Asante Kotoko legend Opoku Nti says he is available to serve the club in any capacity any time he is called upon.
The now 61-year-old is eyeing a return to the club after featuring for the record Ghanaian champions for five years between 1980 and 85.
Nti reveals is a childhood fan of the Porcupine Warriors and will not turn down an opportunity to serve his boyhood club.
“I was born into Kotoko and started watching their games at the age of 6,” the 1983 France Football African Footballer of the Year runner-up told Kumasi-based Akoma FM in an interview.
“I am ever ready to serve the club in any position they will offer me because I love the club and it is within my blood.
“So anytime the call is given, either by The KING or management, I am ever ready.”
Opoku Nti scored the match-winning goal as Asante Kotoko won the Africa Clubs Championship by beating Egypt’s Al Ahly in the final in Kumasi.
The 2o22/23 Ghana Premier League continued with weekend fixtures and it did not disappoint with drama and goals across the venues.
Kotoko could finish matchday 11 four points off the top spot after a disappointing performance saw them held to a 1-1 draw by Great Olympics at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on Sunday.
Kotoko needed a late goal to stay in the top four and avoid defeat in Kumasi, where a victory would have propelled them to the league’s top spot.
Aduana Stars, who are currently in first place, will have a four-point lead over Kotoko if they defeat Bibiani Gold Stars on Monday.
Olympics, who had lost three consecutive games, took the lead just two minutes after the halftime break. Abdul Bashiru’s low and feeble effort surprisingly crept into the net.
Kotoko needed something special to get back on level terms, and they found it late in added time when Andrews Kwadwo Appau scored a great header from a free kick awarded in the 98th minute.
Also on Sunday, Dreams FC shocked Medeama 4-0 in Dawu, with two goals in each half at the Theatre of Dreams. King Faisal and Bechem United drew 1-1. Karela United’s clash with Real Tamale ended goalless, and Nsoatreman beat Samatex 1-0.
Scores at a glance;
CAPE COAST: Kotoku Royals 2-1 Berekum Chelsea
Scorers: Edward Mensah, Richard Dzikoe || Kalo Outtara
Man of the match: Richard Dzikoe (Kotoku Royals)
SOGAKOPE: Accra Lions 3-1 Legon Cities
Scorers: Evans Ampofo, Solomon Oppong, Abdul Majeed Maswud || Samuel Armah
Man of the match: Evans Ampofo (Accra Lions)
CAPE COAST: Hearts of Oak 3-2 Tamale City
Scorers: Salifu Ibrahim(P), Benjamin Yorke, Caleb Amankwaah || Isaac Mensah(P), Sampson Eduku
Man of the match: Samuel Baah Nuako (Tamale City)
ANYINASE: Karela United 0-0 RTU
Man of the match: Umar Manaf (RTU)
FOSU GYEABOUR PARK: Bechem United 1-1 King Faisal
Scorers: Hafiz Konkoni | | Godfred Asiamah
Man of the match: Isaiah Nyarko (Bechem United)
BABA YARA: Asante Kotoko 1-1 Great Olympics
Scorers: Andrew Kwadwo Appau || Abdul Bashiru
Man of the match: Samuel Ashie Quaye (Great Olympics)
DAWU: Dreams FC 4-0 Medeama SC
Scorers: Abdul Aziz Issah, Agyenim Boateng(2x), David Van Dijk
Man of the match: Agyenim Boateng (Dreams FC)
NSOATRE: Nsoatreman 1-0 FC Samartex
Scorers: Walid Neymar Fuseini
Man of the match: Daniel Afadzwu – GK (Nsoatreman FC)
Wales legend Gareth Bale has announced his retirement from club and international football.
The former Real Madrid and Tottenham winger, 33, earned 111 caps for the Dragons and represented his country at three major tournaments, including the World Cup in Qatar.
Announcing his decision on social media, Bale said: “After careful and thoughtful consideration, I announce my immediate retirement from club and international football.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to have realised my dream of playing the sport I love.
“It has truly given me some of the best moments of my life.
“The highest of highs over 17 seasons that will be impossible to replicate no matter what the next chapter has in store for me.”
ales captain Bale began his club career at Southampton before joining Spurs for the first time in 2007, where he established himself as one of the Premier League’s finest during 237 appearances for the North Londoners.
