Yaw Preko has won the NASCO Ghana Premier League Coach of the Month award for April.
The Medeama SC head coach guided his team to three wins from four matches in the month of April.
Preko beat competition from WAFA’s Prosper Narteh Ogum and Hearts of Oak’s Samuel Boadu who were all nominated for the award.
Wi will receive a NASCO Television set and a personalized trophy.
West Africa Football Academy’s Issah Abdul Basit has been named as NASCO Player of the Month for April.
The 18-year old forward was named player of the month after scoring three goals in the month of April.
Basit was also adjudged as the Most Valuable Player of the match on two consecutive occasions last month.
The youngster who has been impressive since breaking into WAFA’s first team will receive a NASCO Television Set and a personalized trophy.
ASANTE KOTOKO Coach Mariano Barreto has named his starting line up to face West African Football Academy (WAFA SC) this afternoon at the Len Clay Stadium in Obuasi.
The Porcupines will be hosting the Academy Boys in matchweek 26 of the Ghana Premier League at 3:00 PM.
Long time absentee Emmanuel Keyekeh has been inducted into the line up to replace Habib Mohammed in the defensive midfield role.
Habib has been pushed to partner Abdul Ganiyu in the heart of defense with Mubarik Yusif warming the bench.
Asante Kotoko are aiming for the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League title and will be leaving no stone unturned as they battle out with WAFA this afternoon.
Below is the full squad against West Africa Football Academy (WAFA).
Felix Annan
Christopher Nettey
Imoro Ibrahim
Ganiu Ismael
Habib Mohammed
Emmanuel Kayekeh
Mudasiru Salifu
Fabio Gama
Emmanuel Gyamfi
Augustine Okrah
Andy Kumi
By Duah Michael
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif has recently renewed a pledge for close collaboration with the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) to enhance the performance of the country’s athletes at the 2021 Olympic Games to be held in Japan.
The Minister made his commitment to see the success of the athletes when he witnessed the Sponsorship ceremony between the Ghana Olympic Committee and Twellium Industrial Company on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, at the Media Center Accra Sports stadium.
He stressed the need for the country to have a comprehensive plan for the development of Sports to assist the youth since sporting activities is a way to create worth to sustain lives.
“As you are all aware, the sports industry is an emerging area, the industry that the Government of Ghana is focusing on.
“We know is not just for us to just go and participate in Tokyo but even after, because I have gone through the agreement and is two years agreement. It tells me that even after Tokyo, we will still have this Sponsorship to prepare our athletes for future events.
“The Ministry for Youth and Sports recognize sports as an emerging industry, an industry that can create for the Youths of this country jobs, an industry that we can use to improve our health, especially in this current situation. An industry that brings this country together, it is only sports that can bring the whole nation together. So we recognize the important role sports play in our economic development.
“So the Ministry have initiated our programs to ensure that, we prepare the necessary platform for the youth of this country.
“We have also put in place the International Games Committee and the Games Committee has started that work, to prepare us to participate in Tokyo successful whatever logistics that is needed, I can assure you that with the co-operate institution support, Government is also prepared to support the sports industry, especially, the athletes that have qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
” Government will do everything possible to support them to be able to participate in the events successful and we know that with the kind of support that we are going to give them and we know with the kind of training they have gone through, they will lift the Flag of this country high.
“By winning medals, the boxing team, being told they have very good boxers and I have watched their clips and I am very confident that they are going to Tokyo to get us more medals.
Mustapha Ussif expressed gratitude to Twillium, Ashfoam, and Toyota Ghana for their unflinching support towards Ghana’s participation in the Tokyo Olympic Games.
“On behalf of the President of Republic of Ghana His Excellency Nana Akuffo Addo, I want to thank, Twellium Industrial Company, Ashfoam and Toyota Ghana for this Sponsorship drive to get our athletes prepared and also represent us in the Tokyo Olympic Games.
He also commended the GOC President Ben Nunoo Mensah for working behind the scene to earn the nation the lucrative Sponsorship Deal.
The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be celebrated from 23 July to 8 August 2021.
Renowned Sports journalist, Kwabena Yeboah believes Asante Kotoko star Fabio Gama is superior to Hearts Of Oak’s Salifu Ibrahim in terms of raw football intelligence.
Gsma joined the Porcupine Warriors in a two-year deal ahead of this season and has proven critics wrong with his impressive performance so far in the league.
Salifu Ibrahim on the other hand, signed for the Phobians after an outstanding performance with Eleven Wonders in the first round of the season.
He has so far won seven man of the match awards. His impressive display has also earned him a place in the provisional list of players called up into the Ghana U23 team for international friendly.
Both players have dominated the headlines in the 25-week old Ghana Premier League.
Sharing his opinion on the two players, the ace journalist indicated that Fabio Gama is slightly ahead of Salifu, who is young and have a lot of potentials.
“Sallifu is more combative, in terms of physicality he beats Gama but for me in terms of raw football intelligence, reading the game and passing, there’s no way Salifu compares with Gama.
“I think Gama is slightly ahead. Salifu is a young lad , Gama is around 30 yrs , there’s a lot Salifu has to learn from and I think he is a huge potential no question about that,” Kwabena Yeboah told Oyerepa FM/TV.
Fabio Gama has scored twice and assisted on four occasions while Salifu Ibrahim has netted two and provided 6 assists.
Accra Lions have moved to the top of the Zone three table after beating Accra Young Wise 4-2 at the Accra sports stadium on Friday.
