Home Blog Page 94

Medeama name 20-man squad to face Berekum Chelsea without Justice Blay

The midfielder was not named part of the Yellow and Mauve squad that will be playing against Berekum Chelsea on Friday

Medeama have announced their squad to face Berekum Chelsea on matchday twelve of Ghana Premier League at the Akoon Park in Tarkwa on Friday.

The Yellow and Mauve are hoping to make it two wins on a row but Justice Blay will not play part of the game due to the expiration of his contract.

The 28-year-old is believed to have agreed a two-year deal with former side Asante Kotoko where he initially spent a season-long loan deal.

However, in-form goalkeeper Mandjul Boris who has kept seven clean sheets in nine games is around. Also, Ebenezer Ackhabi who scored the winner against Ashanti Gold is available for selection alongside Amed ‘Simba’ Toure.

Medeama are without a defeat in their last five games and currently sit fifth on the log.

Full Squad:

25 per cent increment; Why MTN airtime and data are expensive in 2022

Your telecom cost in 2022 will be more expensive by 25% more. Well that’s if you’re on MTN.

And in very plain and maybe outstretched terms… it’s because the government wants to save AirtelTigo and Vodafone.

So this is how it all happened. In June 2020, the government declared MTN Ghana as an SMP(Significant Market Player) meaning that it had adjudged MTN Ghana as crossing the 40% market share requirement and becoming overly dominant in the telecom market.

The declaration as per what MTN declared on its website “essentially means that special regulatory restrictions would be enforced to potentially limit the company’s growth, performance, innovativeness and its competitiveness in the telecoms market.”

As at the time of declaration MTN had a chokehold on the telecoms sector across all markets. They had a voice market share of over 70%, mobile data >70%, mobile money Revenue market share > 90% and a rapidly growing Fixed Broadband market share.

MTN sought to appeal the declaration and actually went ahead to the courts. As said earlier, the aim of the declaration was to curtail their growth by forcing them to be less competitive and they wouldn’t have that.

After a back and forth with the courts and other stakeholder meetings an agreement was reached on what the next few steps. Simply put, again in very plain terms, it was decided to make MTN more expensive to the Ghanaian user such that they would leave and use Tigo and Vodafone.

It was to start on Voice calls then later Data. MoMo is regulated by the BoG hence, NCA couldn’t regulate it as such. So somewhere late last year remember how your Pulse or Mashup minutes magically reduced by nearly half?

I’d love to explain the mechanics of the voice onnet/Xnet costs and it’s bearing on interconnect charges and why 50% reduction… but you’ll skip this thread so I’ll leave that for later. But as seen, the idea is to make you leave MTN Mashup for Vodafone Red or AirtelTigo Fuse

Now, it’s data that’s been targeted. Fixed Mobile Data or what you’ll call the Turbonet data. It’s price has been increased by 50% . As per @StatsGH.

Based on the phase approach to the implementation of the SMP intervention, your mobile data will be targeted next.

So what am I saying. I’m simply saying that the NCA is interfering in the free market by altering the dynamics of supply and demand to cause price hikes. I think the motive of driving competition is great but the mitigation approach may not be the best.

Telecom product switch and its price is very inelastic. People are not as price sensitive to telecom products as believed. In earlier years, price was a key factor in telecoms however in recent years, quality of service has become the main switching factor.

This is my alternative. If the NCA wants to foster competition without hurting the customer I think they could fund these other telcos or allow shared services of MTN’s infrastructure by these other telcos. In that case everyone wins and the consumer doesn’t suffer.

Other than that. MTN cannot be blamed for investing smart, being innovative and being everywhere you go.

PS. This would actually make MTN more money as they most users won’t switch but just spend more on MTN.

By: Row Skilli-Vitzky (@Rowdvitzky on Twitter)

“We begged for points or not, King Faisal will defeat Kotoko again,” Grusah claps back at Nana Yaw Amponsah

The Inshallah Boys are already dreaming of inflicting another pain to their city rivals after already defeating them twice this season

King Faisal owner and bankroller Alhaji Karim Grusah says he is not perturbed by the comments made by Asante Kotoko chief executive officer Nana Yaw Amponsah regarding how they struggled to survive relegation last season.