That form earned him a move to LaLiga giants Real Madrid for a then world-record £85million fee.
The Cardiff-born ace enjoyed a trophy-laden nine-year spell in the Spanish capital, winning five Champions League titles.
Among the highlights in the final of European football’s showpiece tournament was his goal in 2014 against rivals Atletico Madrid and a memorable brace four years later to see off Liverpool.
A Welsh great, Bale played a talismanic role in helping his country reach the European Championship semi-finals in 2016 and also led them to their first World Cup since 1958.
Bale moved to Los Angeles FC last year, scoring three goals in 14 appearances — including in the MLS Cup final, which his side won on penalties.
He added: “From my very first touch at Southampton to my last with LAFC and everything in between, shaped a club career that I have an immense pride and gratitude for. Playing for and captaining my country 111 times has truly been a dream come true.
“To show my gratitude to all of those that have played their part along this journey feels like an impossibility.
“I feel indebted to many people for helping to change my life and shape my career in a way I couldn’t have ever dreamed of when I first started out at nine years old.
“To my previous clubs Southampton, Tottenham, Real Madrid and finally LAFC, all of my previous managers and coaches, backroom staff, team-mates, all the dedicated fans, my agents, my amazing friends and family, the impact you have had is immeasurable.”
Great Olympics coach Yaw Preko has expressed disappointment in his side’s 1-1 draw against Kotoko on Sunday at the Baba Yara Stadium, saying it feels like Great Olympics gained absolutely nothing from the game.
Abdul Bashiru opened the scoring for the Accra-based side on the 47th minute mark as Kotoko toiled to break the defence of their opponents.
However, Andrews Appau equalized in the very final minutes to deny Olympics the maximum points. Despite the fact that Kotoko is yet to lose at home this season, Yaw Preko believes his team deserved more than a draw at the Baba Yara Stadium.
“We squandered opportunities. I keep saying that when you play against a team like Kotoko and Hearts of Oak. When you have to kill them you kill them. It happened to us when we played Hearts of Oak. The last set piece of the game, Hearts of Oak equalized. Same thing. We created more than them. I said it against Hearts of Oak. It feels like a defeat.
“The game plan really worked. We controlled the game. They were not getting any chances. We were hitting them on the counter. When we had to do it medium, we did it medium. When we had to do it low, we did it low. Then we hit them on the counter. But this job is unbelievable because Kotoko doesn’t deserve a point,” He told reporters after the game.
Olympics have recently been struggling to win points with just a win in their last six matches. Prior to their clash against Kotoko, they had lost three successive times against Berekum Chelsea, Aduana and Tamale. They will go against Bibiani Gold Stars on January 12 in their next match.
Hearts of Oak are claimed to be leading the race to sign Black Galaxies and Great Olympics defender Solomon Adomako in January despite links over a move to other foreign clubs.
The 21- year old center -back has done himself proud playing a key role for Great Olympics and he was delight to watch in both Black Galaxies Friendly against Hearts of Oak and in Prampram and against Algeria at the Nelson Mandela Stadium.
According to a source close to footydreamsgh, Hearts of Oak head coach Slavko Matic has told the management of the club to sign Solomon Adomako from Accra Great Olympics as the placement for departured Mohammed Alhassan.
The source further revealed that, Hearts have reached an agreement for the Black Galaxies defender to join the Phobians after the CHAN Tournament.
Having already being ripped for greatness, Solomon Adomako is expected to command a place in Annor Walker’s team when the 2022 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship starts few days to come.
The 21-year-old center -back started his career with Ashanti Goldstars a Team owned by Betty Anim Addo formerly of TV Africa , the wife of Executive Council Member , Samuel Anim Addo , he continued his development at Right to Dream . He was on the verge of signing for a club in Sweden when COVID strike the world . He then moved to Young Apostles and won the player of the season for the club with 7 MVP’s and 3 goal before joining Olympics.
Though, the former Young Apostle defender is not a well- established center -back or right -back in the Ghana Premier League but has prove hid standard with Great Olympics, which merit his inclusion in the Black Galaxies.
