Techiman Eleven Wonders marksman Ibrahim Salifu has expressed his desire to play for Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko if he is officially approached by the club.
Reports in the local media suggest the Porcupine Warriors are preparing an offer to secure the services of the enterprising midfielder in the second transfer window.
The 20-year-old has been fantastic in the ongoing Ghana Premier League leaving him as the fans favourite in Techiman.
According to the former Unistar Academy forward he is ready to switch camp to Kumasi if a deal is reached between the two clubs.
He, however, noted that no official of Kotoko has approached him over a possible move.
“No official of Kotoko has contacted me, have also heard rumours in the media. It’s normal to be hearing my name linked to Kotoko, this means I am working. Am ready to play for Kotoko anytime they can reach an agreement with Eleven Wonders,” Ibrahim Salifu told Oyerepa FM.
Ibrahim Salifu has shown that his first man of the match accolade against Asante Kotoko was not a fluke as he has gone on to pick four also, providing four assists as well.
The former BA United player was adjudged the best player in games against Aduana Stars, AshantiGold, Ebusua Dwarfs and Karela United.
The new coach who just joined the team shared his sentiments prior to his side’s performance and the yet to begin league , he said;
‘ We’ve parted our training sessions into two, there are days we train in the mornings and evenings (from Monday – Thursday) and then mornings only (Friday – Saturday) .
The girls are doing great and we’ve prepared them very seriously because we believe in consistent preparation , hard work , discipline and commitment . I must say that the girls are coping with my initiatives with the help of the technical team working together as a team to bring our target to a success. I personally have a strong conviction and confidence that my girls can make it to the top this season.’
Coach’s response when asked if his side would repeat same performance before the cancellation of the last season’s league;
‘ I’ve actually been out of the country since 2017 and I just returned last year, 2020 , therefore I do not have an idea how the league was like last season but then I heard they weren’t so good … I’m a strong believer of ‘ let go the past and focus on the present ‘ and so we’re focusing on how to achieve our target this season. I am not here to target for the last or middle position but the first slot though we didn’t start training on time but I’ve huge confidence in my girls that we can make it to the top this season.’ He said.
Moving on ; we again interacted with the captain of the side , Miss Theresa Ackon.
These are what she said also when asked about their preparations so far considering the fact that they just started training,
‘ I would say preparations are going smoothly though we started late training, our new Coach is doing marvelously well and helping greatly together with Paa Kwesi … myself and teammates have also inculcated great hard work and commitment into what our new Coach teaches at training sessions.’
Her thought on their poor performance last season as compared to their preparations so far and what to look out for from them ,
‘ Bringing into consideration the theory at schools, you’d realize students are given homework’s to go do after failed class exercises therefore, we’re also doing our homework’s so well in regards to our disappointing performance last season to come out victorious in the coming season accompanied by great fitness and form this coming season.’ She calmly responded.
‘ We can win the ultimate prize putting into consideration the great works being dominated by our Coaches aren’t easy. We’re also on the rise in commitment and hard work following whatever is being thought at training grounds and our obedience level clearly shows we’re capable of winning the League this season.’ She concluded.
A stunning, second-half volley from Paul Pogba helped Manchester United ascend to the summit of the Premier League on Tuesday evening, as the Reds overcame Burnley 1-0 at Turf Moor.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men were left frustrated after the first 45 in east Lancashire, after Harry Maguire’s header was ruled out for a debatable foul on Erik Pieters, but we dominated possession after the interval and got our reward when the Frenchman struck with just under 20 minutes remaining.
The hosts piled on the pressure in the final stages in search of a late equaliser, but United’s rearguard – led superbly throughout by Maguire and Eric Bailly – dug in admirably to earn a second clean sheet in the last three Premier League games.
It means United head to Anfield for our next league game on Sunday with a three-point advantage over last year’s champions.
Harry Maguire and Burnley’s James Tarkowski debate with ref Kevin Friend during a hotly contested first half.
FIRST HALF – TETCHY AT TURF MOOR
Any vague hope that Burnley would let United sail to the top of the league without much of a challenge was quickly vanquished. Sean Dyche’s men are famed for their aggressive, inhospitable welcomes for each and every opponent, and the early stages followed that traditional pattern to the letter. Long balls forward, jousting for knock-ons, fighting for every scrap – this was the full English.
It took until about 15 minutes before the Reds could settle down into any rhythm, with Nemanja Matic increasingly dropping into the back four to add weight to the build-up play. We were rewarded with speculative chances for Fernandes, which Burnley blocked, and Martial, who spooned his left-footed shot over. But just as United had seemed to establish some modicum of dominance, Bailly did well at the other end to dive in and deny a goal-bound Chris Wood effort.
The real drama of the half, however, arrived on 27 minutes. Shaw put in a strong tackle on Gudmundsson, launching a counter-attack that ended with Robbie Brady fouling Edinson Cavani, who had latched on to a raking through ball from Fernandes and appeared to be through on goal. Controversially, after an interminable wait as VAR checked both fouls, play was brought back and a Burnley free-kick was awarded, and Shaw’s initial foul punished by a yellow card. Thankfully, the subsequent Clarets set piece sailed harmlessly out of play.
The end result of the whole hoo-ha was probably frustration for both teams, and there was more to come for United a few minutes later, when Harry Maguire headed home a deep Shaw cross, only for referee Kevin Friend to blow up. The Reds ended the first period well on top, though, with the pick of their later efforts a 25-yard Martial curler that drew a smart save from England international Nick Pope.
SECOND HALF – POGBA DELIVERS AND UNITED DIG IN
As if annoyed by those first-half frustrations, Solskjaer’s men came out after the interval with purpose, almost instantaneously dominating possession, with Burnley reduced to thrashing the ball clear. Within barely 10 minutes, Fernandes had attempted three strikes at Pope’s goal, while Cavani miskicked a decent opening after more intense pressure inside the box.
