The Cameroonian scored a masterpiece against the Ogya Boys to stretch the lead on the goal king chart
Asante Kotoko striker Mbella Etouga scored a screamer against Aduana Stars to take his season’s tally to 19 goals.
After an early exchanges, Aduana looked like a side who could cause a havoc to Kotoko’s title ambitions as Yahaya Mohammed and Emmanuel Gyamfi came close to create half chances.
Mfegue saw his header narrowly missing the target after a cross from Imoro Ibrahim found him.
Mbella Etouga snatched the lead for Kotoko by 38th minute with a thunderous strike outside the penalty area.
The 20-year-old was played through by his countryman Georges Mfegue and he didn’t waste time as he slotted it home to the amazement of the vociferous home fans.
WATCH ETOUGA’S GOAL AND CELEBRATION
Etouga now has 19 goals, three goals more than Ashanti Gold winger Yaw Annor.
The Porcupines boss has opted to make two changes in the starting line up that pipped WAFA last weekend as they prepare to battle Aduana this afternoon
Asante Kotoko head coach Prosper Ogum Narteh has concluded with the technical team members to make two changes in the starting line up to face Aduana Stars on matchday 28 of Ghana Premier League at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Left back Imoro Ibrahim who missed the 1-0 victory over WAFA has returned to take over from Charles Owusu. There is still no Ganiyu Ismail in the squad since the captain is yet to fully recover from the knee injury he sustained several weeks ago.
Christopher Nettey, Yussif Mubarik and Andrews Appau complete the defensive setup for Kotoko.
In midfield, Richard Boadu ‘Agadas’ who was also suspended for accumulated yellow cards in the game against WAFA has returned.
As a result, he will fill the void left behind by Mudasiru Salifu while utility player Sheriff Mohammed adds bite to the midfield.
Cameroonian Mbella Etouga and Mfegue Rodrigues will lead the attack with Fabio Gama and Stephan Amankona taking charge of the wings.
Despite Patrick Asmah sending an apology letter to Kotoko during the week, he is still not part of the matchday squad.
Kotoko XI vs WAFA
Ibrahim Danlad, Christopher Nettey, Imoro Ibrahim, Yussif Mubarik, Andrews Appau, Richard Boadu ‘Agadas’, Sherrif Mohammed, Fabio Gama, Georges Mfegue, Frank Etouga, Stephen Amankona
The country’s football governing body has strengthened their actions to eradicate betting and match fixing from the top-flight
Referees that officiated Ghana Premier League matchday 27 fixture between WAFA and Asante Kotoko had their mobile phones checked by individuals believed to be integrity officials from Fifa, Caf and Ghana Football Association, AshesGyamera.com can confirm.
This comes as a result of the alleged increase of match fixing and betting in the top-flight and they checked the devices to see if they had placed a bet or engaged in conversations that suggested the game was manipulated.
The action, according to our sources, was repeated on Friday when Great Olympics defeated Berekum Chelsea 2-0 in the first game of matchday 28.
The integrity officials also took some of the phones belonging to the players during their visit to the dressing room after the game.
Upon the completion of their search, the devices were given out to the rightful owners.
Following the pending match fixing case involving Ashanti Gold and Inter Allies, the FA has concluded to double their efforts since some club officials and other betting syndicates are allegedly influencing results of Premier League games.
With only seven games to end the season, many clubs are fighting for relegation and rumours have it that there are ongoing attempts to influence results in order to avoid the drop.
It will be recalled that two years ago, Ghana Football Association employed Obed Tuffour to lead the integrity department of the body in order to help eradicate or reduce betting and match fixing from the sport.
“The Ghana Football Association has in compliance with FIFA requirements employed Mr. Obed Tuffour as the Association’s Compliance and Integrity Officer,” a GFA statement read.
“FIFA has recommended that all Member Associations should appoint an Integrity Officer who will deal with all integrity-related legal matters as well as the risk of match-fixing and match manipulation.
