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Ghana Premier League clubs submit home grounds to GFA; Kotoko return to Baba Yara

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Ghana Premier League clubs submit home grounds to GFA; Kotoko return to Baba Yara

All the eighteen clubs set to participate in the 2021/22 season of the top-flight have submitted their home grounds subjected to approval by Ghana FA

Asante Kotoko, Hearts of Oak and other sixteen remaining Ghana Premier League clubs have submitted their home grounds, alternative home grounds and training facilities to Ghana Football Association, AshesGyamera.com can confirm.

Kotoko, who played all their matches relatively away from home last season are set to return to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium only of it will be completed on time.

The Porcupine Warriors started last season with their home games at the Accra Sports Stadium before they changed it to Len Clay Sports in Obuasi in the second half of the campaign. They have also chosen Len Clay as the alternative home ground should the works at Baba Yara don’t complete on time.

Also, city rivals King Faisal will return to Baba Yara Sports Stadium after playing all their home games at the Ohene Ameyaw Park in Techiman last season. The Inshallah Boys have once again picked Techiman as their alternative home.

Meanwhile, new entrants Bibiani Gold Stars are hoping to play their home games at their favorite Duns’ Park in Bibiani despite suggestions that they should move to the Multi Purpose Sports complex in Nyinahin which is just a stone throw away.

Hearts are set to remain at the Accra Sports as while Legon Cities will move from Accra Sports Stadium to Carl Reindolf Park in Dansoman.

Returnees Real Tamale United are hoping to host their home games at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale while newbies Accra Lions join Hearts and Great Olympics to play at Accra Sports Stadium

All these requests by the clubs are subjected to approval before the league starts in October.

1 goal in 40 games: Why Jordan Ayew’s stats are worrying for Ghana’s World Cup hopes

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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1 goal in 40 games: Why Jordan Ayew’s stats are worrying for Ghana’s World Cup hopes

The striker has netted only once in forty games and none has come in his last five appearances for the Black Stars

Ghana attacker Jordan Ayew was voted Player of the season at Crystal Palace after the 2019/20 season that saw him score nine goals in the Premier League but what has followed is just a goal in his last 40 games for club and country.

Jordan Ayew has zero goals and zero assist in 202 minutes of football this season at Crystal Palace.

Ayew is now a pale shadow of the player he was in 2019/20 season where he was arguably Ghana’s best player at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt despite the country being eliminated from the competition in the round of 16 by Tunisia.

Just a goal in 40 games is simply a poor return for a striker. They say goals are the fuel for strikers and so when they lack them it means they are not functioning and that is exactly the case of the Ghana number 9.

In the 2020/21 season, the former Olympique Marseille attacker managed just a goal in 35 appearances for Crystal Palace. He recently drew blank against Ethiopia in Ghana’s 1-0 win at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Group G opener in the qualifiers.

Club football resumes the weekend ahead and Ghanaians will be hoping that Ayew will rediscover his mojo and starts scoring in order to be in to form before the next international break comes.

Ghana will play Zimbabwe in a double header in October and Ayew will at least play in one of the games especially the one to be played in Ghana and miss the return fixture since Zimbabwe has been named among the seventeen countries with red flag by UK government due to increasing cases of COVID-19.

By: Gariba Raubil

Asante Kotoko complete the signing of Lamptey in three-year deal

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Asante Kotoko complete the signing of Lamptey in three-year deal

The Eleven is to One midfielder, who snubbed the offer to join the Phobians and continue to stay in Accra, has agreed a deal in Kumasi through to 2024

Ghana Premier League giants Asante Kotoko have completed the signing of Richmond Lamptey from relegated Inter Allies in an undisclosed fee, with the talented teenager signing a three-year contract with the Porcupine Warriors, AshesGyamera.com understands.

The 24-year-old midfielder was highly regarded as one of the players to either join Hearts of Oak as they prepare to participate in the Caf Champions League or go to Europe, but his potential has been lured to Baba Yara Sports Stadium by the promise of a clearer pathway to first-team football by Kotoko’s top hierarchy.

Lamptey had an incredible season despite Inter Allies suffering relegation and he is expected to strengthen Kotoko’s midfield with his enormous qualities.

He has become the first major signing Kotoko have made in the transfer window. Reports suggest that Kotoko have also closed in on Ashanti Gold midfielder Seth Osei as well as a defender in Brong Ahafo region who plays for Wamanafo Mighty Royals.

