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Watford host Manchester United in after the international break as Ole Gunner Solskjaer hope to recover from the poor start of the season
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A win is imminent for United as it will be the only result to ease the pressure on the club and manager Solskjaer who is believed could be sacked in the coming days
The youngster has opened up on why he rejected his maiden call up to play for Ghana
A.S Roma young striker Felix Afena-Gyan has shed light on why he turned down the chance to play for Ghana on international stage.
The 18-year-old was called up by Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac prior to the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia and South Africa but he opted to be excused.
The former Berekum Presbyterian Senior High School student says he feels it was too early to as he is yet to find his feet in Serie A under Jose Mourinho.
Speaking in an interview with ace journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, the striker says he didn’t feel the time was right to don the national team jersey.
“I felt it was too early for me to answer the call from the national team because I need to grow, physically but also mentally and psychologically” Afena-Gyan revealed.
“I also thought it was important for me to stay in Trigoria to accumulate training under [Jose] Mourinho’s orders, to continue improving and growing.
“I have a lot of respect for my national team and I hope to be part of it in the future. The coach asked me if I would go and I told him I didn’t feel ready yet. But it was my decision. I thought it was premature for me to take such a step,” he concluded.
Ahead of Saturday’s late kick off in Ghana Premier League, the discussions have swayed entirely from tactics and formations to how well the referees, especially the one in centre, will fare?
After one year, ten months and eight days (678 days in total), referee Charles Bulu makes a return to Baba Yara Sports Stadium as Asante Kotoko welcome Techiman Eleven Wonders on Saturday evening in matchday four of Ghana Premier League. However, reports are rife that a section of Kotoko’s supporters are skeptical of how well Bulu will perform since the last memories of him are somethings they would hope to quickly forget.
On January 13, 2020, Charles Bulu was appointed to officiate the game against between Kotoko and Berekum Chelsea but things went north after the game since the home supporters protested as their side lost 1-0 thanks to Kofi Owusu’s lone effort.
With Kotoko already down by a goal, their troubles moved from bad to worse after Bulu showed defender Empem Dacosta his marching orders. The referee gave the centre-back a yellow card for a rush tackle on Stephen Amankonah which means that that was his second booking of the day.
However, television replays suggested that Bulu got it wrong because it was Kwame Adom Frimpong who had committed the foul. Although, Kotoko players, technical team and supporters protested for several minutes, the referee was not ready to hear them out and didn’t reverse the decision.
That meant that Kotoko had to finish the game with numerical disadvantage and this got the fans infuriated after final whistle. The police and other security officers around tried to shield referee Charles Bulu and his assistants from the angry fans who were unsatisfied by their performance.
In the process, a gunshot was fired by one policeman and it badly injured one fan who was later identified as Augustine Oppong. The bullet hit the left eye of the Oppong and he had to be rushed to the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. He later lost the eye after surgery since it was badly hurt.
Kotoko then registered displeasure on the shooting incident which marred the fixture.
“We are appalled by the events that characterised the club’s matchday three fixture against Berekum Chelsea on Sunday 12th January 2020 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in the 2019/20 Ghana Premier League,” Kotoko wrote in a statement on Monday.
“Hooliganism is one thing no professional football club wants to be associated with and we at Asante Kotoko SC will not endorse any such thing. We are saddened that, the reaction of some of the disappointed fans after the match led to responsible developments including the shooting and injury of an innocent supporter.
“While we vehemently condemn the conduct of any unruly fan, we find it difficult to accept the behaviour of the Police officer who allegedly shot a fan. We maintain our abhorrence for hooliganism. Violence cannot be part of the game. We will not give excuses for what happened. We however compelled to state our displeasure with the shooting incident.
“We will liaise with the Ghana Police Service to bring the matter to appropriate conclusion while we continue to seek medical attention for our injured fan. We appeal to our supporters to remain calm and note that, no matter the circumstance, exercising restraint is always a good option.
“Management will team up with the Ghana Football Association and other stakeholders of the game to ensure that, discipline and decency are brought to our venue all the time.”
Now, Bulu has the chance to prove his worth to all stakeholders in the country’s football.
Meanwhile, Techiman Eleven Wonders captain Kwayie Simms has claimed that they have been at the wrong side of officiating whenever they face Asante Kotoko in Ghana Premier League.
The defender is also calling on referee Charles Bulu to officiate the game fairly so that the best side will emerge as winners.
“We have played Kotoko in Kumasi on three occasions. They’ve beaten us in all these games” Simms told Ashh FM in an interview.
