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Ayawaso CP Football president attends disability summit conference in UK

Hardworking President of Ayawaso Physically Challenged sports Foundation and President of Ayawaso Cerebral Palsy Football club in Ghana,Mr. Emmanuel Akpabli is currently in Belfast,the United Kingdom for this year’s summit on Disability Sports organized by the Harkins institute.

The program espoused the growth of Disability sports across the African continent and how to use sports as a tool to empower persons with Disability .

President Akpabli, who until then has been a deep advocate of Cerebral Palsy Football as well took turns to engage in high level development in the Sport.

The Harkins institute,who endorsed the feat of the Ayawaso Physically Challenged sports Foundation, is of the firm belief that the aims and objectives of the former would go a long way to be a pacesetter in the development of Disability sports in Ghana.

In a related development, four other officials of the Ayawaso Physically Challenged sports Foundation who equally graced the programme were of high commendation for the President by giving them that opportunity to taste the program. This comes on the back of efforts and positive strides chalked by the Ayawaso Physically Challenged sports Foundation in developing Disability sports in the country.

The Ayawaso Physically Challenged sports Foundation is demonstrated beyond measure that the development of Disability sports in Ghana rests on their oars.

The APSF will embark on stringent programmes including local seminars, coach empowerment, Disability forums amongst others in the coming weeks.

Story: Dennis Kweku Moore, Secretary General,
CP FOOTBALL

British High Commissioner assures Nigerians of hitch-free visa acquisition for 2022 Commonwealth Games

The president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), Engineer Habu Gumel, has said the British High Commission in Nigeria has agreed to support the NOC to ensure that there are no visa hitches for Team Nigeria’s contingent for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Addressing the press Thursday in Abuja after a meeting with the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, represented by Jonathan Bacon , Gumel said the NOC deemed it necessary to discuss with the British High Commission so as to be well guided on how to obtain visas for Team Nigeria’s contingent for the Commonwealth Games.

He said “We are in the process of travelling to Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games. And you know definitely, the Nigeria contingent will require visas and that is the reason we requested to meet with the British High Commission in Nigeria.

“We have received all the guidelines concerning visa processing for our continent which is very important for us. All our questions have been answered. We got all the details we wanted regarding what is going to happen here at the British High Commission and what will happen there in Birmingham.

“We are going to immediately start processing our visas so that members of our contingent will have their visas in time for us to participate in the Games and make our country proud.

Gumel, therefore, reiterated that based on the mutual discussions, there will be no visa problems for Team Nigeria.

On his part, Bacon said the British High Commission is ready to partner with the NOC to ensure hitch-free visas for Team Nigeria. 

“We have discussed the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in July. It is going to be a fantastic event so we have discussed preparations that NOC is making.

“We also discussed visa processing for members of the Games family who will be travelling to the United Kingdom. We want to make things as smooth as possible for Team Nigeria,” said Bacon.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games is scheduled to be held in Birmingham, England from July 28 to August 8 2022.

  • Daily Trust Nigeria

“Ghana Premier League is tactically poorer than any league I’ve played,” Fabio Gama

Asante Kotoko midfielder Fabio Gama has insisted that Ghana Premier League is not among the best leagues with tactical awareness after playing two seasons.

The Brazilian midfielder has insisted that football in Ghana is purely physical as players and coaches lack tactics

The 28-year-old won the top-flight with Kotoko this season with three games to spare but he has come under some criticisms mostly about his style of play.

A section of Kotoko’s supporters have argued that the Brazilian is too soft and most lose balls in vital areas which lead to goals at times.

However, Gama believes opposing players rather play tough and rough game since they lack the tactical part of football.

Kotoko will host Elmina Sharks at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi this weekend as they will be crowned champions for the first time since 2014.

LIVE FROM JAPAN: 12 players ruled out of Kirin Cup as Otto Addo celebrates birthday

The Black Stars have had a depleted squad in Japan ahead of the Kirin Cup following injury situations and illness

Ghana will have to compete with only 18 players in the 2022 Kirin Cup to be staged in Japan this weekend.

