Category: Sports

Lionel Messi took aim at the MLS history books in a magnificent victory for Inter Miami against the New York Red Bulls.

What else is there to say about Lionel Messi? There’s nothing new going on, really. It’s what fans of this sport have been seeing for years. When Messi takes the field, it often ends in pure, unfiltered domination. MLS is, as expected, no different.

On Saturday, Messi made it seven consecutive games with a goal and, if that wasn’t enough, he added five assists for good measure. That brings him 10 goals and 12 assists already. He’s played in just eight matches.

Saturday’s 6-2 win over the New York Red Bulls was the eighth match of Messi’s season, and it was probably the most impressive yet. Just a month ago, these same Red Bulls blasted a Messi-less Miami 4-0 at Red Bull Arena. With the Argentine in the XI this time around, Miami were never going to let that happen again, but the beating they put on this very good Red Bull team was unprecedented.

Messi, of course, was the ringleader, but
he wasn’t alone. New signing Matias Rojas was fantastic, adding another layer to an Inter Miami team that already has plenty that can hurt you. Luis Suarez, too, was at his best, doing what he’s always done: finish. Sergio Busquets ran the show, too, while the defense stood tall despite yet another early goal.

It all starts with Messi, though. When he’s out there, Miami will always threaten to go nuclear. On Saturday, that’s exactly what happened as Messi continued to destroy all in his path.

Source: Ghana Web

Andre Ayew, the Ghanaian international, was elated to score his first goal at the Stade Océane, contributing significantly to Le Havre’s victory over Strasbourg in the French Ligue 1.

Ayew’s goal marked his second consecutive scoring match, helping lift Le Havre from the relegation zone with a 3-1 win on Saturday.

Scoring late in the match, the experienced forward played a crucial role in widening the gap to three points above the relegation places.

Following the match, Ayew expressed his delight on social media, celebrating his inaugural goal at the home stadium since his arrival at the club in November 2023.

Midfielder Yassine Kechta was also instrumental, scoring twice for Le Havre, once in the 24th minute and again after halftime.

Strasbourg’s Frederic Guilbert managed to score late in the game, but Ayew’s injury-time goal ultimately secured the win for Le Havre in this critical match.

Since joining Le Havre as a free agent, Ayew has been a key player, with this match’s goal being his fifth of the s
eason. His performance continues to be pivotal for the club’s success.

Source: Ghana Web

Edmund Govina – bronze medalist at the 2024 World Para Athletics Grand Prix Marrakech in Morocco, has narrated how he became a para- athlete.

Govina, a first timer track and field para-athlete from Ghana, placed third at the F46 Men’s Discuss throw with a Personal Best (PB) distance of 18.04 meters at the competition, which also served as a qualifier event to Paris 2024 in France.

In interview with the media, he said, he was not born a disabled but had his right arm amputated after a gory accident in Suhum, in the Eastern Region.

‘Sports is Life!. I lost hope and never believed sports could give me exposure.

I was involved in a traumatic amputation at Suhum in a car accident in September 2018.

‘During the rehabilitation, I discovered a program organised by the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) called Para Sports Against Stigma – PSaS.

‘I contacted the NPC Ghana, and today, I am a proud national athlete. My target is to represent Ghana at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games,’ he added.

He called on author
ities and corporate bodies to encourage and motivate para-athletes to bring more laurels to the nation.

Source: Ghana News Agency

WINDHOEK: The second edition of the Vivo Energy Namibia marathon was launched here on Friday with the organisers expecting to raise more funds for charitable projects, just as they did in their maiden edition.

Vivo Energy the marketer and distributor of Shell-branded fuels and lubricants in Namibia, will host the second edition of the Vivo Energy Windhoek Marathon on 25 May 2024 in Windhoek.

In its maiden edition, the highly anticipated running event attracted over 1,200 participants raising over N.dollars 160,000 from registration fees for charitable projects that were implemented in partnership with the Windhoek City Residents Mayoral Trust.

This year, the organisers said they are anticipating to attracting more than 2,000 runners for the full marathon of 42.2 kilometres (km), half-marathon of 21.1km, 10km and a 5km fun run/walk.

Speaking during the launch Vivo Energy Namibia’s Managing Director, Jaco van Rensburg, said partnerships are a critical factor in their company’s success, which aims to extend
that spirit to the marathon.

‘This event wouldn’t be possible without the partnerships developed with the City of Windhoek, Athletics Namibia, and the strong bond we’ve forged with Namibia’s running community,’ he said.

Athletics Namibia Public Relations Officer, Lot Ndamanhomata, applauded the effort of Vivo Energy Namibia, for getting involved in hosting a marathon and urged the company to pursue deeper partnerships to ensure Vivo Energy Windhoek Marathon remains a permanent fixture on the Namibian sports calendar.

Queen Kamati, the Windhoek Mayor, said marathons play a unique role in cities worldwide as ‘They symbolise endurance, determination, and the pursuit of excellence.’ Kamati further invited participants from all corners of the globe to join in embracing the vibrant spirit of the City of Windhoek and showcase their athletic abilities.

The mayor stated that this year’s proceeds will be used to provide access to water points in Windhoek’s informal settlements, aligning with the United Nations Sust
ainable Development Goal Six of clean water and sanitation.