Kotoko is expected to build a new team for the long-term under the guidance of new coach Prosper Ogum Narteh who will be confirmed in the coming days after mutually agreeing to terminate the contract with beleaguered coach Mariano Baretto.

Lamptey will form part of that project, with the Kotoko looking to get players on board that will soon be pushing for the league trophy in the new season.

Video: How C.K Akonnor warned Kwame Opoku to score a goal against South Africa or face his wrath

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Video: How C.K Akonnor warned Kwame Opoku to score a goal against South Africa or face his wrath

The former Porcupine Warriors striker was given a strong warning to find the back of the net if he wants to secure his place in the national team

Ghana coach Charles Kwablah Akonnor has been caught on camera dishing out strong words to former Asante Kotoko striker Kwame Opoku in the defeat to South Africa on Monday.

The Black Stars lost their second game of the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers 1-0 to Bafana Bafana at the FNB Stadium and Opoku was seen at the receiving end of a frustrated Akonnor.

According to experts in lip reading, Akonnor warned Opoku who came into the game as a second half substitute by the 60th minute for Joel Fameye to score a goal for Ghana or face his wrath.

He said in a local dialect (Asante Twi):
“MedƆ Nyame sɛ, w’anhyɛ goal a, wobɛhunu….” which literary means that “I swear to God that if you don’t score a goal, you shall see.”

Unfortunately for Opoku, Ghana did not have a single shot on target throughout the game and things even went from bad to worse by the 83rd minute.

Maritzburg United striker Bongokuhle Hlongwane found an opening in the Black Stars defence to score the only goal for South Africa and give the hosts their first victory over Ghana in several years.

Ghana are expected to host Zimbabwe on October 5 in the third game of Group G at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium before they travel to Harare four days later for the return fixture.

Akonnor has come under intense pressure to turn things around since he has won only four games in the ten matches played as Ghana coach while losing two and sharing the spoils on four occasions.

Unfortunately for him, he may miss key players in the squad against Zimbabwe since players plying their trade in England cannot travel to Zimbabwe as the country has been listed among the 17 countries in Africa with red flags due to increasing cases of COVID-19.

Therefore, Jordan Ayew, Andy Yiadom, Baba Rahman, Jeffrey Schlupp and Daniel Amartey are expected to miss the game especially the return fixture in Harare.

Stage fright: Hearts captain Fatawu reveals how FNB Stadium got him frightened in World Cup qualifiers

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Stage fright: Hearts captain Fatawu reveals how FNB Stadium got him frightened in World Cup qualifiers

The Phobians skipper has admitted that he was scared upon seeing the venue he marked his Ghana debut a couple of days ago

Hearts of Oak defender Fatawu Mohammed has revealed he was really scared to play at the FNB Stadium when Ghana faced South Africa in the second game of Group G in 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers last Monday.

Fatawu was handed a starting role in the Black Stars setup by Charles Kwablah Akonnor following the absence of Reading defender Andy Yiadom due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Although he put up an impressive performance despite Ghana losing 1-0 to Bafana Bafana thanks to
Bongokuhle Hlongwane’s late goal, he admits that he was caught by stage fright.

“Honestly, I got a bit scared when I saw the [FNB] stadium because the pitch is very huge and it wouldn’t have been easy with supporters in the stands,” Fatawu told Kumasi-based Angel FM in an interview.

“This is because the moment you enter the stadium you realise that indeed you are in a stadium.

“But at long last, we played in an empty stadium so that eased some pressure off. If the supporters had been there, the way the pressure was high, it would have been more difficult for me to cope with the situation.

“But without the supporters, it felt like no man’s land and I had the luxury to warm myself into the game and showed what I also had to help the country,” he added.

Fatawu is expected to maintain his position in the Ghana squad for next month’s double header qualifier against Zimbabwe since a lot of the players will likely miss game due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The UK government in February issued a new travel measures to visitors from 17 African nations including Zimbabwe who are intending to travel to the country that they will be quarantined for 10 days in one of the government-approved hotels and will have to pay for themselves during their stay.

Travelers will also foot a bill not less than $100 per night.

Below are the 17 Africa countries named in the red zone by UK government and travelers would need to be quarantined for ten days:

• Angola

• Botswana

• Burundi

• Cape Verde

• DRC

• Eswatini

• Lesotho

• Malawi

• Mauritius

• Mozambique

• Namibia

• Rwanda

• Seychelles

• South Africa

• Tanzania

• Zambia

• Zimbabwe

Ghana to miss Ayew, Partey, Amartey and others in World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe; check why

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Ghana to miss Ayew, Partey, Amartey and others in World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe; check why

The Black Stars will have to plan life without the services of the players plying their trade in United Kingdom due to Covid-19 restrictions

Ghana coach Charles Kwablah Akonnor will have to deploy a new plan ahead of the Black Stars’ 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe in October, AshesGyamera.com understands.