The Black Stars left Angola on Monday after sharing the spoils 1-1 with Central Africa Republic in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and touched down in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday morning.

However, a lot of the players have been ruled out of the game due to various reasons.

Notably among them include midfielder Daniel Kofi Kyereh who has left the team’s camp to Germany as he nears a move to a Bundesliga club ahead of the new season.

Also, defender Gideon Mensah, Elisha Owusu, Denis Odoi, Kamaldeen Sulemana and Osman Bukari have been ruled out due to COVID-19. The players tested positive of the deadly disease and are not going to play a role in the games.

Also, box-to-box midfielder Baba Idrissu is expected to miss the games as he is injured as well as Joseph Paintsil and Jonathan Mensah who had a head injury against Central African Republic.

Bechem United winger Augustine Okrah and Asante Kotoko goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim were initially billed to be part of the team but the duo could not make it.

Meanwhile, Reading defender Abdul Baba Rahman has arrived in camp after he was initially ruled out of the games due to injury concerns.

Also, Andre Ayew and his younger brother Jordan Ayew are available while Hearts of Oak youngster Daniel Afriyie Barnieh is expected to make his senior national team bow.

In other related news, Ghana coach Otto Addo celebrated his birthday with the help of the technical team, players and management committee members.

Ghana will face Japan in the semifinals of the Kirin Cup and later square it off with the winner or loser of the game between Tunisia and Chile.

Kwadwo Antwi – The 17-year-old Goal Machine turning heads In Ashanti Region Division Two League

To most music enthusiasts in Ghana, Kwadwo Antwi is the embodiment of music but we’ve been lucky to have the football’s version of ‘Greatest of All Time’ in the young striker tipped by pundits to explode soon

The 17-year-old footballer, Kwadwo Antwi, is working assiduously to walk out of the shadows the Highlife great by virtue of the similarities in their names.

The PRO Players Football Academy forward took the 2022 Ashanti Region Division Two League season by storm, notching an eye watering 18 goals across all competitions.

His prolific attributes as a marksman is one of the key reasons PRO Players Football Academy finished the season with a record-high 41 points.

Kwadwo Antwi notched 15 goals in the league while hitting the back of the net three times during the MTN FA Cup qualifiers.

Antwi was responsible for 48 per cent of the total goals of 31 scored by his outfit, PRO Players Football Academy.

His supersonic pace, fleet footedness and eye for goals makes him a nightmare to opposing defenders.

He would hope his rich vein of form during the regular season translates into the Middle League as PRO Players Football Academy aim for qualification to the Division One League.

Kotoko players will do everything to help Mbella Etouga win GPL goal king over Yaw Annor – Ganiu insists

The Porcupine Warriors skipper is optimistic that his teammate will annex the top-flight’s goal king race

Asante Kotoko captain Abdul Ganiu Ismail has insisted that his teammate Mbella Etouga will win Ghana Premier League topscorer’s award ahead of Ashanti Gold winger Yaw Annor.

With only two games to end the season, Etouga leads the race with 21 goals, one more than Annor who failed to score last weekend against Medeama.

The two players have one home and away games to play, with Etouga facing Elmina Sharks and Accra Lions while Annor meets Bechem United and Gold Stars in Bibiani, but Ganiu is optimistic that his colleague will annex the award.

“Yes, we will help Mbella Etouga to win [the Ghana Premier League goal king,” Ganiu told Angel FM, Kumasi in an interview.

“Our goalkeeper [Danlad Ibrahim] will also win the best goalkeeper at the end of the season.

“If God permits [we will win every award this season in Ghana Premier League], he added.

Watch Abdul Ganiu’s interview on Mbella Etouga & Yaw Annor

Kotoko will be crowned champions of the season on Sunday with a game to spare and the focus will also be on Etouga failed to hit the back of the net in his last home game against Berekum Chelsea.

