The management of Accra Hearts of Oak through their official mouth piece have moved swiftly to debunk reports circulating in the media landscape that the club intends to build a 5, 000 seater-capacity stadium at Pobiman.
In an official communique released and signed by the communications manager of the club on July 2, 2021, Mr. Kwame Opare Addo urged the football fraternity to ignore the report and treat such information with derision.
Below is the communique:
Manchester United are reportedly ready to move for two new centre-backs during this summer’s transfer window, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side look to challenge for the Premier League title next season.
The Red Devils have agreed a deal to sign Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund, while Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane is believed to be the club’s leading target at the back.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Man United are making progress on a swoop for the France international, who is believed to be keen on a move away from the Spanish capital this summer.
However, the report claims that the 20-time English champions are considering signing another centre-back, with Villarreal’s Pau Torres a target alongside Varane.
Eric Bailly could allegedly be used in a swap deal for Torres, who is currently in action for Spain at Euro 2020.
Axel Tuanzebe is expected to leave Old Trafford on loan next season, while Phil Jones does not appear to have a future at the club even if he manages to recover from his long-term injury problems.
![Belgium Vs Italy Preview: [ Team News + Prediction ]](https://footy.ghpush.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/images-1.jpg "Belgium Vs Italy Preview: [ Team News + Prediction ]")
Two of the pre-tournament favourites square off against each other as Belgium and Italy lock horns in the UEFA Euro 2020 quarter-final on Friday night at the Allianz Arena, Germany.
Belgium, the No. 1 ranked team in the world, have been playing just like it, looking unstoppable so far at the European Championship. Barring a slow first-half in the Group B game against Denmark, Roberto Martinez’s Red Devils have been the team to beat, winning each of their group fixtures before toppling the defending champions, Portugal, in the Round of 16 contest, to set up what will be their sternest test of the tournament so far.
Italy, like Belgium, have been on the money for large parts of the competition. Three comfortable victories in Group A over Turkey, Switzerland and Wales meant they cruised through to the Round of 16 easily but were made to work hard by a resilient Austrian side as Roberto Mancini’s Azzurri picked up a hard-fought 2-1 win after extra time to set a date with the best-ranked team in Munich this week.
The last time Italy and Belgium locked horns with each other was five years ago in the UEFA Euro 2016, where the Azzurri triumphed 2-0 in a group game. Ahead of this latest blockbuster encounter set to go down at the Allianz Arena, www.footydreamsgh.com takes a closer look at both teams.
Team News
Belgium
Thomas Meunier continues at right wing-back following Timothy Castagne’s tournament-ending injury during the group stages while Thorgan Hazard keeps his place on the left.
With both De Bruyne and Hazard likely to miss out, there will be a double change in the final third of the pitch as Dries Mertens and Yannick Carrasco replace the duo.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Courtois; Alderweireld, Vermaelen, Vertonghen; Meunier, Tielemans, Witsel, Hazard; Mertens, Carrasco; Lukaku.
Italy
As for Italy, Roberto Mancini is expected to have captain Giorgio Chiellini back available after not risking him in the last game against Austria. Alessandro Florenzi, however, remains a doubt for the contest.
Domenico Berardi is expected to edge out Federico Chiesa, who was on target against Austria, for the starting berth on the right flank, while Lorenzo Insigne is a certainty on the left, from where he will constantly look to cut in and take aim at goal. Finally, Ciro Immobile should spearhead the attack for Italy ahead of Andrea Belotti.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Spinazzola; Barella, Jorginho, Verratti; Berardi, Immobile, Insigne.
Prediction
Belgium have become the highest-ranked team in the world for a reason, and they have shown that mettle and quality so far in the UEFA Euro 2020. However, the potential absence of both Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard takes a lot of shine out of the side even though the likes of Dries Mertens and Yannick Carrasco are capable of being a handful to the opponents.