According to Amponsah, Alhaji Grusah was on his knees begging Kotoko to play a match of convenience with them at the Len Clay Sports Stadium but he didn’t budge and he is happy they are now fighting for points on the field this season.

This comments seem not to have gone down well with Alhaji and he has insisted that they will defeat Kotoko again when they meet on matchday 23.

“We begged for points from who? This is not a problem. I have defeated his club. He should give his chairman respect, that’s all,” Grusah told Ghanasportspage.

“Begging for points or not, it is our own matter. We all are playing in the league. We haven’t ended up with them. We will beat them again and he will see what is going on.

“God willing we will beat them again. Not only this season we have beaten Kotoko front and back, go to the history book. I don’t think about Kotoko but I am thinking about the rest of the matches and the second round,” he added.

King Faisal are currently joint top leaders with Asante Kotoko on Ghana Premier League log as both clubs have 23 points. They will travel to Techiman this weekend to face Eleven Wonders at the Ohene Ameyaw Park.

Ghana FA president Kurt Okraku scores awesome penalty against Richard Olele’ Kingson at Black Stars camp

The country’s football governing body chief tried his penalty kick skills against Richard Kingson as the Black Stars continue with their preparations for the Afcon

With the Black Stars in Qatar fine tuning ahead of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cameroon, Ghana Football Association president Kurt Okraku took time off his busy schedules to entertain the contingent as he faced former Ghana goalkeeper and now Goalkeepers’ coach, Richard ‘Olele’ Kingson in a penalty shootout contest.

Although, Okraku’s initial kick was fluffed, he had the chance to retake it since he didn’t wait for the referee’s signal.

This time around, he calmly slotted in his kick to the bottom left corner of the post as Kingson was left standstill and root to his spot as the other technical team and communication team members cheered him.

Referee Sefa Antwi to officiate Ashanti derby in Kumasi; Kenny Padi to handle Gold Stars vs Hearts in Bibiani

The country’s football governing body has confirmed the appointment of referees ahead of the weekend’s top-flight games across nine centres

The Referees Committee of the Ghana Football Association has announced Match Officials for Matchweek 12 of the Ghana Premier League.

Table toppers Asante Kotoko will welcome regional rivals Ashanti Gold to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday. The Porcupine Warriors would be hoping to add Ashanti Gold to their casualties and make it two wins on a row after they shocked Aduana Stars in Dormaa Ahenkro last weekend.

Referee Eric Sefah Antwi has been selected to be in the centre of affairs when the two giants clash at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

Hearts of Oak, on the other hand, will travel to the Dun’s Park in Bibiani to lock horns with debutants Gold Stars. The Phobians have had a relatively slow start to the campaign and even struggled last weekend against Bechem United at home as they shared the spoils goalless.

Therefore, underfire coach Samuel Boadu would hope to get a reaction from his players as they play at a venue where they were defeated for the first and only time they played at in a FA Cup game.

Below are the match officials for Matchday 12:

