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Egyptian side Eastern Company SC terminate ex-Hearts midfielder Benjamin Afutu’s contract

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Egyptian side Eastern Company SC terminate ex-Hearts midfielder Benjamin Afutu’s contract

Following a lackluster performance, Eastern Company SC in Egypt’s Premier League has canceled their contract with former Hearts of Oak player Benjamin Afutu Kotey, according to reports.

After completing his contract at Hearts of Oak, Afutu Kotey joined the Egypt Premier League newcomers on a three-year free transfer in September 2021.

The former Black Stars ‘B’ midfielder is said to have landed in Ghana after his three-year contract with Eastern Company SC was terminated after only nine months.

With thirteen points after 20 games, Eastern Company SC is presently in last place in the 2021/22 Egypt Premier League season.

Afutu has struggled for regular playing time with Eastern Company SC in his first season, making only eight appearances for the team in the ongoing Egypt Premier League season, totaling 426 minutes.

In the 2020/21 season, Afutu was instrumental in the Rainbows’ victories in the Ghana Premier League and the MTN FA Cup.

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“I deserve Black Stars call-up” – Kotoko’s Imoro Ibrahim

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“I deserve Black Stars call-up” – Kotoko’s Imoro Ibrahim

Imoro Ibrahim of Asante Kotoko has expressed his disappointment after being left out of Ghana’s squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and the Central African Republic.

This season, the 22-year-old has been one of Kotoko’s brightest spots as they won their first Premier League trophy since 2014.

Imoro has eight assists and one goal this season, but he was left out of the Black Stars’ 33-man roster.

Defenders like Baba Rahman, Gideon Mensah and Hearts of Oak left back Dennis Nkrumah Korsah were chosen over him.

But Imoro has insisted he deserved a call-up.

“I deserve Black Stars call up,” Imoro told Angel FM Kumasi in an interview. This is because it is not easy to make eight or more assists as a defender in Ghana Premier League.

“However, I feel my time will come so I will not give up because I know I will have my chance one day,” he added.

Ghana lead the Group E table in the ongoing Afcon qualifiers after two rounds of matches.

Samuel Boadu names Hearts of Oak’s 20-man traveling squad for XI Wonders’ outstanding game

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Samuel Boadu names Hearts of Oak’s 20-man traveling squad for XI Wonders’ outstanding game

Samuel Boadu has named a 20-man squad for their Ghana Premier League outstanding fixture against Eleven Wonders in Techiman.

The Phobians clash with the Sure Wonders club at the Ohene Ameyaw Park on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 in a matchday 30 fixture.

A win for Hearts of Oak will help them to cement their top-four place and a defeat for the hosts may see Techiman losing their GPL status.

However, Boadu has named Samuel Inkoom, Kofi Kordzi, Mohammed Alhassan and the three goalkeepers, Richard Attah, Richmond Ayi and Richard Baidoo.

Kindly find below the players for the clash;

Richard Atta

Richmond Ayi

Richard Baidoo

Benjamin Mensah

Patrick Razak

James Sewornu

Samuel Inkoom

Caleb Amankwah

Ushau Abu

Mohammed Alhassan

Gladson Awako

Benjamin Yorke

Kojo Obeng Junior

Seidu Suraj

Agyenim Boateng

Kofi Kordzi

Enoch Asubonteng

Frederick Ansah Botchway

Agyenim Boateng

William Opoku

Black Stars target Inaki Williams and brother land in Ghana

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Black Stars target Inaki Williams and brother land in Ghana

Inaki Williams and Nico Williams, both of Athletic Bilbao, have arrived in Ghana for a vacation.

The brothers came on Monday night and are spending time with family and friends after being targeted by the Ghana Football Association for selection to the Black Stars.

They have spent their entire lives in Spain, where they were born to Ghanaian immigrant parents. This is their first visit to Ghana.

Inaki, the eldest of the two, posted a photo of himself in Ghana on his Instagram story.

According to reports, the duo will meet with the Black Stars’ management during their stay in Ghana.

Nico hasn’t played for Spain at the senior level, although he has played for the U18 and U21 teams.

In an interview last year, Inaki expressed qualms about switching nationality for Ghana, saying: “My parents are from Accra, and I really enjoy going.

But I wasn’t born or raised there, my culture is here, and there are players who would mean more.”

