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I’d never choose Germany over Ghana’ – Ofosu Ayeh

Dennis Murpuri
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I’d never choose Germany over Ghana’ – Ofosu Ayeh

Ghana defender Ofosu-Ayeh has revealed that playing for the Black Stars was an honour and he would gladly choose the four-time African champions over Germany on any day, if he had to make the decision again.

The Germany-born right-back made only one appearance for Ghana, his debut appearance in the friendly against Canada in October 2015. Ofosu-Ayeh endured two bench roles with the Black Stars in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Comoros in November 2015.

Despite his short stint in the Black Stars, Ofosu-Ayeh says he has never regretted his decision to play for Ghana. He has urged young Ghanaian footballers born in the diaspora to listen to their hearts when deciding on a prospective nationality switch.

“You have to listen to your heart. Just decide based on what yout heart is telling you. If I had to choose between Germany and Ghana, I would always choose Ghana but can’t tell you why. When I see the culture in Ghana, I see the people are happier when they watch football. If I can be part of this and make people happy, I’d choose Ghana,” Ofosu-Ayeh told Accra based Happy FM.

The former Eintracht Braunschweig backliner is hoping Ghana gets a strong squad for the Qatar 2022 tournament after securing qualification past Nigeria.

“Yeah I tried to follow every match. That was a very big game (against Nigeria). Ghana was a bit unlucky in the past few years but I’m happy our country made it back (to the World Cup). I’m just hoping that we stick together and get a good Black Stars squad there (to the World Cup).”

The GFA is tracking seven players including Callum Hudson-Odoi, Salisu Mohammed, Ansgar Knauff, Eddie Nketiah, Tariq Lamptey and Inaki Williams and his brother Nico Williams as key players to represent Ghana at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The 30-year-old recently made a return for Halmstad BK after an 11-month injury lay-off and has made 4 Superettan appearances for the 4th placed Swedish Division one League club, seeking promotion to the top flight.

‘I regret Coaching Black Meteors’ – Malik Jabir

Dennis Murpuri
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‘I regret Coaching Black Meteors’ – Malik Jabir

Former Asante Kotoko Coach, Malik Jabir has expressed regrets over his decision to accept the Black Meteors coaching job in 2014 due to unpaid salaries and bonus arrears.

The ex-Black Stars Captain had a three-year stint with the Meteors, where he managed to qualify the Ghana U-23 team to the 2015 African Games in Congo, Brazzaville but failed to mastermind the team’s qualification to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, which led to his dismissal.

Malik Jabir is owed $99,000 in salary arrears for spending 36 months as Head Coach of the Black Meteors. The retired Ghana striker, agreed to a $3,000 per month salary but was only paid for 3 months.

“I’ve regretted accepting to work for the national team because I worked and I didn’t get what I deserved. In 2014, I was handed a national team job as a coach. I worked for three years but was paid only three months,” Coach Jabir told Accra based Original FM.

Despite his regrets, the former ASFA Yennenga Coach has refused to influence young local coaches against accepting national team coaching jobs.

“I won’t advise local coaches not to accept national team coaching offers even when they are not paid. That will be unpatriotic. They must accept and fight for their conditions. But we must be respected,” he added.

GFA bans Baffour Academy, Steadfast FC home venues over hoolignism

Dennis Murpuri
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GFA bans Baffour Academy, Steadfast FC home venues over hoolignism

The Ghana FA Executive Council has, with immediate effect, issued indefinite bans on the home venues of Division One League clubs Baffour Soccer Academy and Steadfast FC following separate incidents of hooliganism on May 8, 2022.

Steadfast FC Supporters held players and officials of Nsoatreman FC hostage at the Aliu Mahama Stadium in Tamale, while Baffour Soccer Academy Supporters assaulted the players and officials of Tamale City FC by attacking their bus with stones after the match at the Twumasi Sports Complex in Nsoatre.

In a bid to promote safety and security at Division One League matches, the GFA Competitions Department will assign new venues for the upcoming home games of Steadfast FC and Baffour Soccer Academy.

The decision was taken by the GFA Executive Council in accordance with Article 14(2) of the Division One League Regulations, which states, “The GFA may order the closure of any league centre/venue where the safety of clubs, match officials and/or spectators cannot be guaranteed.”

Transfer News: Asante Kotoko sign Osei Kuffuor

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Transfer News: Asante Kotoko sign Osei Kuffuor

Asante Kotoko have made their first signing ahead of the 2022/2023 football season.

The Porcupines, according the reports gathering from Opemsuo radio have completed the signing of Bechem United centre-back Samuel Osei Kuffour.

The youngster and the Reds have already agreed on a three-year deal which will see him joining his dream club at the end of the season. The defender has been signed to boost the defense of the club as they aim to represent the country in Africa if they win the league.