Italy, meanwhile, have continued to make huge stride under the tutelage of Roberto Mancini. Solid defensively and clinical going forward, the Azzurri have constantly displayed why they are among the favourites to take home the trophy. And, having been given a mighty scare by Austria last time out, they will be more alert and focused.
footy.ghpush.com/ say 1-2 win for the Azzurri to take them through to the semi-finals.
Former Hasaacas Ladies and Black Queens midfielder, Ernestina Abambila has joined Polish Women’s Premier League Side UKS SMS Łódź.
The 22-year-old signed a two-year deal with the Polish club after successful negotiations from Spanish side, Sporting Club Huelva.
The former FK Minsk midfielder made only three appearances for Sporting Club Huelva after joining them in January this year.
Abambila is expected to beef up the midfield of SMS Łódź with her experience, having played for FK Minsk in Belarus, Assi IF in Sweden, and Sporting Club Huelva in Spain.
By Obed Asafo
Ghanaian forward Malik Abubakar has joined Swedish giants Malmo FF.
The 21-year-old signed a four-year deal with the Swedish topflight side after leaving Portuguese outfit Moreirense.
Abubakar who started his football with Ghanaian youth side Charity Stars arrived in Portugal in 2018 to sign for Vizela and it was at the club that he caught the attention of Moreirense.
But loans spells at Fafe and Casa Pia saw him develop into one of the fearful strikers in the lower league.
The lanky attacker revealed that when Malmo showed interest, he did not think twice.
“It was a cool feeling I can say! I did not dare tell anyone at first. I knew it was a big club and as soon as I knew that MFF were interested, I wanted to come here. There was no doubt. And now I belong to the MFF family, this is my new home,” said the striker.
The ex-Charity Stars player has been handed the number 17 jersey and could make his debut against Degerfors.
©GSN
The President of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana Kwabena Yeboah has heavily criticised the Ghana Football Association for banning Division One League club Phar Rangers, its board of directors and shareholders for five years.
The Ghana Football Association on Wednesday announced its verdict on the fate of Division One League side Phar Rangers, its shareholders and board of directors.
Asante Kotoko CEO Nana Yaw Amponsah is a shareholder and director of Phar Rangers FC and he is affected by the ban slapped on the club and its shareholders and directors.
The Disciplinary Committee of the GFA says it has placed a 5-year ban on the Zone III club for writing a note of withdrawal from the Ghanaian leagues and rescinding the decision within three days. The statement said the club misconducted themselves and have been slapped the club, its shareholders and directors with a 5-year ban.
President of the Ghana Sports Writers Association Kwabena Yeboah has expressed his disappointment in the decision issued
“It was all aimed at Nana Yaw and Asante Kotoko. The relationship between Kotoko and the GFA has been that acrimonious and that is why the FA must employ common sense not to fall in that trap and feed into the perception that they are doing this just because of one man – Nana Yaw. And, I’m saying that the Disciplinary Committee has not done itself any good at all. They have not done Ghana football any good at all. This ruling is ridiculous. Its outrageous. I think the Appeals Committee must take a second look at it,” he on Kumasi-based Pure FM.
Former lawyer for the Ghana Football Association Naa Odofoley Nortey has also gone public to seriously criticise the Ghanaian football regulatory body over their decision to ban second-tier side Phar Rangers for 5 years.
Naa Odofoley Nortey, lawyer for the GFA during the period of the FIFA Normalisation Committee, has criticised the association for its decision to ban the club and its shareholders and directors.
“Tell me its a bad joke. It can’t be right. Basic principles. You can’t punish a party not named on a charge sheet. Secondly, article 13 (1) states that withdrawal from a competition is a misconduct. Further in that article the punishment is clearly prescribed. Loss of points and a fine for thousand Ghana. A careful reading of the GFA statutes particularly articles 17, 18, 19 and 24 makes it clear that its only congress that expel, suspend or remove a member. Yes I have read the GFA disciplinary code especially article (6) 2. It doesn’t apply here. In any case how do you punish someone you have not charged? I vex,” she wrote.