  1. DATE: SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 2022
    MATCH: ELEVEN WONDERS vs KING FAISAL

VENUE: OHENE AMEYAW PARK

REFEREE: EMMANUEL TAMPURI

ASSISTANTS: KWASI BROBBEY & ATO YAWSON

4TH REFEREE: SELORM KPORMEBGE

MATCH COMMISSIONER: ALHASSAN MOHAMMED

VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: OBED ANANE FRIMPONG

GFA CAMERAMAN: KWAKU KWANING

  1. DATE: SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 2022
    MATCH: DREAMS FC vs LEGON CITIES

VENUE: THEATRE OF DREAMS, DAWU

REFEREE: MOHAMMED MISBAO

ASSISTANTS: BARNABAS AMENYO & FAUZAN MINKAA-IL

4TH REFEREE: BENJAMIN SEFA

MATCH COMMISSIONER: MIKE AMEDIOR

VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: RICHARD ACHORE

3 DATE: SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 2022
MATCH: BECHEM UNITED vs RTU

VENUE: NANA FOSU GYEABOUR PARK

REFEREE: EMMANUEL OTOO

ASSISTANTS: PAUL ATIMAKA & KENNETH ARMOO

4TH REFEREE: JACOB ADUNTERA

MATCH COMMISSIONER: AWUDU DZANG

VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: PRINCE AGYEMANG

GFA CAMERAMAN: PAUL EGBENYA

  1. DATE: SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 2022
    MATCH: GOLD STARS vs ACCRA HEARTS OF OAK

VENUE: DUNS PARK

REFEREE: JOSEPH KENNY PADI

ASSISTANTS: STEPHEN BALANGUENA & ALEX OSAM

4TH REFEREE: RUSTUM SENORGBE

MATCH COMMISSIONER: CHARLES DARKWAK

VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: SETH ADJEI

LIVE ON STARTIMES

  1. DATE: SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 2022
    MATCH: GREAT OLYMPICS vs KARELA UNITED

VENUE: ACCRA SPORTS STADIUM

REFEREE: SELORM YAO BLESS

ASSISTANTS: KOFI NYARKO BEKAE & RICHARD APPIAH

4TH REFEREE: ALI MUSAH

MATCH COMMISSIONER: ADAM MAKAILA

VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: SENA RICHARDS

GFA CAMERAMAN: FELIX ANYANE

  1. DATE: FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2022
    MATCH: MEDEAMA SC vs BEREKUM CHELSEA

VENUE: AKOON PARK, TARKWA

REFEREE: ABDUL LATIF QADIR

ASSISTANTS: EMMANUEL DOLAGBANU & ERIC NDEBUGRI

4TH REFEREE: PHILIP ARTHUR FORSON

MATCH COMMISSIONER: ALHASSAN SENI SEIDU

VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: RICHARD BAFFOUR NKRUMAH

LIVE ON STARTIMES

  1. DATE: SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 2022
    MATCH: ELMINA SHARKS vs ADUANA STARS

VENUE: NDUOM STADIUM

REFEREE: ALFAA BA-ADEY

ASSISTANTS: DAVID ADDICO & SETH ABLETOR

4TH REFEREE: FREDERICK SAMENA

MATCH COMMISSIONER: GABRIEL INKOOM

VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: JONATHAN NELSON ACKON

GFA CAMERAMAN: EMMANUEL LARTEY

  1. DATE: SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 2022
    MATCH: ACCRA LIONS vs WAFA

VENUE: ACCRA SPORTS STADIUM

REFEREE: GEORGE MAWULI VORMAWOH

ASSISTANTS: HARUNA BAWA & ABDUL RAUF ALHASSAN

4TH REFEREE: IMGERDE IREME MAALE

MATCH COMMISSIONER: OUSMANE TASEMBEDO

VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: NANA AKUA FREMA

GFA CAMERAMAN: ISHMAEL ODARTEY MILLS

  1. DATE: SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 2022
    MATCH: ASANTE KOTOKO vs ASHGOLD SC

VENUE: BABAYARA STADIUM

REFEREE: ERIC SEFA ANTWI

ASSISTANTS: SULEMANA SALAU DEEN & FREDERICK DANFUL

4TH REFEREE: WISEMAN GHANSAH

MATCH COMMISSIONER: MICHAEL AYEH

VENUE MEDIA OFFICER: NATHANIEL GYASI

LIVE ON STARTIMES

Match Review Panel: Referees Julian Nunoo & Nkuah handed 10-match ban following mistakes in Kotoko’s games

The duo, just like other five assistant referees, have been handed severe punishments following their mistakes during Ghana Premier League games

The Match Review Panel of the Ghana Football Association has announced decisions on some complaints received from some Premier League clubs in the on-going league competition.

Below are the decisions of the Review panel on the respective complaints:

OLYMPICS VRS. DREAMS FC (MATCH DAY 4)
Per the video watched, the Panel observed that in the 33rd minute complaint, the player No. 3 of Dreams FC did not handle the ball as claimed by the referee because the player did not jump and his hands remained on his body.

The 65th minute complaint, the Panel observed per the video watched that there was contact between the attacker No. 11 of Gt. Olympics and the defender of Dreams FC No. 20 which was careless.

Referees official responses

The referee was given the opportunity to defend his decisions and he insisted that player No. 3 of Dreams FC jumped which the video did not support that.

DECISION(S)

The referee (Awurisa Andrews) is therefore suspended for four (4) match days from the date of receiving the information.

