Opportunity beckons  judokas and karatekas across the country as they look to impress national coaches this Saturday at the Japanese Ambassador's Karate and Judo Championships at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The two-day open championships, which climax on Sunday, forms part of the week-long Japanese Week Celebrations .

It  will see over 200 athletes battling it out in various weight categories for medals, as well as coveted spots in the respective judo and karate national teams.

All is set for the 13th edition of the Accra Seniors Open Tennis Championship scheduled for the Accra Lawn Tennis Club from November 19 to  29.

According to Peter Annan, the event coordinator,  the championship is expected to attract a number of tennis players within the Greater Accra region and its environs.

Mr Ben Nunoo Mensah has called on managers of the various national teams to see their positions as sacrifical ventures free from monetary gains such as the payment of ex gratia, appearance fees or bonuses.

He said “I do not have a problem with people who earn moneys after they have invested so much at the club level but when it has to do with national teams I think that the managers must also sacrifice and place the interest of the country first”.

Two executives of the Ghana Hockey Association (GHA),  Madam Elizabeth Safoah King, and Nii Quaye Kuma have been elected as executives of the  Africa Hockey Federation (FIH).

While Madam King, the GHA Treasurer, was elected unopposed at a congress held in Johannesburg , South Africa as part of the FIH championship, Nii Kuma  beat two other contestants to win the position as vice president

The two, together with other executives who were elected during the congress, will hold office for four years, and have opportunity to seek a second term in office, depending on their performance.

Nigerian midfielder, Lukeman Haruna, shot to prominence during the West African country’s participation at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa when he was called to replace injured Mikel Obi.

Mr chairman, special Guest of Honour, President of the Ghana Football Association, Managing Director of First Capital Plus Blank, the CEO of SuperSport, esteemed dignitaries, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it’s such a great pleasure for us to gather here again for this important agenda on the Ghanaian Football calendar.

Today, we recognise and celebrate the achievements of outstanding footballers, clubs and officials in the just ended season. My heartiest congratulations to all who have been nominated for the various award categories.

As we celebrate the 10th PLB Awards Night, we do so in full contentment of the knowledge that we’ve come a very long way to make our game one of the most attractive and enjoyable. In doing so, it is appropriate that we recognise the roles of all those who have in diverse ways made it possible.

Lamine Diack, ex-head of the IAAF, is being investigated over allegations he took payments for deferring sanctions against Russian drugs cheats.

Arsenal's hopes of reaching the UEFA Champions League knockout phase were left hanging by a thread last Wednesday after they were thrashed 5-1 by Bayern Munich, while Chelsea revived their faltering campaign with a nervy 2-1 victory over Dynamo Kiev.

We are at a loss and, perhaps, confused as to the nature or kind of financial reward received by 22 members of the Executive Committee of the GFA at the end of their four-year service to Ghana football.

Is it ex gratia, as we are being made to understand, or honorarium, the amount of $15,000 paid to each of the football servicemen totalling $330,000?

If it is ex gratia, where the understanding is that it is a favour being done to the servicemen and not recognition of any obligation on legal basis, then the general outcry that the payment is on the high side must be making some sense.

WBA International super welterweight champion, Joshua Clottey returns to the ring for the second time this year to face Gabriel Rosado in a catch-weight bout on December 19 at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in New York.

The football team of Mount Calvary Cross Ministry at Achimota, John 3:16,  will play against Amasaman United in a soul-winning football match at Amasaman School Park tomorrow. Kick off is 3:30pm.

The match forms part of  the church’s first anniversary celebration which include free health screening for the people in the area.

According to Coach Nii Kpani Addy, Amasaman would feature players like James Lamptey, Enoch Lamptey, Ebenezer Lartey and Lawrence Qurleson. And on the side of John 3:16 according to Bro Amarkwei, the Technical Organiser, they would field Michael Lamptey,  Andy, Raul, Fireman Cudjoe, Kenneth Sowah and Nicholas Allotey.

The 2016 Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has urged the next generation of Ghanaian footballers to take inspiration from members of Ghana's 1965 AFCON squad who defended the honour of the nation with distinction.

According to Nana Akufo-Addo, the triumph of the 1965 AFCON squad 50 years ago in Tunisia won the nation a lot of respect globally, with the Black Stars becoming a footballing powerhouse on the back of those performances.

Nana Akufo-Addo made the call yesterday when the members of the 1965 AFCON squad presented him with an official invitation to their Golden Jubilee celebration which takes place on December 3 at the Sun Lodge Hotel in Accra.

Jose Mourinho is likely to hand Baba Abdul Rahman his second match in the Premier League as they storm Stoke City, hoping to avenge a loss they suffered in the Capital Cup.

Coach Avram Grant has invited 23 players, including WAFA midfielder Samuel Tetteh and Wa All Stars goalkeeper Richard Ofori for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Comoros.

The two-leg affair will take place in Moroni, Comoros, and Kumasi on November 13 and 17 respectively.

The president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kwesi Nyantakyi, has defended the payment of $15,000 each to 22 members of the FA’s Executive Committee (ExCo) and said the amount was raised from the association’s internally generated funds.