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Breaking News: Former Kotoko midfielder Kwame Boahene retires from football

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Breaking News: Former Kotoko midfielder Kwame Boahene retires from football

The former Porcupine Warriors midfielder last played for Asante Kotoko in 2019 and reports emerging from his camp suggest he will not be making a return to the game

Former Asante Kotoko and Medeama SC midfielder Kwame Boahene has reportedly retired from professional football at the age of 28, AshesGyamera.com understand.

Boahene has been without a club since leaving Kotoko in 2019, having made just handful appearances for the Kumasi-based giants before injuries cut his season short.

Why has Boahene retired?

The former Medeama and Liberty Professionals midfielder is believed to have said that he wants to venture into different things after injuries played a key role in his decision to retire.

Boahene is currently in Holland and he is expected to officially announce his next line of action.

How did Boahene start his career?

The attacking midfielder came through Liberty Professionals’ academy and made his professional debut for the club in 2012 at the age of 17. He went on to make 33 appearances over three years for the former Ghana Premier League side before he was bought by Medeama in 2016.

Boahene scored 16 times in his two seasons for the Yellow and Mauve before moving to Asante Kotoko in 2017/18 season for a fee around $50,000, and went on to win the FA Cup in 2017 as well as NC tournament in 2019.

Injuries soon started to affect Boahene at Kotoko and limited him to few game time. As a result,  he was unable to regain his place in the team and left out of the club’s new registered players for 2019/20 season.

He then traveled to Netherlands and after several consultations, he has opted to bring down the curtains.

Boahene was part of the Black Satellites (Ghana U20) squad that won silver medal at the 2013 Africa U20 Cup of Nations and bronze medal at FIFA U20 World Cup staged in Turkey in 2013.

Bechem United intensify preparations to shock Asante Kotoko in Kumasi [pictures + video]

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Bechem United intensify preparations to shock Asante Kotoko in Kumasi [pictures + video]

The Hunters had a full house on Thursday as they fine tuned ahead of the top of the table clash on Sunday

Bechem United continued with their preparations for Sunday’s make or break encounter against Asante Kotoko in Ghana Premier League.

After being hit with health issues on Tuesday and Wednesday following the injection of COVID-19 vaccines, all the players of Bechem United showed signs of recovery and were present for the training session held at Presbyterian Senior High School in Bechem.

The Hunters are looking forward to make it two wins in a row after annihilating Medeama 4-0 at home last weekend.

Superstar Augustine Okrah was present and went through all the sessions without any issues just like Latif Anabila who also joined the club on loan from Kotoko last month.

Head coach Kassim Mingle led his players through drills and set pieces before they rehearsed portions of the tactics and formations they want to deploy for sunday’s game.

Kotoko, on the other hand, will hold their training on Thursday afternoon since they played a friendly game on Wednesday afternoon. The Porcupines defeated lower division side Future Stars 2-1 at the Adako Jachie training ground thanks to goals from Mbella and Clinton Opoku.

AKUFO-ADDO WILL DELIVER AFRICA PARA GAMES AND APC HEADQUARTERS SPORTS MINISTER ASSURES SAMSON DEEN.

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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AKUFO-ADDO WILL DELIVER AFRICA PARA GAMES AND APC HEADQUARTERS SPORTS MINISTER ASSURES SAMSON DEEN.

The newly-elected President of African Paralympic Committee, Mr Samson Deen has paid a courtesy call on the Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon Mustapha Ussif at his office in Accra yesterday.

Mr Deen used the opportunity to express his sincerest gratitude and utmost appreciation to the Sector Minister for the support he gave him towards his aspiration to become the new Paralympic President on the continent.

He also thanked His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for approving his candidate and the best of assurances he gave him prior to the contest.

He also thanked all Ghanaians, from far and near, for their continuous prayers that ensured his victory.

The Minister also congratulated the President-elect and assured him of every support that he will need in the execution of his mandate and how the government of Nana Akufo-Addo has continously expressed the desire to promote and develop the least-financed sports in the country.