Kamati pledged N.dollars 50,000 on top of what would be raised from the marathon to realise the equitable access to water goal.

‘The proceeds from last year’s registration were used to equip community libraries in the Nathanael Maxuilili and Greenwell Matongo settlements with much-needed books and computers, aimed at enriching the knowledge of learners in subjects such as English, Science, Entrepreneurship, and Commerce,’ Kamati said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Ghana suffered significant disappointment at the ongoing World Relay Championships in the Bahamas after dropping the baton in the 4x100m race.

The unfortunate incident happened during the changeover between Isaac Botsio and Benjamin Azamati.

Ghana who prior to the baton failure were in contention for a third-place finish, finished with a disappointing time of 42.70s.

The latest baton change incident is the highlight of what is becoming a trend with Ghana’s male relay teams.

At the recently held African Games, Ghana’s gold medal dream in the relay was scuppered by a baton change mishap.

The delay in the change from Solomon Hammond to Joseph Paul Amoah meant that Ghana came second with Nigeria picking the gold medal.

In 2021, the team suffered similar misfortune after a changeover challenge ensured that they finished sixth.

Ghana still have a chance to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games when the run in Heat 2 of the Olympic Qualifying race takes place on May 5, 2024.

Source: Ghana Web

Asante Kotoko recorded their second win in the last three games following a 2-0 victory over Legon Cities at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Sunday afternoon, during match week 29 of the 2023/24 Ghana Premier League.

The win did not come without controversy: the first goal was contentiously awarded through a penalty, and the second resulted from a scrappy finish.

This victory means Asante Kotoko move up the table by two places, now sitting in ninth with 40 points, after starting the day in eleventh.

Meanwhile, the defeat causes the Royals to drop from tenth to eleventh, with 38 points, resulting in the two sides swapping positions.

Steven Mukwala gave Asante Kotoko the lead after 33 minutes when he converted a penalty that is subject to debate.

The Legon Cities defender was deemed to have deliberately handled the ball on the line while falling; however, the clarity of the incident is questionable.

Yussif Mohammed Nurudeen added the second goal for the home side just five minutes after the break with a s
crappy finish. The game concluded with a 2-0 win for Kotoko.

Source: Ghana Web

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has fixed September 6, for the commencement of the 2024/2025 Ghana Premier League (GPL) season.

The ongoing season is expected to end on June 16, 20204.

According to the GFA, the opening matches would take place on the weekend starting Friday, September 6, 2024, to Monday, September 9, 2024, across all nine Premier League centers.

The publication of this year’s calendar follows the approval of the plan for the 2024-25 football season sanctioned by the Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

In keeping with previous commitments made to clubs, the new date falls in line with the GFA’s planned kick-off Month as it would be recalled that the current football season (2022/24) kicked off during the weekend of Friday, September 15 to Monday September 18, 2023.

The early announcement of the start date for the league is to give Clubs, Players and all stakeholders ample time to prepare for the upcoming season which promises to be thrilling and action-packed.

T
he GFA would, in due course, release the full calendar and fixtures for the entire season.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Two goals from Steve Dese Mukwala and Mohammed Yussif Nurudeen were all Asante Kotoko needed to secure their second successive win over Legon Cities since their meeting with the Life Patron over poor run of results.

The pride of Asanteman had gone seven matches without a win, prompting Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to summon a crunch meeting with the playing body and technical team to discuss possible solutions to the problem.

Since that crucial meeting, the team has not lost a match, winning two at the Baba Yara Stadium and drawing one on the road.

Legon Cities was their latest casualty at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday when they defeated the Accra-based club by two unanswered goals to climb to 9th position on the league table.

The Porcupines started on a flying note and almost stole the lead after two minutes when Mukwala was released by Baya Yahaya, but the slippery striker sent the ball into the waiting hands of goalkeeper Kwame Aziz.

The Ugandan sprinted towards the vital area five minutes later after recei
ving a similar pass, but his pass meant for a colleague in the box was intercepted by a defender of Legon Cities.

Asante Kotoko continued to probe for the opener, delivering long balls to the final third but Mukwala who was their target man was mostly caught in offside traps of the visitors.

He would however make amends on the 32nd minute when he converted from the spot after Yahaya was fouled in the box.

With their noses in front, Kotoko’s performance dropped a bit compared to their display before the half hour mark as they allowed Legon Cities to dictate the pace for some time.

They almost pulled parity on the stroke of half time when Albert Yeboah’s thunderous strike from a free kick hit the woodwork.

That effort turned out to be the last major incident of the half as referee Jacob Aduntera brought proceedings to an end.

Kotoko doubled their lead three minutes into the second half when defender Nurudeen capitalised on a goal-mouth melee following a corner kick.

As expected, the visitors lifted their
performance and fought back with passion determined not to leave Kumasi without a point.

As they raced against time to make an impact, Coach Paa Kwasi Fabian made three quick substitutions with the intention of strengthening his attack which had been wasteful the few times they went close.

Their involvement brought some sense of urgency in their play but it was not enough to break the Kotoko defence which was determined to protect their two-goal lead.

The Porcupines held on to secure all three points to maintain their unbeaten run since their engagement with the life.

Source: Ghana News Agency