“Mr. Tuffour will also be responsible for the FA’s Compliance Unit.
“The world football governing body is expected to send an official to train the Association’s new Compliance and Integrity Officer on his role, way of work and ways of identifying acts that might jeopardize the integrity of the game
“The Compliance and Integrity Officer will be the point of contact for all communications with FIFA/CAF on integrity matters and actively participate in regional integrity workshops and lead the GFA’s integrity action programme.
*He will also lead the implementation of the appropriate national reporting mechanisms and will receive reports related to potential alerts, incidents and/or suspicions.
“The Association’s Integrity Officer will help maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards match manipulation, match fixing and betting.
“In this regard, the GFA hereby informs all Club Officials to refrain from having any form of communication with any match official before and after any match.
“Match officials are also cautioned not to have any form of communication with any Club official or a leading member of any football club before or after any match.
“The Association wishes to inform all that it will not entertain any excuses what so ever when it is established that there has been communication between a match official and club official.
“Additionally, Clubs, Officials and all match officials are to note there will be zero tolerance for such conducts and the consequences for such actions would be dire,” the statement added.
The Miners winger scored a haul over the weekend to seize the headlines
AshantiGold winger Yaw Annor netted four times in the club’s 5-1 thrashing of Berekum Chelsea on matchday 27 of Ghana Premier League at the Len Clay Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The youngster after the four goals have closed in on Asante Kotoko striker Mbella Etouga on the Premier League goal king race
Annor now has 16 goals, two goals behind Etouga with seven games remaining.
How Yaw Annor scored his four goals against Berekum Chelsea on Sunday
The Porcupine Warriors newly found goal poacher has had series of fine performances but he faced stiffer competitions in the month of March
Despite the controversies and criticisms Ghana Premier League Player of the Month generates, one would admit that it still remains a key award in football, as it goes a long way to enhance players’ value during and after the season.
It also helps a player to eventually emerge as the overall Best Player in the top-flight after the season and the race to clinch the 2022 edition is well and truly on with seven games more.
One should know that the Player of the Month prize should reflect the best footballer who helped his side in diverse ways and stood out rather than the one who only scored goals.
A lot of people are arguing that Kotoko’s Mbella Etouga deserves Ghana Premier League Player of the Month of March following his nominations earlier this week.
The Cameroonian striker has been selected alongside Karela United’s Kelvin Andoh and Bechem United prodigy Emmanuel Annor.
Per the statistics available, Etouga doesn’t come near his competitors. Aside goals and assists, Man of the Match accolades go a long way to separate players since it also defines one’s progress as a footballer.
Mbella Etouga scored two goals in the month under review and his goals, if critically looked into, fetched Kotoko just a point.
He was on target when Kotoko annihilated Gold Stars 5-0 in Kumasi. Before Etouga scored his penalty, Kotoko were leading 3-0. Despite even assisting Mfegue for the second goal and Samuel Boateng for the last goal, he wasn’t adjudged as the Man of the Match because other players excelled ahead of him.
Etouga then scored in the 1-1 stalemate against Karela United. Here, clearly, he won a point for Kotoko especially when his goal came from a losing position because Kotoko were down before he fetched the equaliser.
Against Eleven Wonders in Techiman and Bechem United in Bechem, the Cameroonian couldn’t live up to the expectations.
In the month of March, Kelvin Andoh scored a brace to help Karela United defeat Ashanti Gold 2-1 at the CAM Park in Ainyinase.
His two goals on that day won three points for Karela and he went on to win Man of the Match.
Although, Kelvin couldn’t score against Berekum Chelsea and Medeama in the subsequent games, he snatched a vital away goal in the last game of the month against Kotoko to win Karela one point. Remember that it was Kelvin’s goal which Etouga later equalised for Kotoko.
Lastly, in the same month of March, Emmanuel Annor of Bechem United fame scored the opening goal for the Ahafo giants when they defeated Elmina Sharks 3-2 away in Elmina.