League top scorer Rauf Salifu added to his season tally – after netting in-between Oliver Amedor’s brace to move to 17 goals after 21 matches in the on-going campaign.
Evans Etti ended his goal drought with a deflected shot for the fourth goal in the 75thminute with Paul Kwei scoring a brace for Accra Young Wise FC. The win takes Accra Lions FC to the top of the table awaiting the outcome of the game between Nania FC and Tema Youth on Saturday.
The Harbour Warriors are the only unbeaten side across the three Zones – going 20 games without defeat – scoring 30 goals and conceding 10 in the season. The two teams are separated by 18 points with Nania FC sitting in 9th place with 26 points.
There is another battle between the third and fourth placed teams in the Zone when former Premier League side Kpando Heart of Lions face Oda Kotoku Royals on Sunday.
Heart of Lions are fourth in the table with 35 points – two points behind Kotoku Royals who sit in third place with 37 points.
Full fixtures for Match day 21
Bibiani Gold Stars opened an eight point gap at the top of the table in Zone two after their 2-0 win against second placed Skyy FC on match day 20.
The win put them in a pretty comfortable position going into the next match. The League leaders were surprisingly knocked out of the MTN FA Cup on Sunday following a defeat to Wassaman United in the preliminary round of the competition.
Gold Stars travel to Okese Park at Ejisu to take on Asokwa Deportivo FC on match day 21 of the Division One League.
Their closest contender Skyy FC who have a home game against Bekwai Youth Football Academy must avoid defeat to keep their title aspiration on course as another defeat will dampen their spirits and throw things in the way of Gold Stars.
Samartex 1996 sits in third place with 38 points – but still have a good chance of winning the League with nine games to end the season. The Sameraboi side have a daunting task against New Edubiase United at the Nana Gyamfi Park at Bekwai – with only four points separating the two sides. New Edubiase United sit in fourth place with 34 points.
Full fixtures for Match day 21
Zone One leaders Real Tamale United have a home tie against Nsoatreman FC on match day 21 of the Division One League on Sunday.
RTU have been very dominant at home this season – having won 8 of the total number of wins (11) at the Aliu Mahama Stadium with 5 ending in a draw. They sit at the top of the table with 41 points – three points ahead of city rivals Steadfast FC who sit in second place.
The two teams are separated by a whopping 17 points – with Nsoatreman sitting 11th in the table with 24 points.
The two top strikers for both sides Kwabena Owusu Sekyere (Nsoatreman FC) and Ronald Frimpong (RTU) have scored six goals each – five goals behind Welbeck Takyi who leads the top scorers chart with 11 goals. A win for RTU will further strengthen their grip at the top of the table – and put their Premier League ambition on course.
Steadfast FC have been absolutely brilliant in the season and sit three points behind their city rivals. Abdul Fatawu Issahaku has been flying high all season and is critical to the success of the team – putting in some eye catching performances in the League and scoring eight goals in the process.
His strike partner Alhassan Siisu has also scored 10 goals – one behind Welbeck Takyi (Tano Bofoakwa) and Ansu Kofi Patrick (Berekum Arsenals) who have netted 11 times in this seasons Division One League. They have a date with 13th placed Yendi Gbewaa at the Aliu Mahama stadium on Sunday.
Third placed Berekum Arsenals will host Kintampo FC at the Golden city Park in while Bofoakwa Tano host Techiman City at the Coronation Park in Sunyani.
Full fixtures for Match day 21
Asante Kotoko SC will host WAFA on match day 26 of the Ghana Premier League at the Obuasi Len Clay stadium on Saturday.
The Porcupine Warriors lost the first spot to rivals Hearts of Oak on Friday following a 1-0 win against Eleven Wonders in Techiman. The result takes the Phobians to the top of the table with 46 points – one point ahead of the Porcupine Warriors who play on Saturday.
Asante Kotoko had to work their socks off to claim a point against Liberty Professionals at the Red Bull arena on match day 25 – extending their unbeaten run to four games with three wins and one draw.
Asante Kotoko have not lost since Sunday, April 24 when they lost at home to Medeama SC at the Len Clay stadium.
Coach Mariano Barreto made a shocking decision this week by dropping first choice goalkeeper Razak Abalora from the match day squad.
Emmanuel Gyamfi who missed the game against Liberty Professionals has returned to the side for Saturday’s encounter against WAFA. The skipper has scored three goals in his last two matches’ for the Reds.
A victory over WAFA on Saturday will take them back to the top of the table.
WAFA have been excellent on the road in recent weeks winning against Berekum Chelsea (3-2) and Medeama SC (2-1) and are currently placed 8th in the League standings with 38 points – a win on Saturday could put them in good place for a Top Four charge.
The Academy lads have never beaten the Porcupine Warriors at away in the league. The current form of Justus Torsutsey and Abdul Issah Basit – and the return of Augustine Boakye to full fitness give coach Prosper Narteh Ogum confidence heading into the match.
Eleven Wonders lad Rashid Mohammed was named Man of the Match in their 1-0 home defeat to Hearts If Oak on Friday afternoon.
Striker Kwadwo Obeng Jnr grabbed the only goal of the match in the 26th minute, capitalizing on a mistake.
Despite the defeat, Mohammed was rock-solid in defence as he and the other defenders kept the Phobians attacking threats at bay.
He was adjudged man of the match in games against WAFA as well as King Faisal.
Wonders currently sit at the 14th position with 27 points after 26 matches.
The victory for the Phobians moves them to the top of the league with 46 points, one more than Asante Kotoko who takes on WAFA on Saturday.