“But if you watched those games, we suffered bad officiating. In all the two games it didn’t end well for us. In those games, the referees did everything to ensure that Kotoko will win the day and it is quite frustrating.
“But the other victory they had was a clean one. Aside that one, the other two games we were hard done by the referees and I hope this weekend’s fixture will be quiet different,” he added .
Kotoko are topping the log with nine points after winning their first three games while Wonders are yet to pick a win in all the games played so far.
The Porcupine Warriors coach has opted to drop two players who have played major roles in his side’s success so far this season
Asante Kotoko coach Prosper Ogum Narteh has announced a 21-man squad for Saturday’s Ghana Premier League matchday four fixture against Eleven Wonders at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
Following the return of captain Abdul Ganiu Ismail from international duties with Ghana, the defender has easily walked into the squad and will likely start the game against the Bono East giants.
However, his partner Yussif Mubarik whom he started the opening two games with against Dreams FC and Bechem United have been dropped.
Mubarik lost his place in the starting line up against Gold Stars and have now been left out of the team completely due to poor form coupled with lack of fitness.
As a result, Maxwell Agyemang and Andrew Appau who started the last match have been maintained while young defender Augustine Agyapong gets his first chance to be in the club’s matchday squad as a replacement for Mubarik.
Meanwhile, all the midfielders that went to camp last week have been maintained but striker Joseph Amoako who started the first two games has been dropped.
The youngster has failed to hugely prove his mettle upon all the chances given him. His place has been taken over by Cameroonian striker Etuoga Mbella Frank Thierry who scored Kotoko’s only goal in the 1-0 narrow win over lower-tier side Asekem FC in a friendly game on Wednesday.
Kotoko are hoping to make it four wins in a row and further widen the gap at the top since joint leaders King Faisal suffered their first defeat of the campaign on Saturday against Berekum Chelsea at the Golden City Park in Berekum.
Meanwhile, Eleven Wonders are also looking forward to win their first game after four matches.
Asante Kotoko’s 21-man squad to face Eleven Wonders:
Goalkeepers: Razak Abalora, Kwame Baah
Defenders: Christopher Nettey, Samuel Appiah, Patrick Asmah, Imoro Ibrahim, Abdul Ganiyu, Andrews Appau, Maxwell Agyemang, Augustine Agyapong
Midfielders: Richard Boadu, Mudasiru Salifu, Richmond Lamptey, Fabio Gama, Sheriff Mohammed
Attackers: Samuel Boateng, Stephen Amankonah, Isaac Oppong, Dickson Afoakwa, Frank Thierry Etuoga Mbella, Mfegue Georges
Chiefs, Opinion leaders and residents as well as football lovers in Sunyani have rejected government’s announcement to rehabilitate the Sunyani Coronation Park and give it a Face-lift, rather they requested a standardized sports stadium.
Sunyani Coronation Park was the home venue of Division One clubs including, Bofoakwa Tano Football Club (FC), Brong Ahafo United FC, Young Apostles FC, Prisons Ladies FC and many other football clubs in the Bono region.
The Sunyani Coronation Park rehabilitation and Face-lift was announced on Wednesday in the 2022 budget presentation by Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, the Finance Minister and said, “In 2022, the government will continue with the construction of the Abiriw and the New Edubiase sports stadium, as well as commence the rehabilitation of the Sunyani coronation park stadium”.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen, the chiefs, football lovers, opinion leaders and business men in the Municipality felt successive governments have failed to honour their promises made to the people of Sunyani.
Nana Kwame Addai Kuntuma IV, the Nifahene of the Sunyani Traditional Council insisted they would not allow any refurbishment again, saying the Traditional Council would ensure Sunyani gets new sports stadium for all the sporting activities and not rehabilitation of the old Coronation Park.
He explained sporting activities tremendously boost economic activities and indirectly creates numerous jobs for not only the people in Sunyani, but the region as a whole.
Nana Kuntuma IV emphasized the
availability of job opportunities for livelihoods improvement,drastically reduces crime rate in the area, because the youth would have something meaningful doing.
He added if there was a FIFA standardized sports stadium, it would attract investors and also promote tourism to improve the country’s revenue sources.
Mr. Ransford Antwi, the Chief Executive Officer for a Sunyani based Suncity Radio felt
the people of Sunyani had always been treated as “second class citizens” in term of developmental projects and infrastructure.
Also a former CEO of the Brong Ahafo United FC, Mr. Antwi worried Sunyani had vast land for the construction of new FIFA standardized sports stadium for all the sporting disciplines
therefore, kicked against the announcement to rehabilitate the old Coronation Park, saying “we wants standard stadium to unearth young talents, but not rehabilitation of old facility”.