“I can assure you, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic is committed to seeing the least-financed sports grow and achieve laurels in Ghana, all geared towards the total promotion and development of sports.

With him for the courtesy call included the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Evans Opoku Bobie who led the delegation to Rabat, Morocco to ensure the victory.

Others were the Chief Director of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Alhaji Hafiz Adam, Director General of the National Sports Authority, Professor Peter Twumasi, Deputy Director (Technical), Mr Kwame Amponfi Jnr and some executive members of the Ghana National Paralympic Committee.

Nana Yaw Amponsah briefs Kotoko fans on Baba Yara Stadium return as they prepare to face Bechem United

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Nana Yaw Amponsah briefs Kotoko fans on Baba Yara Stadium return as they prepare to face Bechem United

The Reds chief has outlined to the supporters what is expected of them as they prepare to play their first home game of the season in Kumasi

Asante Kotoko chief executive officer Nana Yaw Amponsah has revealed his excitement to see the club play at Baba Yara Sports Stadium as they prepare to host Bechem United in Ghana Premier League on Sunday.

Following his appointment last year, the club opted to host their home games at the Accra Sports Stadium and later Len Clay Sports Stadium in Obuasi since Baba Yara Sports Stadium was under renovation.

As a result, the club failed to achieve its targets last season. However, they have been given the green light to return home after one year and seven months but it comes with obligations since they can’t allow a full capacity due to the COVID-19 protocols.

“We are all excited about the fact that we are going back to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. Unfortunately, we have only 25 per cent at the moment but we need to prove to the government that we are capable of maintaining sanity and discipline at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium,” Amponsah said.

β€œI will urge all of us that even as we are going back to Baba Yara we are only capable of hosting 25 per cent of the capacity of the stadium with 10,000 people out of 40,000 so we should not waste the opportunity to remain at Baba Yara because if we go overboard we will have sanctions from the authorities and may have to move away from our home grounds from Babayara. I think nobody wants that.

β€œThen again, if we don’t maintain sanity, we don’t observe the protocols of the COVID-19 then we will have the government on our hails and at the end of the day, we will be able to justify that.

β€œWe should be capable of maintaining law and older and therefore many more people to come to the stadium. I will plead with all of you in as much as we want to have all of you there we can’t because even with the full capacity of the stadium is allowed it can only be 40,000 in there and we have millions and millions of supporters.

β€œI will urge you that if you are not able to be at Baba Yara on Sunday we would prefer that if you able to come then support the team from home and wherever you are so that we can continue to convince the government that we are capable of observing the protocols and maintain good health and they will give us even an increased capacity going forward. So I will like to welcome you all once again to a new season, it going to be exciting,” he added.

Amponsah also shed light on the players and why he believes the core of the team is still intact to achieve something this season.

β€œWe believe very much in this team,” he said.

“For instance, if you look at the old players – those who were there before this season – about 15 of them were all active in the first eleven during last season so it is not as if it’s a completely new team.

“The core of the last season’s team is there and we have introduced it with some qualities as well so we believe that the league is a marathon. We’ve just played one game out of the 34 so there are 33 more matches to go.”

“Kotoko haven’t built completely new team,” Nana Yaw Amponsah tells critics

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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“Kotoko haven’t built completely new team,” Nana Yaw Amponsah tells critics

The Porcupine Warriors chief has rejected suggestions that they have built completely a new squad following the arrival of about sixteen players

Asante Kotoko chief executive officer Nana Yaw Amponsah has refuted claims that the club may struggle to achieve its aims this season following the exit of several key players.

After Kotoko slipped off the pace in the Premier League last season and finishing as runners-up to rivals Hearts of Oak as well as reaching only the round of 16 in FA Cup, 12 players including captain Felix Annan and assistant captain Emmanuel Gyamfi left the club for various reasons.

Others including Augustine Okrah, Habib Mohammed, Wahab Adams and Naby Keita also moved out while sixteen players were signed to fill the void created.

