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I knelt to beg coach Ogum to stay for the sake of Asante Kotoko – Nana Yaw Amponsah

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The Chief Executive Officer of Asante Kotoko, Nana Yaw Amponsah has disclosed how he shed tears and went down on his knees to plead former coach Prosper Narteh Ogum to stay.

According to the football administrator, despite the difficult moments the club went through which brought dishonesty, he pleaded with Ogum to allow bygone by-bygones so the club can progress.

“I knelt to beg coach Ogum for him to let bygones be bygones so Kotoko can prosper, I’ve cried as a Kotoko CEO because of the shenanigans in the team, even Ogum cried in some time”, he told Wontumi Sports.

Ogum, joined Asante Kotoko on a two-year deal ahead of the 2021/22 betPawa Premier League after parting ways with now division-one league side WAFA.

However, after guiding the Porcupine Warriors to the title in his debut season, he left his role which came as a surprise tp many with pundits attributing his decision to disagreement with management.

Following Ogum’s departure, the defending champions have failed to retain the title they won under the former gaffer as they currently sit fourth on the league table with 51 points after 33 games.

Kotoko will host this year’s FA Cup finalist Dreams FC at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Saturday, June 11.

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“I will be surprised if Dr Kwame Kyei says he has no problem with me” – Nana Yaw Amponsah

Asante Kotoko CEO Nana Yaw Amponsah has revealed that he would be amazed if the club’s board chair, Dr. Kwame Kyei, comes out to say there is no issue between them.

According to several sources, the two top leaders of the Ghanaian giants don’t have a good interpersonal relationship, which has seen the team perform poorly this season.


Nana Yaw Amponsah, who is about to begin his tenure as CEO of the club, has finally revealed that the relationship between himself and Dr. Kwame Kyei is questionable despite their level of professionalism.

He told Wontumi TV that despite the ups and downs in his relationship with the board chair, he still has the utmost regard for Dr. Kwame Kyei, but they are not on good terms.

“Personally, I don’t have any issue with Dr. Kwame Kyei as I sit. I give him the maximum respect wherever and whenever I meet him, but our relationship and how to communicate as CEO and his board chairman are not good from the beginning.

“I will be a little bit surprised if he says he has no problem with me. I wasn’t trained to meet hatred with hatred,” the young football administrator added.

Nana Yaw Amponsah was appointed to lead the Kotoko management on August 7, 2020, and his 3-year mandate will come to a close at the end of the 2022–23 football season.

Kotoko are preparing to wrap up their season as they welcome Dreams FC at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday.

Ibrahim Tanko names 29-man provisional squad for 2023 U-23 Afcon pre-tournament camping

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Ibrahim Tanko has named a provisional Twenty-nine man squad for camping ahead of the TotalEnergies U-23 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco. The Black Meteors will depart Accra on Monday, June 12, 2023 for Cairo where they will camp for two weeks and engage in series of friendlies before the competition.

The team has been training at the Ghanaman Centre of Excellence at Prampram ahead of the trip to Cairo.

Kamaldeen Sulemana and Ransford-Yeboah Koniigsdoffer who are part of the Black Stars squad for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar will join the Black Meteors after the match on June 18, 2023.

Ghana have been paired with hosts Morocco, Guinea and Congo in Group A. The Black Meteors will begin the tournament with a game against Congo on June 25, before taking on Morocco and Guinea on June 27 and June 30, respectively.

The finalists and third-place playoff winner of this tournament will qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics men’s football tournament in Paris while the 4th-placed team will play the AFC –CAF playoff to decide the final slot at the Olympics.

The 2023 TotalEnergies U-23 Africa Cup of Nations will be staged in Morocco between June 24 and July 8, 2023.

Match Report: Bentil bags brace, Afriyie Barnieh on target as Black Meteors demolish Uncle T United in friendly

In preparation for the upcoming U23 AFCON tournament in Morocco, Ghana’s Black Meteors emerged victorious in a friendly match against Uncle T United, a team from the Division One League. The match took place at the Ghanaman Soccer Center of Excellence in Prampram.

The Ghana U23 team has been undergoing training at the base for several weeks, fine-tuning their skills for the tournament. In the friendly encounter, the Black Meteors displayed a dominant performance, securing a convincing 3-0 win over their second-tier opponents.

Godwin Bentil proved to be a key player, contributing two goals to the victory, while Afriyie Barnieh also found the back of the net with a well-taken strike. Ghana took the lead in the first half through a penalty converted by Barnieh, entering halftime with a one-goal advantage. In the second half, Bentil’s brace sealed the victory for the Black Meteors.