He cited that Sunyani Technical Institute was renamed Sunyani Polytechnic and now Sunyani Technical University, Nkrumah Park turned to Jubilee Park, Sunyani School of Forestry was also renamed as the University of Energy and Natural Resources.
Why is it that renaming is all they have for Sunyani from decades ago, don’t we deserve something better”? he quizzed.
Mr. Antwi bemoaned maintenance and rehabilitation works at the Sunyani Airport since 2019 was still not completed and now Coronation Park refurbishment, meanwhile, other Districts were getting stadia.
He lamented “after choosing to fall in love with the Elephant, what has the City of the Elephant got to show for our loyalty to the party, only refurbishment?.
Mr Michael Asare Yeboah, the Board Chairman for McKenzie Ghana Limited, a Sunyani based clothing and sports wear company said he was “disappointed in those claiming they were political icons for Sunyani”.
He explained “Sunyani had undoubtedlly produced numerous footballers for the Ghana Black Stars since time in memorial, but is like successive governments were not recognizing that tremendous contribution to the progress of Ghana football.
Mr. Atta Akoto Senior, President of the Sunyani Youth Development Association stressed rehabilitation of the Sunyani Coronation Park rather than new stadium was so disrespectful and ungrateful to the people of Sunyani.
He said “leadership of the ruling New Patriotic Party in the city are loud mouth when it’s about defending their party but go mute when development is raised as an issue”.
Mr. Akoto further stated it was a mere mischief” to deny the people of Sunyani development”, adding, “those in charge to spearhead real development rather celebrate mediocrity in their back yard”.
“Ghana should not forget that the first world cup to ever touch the shores of Ghana was brought in through the captainship of one Alex Opoku from Sunyani in the year 1991”, he recalled.
Mr. Akoto in that regard stated “if Sunyani in the best knowledge of the NPP does not deserve a new stadium which can also be useful for athletics and other sporting disciplines, they should forget about it”.
Major Kwame Baah, a former CEO of BA United in related development accentuates “we shall resist this, because, Sunyani’s contribution to the Ghana Black Stars was immeasurable”.
He worried schools and Colleges games, Division One league game, Cooperate games, Second Division league, fun clubs and all social games were played at the same Sunyani Coronation park, meanwhile, the Traditional Council had given about acres of land for stadium project.
The defender has admitted that the Black Stars were fortunate to be awarded a soft penalty which aided their qualification
Ghana defender Andy Yiadom has revealed that he feels South Africa were unfortunate to have conceded a soft penalty against the Black Stars last weekend in the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers.
The Reading full back says that after watching replays of the penalty that was awarded Ghana after Daniel Amartey was brought down could’ve been overlooked.
“When I was on the pitch it looked like it was a penalty, but I have watched it back it looks like it could be a little bit soft,” Yiadom told World Football on the BBC World Service.
“But it is football and I have had them given against me plenty of times and it is one of those things and it was about actually scoring the penalty which we did.
“I have been the person who has just touched him and the other person has just fallen over. At the moment I know we won the game and that’s that.”
Yiadom also revealed that none of the players has talked about this incident on their social media group.
“We have a WhatsApp group but nothing has really been said in it and I haven’t really been following it – has been pretty hectic and I have been travelling a lot and been in training and have to crack on with the game (for Reading against Nottingham Forest) on Saturday.” he said.
Yiadom says that the return to Ghana of Milovan Rajevac after several years away was a good move for the Black Stars.
“It has been really good and I think he knows the logistics of Ghana and I think that’s helping and everyone’s taken to him and it is a good appointment,” he insisted.
South Africa have since lodged a compliant at Fifa and Caf since they believe that Senegalese referee Ndiaye was manipulated by Ghana.
The Ghanaians failed to impress when it mattered most as Mamelodi Sundowns showed them how to win titles
Ghanaian giants Hasaacas Ladies were defeated 2-0 by ten-woman Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies in the final of 2021 Caf Women’s Champions League at the June 30 Sports Stadium in Cairo, Egypt on Friday.
The Sekondi-Takoradi based club were hoping to win a treble after initially winning Ghana Premier League and West African Women’s Champions League titles.
After an impressive start, Hasaacas failed to make the few chances they had count as Evelyn Badu and Boaduwaa fluffed them.
The South Africans began to grow in confidence and finally found an open by the 33rd minute to go ahead through Chuene Morifi.
The midfielder connected a pass from her teammate and brilliant slotted the ball into the empty net from a close range.
After the break, Sundowns continued from where they left and caused a lot of troubles for the defence of Hasaacas.