Four new players started the opening day game against Dreams FC while the three substitutions made -Richard Boadu, Isaac Oppong and Dickson Afoakwa- were all new arrivals.


However, the CEO believes the core of the team is still intact and the decision to offload some of the players won’t affect the club’s progress despite now scrapping for an improved finish under new coach Prosper Narteh Ogum who took over from Portuguese manager Mariano Baretto.

β€œWe believe very much in this team,” Amponsah said in an interview on Ceek.

“For instance, if you look at the old players – those who were there before this season – about 15 of them were all active in the first eleven during last season so it is not as if it’s a completely new team.

“The core of the last season’s team is there and we have introduced it with some qualities as well so we believe that the league is a marathon. We’ve just played one game out of the 34 so there are 33 more matches to go.

“But we are all excited about the fact that we are going back to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. Unfortunately, we have only 25 per cent at the moment but we need to prove to the government that we are capable of maintaining sanity and discipline at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium,” he added.

Kotoko opened their season’s account with a 3-1 victory over Dreams FC last weekend. They will play their first home game at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday for the first time in almost two years.

Breaking News: Ghana FA reschedule Premier League game between Medeama & Gold Stars

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Breaking News: Ghana FA reschedule Premier League game between Medeama & Gold Stars

The country’s football governing body has decided to postpone the game which was earlier scheduled to take place on Sunday

Ghana Football Association has postponed matchday two of Ghana Premier League game between Medeama and Bibiani Gold Stars, AshesGyamera.com understands.

The fixture which was initially billed to take place on Sunday, November 7 at the Akoon Park in Tarkwa has been rescheduled for Wednesday, November 10.

According to AshesGyamera’s sources, Medeama petitioned the Football Association that they can’t use the Cape Coast Sports Stadium as home ground after their home venue was rejected by the Club Licensing Committee.

Medeama insists that they have worked on all the recommendations made by the committee and they must inspect it once again for approval before they play their home game.

Although, Medeama claimed initially that the COVID-19 vaccines which their players took played a major role in their 4-0 defeat against Bechem United on Sunday, this rescheduling of the game against Gold Stars is far from that.

Gold Stars who are playing in their season of Ghana Premier League picked a famous 1-0 win over Berekum Chelsea on opening day at home thanks to Kingsford Boafo’s long range goal.

The fixture against Medeama will be their first away game played in the top-flight and a lot of supporters are expected to travel from Bibiani to Tarkwa to throw their support behind them.

Kotoko 2-1 Future Stars: Porcupines pip the lower division side without Gama, Ganiu & other top Stars

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Kotoko 2-1 Future Stars: Porcupines pip the lower division side without Gama, Ganiu & other top Stars

The Porcupine Warriors came from behind once again to record a victory in their training match against the lower division side

Asante Kotoko once again rallied from behind to defeat third tier side Future Stars 2-1 in a training match at the Adako Jachie training ground on Wednesday.

With the Porcupine Warriors preparing to play their first home game of the season against Bechem United at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday, Kotoko chose the lower division side to practice some of the tactics they have rehearsed on Monday and Tuesday.

Prosper Narteh Ogum decided to rest all the players that played part of Kotoko’s 3-1 comeback win over Dreams FC on opening day of the season.

As a result, goalkeeper Kwame Baah started in post while the back four was made up of Samuel Appiah, Charles Owusu, Maxwell Agyemang and Andrew Appau.

In midfielder, Emmanuel Keyekeh partnered Ibrahim Imoro, Andy Kumi and Etuoga Mbella Frank Thierry while Mfegue George Rodrigues and Clinton Opoku led the attack for Kotoko.

Future Stars took the lead after a defensive blunder from Kotoko’s back line by the 20th minute.

However Kotoko restored parity on 75th minute through youngster Clinton Opoku.

With five minutes remaining to end proceedings, Mfegue latched on the ball and scored the match-winner.

