The Phobians superstar has played down reports suggesting he was unable to meet the requirements to join the Danish side
Hearts of midfielder Winful Cobbinah has refuted reports that he failed his medical at Danish side Viborg FF while attempting a three-year move from the Ghanaian giants.
The 26-year-old impressed Viborg’s top-hierarchy but he insists the deal fell through following disagreements over his personal terms.
“It is not true. I never failed my medical,” Cobbinah told Ghanacrusader.
“Negotiation between myself and FF Viborg didn’t go down well [and that resulted into the collapse of negotiations].”
“Hearts of Oak were cool with the transfer figure they offered but the move collapsed because I couldn’t reach a deal (personal terms) with the club, so the deal is off,” he added.
Cobbinah was part of the Ghana squad that won the 2017 Wafu Cup of Nations and has been invited to the senior squad on two occasions.
The Local Organising Committee of 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations paid a visit to the First Lady of Ghana, Rebecca Akuffo Addo, on Wednesday in their bid to seek her advice, blessing and support for the upcoming championship holding in between Nov 17 and Dec 1.
The chairperson of the LOC, who doubles as the MP of Tano North Constituency, Hon. Freda Prempreh, pleaded with the First Lady for support to be able to renovate the Achimota school park’s changing room, which is expected to be used as one of the training pitches for the tournament.
“We are here to seek your support and blessings for the upcoming tournament and the renovation of Achimota school changing room” Hon.Prempreh said.
“We believe that with your support, we can stage a very successful tournament here in Ghana,” she added.
Mrs. Evelyn Nsiah Asare & First Lady
Mrs. Akufo-Addo accepted their plea and also urged corporate bodies to invest in the tournament as part of their social corporate responsibilities.
“I am happy Ghana will be hosting the Africa Womens competition and I must reccommed you all for the work you’ve been doing,” the First Lady said.
” I promise to give out the support you need any day and also willing to help whenever you call on me.
“I further urge other women, charitable organisations and corporate bodies to support the Africa Women’s Competition for it to be a success,” she added.
AshesGyamera.com understands that Caf’s inspection team will be in Ghana either in June or July, for their last assessment of facilities before the tournament.
The LOC’s next stop is likely to be at the doorstep of the Chief of Staff before they head to other high-ranking offices and corporate bodies.
Ghana who are hoping to stage a host and win, will be making their 13th appearances at the tournament, after finishing as runners-up in 1998, 2002 and 2006.
The Phobians skipper has landed in Egypt and will sign a reported three-year deal with the Brazilians if he passes his medical
Hearts of Oak skipper Thomas Abbey has been spotted in Ismailia, Egypt, ahead of a move to Ismaily Sporting Club, AshesGyamera can confirm.
The 24-year-old guided the Phobians to finish fourth in the league and place second in the Ghana FA Cup opted not to extend his stay with Hearts despite earlier making training with them after his botched move to Ajax in South Africa.
He is expected to sign a three-year deal between Thursday and Friday after head coach Abou Taleb El-Issawi expressed interest in his services through his West African scouts.
Abbey who can play as a left-back, left-wing or a midfielder caught the eye of the North African club during the 2017 Wafu Cup of Nations, as he played a vital role when Ghana defeated Nigeria in the final to win the trophy.
If the deal goes through as planned, he will become the second Ghanaian player at the club after former Bechem United defender Richard Baffour joined them last season.
Abbey will also become the fourth Ghanaian to join the Egyptian Premier League in the January transfer window after Augustine Okrah, Stephen Sarfo and Hans Kwofie signed for Alexandria-based Smouha SC.
Real Madrid were dumped out of the Copa del Rey at the quarter-final stage by Leganes on Wednesday as a 2-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu proved enough to secure the visitors a famous victory on away goals.
Zinedine Zidane’s men have now lost three of their last five home matches in all competitions and, with a 19-point gap to make up on rivals Barcelona in LaLiga, this was their last realistic chance of claiming domestic silverware and pressure on the Frenchman will inevitably grow further.