Looking ahead, Ghana is set to compete against hosts Morocco, Congo, and Guinea in Group A during the U23 AFCON tournament. The tournament commences on June 23, and Ghana’s objective is to secure a top-three finish, which would mark their return to the Olympic Games after a 19-year absence.

RTU players boycott training ahead of final Ghana Premier League game against King Faisal

Real Tamale United players have taken a firm stance by refusing to partake in their training sessions leading up to their last match of the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League against King Faisal.

The critical match is set to take place on Sunday at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium. The players’ decision to boycott training is a result of the ongoing issue of unpaid salaries.

The players have been awaiting payment for three months’ worth of salaries from the previous 2021/22 season, which were left outstanding due to a change in management.

The unresolved financial matter has raised significant concerns among the players, who are apprehensive about facing a similar predicament in the current season.

To compound their frustration, the Chief Executive Officer of Real Tamale United had assured the team that their salaries would be settled prior to their triumphant match against Hearts of Oak, where they secured a 2-1 victory at the Accra Sports Stadium last weekend.

Regrettably, despite the CEO’s assurances, the salaries remained unpaid.

With the accumulation of unpaid wages and the disappointment stemming from unfulfilled promises, the Real Tamale United players have collectively decided not to participate in the final game against King Faisal.

Sheffield United goalkeeper handed Black Meteors call up for U23 AFCON tournament

Jordan Yamoah Amissah, the goalkeeper for Sheffield United, a newly-promoted English Premier League team, has been selected to join the Black Meteors for the upcoming CAF U-23 AFCON tournament later this month.

Amissah, who previously played for Borussia Dortmund’s youth team, has already joined his fellow teammates in camp. They are currently undergoing preparations and will soon travel to Egypt for pre-tournament training before proceeding to Morocco, where the tournament will be held.

Amissah’s outstanding performances during his loan spell at League One club Burton Albion caught the attention of Ibrahim Tanko, leading to his inclusion in the squad for the upcoming tournament.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from June 25 to July 8, and Ghana will compete against Morocco, Congo Brazzaville, and Guinea. Their main objective is to secure a spot in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Ghana’s last participation in the Olympics was in 2004 during the Athens Games in Greece. After a 20-year absence, they are determined to make a strong comeback and qualify for the prestigious event.

In the previous edition of the tournament held in Japan in 2020, the Black Meteors came close to qualifying but were ultimately defeated by South Africa in the third-place playoffs, following a penalty shootout.

GFA unveils Black Stars plans ahead of 2023 AFCON qualifier against Madagascar

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has unveiled the schedules for the Black Stars as they prepare for their upcoming match against Madagascar in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

With the match drawing near, the GFA has provided an outline of the team’s plans, showcasing their commitment and determination to secure a victory in this crucial encounter.

According to the GFA, the match is scheduled for June 18th, and the technical team has devised a program that minimizes the team’s stay in Madagascar. The players are expected to arrive this week and begin their preparations.

Unlike during the regular season when players had club commitments, this time the season has concluded, allowing for greater availability. The GFA has sent letters to clubs to inform them of the players’ call-up.

The team will commence their training camp in Ghana on June 12th, where they will stay for four days until June 16th. On the afternoon of the 16th, they will travel to Madagascar. This means they will arrive late on the 16th and have an official training session on the morning of the 17th. The highly anticipated match will take place on the 18th, following which the team will return to Ghana on the following day.

With this well-planned schedule, the Black Stars are leaving no room for complacency as they aim for victory against Madagascar in their quest to secure a place in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Brighton defender Tariq Lamptey suggests how Black Stars can end trophy barren

Brighton and Hove Albion defender, Tariq Lamptey is optimistic about the Ghanaian national team, the Black Stars, ending the country’s long-standing trophy drought through proper preparation and focused determination.

Ghana has struggled to secure a major trophy for the past 41 years, with their last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) victory occurring in 1982. Despite making notable appearances in the AFCON finals in 1992, 2010, and 2015, the team fell short of clinching the ultimate prize.

However, Tariq, who recently switched nationalities to represent Ghana, believes that the prolonged wait for a trophy could soon come to an end if all involved parties execute their roles effectively.

“Football is a very difficult game. It’s hard [because] you are playing against top world-class players at the highest level. But we believe in ourselves. In football, you don’t go into any game thinking you will lose,” he told Joy Sports.