Video: “I deserve Black Stars call up like other defenders,” Kotoko’s Imoro Ibrahim insists

The Porcupine Warriors defender has insisted that he feels he has not been treated well after he was left out of the Black Stars squad

Asante Kotoko defender Imoro Ibrahim has revealed he was disappointed after he was left out of Ghana’s squad that played Madagascar and Central African Republic in 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The 22-year-old has been one of the brightest spot in Kotoko’s squad this season as they have won their first Premier League trophy since 2014.

Imoro has made eight assists so far this season and scored one goal but he was left out of the Black Stars 33-man squad.

As a result, Reading defender Baba Rahman, Gideon Mensah and Hearts of Oak left back Dennis Nkrumah Korsah were chosen over him.

“I deserve Black Stars call up,” Imoro told Angel FM Kumasi in an interview. This is because it is not easy to make eight or more assists as a defender in Ghana Premier League.

“However, I feel my time will come so I will not give up because I know I will have my chance one day,” he added.

Imoro Ibrahim’s interview on Black Stars snub

Exclusive: Ghana’s Afena-Gyan to join Serie A returnees on loan from Roma

The youngster is expected to seal a loan deal from Roma ahead of the new season as Jose Mourinho believes he needs more game time elsewhere

Ghana striker Felix Afena-Gyan has been identified as the latest player likely to join Serie A returnees Lecce on loan, AshesGyamera.com can report.

Although, Afena-Gyan was initially linked with a loan move to Sassuolo, the Puglia region-based club looks like the frontrunners this time around, after their plans for the youngster’s development excite Roma’s top hierarchy and Jose Mourinho.

The 19-year-old joined Roma from a lower division side from his native country Ghana and was quickly drafted into the senior team after an explosive start at the Primavera last season.

Although, he was part of the squad that won Roma the maiden Uefa Conference League title, his progress has somehow been hindered due to the availability of Tammy Abraham, Nicola Zaniola and other top players as he lacked game time.

He made 17 appearances in Serie A – starting six time and coming on as a substitute in 11 games. It was on October 27, 2021 that the Ghanaian made his bow for Roma at the age of 18 years and 281 days, against Cagliari.

Afena-Gyan has made four international caps for Ghana and boasts of one goal which was scored against Madagascar in the 3-0 victory in 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Not Mbella Etouga, Mfegue or Sheriff Mohammed; Kotoko coach Ogum picks his Best Player of the season

The Porcupine Warriors boss has surprisingly picked the defender as his Best Player of the season after making eight assists in the Premier League

Asante Kotoko coach Prosper Ogum Narteh has snubbed strikers Mbella Etouga and Georges Mfegue Rodrigues as well as versatile player Sherrif Mohammed as he selected his Best Player of the season.

According to Ogum, defender Imoro Ibrahim has been the star performer for his side as they have been able to win the Premier League title for the first time since 2014.

Imoro has been a solid pillar in Kotoko’s defence and has made eight assists so far in the league.

Kotoko currently lead the Premier League log with 63 points, ten points above Bechem United and Medeama who are in second and third positions respectively.

The club will be officially crowned champions of the league when they play their last home game against Elmina Sharks at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday.

Is it Etouga or Yaw Annor? Check how players have won Ghana Premier League GOAL KING in recent years

There will be of course hue and cry within some quarters of our game, especially when relegation comes calling, but there have been other intriguing sides which need a mention in our top-flight, especially as Cameroonian striker Mbella Etouga battles local boy Yaw Annor for the topscorer’s award

Goals are what most women who watch football and other gentlemen who love other sports than football want and, it is one thing that rains on any final day of Ghana Premier League.

Here, this writer chronicles the award from 2012, to bring back the joy on the faces of some players, as well as how others failed to get their names in the record books of Ghana football — one thing that they will never forget.

Apart from former Bechem United forward Augustine Okrah and former Karela United star Diawisie Taylor, the Ghana Premier League topscorers in the last six seasons scored at least two goals on final day to pip their other contenders to the glory.