“I don’t think it would be right to take the place of someone who really deserves to go and feels Ghana 100%,” he added.

However, a lot has changed since the interview, including the Black Stars qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, a huge platform that many players dream of.

Ghana has been pitted in Group H for the World Cup, which will be held later this year, alongside Portugal, Uruguay, and South Korea.

The Church of Pentecost congratulates Asante Kotoko coach Prosper Narteh on winning the Premier League title

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The Church of Pentecost congratulates Asante Kotoko coach Prosper Narteh on winning the Premier League title

The Church of Pentecost has congratulated the head coach of Asante Kotoko, Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum on winning the 2021-22 Ghana Premier League title.

Prosper Ogum, who is a member of the Ola District of the Church of Pentecost in Ghana, guided Kotoko to win their first league title in eight years. 

The Porcupines are champions after holding regional rivals Ashantigold to a 1-1 draw at the Len Clay stadium on Thursday, June 2, 2022.

The draw was enough to secure the trophy for the two-time African champions, dethroning sworn rivals Hearts of Oak, who won the trophy last season.

Kotoko are deserving winners this time, having made a strong start and maintained their high level for majority of the campaign.

They travelled to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates for pre-season, which has been praised given their spectacular run to the title.

Kotoko will be crowned champions on Sunday when they play bottom-placed Elmina Sharks in Kumasi before visiting Accra Lions on the final day of the season. 

‘You’ve disappointed the local players’ – Sam Johnson SLAMS Augustine Okrah for turning down Black Stars call-up

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‘You’ve disappointed the local players’ – Sam Johnson SLAMS Augustine Okrah for turning down Black Stars call-up

Former Ghana defender Sam Johnson has chided Bechem United forward Augustine Okrah after the latter reportedly rejected an invitation by Otto Addo to participate in the Kirin Tournament in Japan.

The former Asante Kotoko winger was dropped from the Black Stars squad that traveled to Angola for the second match of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification series against Central Africa Republic, a game that ended 1-1.

If proven true, then Okrah obviously deems the Japan Tournament not important for him to jump onto the plane to join the Black Stars but Sam Johnson has some strong words for Okrah.

“This is the time the coach could have given him the chance to play at the tournament for him to prove him wrong.He should have honoured the call up and prove the coach wrong that he is better than the players he took to Angola for the CAR game.

“Everyone have been campaigning for local players inclusion in the Black Stars squad so if after all the campaign and you decline a call up despite being dropped from the squad earlier, I think he has disappointed the local players and I hope and pray his attitude will not affect local players call up in the future.”

The Kirin Cup is an association football tournament organised in Japan by the Kirin Brewery Company. The host, Japan, is a participant in every edition. The tournament was founded in 1978 then known as Japan Cup (International competition which national teams and clubs participated in), and was last held in its full form in 2016.

The 2022 Kirin Cup is scheduled to be the 21st edition of the international friendly football tournament which will played in Japan between 10 and 14 June with the participation of four teams: Japan, Chile, Ghana and Tunisia.

-Sportsworldghana

‘We really need them’ – Thomas Partey speaks on European-born players’ Ghana switch

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‘We really need them’ – Thomas Partey speaks on European-born players’ Ghana switch

Ghana deputy captain Thomas Partey has opened up on the importance of European-born Ghanaian players to the Black Stars ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament in Qatar.

The Ghana Football Association has been in talks with some Europe-based players including Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi, Brighton defender Tariq Lamptey and Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah over nationality switch.

Other players include Inaki and Nico Williams of Athletic Bilbao.

Reports suggest the aforementioned players are set to switch nationality to play for the Black Stars.

According to Partey, the team is ready to welcome Ghanaian players born abroad to the national team.

“Everybody has their career, you can’t push somebody to do something they are not ready to do so if they come, they are welcomed because we really need them, we need all the players, everyone ready to play for Ghana, we need them and we are very much happy to receive whoever is ready to play for Ghana” he told JoySports.

Partey, who is nursing a thigh injury missed the Black Stars AFCON 2023 qualifiers against Madagascar and Central Africa Republic.

