The vice president of the Ghana Football Asscoiation (GFA), George Afriyie, has urged participants of the FIFA 11 for Health programme in the country to take the exercise seriously due to its immense benefits.

At the closing ceremony of the Greater Accra edition of the programme, the GFA vice president said football did not only serve as a source of entertainment but also as a source of good health, and expressed the hope that the implementation of the programme would lead to increased knowledge and behavioural change.

Mr Afriyie gave out football equipment to the participating P.E. Teachers of the FIFA 11 for Health programme also advised them to cooperate with the project officers for a successful implementation throughout the country.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has called on the various stakeholders including the sports federations, the National Sports Authority (NSA), the National Sports College and the National Youth Authority (NYA), to help the ministry to improve the lot of the country’s youth and sports.

It said this year may present a lot of challenges which may appear insurmountable but with the continued support from all stakeholders, the year could also bring in its wake creativity, ingenuity and the will to excel.

Kumasi Asante Kotoko's final training session ahead of Thursday's big kick off of the GHALCA Top 6 competition at the Sekondi Stadium was cut short when the reserved pitch at Adako Jachie near Ejisu caught fire.

The players together with the technical team had to stop the training session to help put the fire out and stop it from expanding to the training pitch.

Wayne Rooney has been named England Player of the Year for 2015, retaining the title he won in 2014.

The Manchester United forward earned 37% of the votes cast by members of the England Supporters Club and has now won it four times.

England captain Rooney scored five goals last year, overtaking Sir Bobby Charlton as England's record goal scorer during Euro 2016 qualification.

Ghana international Kevin-Prince Boateng has re-joined his old club AC Milan on a free transfer.

Milan confirmed the news on their official Twitter account, writing: "Now it's official: welcome back @KPBofficial!"

Boateng, 28, had been training with the Rossoneri since September after falling out with his former employers Schalke.

Pep Guardiola says he is leaving Bayern Munich to manage in England.

The former Barcelona boss recently announced he would not extend his contract in Germany when it expires at the end of this season.

Guardiola, 44, has been linked with Premier League clubs Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara believes the Barcelona trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez (MSN) all deserved to be finalists for the 2015 Ballon d'Or trophy.

Messi and Neymar made the final-three, along with Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, while Barcelona striker Luis Suarez was the unlucky one to miss out.

Suarez finished 2015 as the top-scorer in La Liga, with MSN breaking record after record in the calendar year for goals scored.

Thiago, who played with Messi at Barca before making the switch to Bayern Munich in 2013, said the trio should all be in the running for the Ballon d'Or.

"Right now, all three of them are deserving of being in the running for the Ballon d'Or," he said.

Manchester United's kit manufacturer Adidas has added to the criticism of Louis van Gaal by implying his style of play is unattractive.

The German sportswear company signed the biggest shirt deal in football history when they agreed a 10-year, £750 million contract with United last summer.

The Dutchman's team have only scored 12 goals in their last 15 games, and Adidas CEO Herbert Hainer admitted they had hoped for United to play a better brand of football.

Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane promised to put his "heart and soul" into managing the Spanish giants after he was sensationally named as coach following Rafael Benitez's unceremonious sacking.

The three-time world player of the year takes over at the globe's richest club despite a limited coaching CV which includes his stewardship of Real's feeder team, Castilla.

But Zidane, 43, said he would do his utmost to make sure Real, currently third in La Liga after an unhappy spell under Benitez, land silverware this year.

The International Handball Federation (IHF) has selected Ghana to organise a Level II handball coaching course for teachers in first and second cycle institutions.

The course, which starts from January 15-17, will be held in three different course centres across all 10 regions of the country.

The IHF has designated a course expert to handle the nine-day programme which climaxes on January 24 in Bolgatanga.

According to Nortey Dowuona, vice-chairman of the Handball Association of Ghana (HAG) and the Greater Accra Regional Handball chairman, the workshop is to upgrade the technical capabilities of physical instructors and teachers in schools.

Twenty-six Senior High Schools (SHS) begin their quest to win the nation's biggest basketball tournament when the Sprite Ball tips-off today at the El-Wak Stadium in Accra.

Real Madrid has sacked manager Rafael Benitez, and club legend Zinedine Zidane will assume the role, reports Spanish publication, Marca.

The team currently sits third in the La Liga table, four points adrift of leaders Atletico. They were held 2-2 on Sunday by Valencia at the Mestalla in Benitez's last match in charge of the side.

Twenty-six Senior High Schools (SHS) begin their quest to win the nation's biggest basketball tournament when the Sprite Ball tips off today at the El-Wak Stadium in Accra.

The draw for the two-day tournament which was conducted on TV3's "FastBreak" basketball show threw up some scintillating and familiar pairings that are expected to keep fans who throng the venue on the edge of their seats.

In Group A of the boys division, Volta Region champions, Mawuli SHS will square off against Koforidua Secondary Technical School, both schools met in Group B of the 2014 edition of Sprite Ball which was ultimately won by Keta Senior High School.

Ghana's former finance minister, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, has hailed the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for establishing an endowment fund to cater for former national team footballers.

Dr Duffuor praised the GFA last Wednesday when a high-powered delegation from the federation, led by President Kwesi Nyantakyi, paid a courtesy call on him to thank him for the support he had offered the federation over the past few years.

The GFA last month unveiled a plan to support retired national team players at all levels - both male and female - through the endowment fund which will be officially launched this year.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will not be leaving Paris Saint-Germain in January, but his agent Mino Raiola insists the striker would be perfect for the Premier League.

Ibrahimovic, 34, has been linked with a move away due to the fact his contract expires at the end of the season. The Swede has attracted attention from MLS and Qatar, while it has also been reported that he could return to Serie A with AC Milan.

Yet, while Raiola made it clear his client was not leaving Ligue 1 just yet, the Premier League remains an option.