The goal was so superbly scored that it got the over two hundred supporters who were watching the game to applaud his brilliance.

Ogum is expected to parade a formidable side on Sunday as he plays in front of Kotoko faithfuls for the first time since taking over from Mariano Baretto.

Bechem United players hit with health issues ahead of Kotoko clash

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Bechem United players hit with health issues ahead of Kotoko clash

The Hunters players have failed to regain full strength after they took their COVID-19 vaccines on Monday

Bechem United players are struggling to train ahead of the Premier League game against Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday.

After thrashing Medeama 4-0 on opening day of the season at home, the players were given their jabs at the Bechem government hospital and a lot of them have since failed to fully recover.

On Tuesday, several players could not turn up for training and those who defied the odds to make it either complained of weakness and fatigue or general body pains.

Others also had to quit the training session midway in order to save themselves from other complications.

“I’ve been down since they gave us this vaccine. I don’t know if that is how everyone feel but I think it should’ve been given to us before the season started,” one of the players told AshesGyamera.com

“It has affected our training sessions because almost the entire group of players are complaining about one thing which is general body weakness. If your immune system is not strong, I think it may even affect you in the long run.

“We have a crucial game on Sunday and it is unfortunate these things are happening. I hope that we can regain our strength and catch up with the loss time in order to be ready for Kotoko. We have to silence them in front of their fans who will be watching them for the first time in several months,” the player added.

Bechem are sitting top of the league log and would be hoping to maintain their winning streak and clean sheet against Kotoko.

They are expected to land in Kumasi with several players who previously played for Kotoko including Augustine Okrah, Emmanuel Asante and Latif Anabila.

Asante Kotoko captain Ganiu & board member Nsiah-Asare nominated for 2021 SWAG Awards

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Asante Kotoko captain Ganiu & board member Nsiah-Asare nominated for 2021 SWAG Awards

The Porcupine Warriors duo will have to shrug off competitions to lift the gong in December

Asante Kotoko captain Abdul Ganiu Ismail has been nominated for the award of Best Footballer of the year in Ghana at the 2021 Sports Writers Association’s Awards.

The 28-year-old guided Kotoko finish second last season in the league and reached the round of 16 stage of the FA Cup. Also, he was called to the senior national team and helped Ghana to secure a place in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations to be staged in Cameroon.

However, he as to beat competitions from Diawisie Taylor who scored 17 goals to win Ghana Premier League goal king and Daniel Afriyie Barnieh who led Ghana U20 national team to win Africa U20 Nations Cup as well as playing a major role in Hearts of Oak winning their first league trophy in almost a decade.

Also, Hasaacas Ladies chief executive officer Evelyn Nsiah Asare who doubles as Kotoko board member has been nominated for the award of administrator of the year for her excellent works which saw Hasaacas clinch Ghana Women’s Premier League title and maiden WAFU Champions League trophy.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Kudus, Daniel Amartey and Jonathan Mensah will square it of for the Best Ghanaian footballer plying his trade outside the country.

Young boxer Samuel Takyi, who won Ghana’s first medal at the 2020 Olympic Games will challenge Daniel Afriyie Barnieh and Ghana’s 4×100 relay team for the topmost -Sports Personality of the Year- award of the night.

The awards night has been scheduled for December.

FULL LIST OF NOMINEES:

Sports Personality of the Year

4X100m Relay Team – Athletics

Samuel Takyi – Amateur Boxing

Daniel Afriyie Barnieh – Football, Hearts
                                       

 Footballer of the Year (Foreign)

Daniel Amartey [Leicester City]

Mohammed Kudus [Ajax]

Jonathan Mensah [Columbus Crew]

Footballer of the Year (Home Based)

Diawusie Taylor (Karela United)

Daniel Afriyie Barnieh (Hearts of Oak)

Ishmeal Ganiu (Asante Kotoko)

