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K.P Boateng retires from football after life at 14 clubs

The former Black Stars player has called it a quiet after an interesting but long career which spanned for almost two decades

Former Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng has officially retired from football after making a public announcement on Friday.

The 36-year-old who was tipped to be one of the players to make it to the top in football had a relatively successful career amid injuries and controversies.

Starting his career in Germany, Boateng played for 14 different clubs in England, Germany, Spain and Turkey as well as switching nationality to represent Ghana at the highest stage including Fifa World Cup in 2010 and 2014 respectively.

Until his retirement, he was with his boyhood club Hertha Berlin where his career began and surprisingly ended.

Aside Hertha, Boateng played for Tottenham Hotspur, Borrusia Dortmund, Portsmouth, Genoa, AC Milan, Schalke, Las Palmas, Frankfurt, Sassuolo, Fiorentina, Barcelona, Besiktas and Monza.

World Bank suspends funding to Uganda over anti-gay law; is Ghana next?

Summary

  • A statement from the Bank says further funding is being frozen until authorities in Uganda provide adequate policy to protect minorities, including the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other groups commonly categorised as LGBTQ+.

The World Bank has suspended any future funding for projects in Uganda, citing human rights violations from the recent enactment of the anti-homosexuality law.

A statement from the Bank says further funding is being frozen until authorities in Uganda provide adequate policy to protect minorities, including the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other groups commonly categorised as LGBTQ+.

“Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act fundamentally contradicts the World Bank Group’s values. We believe our vision to eradicate poverty on a liveable planet can only succeed if it includes everyone irrespective of race, gender, or sexuality,” the Bank said on Tuesday.

“This law undermines those efforts. Inclusion and non-discrimination sit at the heart of our work around the world.”

In May, President Yoweri Museveni signed into law the Anti-Homosexuality Act, providing penalties as high as a death sentence for “aggravated homosexuality.” It drew condemnations from rights groups and Western countries such as the US who threatened sanctions.

The US is a key shareholder in the World Bank and has almost always produced its president.

The World Bank said it has been prevailing upon Kampala to reconsider the law.

A team from the Bank, it said, have been speaking with Ugandan officials on “additional measures that are necessary to ensure projects are implemented in alignment with our environmental and social standards.”

“Our goal is to protect sexual and gender minorities from discrimination and exclusion in the projects we finance. These measures are currently under discussion with the authorities.  No new public financing to Uganda will be presented to our Board of Executive Directors until the efficacy of the additional measures has been tested.

Same sex relations had been illegal in Uganda, even before this law, under the old penal code.

But critics charged the new law seals any possible protections for minorities who may now not be able to rent property as the new law promises punishments to those who conceal homosexuals.

It also provides for capital punishment for serial offenders against the law including those who transmit terminal illness like HIV/AIDs through gay sex. Promoters of homosexuality can be jailed for up to 20 years.

Recently, Ghana’s parliament also passed a similar law against LGBTQ and when officially signed by president Nana Add Dankwah Akufo-Addo, who also happens to be a human right lawyer, could see Ghana go head to head with World Bank.

Source: thecitizen.co.tz

Kwame Mensah joins La Liga side Real Betis

The youngster has sealed a lucrative deal with the La Liga side ahead of the start of the new season

Ghanaian midfielder Mawuli Kwame Mensah has joined Spanish club Real Betis in a three-year deal ahead of the start of 2023/24 season, the club have announced.

The youngster caught the eye of Betis coach Manuel Pelligrini and he is expected to be part of the senior side as Betis hope to improve their performance last season.

Mensah, 19, arrived from Antequera CF and he is expected to be at Benito Villamarín Stadium until 2026 as the club’s top hierarchy are highly tipping him to take the league by storm.

Meanwhile, Betis star Alex Colorado has left the club to join Saudi Arabia Pro League side Al-Akhdoud FC in a one-year loan deal while Barcelona player Ez Abde has reportedly also agreed to join Betis.

Bechem reject Hearts of Oak’s ‘peanuts’ and accept $100,000 from Yanga for Konkoni

The Hunters are smiling to the bank after rejecting a partly offer from Phobians who were after their talisman

Bechem United communication director Emmanuel Gyasi Atuahene has revealed that the club sold their talisman Hafiz Wontah Konkoni to Tanzanian giants Young Africans for $100,000.