The fourth referee (Jones Akubiem) is cautioned to be effective on carrying out the fourth referee duties by ensuring that the benches are effectively managed and controlled during the game.

Assistant referee (Halilu Alhassan) is also cautioned to always be on top of the laws of the game.

  1. ASANTE KOTOKO VS. R. T. U (MATCH DAY 8)

Per the video watched, it showed a clear contact between player No. 15 of RTU who fouled player No. 25 of Asante Kotoko, but the referee ignored it in the 28th minute of the game. The referee therefore erred in his decision.

In the 46th minute incident, the video showed that there was a reckless contact between the goalkeeper and the attacker even though the attacker jumped. It also showed that a foul had been committed and the resultant should be a penalty and yellow card. The referee however awarded the penalty alright but failed to caution the player.

Referees official responses

The referee admitted faults he had committed during the match when videos were sent to him for study and response.

DECISION(S)

Clement Kwame Nkuah committed multiple errors in his game and his actions changed the outcome of the game. He is therefore suspended for six (6) match days effective from date of communication.

  1. KING FAISAL VS. MEDEAMA (PREMIER MATCH DAY 5)

Per the video watched, the goal scored by Medeama player Kwasi Donsu in the 89th minute was a good goal. There was absolutely no infringement whatsoever before the goal was scored. It was therefore strange that, Referee Musah Mubarik Paradavoa disallowed such a goal at that crucial moment.

It was also observed that his total output in the game was abysmal.

REFEREE’S RESPONSE

Referee Musah Mubarik Paradavoa when contacted via a call, tried to justify his decision for not accepting the goal, but he only talked about the incident he could later not justify when he saw the video which was sent to him.

DECISION(S)

The referee Musah Mubarik Paradavoa performance in the match day was bad and his decision changed the outcome of the game.

He is suspended for eight (8) match days starting from the day of notification.

  1. ASANTE KOTOKO VS. KING FAISAL (MATCH DAY 6)

Per the video watched the Panel observed that Asante Kotoko player No. 9 who was flagged offside was really not in an offside position at the time of kick of the ball. The Assistant 2 Referee, Roland Addy’s positioning was problematic which made him take a wrong decision in ruling the player offside. Both the referee and the assistant erred in the 11th minute decision.

The 31st minute decision by the referee not to admit a foul was a very tight decision because the video did not show clearly foul committed. The referee is therefore given the benefit of doubt.

The 37th minute reversal of a penalty that was taken against King Faisal and in favour of Asante Kotoko was a very vital decision because even if the player handled the ball, the ball came from his own teammate and therefore the defender cannot be penalized for handball. The referee took the right decision in this respect.

The 45th minute complaint of a King Faisal player wearing a pant numbering 20 and the top jersey numbering 26 even though clear in the video watched did not disqualify the player because that No. 20 was the player CMS Registered number. There was however an attempt by team officials to reconcile the two numbers to be No. 20.

As regard the complaint of eight persons on the technical bench of King Faisal, the Panel did not have the benefit of the video showing any technical bench and the number on it.

Referees official responses

In a long and detailed discussion with the referees (Center, Assist One and 4th) all attempted to explain their point of views on the match.

The Panel came to the following conclusion:

DECISION(S)

The Referee Julian Nunoo is therefore given a four (4) match day ban effective the date of communication for the clear error committed in the 11th minute of the game.

Assistant 2 (Referee Roland Addy) is also suspended for four (4) match days effective on the date of communication.

Recommendation

Team officials are advised to ensure the right numbers are embossed on the player’s jerseys properly.

Match Officials should also be vigilant during inspections to avoid these unacceptable mistakes in future.

  1. ELMINA SHARKS VS. HEARTS OF OAK (MATCH DAY 8)

Per the video watched closely, it shows that the fast ball hit the body of the player before the hand in a quick movement.

Per the laws regarding hand ball, the player cannot be charged with a handball offence since the ball came off the body before touching the hand.

DECISION(S)

The referee, Richmond Antwi and his Assistant 2, Kenneth Armoo are commended for the right decision taken in the game.

  1. R. T. U VS. MEDEAMA (MATCH DAY 7)

Per the video watched, the Panel observed that RTU player No. 15 headed the ball and it touched the hand of the Medeama player No. 27 while on his way down after a jump to challenge for the ball. The position of the hand of Medeama player was as a consequence of his body movement and therefore cannot be considered as a hand ball.

