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Exclusive: “Medeama have transferred Justice Blay to Kotoko,” player’s father reveals

The Porcupine Warriors have completed a move for their former midfielder as they look for options to bolster their squad ahead of the new season

Asante Kotoko have completed the signing of former midfielder Justice Blay from Medeama, the player’s father John Blay has revealed.

The 28-year-old had a wonderful loan spell with Kotoko in the 2019/20 season but despite pushing for his move to be permanent, things didn’t work as planned.

He returned to Medeama and suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury which forced him to sit out major part of last season.

However, Kotoko have secured a deal with Medeama to have his service as he is recuperating from the injury.

“I can say on record that my son will play for Asante Kotoko next season. This is because I spoke with Medeama owner Moses Armah Parker concerning my son’s future and he told me he has transferred him to Kotoko for the upcoming season,” John Blay told Otec FM.

“I have no problem about that decision so I am looking forward for him to start another adventure in Kumasi. It is never true that Justice Blay has quit football or even has an intention of quitting.

“Blay has started training and he even put up a surprising performance on Monday during a special game he played with friends. I am even shocked about rumours that my son has quit football. Per the kind of performance he put up during the training game, I strongly believe that my son will regain his form and be a part of the Black Stars squad sooner rather than later,” he added.

Medeama, after appointing Ignatius Osei-Fosu as the new coach, have already signed striker Ansu Kofi Patrick and defender Seth Sowah from Berekum Arsenal and Bechem United respectively.

Ghana open 2022 World Cup qualifying camp with only 13 players

There were only thirteen Black Stars players present on Monday as the Black Stars opened their training sessions ahead of their double header in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Ghana’s senior national team began preparations on Monday, August 30, 2021 at the McDan Park in La, Accra ahead of the 2022 Fifa World Cup Group qualifying games against Ethiopia and South Africa respectively next month.

Thirteen players, including ten foreign-based, out of the 31 players named by head coach C.K Akonnor a fortnight ago, were present to participate in the first training session.

Captain Andre Ayew who recently signed for Qatari giants Al Sadd from Swansea City was present and led the the players through the training sessions. Also present was his junior brother Jordan Ayew as well as Reading defender Baba Rahman.

The rest included defender Jonathan Mensah who is making a return to the team after almost two years away. China-based Mubarak Wakaso and Samuel Owusu as well as Spezia Calcio forward Emmanuel Gyasi reported on time to partake in the training.

Hearts of Oak goalkeeper Richard Attah and midfielder Afriyie Barbie were among the locally based players that were around. The others included Asante Kotoko defender Ismail Abdul Ganiu and Steadfast youngster Abdul Fatawu Isahaku.

The Black Stars will continue their fine tuning on Tuesday and several players are expected to arrive in the country on time to partake in the second session.

Ghana will host Ethiopia in the opening group game on September 3 at the Cape Coast Stadium before they travel to Johannesburg three days later to square it off with South Africa in the next game.

Ghana FA fines Karela United GHc5,000 & lift ban on home grounds after fans destroyed Medeama bus

The much anticipated verdict following the vandalisation of Medeama’s team bus leading to the injury of some players have been released on Monday

Ghana Football Association’s disciplinary committee has found Karela United guilty of three misconducts following their fans’ troubles leading to the vandalisation of Medeama’s team bus in June.

Karela lost 2-1 at home in round of 32 of the FA Cup to Medeama and their fans subsequently smashed several windows of the away side’s 52-seater Benz with objects like bottles and stones. as it was parked inside the Crossby Awuah Memorial Park.

Medeama former player like Eric Kwakwa even picked up some injuries in the process.

“Karela FC was charged on three counts of
misconduct in their MTN FA Cup match against Medeama at the Aiyinase CAM park. Karela FC was charged for breaching Article 33 of the GFA FA Cup regulations, Article 16(1)(c), Article 16(2)(b) and Article 16(2)(f) of the GFA Disciplinary Code, 2019,” a GFA statement read.

“In the said match, Karela FC was charged for failing to ensure the safety of the match officials and players as supporters of club were seenthrowing stones at referees, throwing stones at Medeama Players, and also throwing stones at Medeama SC’s bus.

“The Club was also charged after supporters of the club were seen throwing stones and
causing damage to the glass windows of
Medeama SC’s bus.

“At a personal hearing, Karela FC represented by the Club’s CEO Elloeny Amande pleaded not guilty to all charges. He further explained the incidents that occurred at the Aiyinase CAM Park before, during and after the said match.”