Konkoni, who bagged 16 goals last season in Ghana Premier League attracted several interest including Sudanese powerhouse Al Hilal and local giants Hearts of Oak.

However, Bechem opted to make business with Yanga since the player could not agree personal terms with Hilal while Hearts of Oak struggled to match up with their asking price.

“I can confirm that Hafiz Konkoni was sold for $100,000 with 20% onwards transfer for Bechem,” Atuahene told Kumasi-based Akoma FM in an exclusive interview on Sunday.

“Hearts of Oak couldn’t have purchased Konkoni because what they offered on the table was just 10 per cent of what Young Africans offered for him.

“Konkoni was initially heading to Al Hilal of Sudan but due to personal terms which couldn’t go well he came back to Ghana and luckily Yanga showed up and they were willing to meet our demands,” he added.

Konkoni has become the second player Bechem have sold to a Tanzanian club in two years after they transferred Augustine Okrah to Simba last season following a blistering campaign in Ghana Premier League.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino makes historic visit to the Cook Islands

  • He becomes the first FIFA President to visit the Pacific Island country
  • FIFA Forward support is vital for football development in Oceania
  • Cook Islands Sports Minister Vaine Mokoroa described the visit as special moment

Gianni Infantino has made a historic visit to the Cook Islands, becoming the first FIFA President to visit the country where FIFA Forward funds are boosting football development. During his visit, Gianni Infantino stressed that the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™, being staged in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia, belongs to the whole of Oceania.

“I am delighted to be in the beautiful Cook Islands, where you see everyone is crazy about football. This is particularly evident as the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which is currently taking place, is also the World Cup of the whole of Oceania and a great celebration of football across all of the Pacific Islands,” he said.

As announced at the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Congress on 19 July, Mr Infantino, who has already attended FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 matches in every host city in Aotearoa New Zealand, is visiting a number of member associations across the region.

This will allow him to see at first hand the projects supported by FIFA Forward, which is vital for football development in the region. “I am proud to visit these countries that are so passionate about football,” said the FIFA President, adding that “for us (they are) all the same, whether they are big or small.”

Following the first round of visits to the Pacific Islands, The FIFA President will attend FIFA Women’s World Cup group stage matches in Australia before continuing the next leg of visits to member associations in the OFC. Mr Infantino will return to Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia for the remainder of the tournament.

Mr Infantino was welcomed by Moeroa Tamangaro, Acting President of the Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA), and the Minister of Sport Vaine Mokoroa. He visited the CIFA headquarters where two pitches, which are the main ones for the island of Rarotonga and were previously prone to flooding, have been upgraded with support of FIFA Forward. FIFA Deputy General Secretary – Football, Mattias Grafström was also part of the FIFA delegation.

FIFA Forward is also supporting the construction of a natural grass pitch and training facilities on Mangaia, the country’s second largest island and one of the most remote locations for such a project. The success of this project will show that more football pitches can be constructed in the remote areas of Oceania – making football truly global.

Mr. Mokoroa told the FIFA President: “Our country, our people and our government are honoured by your visit, especially since this is the first visit to the Cook Islands by any FIFA President, which makes this occasion truly a special moment in our shared history. We remain grateful for all the assistance the CIFA have received through FIFA. You will see some of the benefits of this for today, but this is not just limited to here in Rarotonga. Developing our sports in our upper islands has also been a priority.”

Moeroa Tamangaro added: “I want to thank you for providing our paradise with FIFA Forward funding to allow us to push football further in the Cook Islands. You can count on us to be 100 percent behind you in supporting your vision of moving forward.”

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo to miss Premier League until January

The youngster who was expected to play an integral role in Red Devils’ campaign this season has been ruled out for several months

Manchester United have confirmed that British-born midfielder with Ghanaian descent Kobbie Boateng Mainoo has been ruled out for at least six months following an injury he picked a couple f days ago.

The 18-year-old suffered the ankle injury in Manchester United’s defeat to Real Madrid in a pre season friendly in the United States and could be back in January.

“Manchester United can confirm that Kobbie Mainoo suffered an ankle injury during the match against Real Madrid on Tour 2023,” a club statement read.

“The midfielder is expected to be ruled out for the first part of the 2023/24 season,” the statement added.