The 20-year-old joined the Hunters on a three-year deal from Division One outfit Young Vipers before the start of the current campaign. He has been instrumental for Bechem so far in the league, helping the Hunters keep a hot chase on Kotoko for the league title.

He has made 23 appearances out of 28 games so far this season, scoring a goal.

Eddie Nketiah, Hudson-Odoi close to switching international allegiances to Ghana

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Eddie Nketiah, Hudson-Odoi close to switching international allegiances to Ghana

Two England players are ready to swap their jerseys for those of Ghana ahead of this year’s Qatar World Cup, it has emerged.

Attacking duo Eddie Nketiah and Callum Hudson-Odoi are ready to give up on England altogether and switch allegiances to Ghana.

That means they’ll both have a serious chance at playing in the World Cup this winter in Qatar.

Arsenal’s Nketiah is the England U21 side’s all-time top scorer with 16 goals, while Chelsea’s Hudson-Odoi has already made three senior England appearances, all the way back in 2019.

Nketiah has notched 17 appearances for the England U21 team but has not yet been capped at senior level.

Hudson-Odoi, meanwhile, has made three competitive appearances for England during the Euro 2020 qualifiers but a FIFA rule change in 2020 means that players with no more than three caps can switch allegiance if the caps came before their 21st birthday.

Ghana qualified for the Qatar World Cup and are in a group with Portugal, Uruguay and South Korea.

Nketiah is believed to have snubbed a new Arsenal contract offer and will be able to leave the club on a free transfer this summer when his deal runs out.

Exclusive: Spanish club Elche join race to sign Kotoko star Franck Etouga

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Exclusive: Spanish club Elche join race to sign Kotoko star Franck Etouga

Asante Kotoko forward Franck Mbella Etouga is being ‘tracked’ by most European clubs, including Spanish Laliga side Elche, who are the latest to join the race for the Cameroonian, according to Spanish website Estadiodeportivo.com.

The Cameroon attacker who completed a 3-year move to Asante Kotoko from Cameroonian side AS Fortuna in October 2021 has risen to prominence in his first season bagging 19 goals and two assists in 24 GPL games for the Reds.

His exploit has propelled Asante Kotoko into comfortable Premier League lead. The 21-year old’s performance has attracted huge interest with African giants Al Ahly, Turkish outfit Galatasaray, Mertz and Stade Rennais, Saiant-Etiene all from France, Sevilla, Atletico Madrid, Marseille all eyeing a move for the forward in the summer.

Another Spanish side Elche have entered the race for the Cameroonian International with reports claiming Laliga side are the new favourites to sign Franck Thierry Mbella Etouga at the end of this season.

Elche, just as the other interested parties have watched Mbella in the Ghana Premier League and are way impressed of quality of the forward. 

Once, a deal is agreed, Mbella will have his preferred transfer destination come to pass after reportedly not interest in any North African move when he heard of Al Ahly’s interest in the past.

Hearts-Dreams FA Cup semi-final shifted to Accra Stadium

Dennis Murpuri
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Hearts-Dreams FA Cup semi-final shifted to Accra Stadium

The Ghana FA has changed the venue for the MTN FA Cup semi final between defending champions Hearts of Oak and Dreams to the Accra Sports Stadium.

The last four match was originally set for the El Wak Stadium but was shifted to the 40,000-seater capacity stadium on Saturday, May 14 at 3.00pm.

It is unclear what led to the FA Cup Committee’s decision for the change in venue but the switch follows concerns raised by fans on social media regarding the quality of the El Wak Stadium pitch and facilities for such a high profile game.

The venue for Bechem United’s semi final clash with Aduana Stars has been maintained. The Golden City Park in Berekum will host the epic clash between the Ahafo and Bono clubs on Sunday, May 15.

Transfer News: Bechem United youngster Clinton Duodu to join Portuguese giant Sporting Lisbon

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Transfer News: Bechem United youngster Clinton Duodu to join Portuguese giant Sporting Lisbon

Bechem United teenager Clinton Duodu is on the verge of joining Portuguese giants Sporting CP, per one of a kind reviews in the neighborhood media.

The sixteen year historic has been very excellent and continues to replicate his stellar display, having mounted himself as one of the followers preferred in the Ghanaian topflight.

In the ongoing campaign, the young sensation has featured in most of the Hunters fits and has gained two man of the healthy accolades so far, in opposition to King Faisal and Hearts of Oak all in the first round.

According to reports, the Estadio José Alvalade-based outfit have exhibited robust activity in securing the signature of the boy, hoping to finalize the entirety earlier than the summer time switch window opens.

