Category: Sports

Former Asante Kotoko captain Michael Akuffo has called on the club to provide psychological support for its players despite their recent poor form.

The Porcupine Warriors have been poor in the second half of the 2023/24 campaign, going eight games without a victory.

The winless streak has placed significant pressure on head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum and the playing body.

Akuffo, speaking to 3FM on Monday, highlighted the importance of psychological assistance, suggesting that Kotoko, like all modern clubs, should enlist the help of a psychologist to bolster players’ confidence irrespective of their opponents.

“The game is changing, and clubs must adjust. We need to change our mode of doing things, especially big clubs like Kotoko. They need a psychologist working behind the scenes,” he said.

The former midfielder stresses the players’ responsibility to strive for excellence and meet the club’s expectations.

“Danlad, as the senior player and captain, needs to gather the boys and let them know they need t
o get out of this situation. If the pressure is on the coach, the same pressure is on the players.”

Akuffo urged the players to elevate their performance, underscoring that they hold the key to reversing the club’s fortunes and supporting the coach.

Currently, Asante Kotoko occupy the 11th spot on the Ghana Premier League table with 33 points, having only secured one victory in their last 10 matches, with seven losses and two draws.

Prosper Narteh Ogum and his charges will hope to return to winning ways when they host league leaders FC Samartex in the Matchday 27 games at the Baba Yara Stadium this weekend.

Source: Ghana Web

Asante Kotoko are currently grappling with a string of disappointing results, prompting club legend Opoku Nti to lash out at the current crop of players.

The Porcupine Warriors have endured a seven-game winless streak, placing mounting pressure on head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum and his squad.

Opoku Nti, a revered figure in Kotoko’s history, minced no words in his assessment of the team’s recent performances.

In an interview with Connect FM, he expressed his dismay, highlighting his belief that certain players are failing to meet the high standards associated with the club.

“Kotoko should always go in for the best players because of expectations and the standard of the club,” remarked Nti. “Looking at the performance of some of the players shows clearly that they are not materials of Kotoko.”

His criticism did not stop there. Nti urged the current players to raise their level of commitment and dedication to match the club’s lofty ambitions. “Whether you are the club’s material or not, if you don’t have gr
eat vision, you’re not fighting for yourself.

Source: Ghana Web

Things got a bit heated between former Kumasi Asante Kotoko coach Isaac Adade Opeele Boateng and Dzifa Gunu, an activist of the National Democratic Congress, over the position of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on activities of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT+) community in Ghana.

Words like ‘rubbish and stupid’ featured in the brief exchange on social media as Opeele sought to make Dzifa Gunu appreciate his viewpoint that Dr Mahamudu Bawumia was not the final authority on issues in the country.

Dzifa Gunu, in his reaction to Bawumia’s public condemnation of the LGBT+ community, shared a photo with the caption, “If Bawumia truly is against the practice of LGBTQUI in Ghana, then he should tell his boss to sign the bill into law.”

Coach Opeele, a self-confessed Bawumia supporter, replied, “You guys sometimes just talk rubbish. Even your own girlfriend or kid, can you tell them what to do at all times?”

Dzifa Gunu fought back on why he believes that Dr Bawumia, as the vice president, has a role to play
in the coming into force of the Promotion of Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2021, also known as the anti-gay bill.

Dzifa posted, “It’s very stupid on your part to come tell us we talk ‘rubbish.’ He is a public figure, and he must demonstrate sincerity.”

What Bawumia said about LGBT+ activities

Speaking at the Eid-ul-Fitr prayers in Kumasi, Dr Bawumia told thousands of Muslims that he is strongly against the practice because his faith as a Muslim is against the practice, and so is Christianity and Ghana’s social norms.

“I will like to take this opportunity to personally comment on the raging issue of LGBTQ in Ghana. First of all, it is important to note that our cultural and societal norms and values as Ghanaians frown on the practice of homosexuality.

“Furthermore, as a Muslim, my view on this matter aligns with the position of my religious faith. The Holy Quran is replete with verses frowning on LGBTQ acts, including same-sex marriages. My faith is, therefore, very strictly against the pract
ice of homosexuality, with no ‘ifs’ or ‘buts.’ No shades of grey,” he stated.

Dr Bawumia was equally unequivocal in stating that, as president, he will continue to be strongly against it in line with his personal beliefs, the stance of Ghana’s leading religious groups, as well as the Ghanaian society.

“I personally cannot support that which my religion, and indeed, all the major religions in Ghana, clearly and unequivocally forbid,” he said.

Source: Ghana Web

Ghanaian midfielder Michael Baidoo was shown a red card in Elfsborg’s 3-0 defeat against Hammarby in the Swedish Allsvenskan on Monday evening.

The match, held at the Tele2 Arena, saw Baidoo starting alongside his fellow countrymen Terry Yegbe and Jalal Abdulai for Elfsborg.

The pre-match head-to-head record stood at 6 wins for Hammarby, 9 wins for Elfsborg, and 7 draws. However, Hammarby dominated the game, with Nahir Besara opening the scoring in the 49th minute with a right-footed shot from the center of the box.

