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Emelia Gyasi, the Assistant Marketing Manager of Twellium Industries presenting the 2015 Rush! Community Basketball Trophy to the Osu Hawks

Osu Hawks win Rush Community Basketball Tournament

Osu Hawks last Sunday kept their 10-week unbeaten record intact when they defeated Ashaiman Tigers 80-74 to win the Rush Community Basketball Tournament held at the Accra Polytechnic multi-purpose court in Accra.

The Hawks finished tops of the regular season with eight points ahead the three other semi-finalists -Tema Sharks, Ashaiman Tigers and Tudu Warriors -who were tied on seven points heading into the finals.

Their superiority throughout the tournament was felt especially in the second semi-finals, where Benjamin Debrah and Emmanuel Dickson exhibited rare skills, making it possible for them to brush aside Tudu Warriors 62-47 to book a spot in the finals.

The Hawks, coached by Dua Daniel Sowah, also dealt expertly with the unruly behaviour of the Tudu Warriors’ supporters who staged a court invasion in the second quarter as their team struggled to cope in the face of an unrelenting attacking forays.

Dr Kwaku Ofosu Asare

Market clubs to attract more fans:Dr Kwaku Ofosu Asare

As part of plans to improve the standard and attendance of domestic league matches in the upcoming and subsequent seasons, club officials have been advised to market their clubs more effectively.

Dr Kwaku Ofosu Asare, who gave the advice during the FA's two-day retreat to implement media strategies and PR techniques, said marketing their clubs would not only attract more football fans to patronise the indigenous leagues but also boost their values ahead of the start of the new season and subsequent ones.

Speaking on the topic ‘How to use the media and PR to attract fans to the stadium at the Alisa Hotel yesterday, Dr Ofosu Asare, said it was important for club owners to use different media and PR techniques to accomplish the task of attracting more football fans to patronise the local leagues.

“Currently, the media have become a very powerful tool so the clubs should create a media platform to communicate with their fans and implement techniques like selling

Ben Nunoo Mensah— unhappy

Nunoo Mensah holds GOC to account

The President of the Ghana Weightlifting Federation (GWF), Ben Nunoo Mensah, has urged the leadership of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) to practise good governance, accountability and transparency.

In an interview with the Graphic Sports, Mr Nunoo Mensah argued that some recent actions by the GOC were creating the impression that it was no longer interested in accounting to the various stakeholders.

According to him the GOC failed to present the 2016 budget for congress for approval in accordance with the committee’s constitution.

Besides, he wondered why the committee failed to disclose the amount it had received from the Olympic Solidarity Fund which it had already disbursed.

“Under normal circumstances and in accordance with the GOC constitution the committe’s budget must be presented before congress, for approval before disbursement.

“But this is not the case this time around as this would have enabled delegates to demand answers to som

The President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi

GFA: Poor salaries bane of our clubs

The President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi, says poor remuneration of footballers in the local league is accountable to their abandoning the league for unpopular destinations in Asia, such as Thailand, Vietnam, among others.

The GFA boss made the observation last Monday at the opening ceremony of a two-day Media and Marketing seminar for Premier/Division One Clubs in Accra.

Mr Nyantakyi, who owns Ghana Premier League side, Wa All Stars, disclosed that clubs were helpless when offers came in for their players from such countries because currently no club in the Ghana Premier League was able to offer a player $1,000 as monthly wage.

He said, "By making our league competitive, it means that we will be able to raise revenues and pay attractive salaries to our players and stem the perennial tide of the exodus to Europe.

Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter

FIFA bans Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini for 8 years

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have been banned from all football-related activities for eight years by FIFA's Ethics Committee.

Football's world governing body's Ethics Committee ruled Monday that both FIFA president, Blatter and his UEFA (European football's governing body) counterpart Platini had broken FIFA Code of Ethics relating to conflicts of interest, breach of loyalty and gifts.

The pair was cleared of bribery and corruption allegations.

• Daniel Amartey (arrowed) with Vision FC players after the donation

Amartey gives to Vision

Black stars and  FC Copenhagen defender, Daniel Amartey, has donated a set of football boots, running boots and footballs to newly promoted Division One side, Vision FC, last Saturday at the Legon Ajax Park.

The presentation took place after Vision Fc’s friendly goalless drawn game with Premiership-bound Dreams FC.

The donation was not financed by Daniel Amartey alone but with support from Addidas Denmark and Paramount Sports Management, Graphic sports can confirm.

• The body of C.K Gyamfi as he lay in state with some mourners wailing

C.K Gyamfi laid to rest

The mortal remains of Ghana soccer legend, C.K. Gyamfi, were laid to rest at his hometown, Okorase, in the Eastern Region last Saturday.

The state burial was preceded by a memorial and thanksgiving service at the State House in Accra where he was laid in state last Friday for Ghanaians to pay their last respect.

• Andre Ayew

Razak unsure of Dede for African best

Former Ghana midfielder Abdul Razak has insisted that he doubts the chances of Black Stars deputy captain Andre Ayew to win the 2015 Africa Player of the Year accolade.

Ayew, 26, has been named in a three-man shortlist for the CAF award alongside four-time and reigning winner Yaya Toure as well as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but the 1978 winner tips Yaya Toure, to win it for fifth consecutive times.