Clinton Duodu was once part of the Black Satellites squad that were getting ready for the WAFU U-20 Championship however acquired dropped from the last squad- a selection which did not go down nicely with most of the indigenous football faithfuls.

Bechem United are presently sitting 2d on the league log with forty seven factors after 28 matches, and will tour to Real Tamale United in their subsequent sport

GFA to ban Players, Refs found Betting for one-year

Dennis Murpuri
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GFA to ban Players, Refs found Betting for one-year

The Ghana FA has revealed its decision to sanction players, referees and club officials found guilty of betting on local league games.

The aforementioned stakeholders of the local game will attract sanctions including a GHS5,000 fine and a ban of at least one year if found guilty.

The GFA’s Executive Council has also promised to reward any whistleblower with evidence on match-fixing with a sum of GHC50,000.

“As organizers of the Premier, Division One and Women’s Premier League the Ghana Football Association takes responsibility for the successful organization of the League. The GFA must also ensure that the competition is clean, fair, credible and free from any dent that may cause disaffection for the product,” the GFA said in a statement.

“The reward package is in addition to other plans, mechanisms and investigations currently ongoing to protect the sanctity and integrity of the game,” the GFA said.

“The Executive Council at their meeting noted that match manipulations and betting by people in football requires a multifaceted approach to deal with – hence the cautious, pragmatic, exhaustive and painstaking approach. While recognizing the fact that match manipulation cases across the world take a lot of time, the Council urged the GFA judicial bodies to dedicate more time and urgency to ensure that such cases are speedily adjudicated.”

The GFA Disciplinary Committee is yet to release its findings on last season’s Ghana Premier League match between AshantiGold and Inter Allies, which is suspected to have been fixed considering the two deliberate own goals scored by Hashmin Musah against his club in the 7-0 defeat on July 17, 2021.

Ghanaian referee Isaac Osei, two Berekum Chelsea players caught having Ghana Premier League betting slips on their mobile phones

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Ghanaian referee Isaac Osei, two Berekum Chelsea players caught having Ghana Premier League betting slips on their mobile phones

Two footballers of Berekum Chelsea and a match official have been caught with Ghana Premier League betting history on their mobile phones by FIFA/CAF integrity team.

Ghanaian referee Isaac Osei was among the referees whose mobile phones were checked by the integrity team from FIFA, CAF and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) over the increase of match-fixing and betting in Ghana football.

Upon further interrogations, Osei is reported to have revealed that he is not the only Ghanaian referee who is involved in football betting and further added that even Ghanaian football administrators are also part.

It will be recalled that referee Osei was suspended for the rest of the season three weeks ago after he was found guilty of failing to award Legon Cities an obvious penalty against Berekum Chelsea.

“The GFA Match Review Panel has been suspended Referee Isaac Osei for erring in the decision not to award a penalty in favour of Legon Cities FC in their Ghana Premier League Matchweek 24 Berekum Chelsea FC,” a GFA statement read.

Kickgh.com’s sources at the Ghana Football Association (GFA) reveals that that betting slips on Ghana Premier League matches were found on referee Isaac Osei’s mobile phone.

He has been suspended indefinitely by the country’s football governing body to assist the FIFA, CAF and GFA integrity team with investigations.

Also, two players of Ghana Premier League side Berekum Chelsea (names withheld) have also been suspended indefinitely by the club after being caught with betting slips related to the Premier League League on their phones.

Kickgh.com can exclusively reveal that series of Ghana Premier League betting slips were found on the mobile phones of the two players after the FIFA, CAF and GFA integrity team raided the camp of Berekum Chelsea ahead of their Ghana Premier League match-week 28 game against Great Olympics in Accra last Friday.

Official of Berekum Chelsea, Fredua Christopher confirmed in an exclusive interview with Kickgh.com stated that their camping base in Accra was raided by the FIFA, CAF and GFA integrity team ahead of their Ghana Premier League game against Great Olympics.

“It is true that our camp was raided by FIFA, CAF and GFA integrity team ahead of Great Olympics and Chelsea game and they claimed two of our players had betting slips relating to some Ghana Premier League matches on their phones,” Fredua Christopher told Kickgh

“We at Berekum Chelsea will comply to any directives from the Ghana Football Association and such acts can’t be condone. We’ll not shield any player(s)” he concluded.

The action of seizing and scrutinizing mobile phones of Ghana Premier League players and match officials comes as a result of the alleged increase of match fixing and betting in the top-flight and they checked the devices to see if they had placed a bet or engaged in conversations that suggested the game was manipulated.

Following the pending match fixing case involving Ashanti Gold and Inter Allies, the Ghana Football Association has doubled their efforts since some club officials, players, referees and other betting syndicates are allegedly influencing outcomes of some Premier League games.

-Kickgh.com

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