A well-researched book on sports, detailing the myths, perceptions and realities of professional football in Ghana is due to be launched in Accra tomorrow, March 16.
The book, authored by veteran football administrator, Major Yaw Larson (retd), and titled “Professionalism in Ghana Football: The Myth, Perception and Reality”, will be launched at the British Council Auditorium at 4.30 p.m.
Ghanaian judoka, Emmanuel Nartey, resisted a fierce challenge last Saturday night to upstage his Spanish counterpart, Javier Ramirez, to win a gold medal in the Under- 73 kilogramme category at the African Open Championship in Casablanca, Morocco.
The 32-year-old, who is a serving officer in the British Army, emerged victorious in all his five previous fights on his way to defeating much-fancied Ramirez in the final.
C. K. Akonnor, head coach of Dreams FC, believes the local league is now endowed with more quality players for Black Stars coach, Avram Grant, to consider.
Grant is expected to release his 23- man- squad to face Mozambique in a double header World Cup qualifier later this month and, according to the former Black Stars skipper, an addition of some local names will be ideal, considering how competitive the local league has become in recent times.
The Olympic Movement in Ghana received a boost last Thursday when students of Accra Academy Senior High School were mentored by three national sports icons about the importance of representing your nation at international sports competitions.
The two-hour seminar organised by Ghana-based sports website, Liquid Sports, was themed "Making it Happen" and saw three national athletes, comprising former Black Stars goalkeeper, Ali Jaraa, taekwondo player, Terrence Tetteh Asare, and 2015 All Africa Games paralympic double silver medalist, Patrick Yaw Obeng, sharing first hand tales of sacrifice, hard work and determination with about 300 students.
Liverpool legend, John Barnes, has advised, Ghanian Leicester City defender, Daniel Amartey, to work hard if he is to make an impact in the English Premier League (EPL).
Horse racing activities were last Saturday revived at the Accra Turf Club at Adjirigano with Hajia, a seven-year-old trotter, winning the historic Independence Day Celebration Championship to lift the coveted trophy and cash prize at stake.
Under the guidance of skilful jockey, Ismaila Musah, Hajia beat the challenge of her strong contender, Sly Mongoose (ridden by E Charwey), to win the race in an impressive time of 1.45 seconds over a distance of 1200 metres.
The president of the Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi, says his association has not abandoned the pursuit of a sponsor for the Premier League.
According to him, the FA is still working hard to find sponsors for the league and once a deal is clinched he will not hesitate to make it public.
Since First Capital Plus pulled out of the 10million-dollar sponsorship package for the league, local clubs have been sweating to finance the day-to-day administration of their clubs.
Accra Hearts of Oak continued with their impressive form as they added Bechem United to their prey with 3-1 thumping at the Accra stadium yesterday to jump to the summit of the Ghana Premier League. It was the Phobians second straight win at home as they overtook Wa All Stars to stretch their unbeaten run in the four-week-old competition.
Undefeated All Stars slipped to second place after holding Dreams FC to a 1-1 at Dawu last Saturday.
The minister of Youth and Sports, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has urged corporate entities and philanthropists to support horse racing, which he said, would create employment opportunities for the youth.
The minister, who represented the President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, at last Saturday’s Independence Day Cup Race meeting at the Accra Turf Club (ATC), near Adjirigano, said his outfit was ready to give support to corporate bodies which were interested in investing in the sport which went into oblivion for many years.
The chairman of Cecil Hunters FC, Alhaji Tanko Abu Seidu Barry, has charged the newly-appointed Minister of Youth and Sports, Nii Lantey Vanderpuije, to come to the aid of the National Sports College and save the facility from further deterioration.
Mr Barry whose club, Cecil Hunters FC, uses the pitch at the facility for their training sessions noted with displeasure the neglect of the Winneba-based College which he said had produced many national stars.
A second half hat-trick by Gabriel Darko last Saturday helped Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to beat Multimedia 3-1 to emerge winners of this year's Standard Chartered-sponsored "Road to Anfield" Trophy. GNPC will later this year represent Ghana at a five-a-side world football competition at Anfield, England.
Liverpool legend, John Barnes, yesterday took pupils of Mamprobi 1 JHS in Accra through a football clinic.
Barnes, who is in the country for Standard Chartered Bank’s "Road to Anfield" trophy competition, used the opportunity to take the students through the rudiments of the game.
The Ghana Premier League has so far exceeded the expectation of pundits after three weeks of excitement. Great goals and surprises seem to be shifting the allegiance of local soccer fans from the popular European leagues.
This weekend, the premiership action continues in earnest as upstarts Dreams FC host Wa All Stars in a cagey battle for the top spot at Dawu.
Both teams go into this afternoon’s match with high expectations, having amassed seven points each in their last three encounters, with Coach C.K. Akonnor bent on snatching his second home win.
The Accra Turf Club will begin the revival of horse racing in the capital today with a commemorative Independence Day Celebration Cup under the distinguished patronage of the President of the Republic, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama.
The race meeting, dubbed the First Day of the Easter Meeting, will start at 1:30 p.m. at the new race course at Adjirigano, near the Zoomlion Headquarters or Nungua Farms and Legon Farms, according to the secretary of the Board of Stewards, Mr Samuel N. A.Turkson.
Accra Hearts of Oak’s midfield sensation, Samudeen Ibrahim, has been cleared to feature for the Phobians in their Premier League encounter against Bechem United at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday as the Phobians look for the opportunity to grab the summit of the table.