Marco Asensio’s late strike had given Madrid a narrow 1-0 advantage in the first leg, but Javier Eraso’s brilliant 25-yard curler got Leganes back on level terms and set the tone for a memorable cup tie.
Madrid were back in front inside two minutes of the second half, the fit-again Karim Benzema scoring his first goal since November after being set up by Lucas Vazquez.
The script said Madrid would serenely close out the tie from there but Leganes had not read it, a thunderous Gabriel Pires header from Eraso’s corner putting them back ahead on the night and in front in the tie for the first time.
Leganes had never been to the quarter-finals of the Copa before, but they fully deserved to progress to the last four after holding Madrid – who were without Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale – at bay despite coming under intense late pressure.
Asier Garitano’s men caused Madrid plenty of problems in the opening leg and they almost scored in the fifth minute here, Claudio Beauvue’s free-kick clipping the outside of the post.
Darko Brasanac and Gabriel sent efforts straight at Kiko Casilla as Leganes continued to make the running, the visitors scoring the goal their performance deserved in the 31st minute.
Achraf Hakimi’s loose pass put Nacho Fernandez in trouble and Eraso pounced, seizing the ball, striding into space and lashing a 25-yard drive that curled into Casilla’s top-right corner.
Isco delivered a sublime right-wing cross Benzema which narrowly failed to meet before Leganes almost scored a spectacular second on the stroke of half-time, Beauvue’s scissor-kick flying wide of the post.
Benzema was making his first Madrid start for a month and it was the France forward who got Madrid back on terms almost immediately after the interval.
Vazquez sent his team-mate into the box and Benzema beat Nereo Champagne with a cute chipped finish from a tight angle to restore Madrid’s one-goal aggregate advantage.
But Leganes regained the lead eight minutes later as Eraso’s corner was perfect for Gabriel to get clear of Theo Hernandez and thump a rocket of a header that flew past Casilla to send the visiting fans wild.
Zidane sent on Luka Modric and Dani Carvajal in a desperate attempt to save his chances of claiming a first Copa title as either a player or manager, but Isco fired over the angle after 72 minutes.
Champagne brilliantly denied Benzema and superbly tipped over a Sergio Ramos header as Madrid threw everything at Leganes, but Zidane’s men could not force a late goal to avoid suffering a humiliating exit.
Former Inter Allies striker Frederick Boateng has joined Asante Kotoko in a two-year deal, the Kumasi giants have announced.
Boateng, 24, who had a short stint with Ethiopian side Welwalo Adigrat University FC during last season, impressed Kotoko’s head coach Steve Polack and was awarded a contract after his two-week trial.
Boateng revealed that he is happy to land the opportunity and believes his hard works during the Ghalca G8 pre-season tournament have paid off.
“It’s a happy moment to be announced as the latest addition to such a big club. Many players will hope to have the same opportunity as I’ve been given by the club’s technical team and top hierarchy,” Boateng said.
“My hard work during the early stages of the pre-season paid off but it’s not ending there. I have a lot to prove since the expectations are high. I will do my best and be a team player,” he added.
He will have to beat competitions from Sadick Adams, Obed Owusu, Yakubu Mohammed and Abass Mohammed before he can earn a starting role in Polack’s team.
The launch of 2018 Ghana FA Gala took place in Accra on Wednesday with interesting pairings as the games are scheduled for February 4 at the Paa Kwesi Nduom Park in Elmina.
FA Cup champions Asante Kotoko will begin another quest for their first title in the new year, following their inability to lift the Ghalca tournament last week.
The Kumasi giants will lock horns with Elmina Sharks in the preliminary round while Hearts of Oak take on city rivals Great Olympics.
League debutants Techiman Eleven Wonders will battle with New Edubiase while Ghalca G8 reigning champions Dreams FC face second-tier side Samartex.