He is expected to maintain his calm and sterling performance for the tournament as Ghana Hope to clinch the title after many years of absence.
Asante Kotoko scored late to hold Great Olympics to a pulsating 1-1 draw at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
The first half of the game saw no goals, Asante Kotoko saw more of the ball but the best chance of the half fell to Great Olympics who nearly capitalized on sloppy play by Charles Owusu to take the lead.
Just a minute into the second half, Great Olympics scored the first goal of the game. Abdul Bashiru after controlling the ball on his chest from the edge of the box struck a low shot pass the goalkeeper Frederick Asare.
Asante Kotoko started to mount pressure on Great Olympics and got a deserving equalizer in the final minute of 10 minutes of additional time. Andrew Appau leapt high to head in a free-kick from Enoch Morrison.
At the Theatre of Dreams in Dawu, Dreams FC defeated Medeama 4-0. Agyenim Boateng Mensah scored a brace, while Abdul Aziz Issah and David Van Dijk scored a goal each.
In Bechem, Bechem United scored late to earn a point at home against King Faisal. King Faisal scored first in the 65th minute through Godfred Asiamah, before Hafiz Konkoni equalized in the final minutes for Bechem United.
A 75th minute strike from substitute Walid Fuseini earned Nsoatreman a 1-0 home win against Samartex.
At the Crosby Awuah Memorial (CAM) Park, Karela United and Real Tamale United (RTU) played a scoreless draw.
On Saturday, Hearts of Oak scored late to beat Tamale City 3-2 at the Cape Coast Stadium.
The Phobians broke the deadlock in the 34th minute through a spot-kick converted by Salifu Ibrahim.
Four minutes later, Isaac Mensah scored from a spot-kick to bring Tamale City level, before Sampson Eduku scored in the 40th minute to give Tamale City a 2-1 lead at the break.
A minute into the second half, Benjamin Yorke scored from close range to bring Hearts of Oak level, 2-2. In the 86th minute, Caleb Amankwah scored the winner for Hearts of Oak with a beautiful volley.
At the Sogakope RedBull Arena, four goals in the second half saw Accra Lions beat Legon Cities 3-1. Evans Ampofo, Solomon Oppong and Abdul Majeed Maswud scored for Accra Lions while Samuel Armah scored for Legon Cities.
On Friday, Kotoku Royals came from a goal down to beat Berekum Chelsea 2-1. Kalo Outtara scored for Berekum Chelsea, before Kotoku Royals struck through Edward Mensah and Richard Dzikoe.
The final game will see Bibiani Gold Stars welcome Aduana FC to the Dun’s Park in Bibiani.
Defender Andrew Kwadwo Appau scored late into added time as Asante Kotoko earned a point against Great Olympics in the Ghana Premier League on Sunday.
Appau scored in the 10th minute of added time after 90 minutes to give the Porcupine Warriors a point at Baba Yara Stadium.
Great Olympics came into the game in poor form, having lost three consecutive games, whereas Kotoko had performed admirably, but it was the Accra side that came close to taking all three points.
Two minutes after halftime, Olympic took the lead. Olympics defended bravely, frustrating Kotoko, who threw everything at them in search of an equalizer.
Fortunately for Kotoko, their perseverance paid off in the 100th minute when Appau produced a fantastic header that went straight into the net to earn Kotoko a point and keep them in the top four.
As a result of the draw, Kotoko miss out on going to the top of the table, albeit for a short time, as Olympics drop out of the top half after extending their winless run to four games.
Kotoko will hope to bounce back in their next game against Tamale City on Wednesday, while Great Olympics face Bibiani GoldStars at home.
Asante Kotoko coach Seydou Zerbo has named his starting lineup for Great Olympics clash this afternoon.
Frederick Assre has been maintained in the posts as Sheriff Mohammed has retuned from his from the injury he sustained last season. He makes his first appearance.
In attack, Nicholas Osei Bonsu and Eric Zeze would alongside Steven Mukwala.
Below is the Asante Kotoko line up; Frederick Asare Sheriff Mohammed Charles Owusu Yussif Mubarik Maxwell Agyemang Richard Boadu Shadrack Addo Eric Zeze Richmond Lamptey Steven Mukwala Nicholas Osei Bonsu