The 20-year-old also scored the only goal when Bechem United pipped Accra Lions 1-0 at home and he went on to win the Man of the Match after a stellar performance.
However, he could not find the back of the net against Asante Kotoko and Dreams FC despite his incredible outings in those games.
The race, therefore, is between Annor and Andoh. It will be a huge surprise if Etouga snatches this award from the aforementioned names.
The youngster has sealed a one-year loan deal with the American club after a wonderful maiden season with the Phobians
Major League Soccer side FC Cincinnati have confirmed a season-long long loan deal with Ghanaian champions Hearts of Oak for midfielder Salim Adams, AshesGyamera.com can confirm.
The 19-year-old, who joined Hearts from Edubiase before the start of this season, will be part of Cincinnati youth team for the time being before he is ushered into their senior team. The club has the option to make the deal permanent after 2022.
“I’m excited to welcome Salim to FC Cincinnati,” said Tyrone Marshall, head coach of Cincinnati 2 said after the deal was officially sealed.
“He’s a promising midfielder who will be an excellent addition to our group and to the environment we’re trying to create,” he added.
Adams has made 23 appearances for Hearts of Oak in Ghana Premier League this season and boasts of three goals.
The youngster is widely known for his long range goal against CI Kamsar in the preliminary round of Caf Champions League at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The 39-year-old was confirmed dead in Kumasi on Tuesday morning following a short illness
New Radio Mercury sports journalist Fred Kwaku Osei Ampadu has been confirmed dead by family members, AshesGyamera.com can report.
The 39-year-old has been working with Prophet Ebenezer ‘Opambour’ Adarkwah Yiadom for almost two decades after parting ways with Asawase-based Otec FM and Multimedia.
Shaggy, as he is affectionately called by close ones and on air, was rushed to Emergency Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital on Saturday, April 29, but despite the efforts by the doctors and nurses present, he finally gave up on Tuesday morning.
Reports suggest it was due to a heart attack, although it has not been confirmed.
Until his demise, the Atwima Twiapiase native was the host and head of sports at New Mercury Radio with a well-structured team comprising of David Osei (Soccer Excaldo), Kennedy Mintah (Kenash) and Agyeman Duah.
Notable names that Shaggy worked with in the past include Nana Ken, King Edward ‘the Slave’, Gabasay and Akowuah Little King.
The Porcupine Warriors newly found deadly striker netted his eighteenth goal of the season last weekend as they edge closer to snatch the league title
A special report by AshesGyamera.com’s Editor Evans Gyamera-Antwi on Kotoko’s Mbella Etouga
Little was known about him before his arrival in Kumasi; that is, if you compare him to his countryman George Mfegue Rodrigues and it was all because the latter had been on the wishlist of Asante Kotoko after COVID-19 pandemic. However, the talks to bring him down in 2020 fell through in the eleventh hour.
Nana Yaw Amponsah was gutted, shuttered and left in pains, especially when the club he took over as the new chief executive officer, after losing the Ghana FA presidential elections in 2019, also threw away a seven-point lead in the league because goals were not coming. And, interestingly, Hearts of Oak, their bitterest rivals, snatched the trophy right under their noses.
This time, Kotoko were bent on offloading ‘dead woods’ and a new era began under the auspices of new coach Dr. Prosper Ogum Narteh. He took over from Portuguese Mariano Baretto.
Mfegue was finally signed and Kotoko supporters were told that their striking problems have been solved. The Cameroonian landed in Kotoko’s camp in Dubai during their pre-season tour not only with his bags and big smiles, but also with another young chap who was highly tipped by Cameroonian journalists and coaches as a goal monger in future. His name was Frank Thierry Mbella Etouga.
Today, it is Etouga’s name which is on the lips of almost every Ghanaian football lover for various reasons although, Mfegue has also had a decent season – six goals and a couple of assists.