Despite Aduana Stars partaking in the 2018 Caf Champions League, they decided to absent themselves from the tournament to concentrate on their own schedules.
AshesGyamera understands that Ashanti Gold also opted not to play with coach Charles Akunnor still continuing with their pre-season in Obuasi.
The Ghanaian hopes to make an instant impact for his new side ahead of the new season
Ghana striker David Accam has aimed at repaying the faith shown in him by Philadelphia Union after he was unveiled on Wednesday following his move from Chicago Fire.
The 26-year-old who was adjudged Fire’s Player of the Season in 2015 and 2016 joined Philadelphia around $1.2 million despite his desire to play in Europe.
He was linked with a move to Premier League side Stoke City but the deal fell through after he failed to land a work permit.
“I want to thank the Philadelphia Union ownership group, Earnie, Jim and their team for putting their faith in me and bringing me here. It means a lot to me and I will repay them through hard work on the pitch,” Accam posted on his Instagram page.
“I’m aware of the culture here – including the academy education and development philosophy – which is close to my heart. The stadium atmosphere is great, and training facility and staff set up is fantastic.
“I have wanted to play somewhere with identity and culture for a long time, and I really have that here and I already understand what it means to be part of the family – the welcome from the Sons of Ben at the airport was amazing – and everyone working at the club has been great.”
“I want to say thanks to the fans of Chicago Fire and to individually thank Pauno for pushing me everyday to be a better player – I will always be grateful for that. Thanks also to the players and staff during my time in Chicago for their friendship and support,” he opined.
He added: “But now I am looking forward to putting everything into helping the Philadelphia Union – I signed a long term contract with MLS last summer to take me to the end of 2020, I am fully fit and healthy now after injuries towards the end of last season, and I will drive myself to be a better player and improve the team.”
“I am really excited to be fully focused on the Philadelphia Union and cannot wait to get started.”
Accam who arrived in the United States from Swedish side Helsingborg IF, was able to score 33 goals in 78 appearances.
The headmaster of Breman Eduman D/A Basic School in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District of the Central Region, Robert Sepey, who is seen in a sex video with a former student, has been relieved of his post.
He has also been directed to meet a two-man disciplinary committee “for the appropriate disciplinary actions”.
The decision was taken by the Ghana Education Service (GES) after separate meetings with the lady in question, Priscilla Tettey, a final year student of Odoben Senior High School, the headteacher and residents of Eduman.
The delegation of GES was led by the District Director of Education, Isaac Godwin Kwasi Acquah-Arhin.
It emerged from the meetings that the two agreed to record the act so they could view later.
However, a brother of the lady’s found it on her memory chip after he took her phone to transfer some songs.
“Other friends of her brother also saw the video and they decided to spread it because they had proposed love to her and she refused,” an update from the Service on Tuesday explained.
The community has turned anger on the one who spread the video, confiding in the education director that they have no problems with teachers of Eduman D/A Basic School nor the headmaster.
The box-to-box midfielder wants his contract terminated after falling out of his manager’s plans for the new season
Malik Akowuah has handed in a transfer request to Hearts of Oak ahead of the 2017-18 Ghana Premier League season’s kick off despite having a two-year contract with the club.
The midfielder who joined the Phobians from Medeama, after a wonderful performance in the Caf Confederations Cup in 2016, has grown frustrated at a lack of opportunities at the Accra Sports Stadium as well as constant verbal abuses from coach Frank Nuttall and is subsequently set to depart the club.
“It’s true that I have submitted my transfer request to Hearts of Oak and I want things done amicably before the new seasons kicks off,” Akowuah told Fox FM.
“The coach doesn’t have good relationship with me so I’m not happy to be here any longer. He continues to bring new players from outside to come and play at the expense of me. I won’t play for the club any longer.
“Moreover, he at times assault me verbally and an example was after our defeat to Medeama in the Ghalca G8 pre-season tournament. He even told me that I’ll never have game time under him,” he added.