Viktor Djukanovic assisted the goal and later scored one himself in the 69th minute. Jusef Erabi sealed Hammarby’s victory with a goal in the 76th minute.

Baidoo’s evening went from bad to worse when he received a second yellow card in the 81st minute for a rash challenge, resulting in his dismissal.

Despite having played three games, scored once, and assisted once in the 2024 Allsvenskan, Baidoo’s performance on Monday was a forgettable one.

Source: Ghana Web

Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand has eulogized ex-Chelsea and French player Marcel Desailly as one of the great defenders who shaped his career.

According to the former England centre-back, he grew up watching Marcel Desailly playing for some of the biggest clubs in the world.

While Rio Ferdinand was on set speaking with TnT show host Laura Woods ahead of the UEFA Champions League game between Arsenal and Bayern Munich at the Arsenal Stadium on April 9, 2024, Marcel Desailly walked on set to greet the ex-Man Utd player.

Immediately Rio saw him, he put up a big smile and called Desailly ‘the legend’ before adding ‘Good to see you.’

After exchanging pleasantries, Rio placed the spotlight on the 1998 World Cup winner and described him as a player he modelled his football after.

‘This is the guy I watched when I was a kid.’

Despite having a Ghanaian heritage, Desailly represented the French national team and it duly paid off as he won the World Cup in 1998 and Euros in 2000.

Source: Ghana Web

Former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan has denied that Sulley Muntari physically attacked Moses Amah ‘Parker’ at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Muntari and Parker were reported to have been involved in an altercation that resulted in Muntari’s suspension and dismissal from the Black Stars camp in Brazil.

Speaking on the issue, Gyan debunked assertions that the former Inter Milan midfielder slapped the owner of Medeama SC.

‘Sulley [Muntari] never slapped anybody,’ Gyan clarified while speaking about what happened between Muntari and Parker.

While Gyan refused to go into details about what exactly happened, he emphasised that Muntari did not physically abuse Parker.

He added, ‘I was there; he never slapped anyone. I just don’t want to go into details because I was there.’

In 2022, Muntari apologised to Moses Armah Parker for the incident that happened at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

‘I don’t disrespect elders, so it will take a lot for me to react. Unfortunately, he was sitting in front of me, and thing
s got really bad.

‘Immediately it happened, I felt really bad. I wasn’t thinking just about him but his daughter, his family, his wife, and all those things.

‘It’s not right for someone to disrespect their father. I’ve been looking for him to apologise to him for my behaviour, but I have not seen him yet. I will use this opportunity to apologise to him,’ Muntari said in his interview with Dan Kwaku Yeboah in 2022.

Source: Ghana Web

Switzerland and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder, Granit Xhaka, has disclosed that one of his best friends hails from Ghana.

In an interview with Oma Akatugba, Xhaka shed light on his bond with African players, opening up on his childhood friend who is a Togolese and Ghanaian.

According to him, he has been able to build stronger relationships with African players due to his exposure to the African culture at a young age.

‘I grew up with a lot of African people. One of my best friends is from Ghana and Togo. I love the culture, the mentality, and how kind they are to other people. We grew up like this with a lot of respect,’ Xhaka shared.

He added, ‘You can see this football club is more than special… You can’t see that everywhere. Big respect to the club, but also to the families who support us.’

Xhaka’s career trajectory has also seen him work with esteemed African talents, including Dutch player of Ghanaian descent, Jeremy Frimpong, Nigerian striker Victor Boniface and Nigerian winger Nathan Tella.

Sour
ce: Ghana Web

Chelsea players were spotted arguing amongst themselves after being awarded a penalty in the second half against Everton.

Palmer was the star of the show for Chelsea against Everton on Monday at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League. The England international bagged a first-half perfect hat-trick and then added to his tally after the break from the penalty spot.

Yet Palmer had to battle team-mates Noni Madueke and Nicolas Jackson for the ball before being able to net his fourth of the night.

Arguing over who gets to take a penalty is never pleasing for a manager and Mauricio Pochettino will likely have to field questions about it afterwards. Palmer has been Chelsea’s regular penalty taker this season, scoring nine times from the spot in total.

But it also is understandable why both Madueke and Jackson might have wanted to get in on the act in a game that the Blues were already winning comfortably.

While his performances are pushing Chelsea as a club into contention for a recently unthinkable European pla
ce, Palmer stands to achieve plenty on an individual level the way things are going.

His four-goal haul moved him level with Premier League top scorer Erling Haaland on 20 in the Golden Boot race, while pundit Jamie Carragher has mused about potential Player of the Year accolades coming his way – and not just Young Player. It would also be a travesty at this point if Palmer is not one of the first names on Gareth Southgate’s squad list for Euro 2024.

This situation is so embarrassing ??????????? the bois lack discipline fr Palmer is clear, he has scored 8/8 before yesterday and he is a golden boot contender the team should support and help him get more goals instead of fighting him over penalties. #CFC pic.twitter.com/4EKN9PzZxq

Source: Ghana Web