-Footballghana

‘Bechem Utd and Kotoko will represent Ghana in Africa’ – Confident Okrah warns Hearts ahead of FA Cup final

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‘Bechem Utd and Kotoko will represent Ghana in Africa’ – Confident Okrah warns Hearts ahead of FA Cup final

Bechem United forward Augustine Okrah has fired a warning shot at Hearts of Oak ahead of this year’s MTN FA Cup final.

The Hunters will clash with the Phobians at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday, June 26, 2022.

Okrah ahead of the final has stated emphatically that they will bring down the Oak tree to clinch the trophy to join Kotoko to represent Ghana in Africa.

“It is time for me to win a trophy with Bechem United FC . I have done enough for them. I am sorry for Accra Hearts of Oak , we are going to win the FA Cup against them. Bechem United and Asante Kotoko will be the clubs to represent Ghana in Africa.”

The Winner of the MTN FA Cup will represent Ghana in next season’s Total Energies CAF Confederation Cup.

Accra Hearts of Oak are the reigning champions having defeated AshantiGold SC 8-7 in a frantic penalty shoutout in the 2020/21 final at the Accra Sports stadium.

‘He’s a complete player’ – Ogum lavishes praise on Cameroonian import Franck Mbella

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‘He’s a complete player’ – Ogum lavishes praise on Cameroonian import Franck Mbella

Asante Kotoko head coach has praised Cameroonian striker Franck Etouga Mbella for his outstanding displays in his first season in the Ghana Premier League.

Etouga joined Kotoko from Cameroonian topflight side AS Fortuna de Mfou before the start of the current campaign and has been a go-to-guy when the club need goals to win matches in the Ghanaian topflight.

The 21-year-old has netted 21 times in the league, leading the goalking race with just two games to end the season.

The Cameroonian in Sunday’s game against Great Olympics in Accra was the game changer, netting the winner from outside the box with a long drive in the second half. In a post-match presser, Ogum was asked to summarize Etouga’s debut season, he said;

“He’s a complete player in the sense that, physically he’s there, technically he is a good player and tactically too and psychologically he has that confidence and self-believe that he is capable of doing it and I like his work ethics, he is very humble, very respectful, always ready to listen to instructions and I will keep saying this, he has that mentality that he has travelled all the way here to play football so his focus is always on how he can train well and how he can deliver in a game so when he plays a game and doesn’t do well, he becomes so worried that I’ve to talk to him to calm him down, letting him know that world-class players like Benzema, Messi, Ronaldo and co at times they always experience such games.

“So on the whole, I think he’s a good player, he’s always focused and he is ready to work and technically I think he’s one of the best players in the league”

The Porcupines next host Elmina Sharks at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday and the game will serve as a coronation match after winning the 2021-22 Ghana Premier League and Etouga will play a key role in that game as he aims at increasing his tally on the goal king race.

Watch Seer Gyan admiting that he got his prophecy wrong on Hearts beating Kotoko to win the league in the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuLQ0hy4fA8

‘Don’t jump ship’ – Ex-England striker Bobby Zamora advises Nketiah, Hudson-Odoi to snub Ghana

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‘Don’t jump ship’ – Ex-England striker Bobby Zamora advises Nketiah, Hudson-Odoi to snub Ghana

Former West Ham and England international Bobby Zamora has advised Tariq Lamptey, Eddie Nketiah and Calum Hudson-Odoi to not ‘jump the gun’ by snubbing England to represent Ghana.

Per reports, the trio who have represented England at various youth levels are on the verge of switching allegiance to represent Ghana, increasing their chances of playing at the 2022 World Cup to be staged in Qatar later this year.

However, Bobby Zamora who earned two caps for England has urged the trio to remain patient, sharing his experience of being approached by Trinidad and Tobago during his playing days but decided to wait for his England chance, a decision he described as ‘one of the best moments of his life’.

“My dad is from Trinidad and Tobago, and they actually came calling when I was at Brighton. I considered, but Peter Taylor had just come in, who had connections with England, and he said, ‘listen, don’t jump just yet, you’ve got the ability, and you can do this,” Zamora said quoted by FootballLondon.

“So I actually waited and got into the Under-21s, and I felt that I was good enough to play for the national team. So I bided my time to see if I could get in that England squad, and I finally did, and it was probably one of the best moments of my life.

“For the guys mentioned, they’re so close and so young. I think it’s probably a bit too early for them to jump ship. All of those guys have got the ability to make a real difference and make a big impact for England,” he added.

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