Category: Athletic

Accra, Aug. 19, GNA- The Black Stars of Ghana will engage the “Little Canary” of Brazil in a friendly encounter on September 23, 2022.

A statement released on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) website said the friendly was arranged due to the postponement of Ghana’s Africa 2023 qualifiers.

It added that the match would give coach Otto Addo the platform to continue the assessment of his players as Ghana prepares for the World Cup.

Meanwhile, the venue for the match is yet to be announced.

Ghana is in Group H of this year’s World Cup together with Portugal, South Korea, and Uruguay.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Munich, Aug 19, (dpa/GNA) – Olympic champions Italy, had a narrow escape into the men’s 4×100 metres relay final at the European Championships, after resting star runner Marcell Jacobs on Friday.

The Italian quartet of Lorenzo Patta, Hillary Polanco Roja, Matteo Melluzzo and Chituru Ali, finished only fifth in their heat, but advanced via their time of 39.02 seconds, escaping by nine hundredths of a second.

Jacobs, who won Olympic 100m and 4x100m gold last year in Tokyo and the 100m European title in Munich on Tuesday, is expected to be part of the team on Sunday.

Hosts Germany, led the heats with a national record 37.97 and three-time reigning champions Britain also safely made it.

Britain are also the title holders on the women’s 4x100m side, and dominated the heats 42.83 seconds, with Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita not running but expected in the Sunday final, just as Germany’s freshly crowned 100m champion Gina Lückenkemper.

Switzerland however paid the price for not running their 100m silver medallist Mujinga Kambundji, as the team crashed out.

The 4x400m races saw title holders the Polish women, and Belgian men advance into Saturday’s finals, Ukrainian world and Olympic silver medallist Yaroslava Mahuchikh, reached the women’s high jump final, a trio of British runners led by Keely Hodgkinson are in the 800m final, and Czech Jakub Vadlejch topped javelin qualifying.

The eight evening finals include the men’s and women’s 200m, as well as both 400m hurdles finals with Karsten Warholm and Femke Bol, as Dutchwoman Bol aims to complete a historic 400m/400m hurdles double.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Berlin, Aug 19, (dpa/GNA) – Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke, has dismissed speculation the Bundesliga club could make a spectacular move for Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Cristiano Ronaldo and Borussia Dortmund is a charming idea at first glance,” he said Friday, as the club presented their annual financial report. “I love this player. He is the greatest player the world has ever produced.

“The problem is that there is no contact with the player. And therefore no transfer.”

US broadcaster CBS Sports, speculated this week that Dortmund was Ronaldo’s “last chance” to leave Manchester United this summer. According to the report, the 37-year-old Portuguese is determined to depart Old Trafford this summer.

The Spanish newspaper AS, had already reported Ronaldo still had two options, former club Sporting Lisbon or Dortmund. AS, however, which like CBS did not name a source, said there had already been contact between Dortmund and Ronaldo.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, Aug. 19, GNA – Mrs. Elizabeth Sackey, Metropolitan Chief Executive of Accra, has pledged her commitment to the work of Women in Sports Network Ghana (WISNETGH).

She said as a former athlete in her days at Junior and Senior High schools, she was touched by the works of the organisation and assured them of her support in developing the girlchild through sports.

The AMA leader made these comments when WISNETGH paid a courtesy call on her at her office in Accra on Thursday.

Leader and founder of the organisation, Madam Philippina Frimpong, explained that WISNETGH was aimed at keeping girls in schools through sports so they don’t become drop outs.

She said to achieve this they organize an annual camp dubbed WISNETGH Girls Camp where they train the young girls in sports like tennis, taekwondo, rugby, chess, as well other life lessons like career options, adolescent sexual health, online safety, and mind matters.

The founder said the camp which started in 2016 had improved the lives of the young girls because they use women in higher positions to motivate and inspire the kids to aim higher.

Mrs. Sackey who was pleased to welcome the kids urged them to be disciplined, prayerful and humble in all their doings adding “you should keep trying when you fail and never give up”.

She commended the coaches for their dedication and encouraged the children to keep up with their talents to become sports icons in future.

The MCE who would be marking 20 years in active politics in 2023 advised them not to rely on their beauty but rather focus on the books and sporting talents and be determined to make a name for themselves in a positive way.

She appealed to women not to be their own enemies but rather support each other to grow and develop to women of virtue and substance.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, Aug. 19. GNA – Professor Peter Twumasi, the Director-General (DG) of the National Sports Authority (NSA) says the government will intensify its support for Isaac Dogboe ahead of his next title fight, as he seeks to become a world champion again.