Former Barcelona superstar Luis Suarez confirmed DEAD

The Catalans former player who won the Ballon d’Or has been pronounced dead on Sunday

Former Barcelona player Luis Suárez Miramontes, also known as called “Golden Galician”has sadly passed on early hours of Sunday, his family has confirmed.

Suarez, who is the only Spanish player to have ever won the Ballon d’Or, has died at the age of 88.

Luis Suarez Miramontes

His former club Inter Milan were first among several credible sources to have announced his demised but were tight-lipped on the cause of his death.

Although, born in the northwest Spanish region of Galicia, the midfielder won the bulk of his trophies in Italy with Inter, including the European Cup in 1964 and 1965 and three Italian league titles.

Suárez moved to Inter from Barcelona after winning two Spanish league titles.

“Sadly his greatest and most successful period came when he was no longer a Barca player,” Barcelona’s website noted.

Suárez won the Ballon d’Or in 1960 and was runner-up in 1961 and 1964. He played on Spain’s team that won the 1964 European Championship, its first major title.

After retiring in 1973, Suárez had three spells coaching Inter. He also managed Spain’s national side from 1988-91.

Suárez downplayed his Ballon d’Or, a trophy that eluded subsequent Spanish superstars including Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez and Raul Gonzalez.

“So much depends on the era you find yourself living in,” Suárez told FIFA’s website. “You need the slice of luck that comes when another great player of your time doesn’t perform quite so well. There have been truly great players who have never won that award. It’s not that big a deal.”

Real Madrid forward Alfredo di Stefano, who won the award in 1957 and 1959, was born in Argentina.

Dormahene honours Black Stars Captain Andre Ayew

The paramount chief of the Dormaa traditional area has honoured the Black Stars skipper ahead of a historic ceremonial game

The first male born baby at the Dormaa Hospital tomorrow will be named after Andre Ayew. The Traditional Council will cater for the baby till majority age to mark the historic visit.

Andre is leading a team of the Black Stars including his brother Jordan Ayew, Wakaso, Afena Gyan, Kudus Mohammed, Kamaladeen etc to play in a historic #AllStarFestival2023 match in Dormaa.

This is the first historic visit of the Black Stars to the region.

By Saddick Adams

CAF hosts Technical Analysts workshop in Casablanca for African teams FIFA Women’s World Cup

CAF hosts Technical Analysts workshop in Casablanca for African teams FIFA Women’s World Cup 
With the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ New Zealand and Australia 2023 fast approaching, Technical Analysts of the four African Nations at the global showpiece gathered for a two-day Technical Analysts Workshop in Casablanca, Morocco on 13 and 14 June.  
This is in line with CAF’s commitment to invest in women’s Football and empower African nations participating in global events.

The workshop, organized through the CAF Women’s Football Division in collaboration with the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, was attended by the technical staff members and analysts of the four Participating Member Associations.  

I don’t mind going back to Funny Face because I’m matured now – Funny Face’s baby mama

Vanessa Nicole, the former lover and baby mama of comedian Funny Face, says she will accept to go back to Funny Face because she is more mature now and understands things better now.

The couple, who have three children together, went through a messy breakup that had everyone talking. They officially announced their separation in 2020.

According to Vanessa, they both made mistakes and are partly to blame for the rapid pace of their romance.

“We weren’t patient with each other. We didn’t take the time to truly understand and know each other better. We met in September, and by October, I was already pregnant. We are both at fault. Despite everything, I just hope for the best,” she shared during an interview with Kwaku Manu.

She added that it has been over a year since Funny Face last saw their children. However, she clarifies that she is not keeping them away from him.

Vanessa assures that if he makes a request, she would gladly allow their children to spend time with their father.

It’s been more than a year since Funny Face saw his kids. The last time was when we came to visit him in Accra. I am not selfish, and those who know me can attest to that. I would love to hear him say, ‘Bring the kids over during vacation.

“If he makes that request, I have no problem with it. We don’t have any animosity towards each other. This doesn’t mean I want us to reconcile. All I desire is for us to be co-parents. It’s not solely my decision, and it’s not the woman who chooses whether a man gets married. If Nana Yaw wants me…well, he didn’t like my piercings, so I took them all out,” she explained.

Vanessa, who took a break from acting to focus on her children, proudly announces her return to the business.

The acrimonious split between the two lovers, who have three kids together, grabbed media attention and dominated social media discussions

-PulseGh