The Black Stars will host Zimbabwe at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium on October 5 before they travel to Harare for the return encounter four days later in Harare but with Zimbabwe being named among countries on the red flag of United Kingdom’s radar, a lot of the players will likely miss the trip.

Key players like Daniel Amartey, Abdul Baba Rahman, Andy Yiadom, Jordan Ayew and Jeffrey Schlupp are expected to miss the double header just like they could not travel to Johannesburg to take part of the game against South Africa on Monday.

Others may include new boys Daniel Kofi Kyereh and Brydou Manu who also play in Germany as well as Kamaldeen Sulemana who plays for Stade Rennes in France.

As a result, underfire coach C.K Akonnor is expected to work around the clock to get some top local players to complement those who will be readily available in order to grind results.

Ghana’s defeat to South Africa in the second game of the group has left them in second place, tied on the same points with Ethiopia and would need to double their efforts before they can reclaim top spot from South Africa

The UK government in February issued a new travel measures to visitors from 17 African nations including Zimbabwe who are intending to travel to the country that they will be quarantined for 10 days in one of the government-approved hotels and will have to pay for themselves during their stay. Travelers will also foot a bill not less than $100 per night.

Below are the 17 Africa countries named in the red zone by UK government and travelers would need to be quarantined for ten days:

• Angola

• Botswana

• Burundi

• Cape Verde

• DRC

• Eswatini

• Lesotho

• Malawi

• Mauritius

• Mozambique

• Namibia

• Rwanda

• Seychelles

• South Africa

• Tanzania

• Zambia


• Zimbabwe

Kotoko CEO confirms decision to cancel Baretto’s contract; tight-lipped on Kwesi Appiah’s return as coach

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Kotoko CEO confirms decision to cancel Baretto’s contract; tight-lipped on Kwesi Appiah’s return as coach

The Porcupine Warriors chief says he can’t confirm or deny the growing reports that they will appoint the former Black Stars coach to replace Mariano Baretto

Asante Kotoko chief executive officer Nana Yaw Amponsah has refused to shed light on growing reports that former Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah could be named as the new coach of the club.

The Porcupine Warriors are on the brink of mutually terminating the contract they signed with Portuguese coach Mariano Baretto following a reported clash of of egos.

Baretto publicly chastised Kotoko’s ways of doing things and even insisted the club is only big by name since they lack several basic infrastructures to help players and coaches achieve success.

“I can’t confirm or deny. I don’t want to go into that but if at any point in time Kwesi Appiah wants to come to Kotoko, the doors are opened,” Amponsah told Starr FM.

“I didn’t hear the coach [Mariano Baretto] say the team was indisciplined and if at some point there was some indiscipline, that’s why we brought him in. Management and the board are discussing whether the coach should stay or not and we will conclude on that soon.

“I still think that our team was the best despite all that we’ve been through. We have the biggest fanbase in Ghana. Our fanbase is bigger than even Hearts of Oak,” he added.

Aside Kwesi Appiah who has been linked with Kotoko, WAFA head coach Prosper Ogum Narteh is one of the coaches who may take over from Baretto after reports suggest that he has even met the club’s top hierarchy to present to them his philosophies and targets as a coach.

‘Asante Kotoko to sign about TEN players for 2021/22 season,’ Nana Yaw Amponsah reveals

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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‘Asante Kotoko to sign about TEN players for 2021/22 season,’ Nana Yaw Amponsah reveals

The Porcupine Warriors could make signings in double figures before the season starts as a lot of the players used for last season are on their way out

Asante Kotoko chief executive officer Nana Yaw Amponsah has revealed that the club could sign up to ten players ahead of the start of the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League season.

According to Amponsah, a lot of the players that were one the club’s wage bill could be leaving and their replacements should be found.

Already, midfielder Augustine Okrah has left the club following the expiration of his contract while reports suggest that defenders Habib Mohammed, Abdul Ganiu Ismail and Wahab Adams are likey to exit the club as they have few months left in their contracts.

Also, captain Felix Annan has been hugely linked with a move to Medeama after losing his position to Razak Abalora while deputy captain Emmanuel Gyamfi is believed to he on the radar of Aduana Stars.