Etouga began his impressive goal scoring run with a debut finish against Real Tamale United in a 1-1 stalemate on December 15, 2021 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. He combined with his countryman Mfegue to send in a sublime finish with his right foot. And, oh, nobody has been able to stop him, thereafter.
Now, the 20-year-old boasts of 18 goals after 22 games; an incredible feat for a newcomer who is also facing a language barrier, as he’s only fluent in French and plays in an English dominated country. Yet, his statistics are simply staggering in his maiden season.
Watch the goals scored by Etouga so far
Etouga has faced almost all the club’s participating in the Premier League this season but he has been able to score against ten of them with seven games remaining.
Fortunately for him, that number could increase before the season ends in June as he will have the chance to face some of the clubs he failed to score against in the first round once more.
Out of the 18 goals scored so far, Etouga has netted 15 of his goals for Kotoko with his right foot, one with his head (against Ashanti Gold) and two with his left foot (against Accra Lions and Dreams FC)
Out of the 14 goals scored with his favourite right foot, half of them were from the penalty spot; where he brilliantly sent the goalkeepers to the wrong directions.
Kotoko fans laud Etouga after an incredible goal
The goal monger has scored against RTU both home and away. Also, he scored a brace against Legon Cities, Great Olympics and Dreams FC. He also netted hat-trick against Ashanti Gold and Accra Lions as well as boasting of a goal each against Gold Stars, Karela United, Hearts of Oak and WAFA.
Whose record has he equalled?
Etouga’s goal against Real Tamale United at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale tied him on the same number of goals (17) with Kotoko former striker Eric Kwabena Bekoe. The former Porcupine Warriors’ favourite goal getter scored 17 goals to emerge as the topscorer of 2007/2008 season.
Etouga and Kotoko players dancing after a victory in Kumasi
A lot of strikers have donned the Kotoko jersey but it was Etouga who matched Bekoe’s goalscoring record on his first season at the club.
What record has Etouga set?
After being tied with Bekoe on the same number of goals, Etouga became the first Kotoko striker since the start of the new era of Ghana Premier League in 1993 to score 18 goals. The Cameroonian achieved that feat with a wonderful solo effort against WAFA at the RedBull Arena in Sogakope last weekend.
Interestingly, it was Kotoko’s first-ever victory against the Academy Boys at the venue where they had always ended up as losers and their best being a stalemate.
Bekoe posted on Facebook shortly after Etouga broke his record, to congratulate and even made time to meet him for the first time when Kotoko arrived in Accra enroute to Kumasi.
Etouga has now scored more goals in a single season than some revered strikers who once donned the Kotoko jerseys including Alex Asamoah, Thomas Boakye, Seidu Bancey and Yahaya Mohammed.
Asamoah scored 16 goals in the 2008/2009 season while Boakye and Bancey scored 12 goals in the 1990/1991 season and 2013/14 season respectively.
What record must Etouga now break?
With seven matches remaining to end the season, Etouga is still ranked third on Kotoko’s all-time topscorer chart in Premier League behind Opoku Afriyie who occupies first and second positions. Afriyie scored 21 league goals during the 1981 season and also netted 26 times in the 1979 season with the latter making him the all-time topscorer in a single season.
Also, the youngster is ranked fifth in the Premier League’s all-time topscorers’ chart behind Kotoko legend Opoku Afriyie who occupies first and third positions, Hearts of Oak’s Ishmael Addo (22 goals in 2001) and former New Edubiase United superstar Emmanuel Baffour (21 goals in 2012)
Who are the next opponents for Kotoko and Etouga?
Interestingly, Kotoko and Etouga face tough opponents – Aduana Stars and Ashanti Gold – in their next two games as they are all derbies.
When totemic clubs Kotoko and Aduana Stars lock horns either at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi or Nana Agyemang Badu I Park in Dormaa Ahenkro, it is one of the most eagerly anticipated football derbies in Ghana and Etouga must embrace himself for a tough afternoon.