“I have won the award before and know how it feels and would wish same for Ayew,” Razak told Nhyira FM.

From left Banku, Harrrison Tetteh of Joy Dadi and Powers after the press conference

We are in for the job, not money - Banku, Powers claim

Two of Ghana's cruserweight boxers,  Brimah Kamoko, also known as Bukom Banku, and his long time pal, Ayitey Powers, have dispelled rumours among Kumasi fans that their 'repeat or revenge' fight on Boxing Day at the Baba Yara Stadium was just to make money and not to exhibit any great fight.

Banku told a press conference that the rumour could only gain currency if the purse was going to be shared, 'but this is a winner takes all; so it cannot be true. '

Fans in the Garden City remain divided over the competitiveness of the upcoming bout on Saturday after the sell-out first fight at the Accra Sports Stadium months ago, which was won by Banku on a unanimous points decision.

Joshua Clottey

Beaten Clottey to move down in weight

Former IBF welterweight champion, Joshua Clottey, is considering reverting back to the junior middleweight clas following his defeat to Gabriel Rosado in the USA last Saturday.

The 38-year-old moved up in weight just to make this fight but after losing on a unanimous decision to the American, the Ghanaian is reconsidering his decision.

" I don't feel comfortable at this weight class, I want to go back down to 154 and continue to fight at junior middleweight," Clottey said after his defeat.

Pall bearers carrying the casket containing the mortal remains of C.K. Gyamfi.
EMMANUEL QUAYE

Hundreds pay last respects to C. K. Gyamfi

Hundreds of Ghanaians from all over the country yesterday converged on the State House in Accra to pay their last respects to Nana Charles Kumi Gyamfi, one of the successful coaches in the country’s history.

It was not surprising to see many people paying their last respects to the man credited with the honour of leading Ghana’s Black Stars to all their African Cup of Nations (AFCON) glory, both as a player and a coach.

It was a real celebration of life as tributes shared memories of his achievements, re-emphasising what was already known, but they strongly depicted him as a great and true sportsman who remained humble and warm-hearted throughout his life.

The late C.K. Gyamfi

C.K. Gyamfi’s state burial service today

Ghanaian football legend, Charles Kumi Gyamfi (C.K. Gyamfi), will be laid in state at the forecourt of the State House in Accra today at 7 a.m. The state burial service will mark the start of the final funeral rites of C.K. Gyamfi 85, who died on September 2, 2015 at the Cocoa Clinic in Accra.

The scheduled funeral rites include a memorial service which will take place tomorrow at the Okorase Methodist School Park at 10 a.m.

The memorial service will be followed by a thanksgiving service at the Rev. Joseph Clegg Memorial Methodist Church in Kaneshie, Accra, on Sunday.

 A blow to the face

Talking Sports Medicine with Dr Agbeko Ocloo

Imagine what it would be like if you suddenly lost one or two of your front teeth. Smiling, talking, eating—everything would suddenly be affected.

Mouthguards, also called mouth protectors, help cushion a blow to the face, minimizing the risk of broken teeth and injuries to your lips, tongue, face or jaw. They typically cover the upper teeth and are a great way to protect the soft tissues of your tongue, lips and cheek lining. Knowing how to prevent injuries like these is especially important if you participate in organized sports or other recreational activities.

When it comes to protecting your mouth, a mouthguard is an essential piece of athletic gear that should be part of your standard equipment from an early age. In fact, studies show that athletes are 60 times more likely to suffer harm to the teeth if they’re not wearing a mouthguard. While collision and contact sports, such as boxing, are higher-risk sports for the mouth, you can experience a dental injury i

The chairman of the Premier League Board(PLB),

Abra-Appiah going nowhere; Still boss at PLB

The chairman of the Premier League Board(PLB), Welbeck Abra-Appiah, who announced his resignation at the end of last season, might not have his intended rest from mainstream football activities as the Ghana Football Association(GFA) has compelled him to stay until  further directed.

Abra-Appiah, together with his vice, Ashford Tettey-Oku have been directed by the GFA to stay in office in what appears as a fresh mandate handed them.

The two are the only ones on the board whose appointments emanated from the GFA and the decision to extend their mandate is part of a general one taken by the football controlling body to keep all its sub committees working despite the election of new members to the Executive Council and the Regional Football Association.

Joshua Clottey

Joshua steps up to world title

Ghana's Joshua Clottey will be aiming to use Philadelphia-based brawler, Gabriel Rosado as a stepping stone for a world title shot when the pair clash in a catchweight bout on the Luis Ortiz-Bryant Jennings undercard tomorrow at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.

At 38 years, another defeat for the former IBF welterweight champion, Clottey, who is moving up in weight to face Rosado could spell an end to an impressive career, which has seen him win IBF welterweight and WBA International super welterweight titles.

However, a win against Rosado(21-9, 13 KOs) - a fighter who has not won an official boxing match since 2012 - could set him on a path to bigger and better fights against the likes of the WBC middleweight champion, Saul Alvarez and the unified WBA, IBF, WBC and IBO middleweight champion, Gennady Golovkin.

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