His name is Kenichi Yatsuhashi and he is the first Asian to take charge of Accra Hearts of Oak’s technical affairs in their 104 years of existence.

Since the news of his appointment broke earlier in the week, Coach Yatsuhashi and his employers have been lambasted by sections of the media, as well as some football fans due to his modest credentials and little experience in the coaching business.

Despite the criticisms, the outspoken Japanese trainer has assured management, fans and the entire populace that he would live up to expectation, stressing that coaching is more about what the job holder can achieve with his team on the field of play than what certificate he brings to the job.

The Argentine genius turns 55 on Friday, but what sort of salary and transfer value would he command had he been born 25 years later? Would he be on Lionel Messi's level?

Even the song is out of date. It was the brainchild of Boca Juniors fans in 1981, when Maradona came to the club from Argentinos. $10 million at that time was an unimaginable fortune, paid with a hurried loan that included money up front, cheques that bounced and six Boca players as part of the deal. Eight years before, in 1973, Johann Cruyff had cost Barcelona just half a million, and in the same year as Diego's move River landed Mario Kempes, a World Cup winner, from Valencia for $4m. 

What was the difference? With 166 games and 116 goals for Argentinos, the No. 10 had shown unworldly talents and looked set to become the best player on the planet over the next decade. 

Defending champions, Nigeria kept their FIFA Under-17 World Cup title defence on course with an emphatic 6-0 win against Australia in their Round of 16 clash at the competition ongoing in Chile.

Victor Osimhen scored the first hat-trick of Chile 2015 to see him stand alone as the outright top goalscorer in the competition so far with seven goals.

A former national table tennis star, Joe Quansah, has passed on at age 61.

As a table tennis star, he was under the tutelage of the legendary D.G. Hathramani, an Indian businessman and philanthropist, where he rose to become the national table tennis champion in the ‘70s and early ‘80s.

Newly appointed coach of Accra Hearts of Oak, Kenichi Yatsuhatsi, has described himself as “the ever-changing one” as he was unveiled last Wednesday at the club’s Secretariat in Accra.

Promising to restore the Phobians to glory, the 46-year-old Japanese whose alleged poor credentials have come under scrutiny from the media, as well as fans, admitted that the Hearts’ job was the biggest of his career, vowing to repay the faith reposed in him by winning silverware for the club.

Manchester City star, Jesus Navas, might not be the only player with a family background of footballers. However, the contrasting fortunes between him and his brother seem more profound.

A technical director at the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Coach Oti Akenten, has tipped the local Black Stars to survive the Ivroian threat and sail through to the next Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) to be hosted by Rwanda early next year.

He, however, admitted that the encounter today would be a tough one since tactically both teams appeared almost at par.

Speaking in an interview with the Graphic Sports, Coach Akenten was hopeful that the match officials would also do their bit to ensure the better side carried the day.

One of Africa’s most successful footballers, Samuel Eto’o, would storm Accra on Monday to begin the filming of FIFA’s 11 for health programme.

The Camerounian international would be coming alongside FIFA chief medical officer Prof Jiri Dvorak and they are expected to visit the Kotobabi ‘3’ JHS at Alajo.

The 34-year-old former Chelsea player will be part of the season 5 and 6 alongside a series of programmes he is expected to undertake while in the country.

The local Black Stars face a tough challenge today when they engage Cote d’Ivoire in the second leg of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier away at the Stade Robert Champroux in Abidjan.

The home side will be full of confidence heading into the tie, especially after the Ivorian authorities announced free entry for fans at the stadium, as well as a $2000-per-player bonus for members of the local Elephants if they are able to seal qualification.

Regardless of that, the home-based Black Stars coach, Maxwell Konadu insists that his 18-man squad will be able to get a favourable result which will ensure progression to the fourth African Nations Championship slated for early next year in Rwanda.

Wayne Rooney missed a penalty as Manchester United crashed out of the Capital One Cup at the hands of Middlesbrough (Boro) at Old Trafford last Wednesday night.

Championship promotion-chasers, Boro had a goal disallowed when Kike hit the post and Daley Blind put the rebound in his own net, with an offside flag curtailing their celebrations.

The Chairman of Neoplan Stars Football Club, Jonathan Pobee Abbey, has proposed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko to halt the feud between them over their placement on the league table.

He said it was also important for the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to  seek external interpretation from Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) or the Confedration of African Football (CAF) so that the two teams regain confidence in the ruling of the FA.

The local Black Stars have a hurdle to surmount in the Ivorian capital of Abidjan today when they take on their counterparts in the second leg of the CHAN qualifier.

We have almost lost hope of the team surviving in today’s match following the narrow 2-1 in Kumasi a fortnight ago, knowing that away games in African competitions are often herculean tasks.

However, we can muster some courage to throw our weight behind the team to go all the way with the kind of surety being touted by the technical director of Ghana football, Coach Oti Akenten.

The national men’s hockey team yesterday played an improved game to beat Zimbabwe 4-2 and qualify for the semi-finals of the ongoing African Hockey Championships in South Africa.

The team will meet Egypt tomorrow to determine which side qualifies to the final.

Earlier last Tuesday, the Black Sticks suffered a 0-4 defeat to South Africa, putting brakes to their winning spree since the tournament started almost a week ago.

FIFA Chief Medical Officer, Prof. Jiri Dvorak, and Cameroonian soccer legend, Samuel Eto’o, will visit the Kotobabi “3” JHS and Alajo “3” JHS on Monday, November 3 to film the “11 for health” sessions 5 and 6 respectively.

A GFA source has indicated that FIFA has approved Ghana as the first country in the world for the fourth leg of the 'Fifa 11 for Health' programme that trains kids in school to avoid health problems through various football drills.

Chad has named former Cameroun captain, Rigobert Song as their new national team coach.

The 39-year-old was appointed last Monday to succeed Frenchman Emmanuel Tregoat, whose contract expired on September 30.