Obviously, that game is more than just a football match which is expected to be played only for 90 minutes. A lot is at stake, honestly. It is a clash of cultures; involving Asante and Bono. Again, a reunion also at a point. Many Aduana players including goalkeeper Robert Addo, midfielders Emmanuel Gyamfi and Sam Adams, forward Yahaya Mohammed among others, have previously had stints with Kotoko. They will be visiting their former favourite ground and play in front of a vociferous supporters who once helped them to make names
After that fixture, Kotoko will make a short trip from Kumasi to Obuasi for another crucial encounter against Ashanti Gold. That will present football lovers the chance to watch Etouga versus Yaw Annor as Ghana would tune in to decide who the supreme goalscoring ‘machine’ is, as the duo battle for the goal king diadem.
Yaw Annor of Ashanti Gold is on fire
Etouga leads Annor only two goals after the latter made headlines last weekend by scoring a haul (four goals) in a 5-1 drubbing of Berekum Chelsea to close in on the goal scoring chart.
Ghana Premier League goal king chart
Even if Etouga eventually succumbs the lead he has taken in the goal king race to Annor, the Cameroonian will forever be in the hearts of Kotoko fans and his name will be on their lips for years to come.
How Etouga has scored his 18 goals for Asante Kotoko;
The Cameroonian striker is leading the goal king race but he must shrug off competitions from Yaw Annor and Augustine Okrah who are closing in on him
Asante Kotoko striker Mbella Etouga is still leading the Ghana Premier League goalscoring chart after matchday 27.
The 20-year-old scored the match winner over the weekend against WAFA to help Kotoko open a nine-point gap with seven matches remaining.
Although, Yaw Annor scored a haul (four goals) against Berekum Chelsea in their 5-1 drubbing of the Bono Ahafo side, Etouga is still leading the race.
The Cameroonian has 18 goals, two goals ahead of Yaw as the race heatings to the topmost.
Also, there is Augustine Okrah of Bechem United fame who is gradually getting in goals week in and out.
The 28-year-old won the award in 2014 and he is hoping to win it for the second time. Currently, Okrah has 13 goals, five goals behind Etouga but since he has scored six goals in his last six games for Bechem, he obviously cannot be ruled out.
Check out all the 18 goals scored by Kotoko’s Mbella Etouga
Etouga will come against Aduana Stars at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium next weekend before he faces Yaw Annor in the Asante derby against Ashanti Gold at the Len Clay Sports Stadium in Obuasi.
The forward netted for the fourth time running as Bechem United picked a vital point away from home in the title chase
Bechem United legend Augustine Okrah is just three goals away from equalling a record he set at the club nine years ago.
The 28-year-old won Ghana Premier League topscorer and best player awards during 2013/14 season when he scored 16 goals. He became the first-ever player from Bechem to reach the double figure mark and also win top awards in the league.
And after nine seasons away, it looks like he is back to the club to equal the record and possibly set another one. After signing a one-year deal before the start of the season from Asante Kotoko, Okrah was not tipped to shine by many soccer pundits.
However, he is currently ranked among the topscorers of the season after netting his 13th league goal against King Faisal at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Having ended the first round with only eight goals, Okrah has scored five goals in the second round and he is currently the only player to have been on the score sheet from matchday 25 to 27.
Okrah has now scored six goals and provided four assists in his last six games compromising of Premier League and FA Cup.
With seven matches remaining, Okrah is expected to at least score three more goals to equal his record and possibly add other goals to set new one which may also take years to break.
He is currently five goals behind Asante Kotoko striker Mbella Etouga and three goals behind Ashanti Gold Stars Yaw Annor, who scored four times over the weekend against Berekum Chelsea.
However, Okrah is known for his wonderful finish when the Premier League is at its climax.
In 2014, after scoring only three goals in the first round, he doubled his efforts to bang in 13 goals and went on to beat Asante Kotoko striker Seidu Bancey who was tipped to win the award.
Bechem United will host defending champions Hearts of Oak next weekend at the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park before they travel to Tamale to face relegation-threatened RTU.