Dogboe (24-2, 15KOs) recorded a split decision win over American boxer Joet Gonzalez (25-3, 15KOs) to secure the WBO International Featherweight title last month.

At a press briefing, the DG of the NSA said, “you have been a world champion before, and we have no choice, but to intensify our support for you and to ensure that you succeed at being a champion again.

“Ghanaians are also going to do the same for you and make sure that the joy emanating from boxing is once again restored, we congratulate you and wish you well. We would always be by your side anytime you need us, God bless and God bless our boxing and Ghana sport as general.”

Prof. Twumasi who represented the Minister for Youth and Sports said, the boxer had made Ghanaians and himself proud.

“I bring you greetings and congratulatory message from the sports minister who would have wish to be here by himself to deliver this message to our own brother Isaac Dogboe, but unfortunately there is also an equally important event that he needs to attend on behalf of the president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, so he has asked me to represent him.

“You have made us so proud, and the minister said I should repeat that we are very proud of you and that you are an example to our Ghanaian youth who are into sports.

“When you fall you stand up to fight against and this is what the “Royal Storm” did and today he managed to wake up from his sleep to that level, as he is preparing to go for another world title shot, which is a great achievement.”

He said sports contributes to development of a nation, “it used to be a tool for entertainment, but we have gone beyond that and and it is purely business now and so we must live by that”.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, Aug. 19, GNA – Mr. Abraham Neequaye, President of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), says Isaac “The Royal Storm” Dogboe (24-2, 15KOs) remains Ghana’s only world title hopeful in the near future, following his victory against Joet Gonzalez. 

According to Mr. Neequaye, he was determined to get a world title for Ghana during his tenure despite the successes being chalked up in other areas of the sport.

Speaking at the press briefing in Accra, Mr. Neequaye said Dogboe was the only Ghanaian boxer currently in the top ratings and was hopeful he would deliver a world title for Ghana in the near future.

“Dogboe is the number one person and I am looking forward to the world title despite the few things I can boast of in my reign thus far, including the boxing league, Commonwealth medals, among others, but I am determined to get a world title.

“Dogboe is moving forward because of his discipline and is one of the few boxers who understands what he is doing,” he said.

Mr. Neequaye lauded the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) featherweight champion for paying his percentage to support the development fund. 

He urged the government to pay more attention to the sport of boxing as it remains the sport that can win laurels for Ghana on the international stage.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, Aug. 19, GNA-Berekum Chelsea beat Medeama SC 2-0 in the second match of the ongoing Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) Top 6 tournament being played at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Two goals from Shaibu Haruna and Mensah Afriyie ensured victory for Berekum Chelsea as they edge closer to a semi-final spot in this year’s tournament.

Haruna opened the scoring for Berekum Chelsea with a well-taken curled strike in the fourth minute of the game.

Berekum Chelsea looked like a very compact side in the first half of the game, dominating play and creating the most chances, but Medeama goalkeeper Appiah Kubi made some impressive saves to keep the score at 1-0 at the end of the first half.

Medeama SC were more purposeful with their play in the second half but couldn’t create any openings in the Berekum Chelsea backline.

Mensah Afriyie made it two for Berekum Chelsea with a quarter of the game left as he headed in from close range.

Medeama couldn’t get any goals at the end of 90 minutes as they head into Sunday’s clash against Accra Hearts of Oak with no points.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, Aug. 19, GNA – World Boxing Organisation (WBO) International Featherweight Champion Isaac Dogboe says he is ready to fight Rey Vargas or Emanuel Navarette, as he aims to become world champion again.

After defeating Joet Gonzalez in a final eliminator last month, the former WBO World Super bantamweight champion now has the option of fighting for the World Boxing Council or WBO featherweight titles, which are held by Vargas and Navarette, respectively.

Speaking at the unveiling of a new commercial, Dogboe, who is a brand ambassador for Niche Cocoa, said he was still weighing his options and was uncertain about his next opponent.

“I am not yet certain about fighting Rey Vargas. I have the option of fighting for the WBO or WBC. It is about who is presented to me to fight. I am ready to go with either Vargas or Navarette.

“There are rumours Navarette might move up in weight, so I can’t tell whether the WBO would be vacant, but whoever it may be, I am ready to fight,” Dogboe said.

Dogboe, who is also the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) featherweight champion, added that he was comfortable fighting at 126kg despite not being able to deliver more knockouts after moving up.

“The aim is to be the best at 126 kg. I know I just moved up, but it will take time for me to become the best, “he said. 

Source: Ghana News Agency