“Karela FC is found guilty of the Charges. The Committee therefore, makes the following decisions:

  1. That after watching the video recording of the match and examining the reports of the match officials, Karela FC is found guilty of the Charges.
  2. That a fine of GHc5,000 is hereby imposed on Karela FC in accordance with Article 6.1(c) of the GFA Disciplinary Code
  3. That Karela FC shall pay for the full cost of repair of the broken glass of Medeama SC’s team bus
  4. That the indefinite ban imposed on the Aiyinase CAM Park is hereby lifted
  5. That Karela FC is warned that any future misconduct shall receive a more severe
    punishment.
  6. That the fine imposed on Karela FC shall be paid to the GFA within 14 days failing which the GFA shall apply Article 15 of the Disciplinary Code,” the statement added.

Hearts of Oak’s Salifu & Boadu win Ghana Premier League Player & Coach of the Season

The young midfielder and his coach were adjudged the best performers in the year under review after a sterling campaign with the Phobians

Hearts of Oak midfielder Salifu Ibrahim has been named as Ghana Premier League Best Player of the 2020/21 season ahead of Gladson Awako, Benjamin Afutu, Augustine Boakye and Diawisie Taylor .

The 21-year-old hard an enviable season and shot to fame after playing 33 matches for both Techiman Eleven Wonders and Hearts.

Salifu started the season with Wonders and won four Man of the Match awards before he joined Hearts in mid season.

His impressive performance under new coach Samuel Boadu helped the Phobians to win their first league title in nine seasons.

Salifu scored three goals and assisted eight goals in the process for both Wonders and Hearts and picked a total eight Man of the Match awards.

Also, Hearts coach Samuel Boadu has been named the Coach of the season after beating competition from Great Olympics coach Annor Walker and Wafa boss Prosper Ogum.

Hearts coach Samuel Boadu with his award

The two winners -Boadu and Salifu- will receive 8,000 and 5,000 cedis worth of Nasco products respectively aa well as have a fully paid weekend for two people each at the Alisa Hotel.

Reports also suggest that Hearts have planned to give them a befitting awards at the club.

The Phobians are preparing to participate in the Caf Champions League as they are scheduled to face CI Kamsar from Guinea in the preliminary round. The first leg will take place on September 10 at the September 28 Sports Stadium in Conakry before they travel to Ghana for the return fixture a week later at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The winner after the two games will play Wydad Athletic Club from Morocco.

Kwasi Sibo joins La Liga side Real Betis from Watford until 2023

The young midfielder has sealed a deal with the Spanish side and will be at the Benito Villamarin Stadium until 2023

Ghanaian international Kwasi Sibo has signed a two-year contract with La Liga side Real Betis from English Premier League club Watford, the two clubs have confirmed the deal.

The 23-year-old, who signed the deal with his agent Tony Appiah, had a good campaign at La Liga B side UD Ibiza last season and caught the eye of Betis scouts. After a careful assessment by head coach Manuel Pellegrini, the club opted to snap him.

Reports suggest that Sibo will have to join the club’s youth side to prove his mettle to Pellegrini before he can join the senior players to play in La Liga.

“New Chapter .. New Home .. New family .. God is the reason. Thanks to everyone who made this possible, another goal to be focus on,” Sibo posted on Facebook.

“Happy to be here and ready to work hard to help this family in all competitions,” he added.

Sibo is a former player of Ghana Division One League side Cheetah FC and has previously had stints with Banants FC in Armenia.

Medeama part ways with Eric Kwakwa and two senior players ahead of new season

The Yellow and Mauve have ended their stay with three of their players as they seek to do a revamp of their squad

Ghana Premier League side Medeama have parted ways with three senior players following a poor season, the club has officially announced.

The players include midfielder Eric Kwakwa, defender Bright Enchil and striker Abass Mohammed who rejoined the club from Asante Kotoko.

Medeama were hoping to at least finish within the top four and and possibly win the FA Cup but they finished fifth in Ghana Premier League and were eliminated from the FA Cup in the semifinals by eventual winners Hearts of Oak.

“We have mutually parted ways with midfielder Eric Kwakwa, defender Bright Enchill and striker Abass Mohammed,” a club statement read.

“We thank them for their services to our club. The club will be making further announcements in due course,” the statement added.

Medeama have appointed a new coach in Ignatius Osei-Fosu to replace Yaw Preko and Yaw Acheampong. They have also signed striker Ansu Kofi Patrick and defender Seth Sowah from Berekum Arsenal and Bechem United respectively.