In 2012-13 season, a last-minute hat-trick from Don Mahatma Otoo against relegated Tema Youth, helped the Hearts of Oak skipper to land the golden boot with 20 goals, one shy of the previous winner Emmanuel Baffour.

Otoo began the season on a high note with a hat-trick on matchday two against New Edubiase and although he was scoring goals for fun, the final day was his breakthrough.

The following season, Okrah scored one and missed a penalty against Amidaus Professionals as he won the accolade ahead of Kotoko’s Seidu Bancey, who scored 12 goals.

In 2014-15 season, Nathaniel Ohene Asamoah who was then playing for Medeama, opted to join Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca while he was leading the Ghana Premier League topscorer’s chart with 18 goals, five above Berekum Chelsea’s Kofi Owusu.

However, Owusu gradually closed in and on final day, his brace against Wa All Stars including the last kick of the game which was a penalty, won him the goal king title with 19 goals.

Last two seasons, with four matches remaining, Latif Blessing was trailing Yahaya Mohammed by a goal and it even became two goals ahead of the final day.

However, the former Liberty Professionals star doubled his efforts to score a hat-trick against Bechem United in a 3-0 victory to win golden boot with 17 goals, since Yayaha Mohammed shot blank.

And, in the 2019/20 season, a haul or quadruple from Ashanti Gold’s striker Hans Kwofie against champions Aduana Stars, helped him to shrug off competition from Berekum Chelsea’s Stephen Sarfo, who was leading the chart before kickoff.

Kwofie’s four goals means that he finished the season with 17 goals, same level as his predecessor Latif Blessing.

After the Premier League went into a hiatus due to bribery and corruption scandals, it returned in 2021 and Karela United striker Diawisie Taylor annexed the accolade.

The 21-year-old scored 18 goals in 31 matches to emerge the overall topscorer ahead of Kwame Peprah of King Faisal and Hans Kwoffie of Legon Cities who netted 12 goals apiece.

On the final day of the season, Taylor was the obvious winner as he had taken a five-goal advantage and finally made it six when he scored the consolation goal as Karela lost 2-1 to Aduana Stars in Dormaa Ahenkro.

In the 2021/22 season, the race for the goal king award has been keenly contested between Asante Kotoko striker Mbella Etouga and Ashanti Gold forward Yaw Annor although Augustine Okrah also have a near-impossible chance.

After 32 games, Etouga leads with 21 goals, one better than Annor with Okrah having 14 goals and Etouga as well as Annor have one home and away games to play each.

Kotoko, who are the new champions were officially crowned on Sunday when they hosted and whipped relegated Elmina Sharks 3-0 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

Despite, three goals coming in the game, especially for Kotoko, Etouga failed to have one in his name. He surprisingly fluffed all the chances that came his way as his countryman Georges Mfegue Rodrigues scored twice to add to Imoro Ibrahim’s wonderful free-kick.

At the same time, Annor faced his former club Bechem United at the Len Clay Sports Stadium in Obuasi and also failed to close in.

Annor initially shot to fame in 2015 when his two goals helped Bechem to win their maiden FA Cup trophy against Okwawu United. This time, in the opponents camp, Annor had different ideas and agendas – at least a goal to keep the chase on Etouga but his runs were always thwarted.

On the final day of the season, Kotoko travelled to Accra Sports Stadium to face debutants Accra Lions and the game was played earlier than other games due to the stadium hosting three clubs.

Although, Kotoko shared the spoils 1-1 with Lions, Etouga could not score once again but only provide an assist to Samuel Boateng for Kotoko’s equaliser.

Meanwhile, Ashanti Gold will trek to the Sefwi land on Sunday to face another debutants in the shape of Gold Stars in Bibiani.

Here, the dust will obviously settle as goals galore is what soccer connoisseurs and pundits anticipate just like in previous seasons when the stakes are high.

Yaw Annor is expected to at least score one goal to be a joint winner of the Ghana Premier League goal king with Etouga or score twice to be the sole winner.