DECISION(S)

For the referee’s decision not to award a penalty was clearly on his good interpretation and understanding of hand ball situations. The referee is therefore commended for a good decision.

  1. BIBIANI GOLDSTARS VS. BECHEM UNITED (MATCH DAY 7)

The Panel observed that the attacker No. 27 of Bibiani Goldstars was put on side by player No. 14 of Bechem United who was found at the far-right side of the field. Therefore, there was no offside offence. The foul was justified and the red card on player No. 5 was also a good decision.

The 90th minute incident was a penalty and yellow card which the referee denied Bechem United. The referee (Joshua Samadji) and his Assistant 2 (Avinou Prosper) both erred.

Referees official responses

Referee Joshua Samadji after watching the video sent to him agreed that he was far from the action spot in the game and could not see clearly. He could clearly now see in the video that there was contact between the attacker No. 20 of Bechem and the goalkeeper of Bibiani Goldstars No. 22 which was clear foul on the player.

DECISION(S)

Referee Joshua Samadji and his Assistant 2 Prosper Avinou are therefore suspended for six (6) match days each effective from the date of communication since their error changed the outcome of the game.

Source: GFA COMMUNICATIONS

Algeria 3-0 Ghana: Black Stars humiliated in friendly game ahead of 2021 Afcon

The Black Stars were thrashed by the African champions as they wrapped up their preparations for the 2021 Afcon

Ghana suffered a 3-0 humiliating results against Algeria in an international friendly ahead of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cameroon next week.

Napoli winger Adam Ounas gave Algeria the lead by the eighth minute after he dribbled past defender Gideon Mensah before unleashing a powerful shot to beat goalkeeper Manaf.

Although, the Black Stars had few half chances after going down, they failed to make them count.

After the break, Columbus Crew captain Jonathan Mensah turned in a shot into his own net to double Algeria’s advantage by the 74th minute.

Things moved from bad to worse five minutes later after Islam Slamani added another goal following a terrible mistake by substitute goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi.

Ghana will leave Doha, Qatar on Friday with a chartered flight to Cameroon.

They will play Morocco on Monday in the first gale of the tournament before they face Gabon four days later and Comoros in the final game of the group.

Watch how Adam Ounas dribbled Gideon Mensah to score for Algeria against Ghana in the FRIENDLY game

The Napoli winger went past the young defender and powered in the first goal for Algeria in the friendly game

Napoli winger Adam Ounas shot Algeria in front in the finao preparatory game ahead of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations to be staged in Cameroon.

The youngster went past Bordeaux defender Gideon Mensah in the Black Stars box by the eighth minute before unleashing a shot which went past goalkeeper Manaf.

Live Streaming: Algeria vs Ghana [Watch Live Afcon preparations]

The Black Stars take on the North African giants as part of their fine tuning ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cameroon

https://www.facebook.com/Smile4mikeMedia2/videos/448157327015217/

Ghana take on Algeria in the one and only friendly game ahead of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations hold in Cameroon next week.

https://www.facebook.com/Smile4mikeMedia2/videos/448157327015217/

Head coach Milovan Rajevac is hoping to use this game to get a better understanding of the players, tactics and formations he would relish to use at the tournament as Ghana hope to win their first major title since 1982.

Algeria are unbeaten in 39 games in all competitions

Emmanuel Nettey joins Iraqi Division One club Duhok SC after leaving Hearts of Oak

The midfielder has put pen to paper with the lower division side in Iraq after leaving the Phobians last month

Former Hearts of Oak midfielder Emmanuel Nettey has signed a one-year deal with Iraqi Division One side Duhok Sports Club, AshesGyamera.com can confirm.

The 25-year-old left Hearts last month after the expiration of his contract and has sealed this deal which is way better than his previous one with Hearts in terms of finances.

Nettey, who joined Hearts from Inter Allies, was part of the Phobians squad that won Ghana Premier League and FA Cup last season, played 17 league games.

Before his departure, he made five appearances out of nine games played by Hearts this season and was ever present in the club’s participation in Caf Champions League and Confederation Cup.