‘Some Kotoko players earn Ghc5,000 a month but some Ghanaian players ain’t getting enough as salary,” Amponsah told Starr FM in an interview.

“Our recruitments are all intact. We are targeting about five to ten players this season because there are going to be departures.

“Some of the players will leave so we must find replacement for those leaving before the season starts,” he added.

“I think we should develop our league well, retain our players so that when we call foreign players, they know they’re going to face competition here.

“Kotoko players earn far more than GHC2000. They earn more than that. We are paying the salary in its raw stage and it’s huge.

“Some Asante Kotoko players are earning more than GHC5000 a month and don’t forget they earn winning bonuses also apart from the salaries. I believe we need to pay players more but we need to generate more,” he added.

Kotoko have made contacts with Ashanti Gold midfielder Seth Osei and Medeama midfielder Richard Boadu ‘Agadas’ but their clubs are reported to have demanded $200,000 and $150,000 respectively.

Video: Nana Yaw Amponsah gives reasons why he can NEVER work with Hearts of Oak

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Video: Nana Yaw Amponsah gives reasons why he can NEVER work with Hearts of Oak

The Porcupines has insisted that it will be nearly impossible for him to join the Phobians in future despite reports that he was once their fan

Asante Kotoko chief executive officer Nana Yaw Amponsah has rejected suggestions that ye could join Hearts of Oak in the future after his stay with the Kumasi-based club.

Amponsah, who joined Kotoko on a one-year probation deal as the chief executive officer was mostly tagged as a Phobian but he has insisted that it is highly impossible to work for them in future.

“After delivering my mandate at Asante Kotoko, if Great Olympics comes for my services I’ll surely do a professional job there but I’ll never go to Hearts of Oak” Amponsah told Starr FM on their show Star Chat.

“It is impossible to work for Kotoko’s rivals, Accra Hearts of Oak, I don’t think it will happen.

Click on this to watch videohttps://www.facebook.com/Starr1035FM/videos/267194128555557/

“There’s something I admire about Hearts of Oak and it’s the way they don’t allow the media to trounce the club unlike other clubs in the country,” he added.

Amponsah also named his all-time top four players ever to represent Ghana at the highest stage.

“I will start with Abedi Pele and Asamoah Gyan. I’m mentioning those I have watched play. There are some I didn’t see, so I can’t [include them],” Amponsah told Starr FM.

“I will add Stephen Appiah for his leadership qualities when he was with the Black Stars. Tony Yeboah for what he did for Ghana and out there [in Germany and Premier League with Leeds United] as an ambassador for the country,” he added.

Amponsah has spent one season at Kotoko and although the club failed to win Ghana Premier League and FA Cup trophies, he is expected to be handed more years following his exploits off the field of play.

Video: Kotoko CEO Nana Yaw Amponsah names his all-time Ghana’s top players; Essien not part

Evans Gyamera-Antwi
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Video: Kotoko CEO Nana Yaw Amponsah names his all-time Ghana’s top players; Essien not part

The Porcupine Warriors chief has revealed that four out of the numerous players that have represented Ghana stand out

Asante Kotoko chief executive officer Nana Yaw Amponsah has named his all-time top four players ever to represent Ghana at the highest stage.

According to the 38-year-old, he has gotten the opportunity to watch many great footballers from Ghana but believes former captain Abedi Pele Ayew ranks topmost among all.

The former Ghana Football Association presidential candidate also added Stephen Appiah for his leadership qualities that helped the country to qualify to its maiden Fifa World Cup held in Germany in 2006 as well as Asamoah Gyan for his goal scoring prowess.

Former Eintracht Frankfurt, Hamburger and Leeds United striker Tony Yeboah also made the list as Amponsah believes his impacts in the German Bundasliga and Premier League were enviable and paved ways for other Ghanaians and African players.

Yeboah also netted 29 goals for the Black Stars in 59 international games.

“I will start with Abedi Pele and Asamoah Gyan. I’m mentioning those I have watched play. There are some I didn’t see, so I can’t [include them],” Amponsah told Starr FM.

Click on the link to watch the video:

https://www.facebook.com/Starr1035FM/videos/267194128555557/

“I will add Stephen Appiah for his leadership qualities when he was with the Black Stars. Tony Yeboah for what he did for Ghana and out there [in Germany and Premier League with Leeds United] as an ambassador for the country,” he added.

Amponsah has spent one season at Kotoko and although the club failed to win Ghana Premier League and FA Cup trophies, he is expected to be handed more years following his exploits off the field of play.

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