Female Footballer of the Year – Female

Constance Agyemang – Berry Ladies

Janet Agyiri – Hasaacas

Jafar Rahama – Northern Ladies/Hasaacas

Coach of the Year

Abdul Karim Zito (U20)

Christian Nsiah – Athletics

Samuel Boadu – Hearts

Coach Ofori Asare – Amateur Boxing

Yussif Basigi – Hasaacas Ladies

Athlete of the Year (Male)

Benjamin Azamati

Joseph Paul Amoah

Athlete of the Year (Female)

Deborah Acquah

Boxer of the Year (Professional)

Alfred Lamptey

Mohammed Aryeetey

John Abaja Laryea

Boxer of the Year (Amateur)

Samuel Takyi – Featherweight

SWAG Top 5 (Discipline Rank) Shortlist

Athletics

Amateur Boxing

Badminton

Chess

Rugby

Table Tennis

Tennis

Discovery of the Year

Constance Serwaa Agyemang [Football/Berry Ladies]

Fatawu Issahaku [Football/Steadfast]

Kamaldeen Sulemana

Unilez Takyi – Swimming

Administrator of Year

Evelyn Nsiah-Asare (Hasaacas Ladies)

George Okoe Lamptey (Ghana Boxing Federation)

Gifty Oware-Aboagye (Berry Ladies

SWAG President Award

Ken Bediako

Corporate Award

Betway Ghana

Life Time Achievement

Stephen Appiah

Decorative Award

Togbe Afede XIV

Nana Bayin Eyison

Dedication and Valour

Coach Ofori Asare (Amateur Boxing)

Lawyer Ntow Fianko

Oduro Nyarko

Chess Player of the Year

Philip Selikem Yao Amoako

Badminton Player of the Year

Kelvin Alphous – Male

Prospera Nantuo – Female

Tennis Player of the Year

Male Samuel Agbesi Antwi – Male

Naa Shika Mackorley – Female

Swimming Athlete of the Year

Unilez Takyi

The 46th edition of the unbroken SWAG Awards is scheduled for December 2021.

Adako Jachie report: Prosper Ogum returns to training as Kotoko intensify preparations for Bechem

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Adako Jachie report: Prosper Ogum returns to training as Kotoko intensify preparations for Bechem

The Porcupine Warriors continued with their preparations to host their first game at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in almost two years

Asante Kotoko head coach Prosper Ogum Narteh was present at training on Tuesday after missing Monday’s edition, AshesGyamera.com can confirm.

The gaffer was believed to have been given a day off to attend to some pressing issues and returned on time to spearhead the second training session of the week.

With Kotoko seriously preparing to play their first home game at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday against Bechem United, 31 players were present just like on Monday.

Players like Fabio Gama, Razak Abalora, Kwame Baah and the trio of Mudasiru Salifu, Isaac Oppong and Richmond Lamptey who scored on Saturday to help Kotoko defeat Dreams FC were all actively involved in the training session.

Assistant coaches David Ocloo and John Eduafo began the training session with the players before Ogum took over to guide the players in practicing tactics and formations that can be deployed against Bechem on Sunday.

Andy Kumi, who scored a hat-trick during the Monday training session, was once again on target after he combined with another player.

Dickson ‘Yaw Dick’ Afoakwa who also scored a brace on Monday bagged a hat-trick this time around to the joy of the few supporters present.

Meanwhile, Stephen Amankonah also scored a brace whereas Patrick Asmah, Evans Adomako, Mbella, Agyapong, Amoako and Keyekeh scored a goal each to boost their confidence.

Kotoko have announced the gate fees for the game against Bechem and VVIP section is going out for 100 cedis while popular stand and centre line are 30 cedis and 40 cedis respectively.

The price of tickets for the Wing side of the stadium will be 50 cedis and there will be an advance ticket sale at several places to be announced later by the club.

Bechem top the log with three points, tied on the same points with Kotoko but they have a superior goal difference.

According to AshesGyamera’s sources, Bechem United players took their COVID-19 vaccines on Monday and will begin serious training on Wednesday morning.

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