“We always have the feeling that you are going to win. You always have the feeling that if you work hard, prepare right, then you get the right result.

“So we don’t really worry about the external factors. If we concentrate and do what is right for us, we are confident [we will end the drought].”

The Brighton and Hove Albion defender had previously expressed his desire to participate in the 2023 AFCON, which will be held in Ivory Coast, with hopes of aiding Ghana in securing the trophy.

Following the conclusion of the 2022/23 season, Tariq took a vacation in Ghana after being sidelined due to an injury.

Chris Hughton, the coach of the Black Stars, will be aiming to guide the team to victory in the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast next year.

Access Bank extends Division One League sponsorship deal

Access Bank, one of Africa’s prominent financial institutions, has extended its sponsorship agreement with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) until the conclusion of the 2023/24 season.

The GFA announced that Access Bank will continue as the headline sponsor for the Division One League (DOL) in Ghana. The bank initially sponsored the league for a year and, based on their satisfaction with the Football Association, they have decided to renew the contract for another year.

During a courtesy visit by the GFA’s Director of Marketing, Jamil Maraby, the Managing Director of Access Bank, Olumide Olatunji, expressed the bank’s commitment to extending the sponsorship. Olatunji stated that supporting football, which he referred to as the nation’s heartbeat, aligns with the bank’s strategic goal of building sustainable communities.

“We continue to invest in football, particularly the DOL, because it serves as a talent development pipeline. Our aim is to witness these talents grow into national and international footballers who will in turn give back to their communities,” he explained.

In her comments, Matilda Asante-Asiedu, the Group Head of Retail Banking at Access Bank, emphasized the bank’s commitment to providing superior value to the entire GFA ecosystem.

“We continue to invest in football and particularly the DOL because that is the pipeline for developing talents.

“Our goal is to see these talents evolve into national and international footballers who will in turn give back to impact their communities”, he explained.

In her remarks, the Group Head Retail Banking, Matilda Asante-Asiedu touched on the Bank’s commitment to offer superior value to the GFA ecosystem.

“As a Bank, we are positioned to offer superior banking services to the entire GFA ecosystem.

“As a partner of the GFA we are interested in the total administration of football from player welfare, through to facilities and financing for the administration of the game.

“Our solutions cut across Private Banking and lifestyle packages, reliable digital platforms and a raft of lending proposition for management & staff of GFA, players and the entire football value chain in Ghana,” he added.

Jamil Maraby, the Director of Marketing at the GFA, expressed gratitude for Access Bank’s support, highlighting its positive impact on the quality of play and enthusiasm in the recently concluded DOL season. He expressed confidence that renewing the contract for another year will energize the football community and revive the love for Ghanaian football.

“Thanks to the continued financial investments by Access Bank Ghana. We expect to see an uplift in facilities and development of football in Ghana.”

Access Bank remains dedicated to growing a sustainable business brand that positively impacts the communities it operates in across Africa, Europe, and Asia. The bank has a history of investing in community development, with a focus on sports, creative arts, health, and well-being sectors.

With a digital-first approach, the bank has gained a deep understanding of customers’ needs, delivering excellent service and empowering them to achieve more through financial inclusion.

“We are confident of winning the league” – Medeama BoD Chairman Tony Aubynn

Dr. Tony Aubynn, Board Chairman of Medeama SC firmly believes that the club deserves to be crowned champions of the 2022/23 Ghana Premier League season.

With 57 points, Medeama currently sits at the top of the league table and is just one win away from securing the title. They will face Tamale City in their final match of the season at Akoon Park on Sunday.

Dr. Aubynn expressed the view that Medeama has earned the right to win the league this season, especially considering the missed opportunities in previous years.

“Then before COVID-19, we were also in the lead when government postponed the league and we think we have not been fairly treated by nature so it’s our time to win,” he told Graphic Sports.

“We are confident of winning the league, we think that we have been hard done by nature you remember that during the normalisation period, we were in a comfortable lead and then the league was truncated,” he added.

The chairman of the Black Galaxies management committee emphasized that while he would have loved to see Medeama triumph in the CAF Champions League, their main objective is to reach the money zone to ensure their investments yield returns.

“I have always been disrespectful of lower targets, I think the ultimate is to win but realistically, you need to enter into the money zone because if you put in all your effort and investment and you don’t actually get to the money zone, you would have spent money for nothing,” he stressed.

Dr. Aubynn’s confidence in Medeama’s chances of clinching the league title is unwavering, and he hopes that this time they will achieve the success they have long been striving for.