Asante Kotoko unveil new Jersey for 2021/22 season; check the idea behind

The Porcupine Warriors officially unveiled their new home kits to be used for the upcoming season on Monday but there is some similarities to their third away jersey used last season

Ghana Premier League giants Asante Kotoko officially unveiled their new home jersey produced by Errea which will be used for the 2021/22 season on Social media after hours of waiting.

Unlike last season’s home kit that had pictures of past heroes embedded in the jersey, Kotoko’s new home kit has various adinkra symbols in front.

Some of the symbols are Akoma Ntoaso which signifies understanding and agreement. Also, one can find Adinkrahene which is the chief of adinkra symbols. This means greatness, charisma and leadership.

Moreover, there is Bese Saka which means sack of cola. This symbol signifies affluence, abundance and unity.

Also, the jersey comes with two stars on the left which represent the two Caf Champions League trophies the club won in 1970 and 1983.

More importantly, one can find ‘IFFHS’s African club of the 20th century’ boldly written just under the club’s crest. This clearly shows Kotoko’s dominance in the past which did not go unnoticed. Their consistent performance in the past got them voted as the best club on the African continent by IFFHS.

In spite of these, there are some similarities between the new home jersey and the third away jersey Kotoko used last season.

The club only changed the colour which was green to red and maintained almost all the adinkra symbols. They only added the two stars and the IFFHS award they won to it.

Kotoko until recently were using jerseys from kit manufacturing companies like Mafro, Barex and Strike.

Ganiu FREE to leave Kotoko after October as club fails to open negotiations -Chibsah

The Porcupine Warriors seemingly do not want to commit the Black Stars defender to a new deal, although he has only two months left in his current contract

Asante Kotoko are yet to officially start processes to renew defender Abdul Ganiu Ismail’s contract for unknown reasons, according to agent Yussif Alhassan Chibsah.

The 25-year-old centre-back was a regular in the starting XI at Kotoko last season and Ghana’s senior national team and although he has only two months left on his contract, Kotoko having made any approach.

Reports emerged that Ganiyu has packed his belongings and left Kumasi as he is not ready to play for Kotoko next season after German club VFL Bochum made an official offer for his services.

“Kotoko management or board of directors haven’t contacted me or the player officially for negotiations to have a contract extension. I don’t know why but we hope things will be sorted,” Chibsah told Pure FM.

“We don’t have any problem with anyone at the club so there hasn’t been any negotiations because there was or is a standing issue. Kotoko have given Ganiyu a huge platform to showcase his talent and he appreciates that a lot.

“Therefore, Kotoko is always the priority before any other club so we are still in the waiting period for what offer Kotoko have for him before we can move to the next stage,” he added.

Chibsah also denied reports that he was directly influencing selections when Mariano Baretto was in charge of Kotoko last season.

“I am not the only person in Ghana who knew Baretto before he came to the country. There were a lot of people even at the Football Association that Baretto knew and at times communicated with while in Ghana so why should people always accuse me of things I have no control over? I didn’t do anything like that with him,” he said.

Chibsah is also the agent of Kotoko defender Habib Mohammed and goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim.

Medeama sign Seth Sowah from Bechem United

The Yellow and Mauve have snapped the young defender to bolster their back four ahead of the new season

Medeama have signed defender Seth Sowah from Bechem United in a three-way deal, the two clubs have confirmed.

The youngster was hugely linked with a move to Asante Kotoko but one call from Medeama owner Moses Armah Parker seems to have been the tricked that changed everything.

Sowah passed his medical screening over the weekend and was presented to new coach Ignatius Fosu who also joined the club last two weeks together with former Berekum Arsenal striker Ansu Patrick.

Sowah has become the second player aside Moro Salifu to leave Bechem United this week. Moro signed a three-year contract with Ittihad Alexandria on Sunday as a free agent despite interest from several local clubs.

CI Kamsar intensify preparations to face Hearts of Oak in Caf Champions League

The Guinean giants are in high mood as they continue their preparations for the first leg against the Phobians

CI Kamsar have intensified their preparations ahead of their Caf Champions League preliminary round first leg against Hearts of Oak next month.

The Crocodiles defeated ASK 2-1 in their first pre-season game on Saturday and Ghanaian midfielder Martin Antwi was on target.

The players were given a day off to rest and they reported to training on Monday morning to continue with their fine tuning.

Ghanaian trio of Antwi, former Kotoko captain Amos Frimpong and striker Sampson Eduku were all present at the training ground in Conakry.

Kamsar will host Hearts on September 10 in Conakry before they travel to Accra Sports Stadium a week later for the return fixture.