Andisiwe Mggoyi doubled Sundowns advantage by the 64th minute after a poor defending by Hasaacas. The 31-year-old latched onto a through pass and calmly finished it off beyond the reach of onrushing Hasaacas goalkeeper.
Hasaacas Ladies came close to pull one back by the 76th minute but Perpetual Agyekum’s powerful drive from a free-kick was tipped off by Sundowns goalkeeper for a corner kick.
Sundowns were reduced to ten women on 90th minute as substitute Regina Mogolola was sent off after only five minutes following a rush tackle.
However, the numerical advantage was too little too late for Hasaacas Ladies as they failed to capitalize on it to stage a comeback.
![Live Streaming: Hasaacas Ladies vs Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies [Caf Women’s Champions League final]](https://ashesgyamera.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/20211119_180847-768x601.jpg "Live Streaming: Hasaacas Ladies vs Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies [Caf Women’s Champions League final]")
The Hasmals are just a step away this evening to become the maiden winners of the Women’s version of Champions League
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Ghanaian giants Hasaacas Ladies take on Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies from South Africa in the final of the maiden Caf Women’s Champions League at June 30 Sports Stadium in Cairo, Egypt on Friday.
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Hasaacas are hoping to complete a treble this season after already winning Ghana Premier League and WAFU Champions League a couple of months ago.
After winning three games and sharing the spoils once before reaching this stage, Hasaacas must brush aside resilient Sundowns who are also yet to taste defeat in the competition.
The South African giants defeated Malabo Kings 5-4 on penalties in the semifinals after the game travelled to a extra time.
Hasaacas Ladies striker Evelyn Badu has already scored five goals after four games and would be hoping to add to her tally this evening to help her emerge as the Golden Boot winner.
The Uruguayan has joined the Hunters as the new technical director and will also double as the youth team coach
Ghana Premier League side Bechem United have announced the signing of Uruguayan Gonzalez Machado Alfredo Carlos as the club’s new technical director in a two-year deal.
The 53-year-old is also expected to take over the youth team and help nurture talents for the European market.
“We are delighted to announce that an agreement has been reached with 𝗚𝗢𝗡𝗭𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗭 𝗠𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗗𝗢 𝗔𝗟𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗢 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗢𝗦 as our TECHNICAL DIRECTOR & YOUTH TEAM HEAD COACH,” a club statement read.
“The experienced talian Uruguayan tactician joins us on a two-year deal,” the statement added.
Machado is expected to be in the stands when Bechem United play Accra Lions in matchday four of Ghana Premier League at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday.
The Porcupine Warriors took their final major training session to Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Thursday
Asante Kotoko head coach Prosper Ogum Narteh was allowed by the clubs top hierarchy to move their final training session from Adako Jachie to Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
He is expected to at least make one change in his squad that will start against Techiman Eleven Wonders on matchday four of Ghana Premier League on Saturday with skipper Abdul Ganiu Ismail to replace either Andrew Appau or Maxwell Agyemang in defence.
Also, midfielder Richard Boadu ‘Agadas’ is likely to pave way for a winger and Mudasiru Salifu will then take over the defensive midfield role.
Also, Cameroonian striker Etuoga Mbella Frank Thierry will likely play his debut game for Kotoko barring any unforeseen circumstances in the eleventh hour. The 21-year-old’s performance at training has caught the eye of the technical team and they are ready to offer him the opportunity to make his bow for the club.
Mbella’s goal – an awesome lob- in the friendly game against Asekem in midweek was largely praised by his teammates and the technical team and the striker is brimming with confidence to announce his arrival even if he is given the last ten minutes against Wonders on Saturday.
Although, there are no major injury concerns with regards to Kotoko’s midfielders, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Richard Boadu ‘Agadas’ is benched for the weekend’s game since Ogum prefers to play Mudasiru Salifu in the holding midfield role and release Fabio Gama and Richmond Lamptey in an attacking formation.
Boadu’s full debut against Gold Stars was quite impressive but with Kotoko hoping to attack their opponents from all angles right after the blast of referee Charles Bulu’s whistle on Saturday, the former Medeama midfielder may have to come into the fray later in the game to offer stability to tiring legs.
Kotoko’s probable XI vs Eleven Wonders:
Kotoko’s probable XI vs Gold Stars:
Razak Abalora (C), Christopher Nettey, Patrick Asmah, Abdul Ganiu Ismail, Andrews Appau, Mudasiru Salifu, Stephen Amankonah/Richard Boadu, Richmond Lamptey, Fabio Gama, Isaac Oppong, Samuel Boateng