The ban on shareholders and board of directors would prevent Asante Kotoko CEO Nana Yaw Amponsah from getting involved in any football related activities, meaning he would not be able to hold himself in any capacity in football again including his role as the highert ranking executive official of Kotoko.
By El Akyereko/GhanaSports
Ghana forward Kwame Opoku netted his second league goal in the Algerian Ligue 1 for USM Alger against Bordj Bou Arreridj on Thursday night.
USM Alger secured a 3-1 home victory over Bordj Bou Arreridj in their match-day 28 encounter at the Stade Omar Hammadi.
Opoku put the Red and Black lads ahead on the 17th minute of the game with a cool finish.
However, two minutes later, the visitors pulled parity through Noufel Lalaoui to end the first half in a one-all draw.
After recess, USM Alger scored two more goals through Abderrahim Hamra and Ismail Belkacemi on the 57th and 78th minute respectively to put the game beyond the visitors.
Opoku, 22, enjoyed the entire duration of the game with another splendid performance.
He has so far scored four goals since joining the North Africa side.
He joined USM Alger on a four-year deal from Ghana Premier League giants Asante Kotoko in May.
Anthony Annan has reiterated that he is ready to wear the jersey of the Black Stars again when given the opportunity.
The Inter Turku experienced midfielder hasn’t earned a call up into the national team for the past few years.
The Black Stars have secured qualification to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations after emerging as leaders of Group C in the qualifiers.
Annan, 36, has said that he is ever ready to represent the four-time champions of Africa again given the opportunity.
“ I am a Ghanaian and my doors are always open if my nation needs my services” he told Skyy Power FM.
Annan was one of the best players in the Ghana Black Stars team in the 2010 World Cup where he played all five games as the West African giants reached the last eight.
He made his Black Stars debut on 27 March 2007 in Sweden against Brazil and has so far earned 67 caps, scoring two goals.
Hearts Of Oak talisman, Daniel Afriyie Barnieh has expressed his readiness to play for the senior national team of Ghana anytime he gets a call-up.
Afriyie Barnieh netted the only goal in the 108th Ghana Premier League meeting between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko which ended 1-0 in favour of the Phobians at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
His brace helped the Black Satellites of Ghana to defeat Uganda to clinch the country’s fourth AFCON U-20 title at the Stade Olympique de Nouakchott in Mauritania early this year.
Barnieh has been in fantastic form for the Phobians since returning from the U-20 tournament. His impressive performances in the last 10 games for Hearts Of Oak in the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League has seen the Accra-based outfit move to the summit of the league with three games to end the season.
Speaking to Kumasi-based Oyerepa FM, Barnieh indicated that he is warming up for an opportunity to play for the Black Stars.
“I’m ever ready to play for the Black Stars. It’s the dream of every Ghanaian player, ” he said in the interview with Oyerepa FM.
“I am warming up for (the opportunity).”
Barnieh would be hoping to land the call-up soon as Ghana have secured qualification to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon after emerging as the Group C leaders in the qualifiers.
King Faisal FC players reportedly abandoned training over unpaid salaries and bonuses on Thursday.
According to a report by Oyerepa FM, the players have not received their salaries in the last two months and that prompted their decision not to turn up for training on Thursday morning.
The training was scheduled to come off at their usual place – Paa Joe Park but the players were unavailable.
footy.ghpush.com/ can confirm that the hierarchy of the club has resolved the issue and all the players turned up for their afternoon training.
The decision could affect the club in their fight against relegation with three matches to end the ongoing 2020/21 Ghana Premier League.
They moved out of the drop zone after matchday 31 following a 2-0 win over Legon Cities.
Their next game is against regional rivals Asante Kotoko who are still hoping to win the league and wouldn’t mind condemning King Faisal to relegation.