesGyamera’s sources, Aduana will either choose the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, Len Clay Sports Stadium in Obuasi or Cape Coast Sports Stadium.

Approved stadiums

Terraine Municipal de Berkane – Morrocco
Stade Felix Houphouet Boigny,Abidjan (Asec Mimosas)

Calabar,Nigeria (Enyimba)

Stade Regional de Nyamirambo (Rayon)

Stade Complex Mohammed V,Casablanca (Raja Cassablanca)

Stade Chsmproux, Abidjan (Williamsville)

Stade 5 Juilet 1962,Algiers (USM Algers)

Port Said Stadium,Ports Said (Al Masry)

Complex Onnisports stade de Matrys,Kinshasa (AS Vita Club)

Alphonse Massamba debat, (CARA Brazaville)

Beirra,Beirra (UD Songo)

Modiba Keita,Bamako (Djoliba)

Al Hilal ,Omdurman (Al Hilal)

Machakos stadium (Gor Mahia)

National stadium (Young Africans)

Not approved

Agyemang Badu II stadium in Dormaa Ahenkro, Brong-Ahafo-Aduana Stars

Kwesi Nyantakyi must contest in 2019 GFA elections, says Caf president Ahmad

The African football chief wants his deputy to rescind his decision not to contest for the general elections next year

Caf president Ahmad Ahmad believes it will be wrong for Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi not to contest in the 2019 FA general elections in a bid to seek another tenure in office.

Nyantakyi on countless occasions revealed that he won’t be in office again when his current term elapses, leading to his former vice president George Afriyie declaring his intentions to succeed him.

However, Nyantakyi’s recent actions and decisions including the sacking of Afriyie as the vice-president because of his declaration and aspirations, have suggested otherwise.

“If the government and people ask him to continue, then why must he stop? The people need him, the stakeholders need him so why must he not contest again,” Ahmad told Starr FM.

“We are here to serve our nation and service to your country comes first and so I will advise him to seek re-election in 2019,” he added.

Ahmad who arrived in the country on Monday to receive an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Professional Studied Accra, will leave on Thursday morning to continue his role at Caf, including helping Morocco to win the 2026 Fifa World Cup bid as they come against United States, Canada and Mexico as co-hosts.

Mohamed Salah is the best player in the world currently, says Caf president Ahmad

7hammed Salahhed Salah,  SalahaerpoolerpoolThe African football chief insists the Liverpool star deserves to at least make an appearance in the final shortlisted

By: Evans Gyamera-Antwi

Caf president Ahmad Ahmad believes Egypt international and Liverpool superstar Mohammed Salah is currently the best player in the world.

Salah has been in a blistering form for club and country helping Egypt to qualify to the 2018 Fifa World Cup for the first time in 30 years.

Again, he has scored 41 goals in all competitions and has helped Liverpool to set up a semifinal clash against Roma in the Uefa Champions League.

“Myself, I think if Liverpool win the Uefa Champions League, he maybe in the [final] best three players in the world because the performance of his club and national team are all important for him to make the list,” Ahmad told AshesGyamera.com, after visiting the King of Asante Kingdom in Kumasi.

“Honestly, he’s the best now. Not even Messi [or Ronaldo] are the current best players in the world but Salah,” he added.

Ahmad also insisted that Salah’s performance in Europe has vindicated the technical team of Caf, following their decision to name him as the reigning best player on the continent.

“When Africans chose the best Player of the Year, Salah was the best so it’s an evidence that Caf did a very good job,” he said.

“People criticized us the technical team but they chose the best and I’m very happy for that and for the team that selected him.”

Salah has been voted as the 2018 PFA Player of the Year.