The Uruguayan came closer on 67 minutes, when an attempted clearance from a United corner fell to him inside the box. He stealthily worked a yard, with all the cold elan of a predatory striker, but couldn’t locate the top corner with his left foot amid a sea of bodies.
But mercifully, just as the finish line was less than 20 minutes away for the hosts, Rashford chipped a cute ball from the right-hand side of the box and found Pogba, rushing forward, who met the cross with a glorious volley that helpfully nudged off Lowton and flew past Pope – somewhat fortunate, perhaps, but it was a richly deserved breakthrough.
Now a test for the defence, as Burnley finally poured forward and bared their attacking teeth. In the final 15 they earned openings for Brownhill and Vydra, before Tarkowski spurned a glorious opening in the dying moments.
But United clung on, as if to show the team’s steel and resolve to the rest of the league, and probably should have made it a more comfortable winning margin inside injury time, when Pope saved well with his legs after Cavani put Martial clean through.
Great Olympics ace Gladson Awako says he will not reject a move to Asante Kotoko despite having a great affection for their bitterest rival Hearts of Oak.
Awako has been impressive since joining the Dade Boys for the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League with his remarkable performances for the site.
The 30-year-old’s outstanding displays has won him four Most Valuable Player awards after 8 round of matches in the campaign.
The enterprising attacking midfielder did not mince words when he was asked if he’d like to swap Great Olympics for Asante Kotoko after reports emerged that the Porcupine Warriors are interested in his services.
“I have always been a Hearts fan. Even when we were in the academy at Goldfields I supported Hearts.
“Playing for Kotoko won’t be an issue. Emmanuel Osei Kufuor was a Kotoko fan but always excelled against them so I wouldn’t mind playing for them. If an offer comes and it is good for Olympics and myself, why not? he said.
He has been nominated for Ghana Premier League’s best player in the month of December.
The position of a goalkeeper is almost unrecognizable nowadays to what it was merely five or six years ago.
Gone were the days when goalkeepers were known as mere shot stoppers or cross catchers. Things have changed to the extent that they are charged with being the first point of attack, using their ball-playing abilities to start passing sequences and helping their side dominate possession.
Take a look at our rankings below:
5. KERRIE McCARTHY- KUMASI SPORTS ACADEMY
Calm, an excellent communicator and superb in the air, Kerrie is an old school type of goalkeeper, who places an emphasis on defending above distribution.
Kerrie conceded 6 goals and kept one clean sheet in 7 league appearances in last season’s campaign.
She was included in the Black Princesses squad that competed in the 2018 FIFA U20 Women world cup.
4. ABIGAIL TAWIAH – BERRY LADIES
One of the finest safest pair of hands in the women league at the moment. Joining from Sea Lions, Abigail has grown not to be a brilliant shot stopper only but also good at knowing when to come off his line and when to stay.
Abigail was preferred in between the sticks for the senior female national team in their 5-1 victory over their Moroccan counterparts in the two-legged friendly last year. She commanded her box so brilliantly and pulled up a MOTM performance in their 2-0 victory over Samaria ladies on matchday 2 in the 2020 truncated Ghana Women premier league.
3. AZUME ADAMS- PRISONS LADIES
Next up is Azume Adams have been with the security service team for a while and have been brilliant, pulling off cat-like saves, taking the ball from a defender under pressure and racing out to meet a cross in her own box.
She kept one clean sheet in 7 games for the Prison ladies in the 2020 Ghana Women’s league campaign.
She was part of the Ghana Squad that competed at the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
2 .EVELYN YEBOAH- AMPEM DARKOA LADIES
If need someone to stop that rocket heading into the top-right corner, Evelyn Yeboah will sort that for you. Is your defender under a bit of pressure from a couple of pressing attackers? No problem, knock out that pass to Evelyn and she’ll calmly switch play.
Anaconda as she’s popularly known is part of the national U20 female football team. Evelyn kept two clean sheets in six appearances for the Nanamma in the 2020 Ghana Women’s league campaign.
1. FAFALI DUMEHASI- POLICE LADIES
No goalkeeper has redefined her position more than Fafali in the past few years. Fafali is absolutely brilliant at the old-fashioned stuff and is an agile shot-stopper, decisive in her box and incredibly vocal.
The Black queens goalkeeper kept clean sheets in games for Police ladies FC in the first round of the 2020 women league.
Fafali was part of the Ghana squad that participated in the 11th edition of the African Women’s Championship held in Namibia in 2014
The Black Starlets saw their dream to play in the 2021 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations in Morocco came to an end after they lost 3-1 to Ivory Coast in the final group game of the WAFU U-17 Cup of Nations in Kegue, Togo.
The Black Starlets saw their dream to play in the 2021 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations in Morocco came to an end after they lost 3-1 to Ivory Coast in the final group game of the WAFU U-17 Cup of Nations in Kegue, Togo.
The Black Starlets after picking a draw in their previous game against Nigeria needed to avoid defeat against Ivory Coast to progress to the semifinals.
Ivory Coast started the came on the front foot and took a deserving lead in the 9th minute through Abdramane Konate.
The remaining minutes of the first half saw no goals, but the Black Starlets saw 2 penalty calls turned down by Togolese referee Vicentia Eyonam Amedome.
Ivory Coast increased their tally just minutes after the recess, Charles Likpa Miezan the goal scorer.
John Batigi pulled one back for the Black Starlets in the 51st minute.
Minutes later, goal scorer John Batigi was shown a yellow card by the referee for simulation.
Ivory Coast were awarded a controversial spot kick in the 68th minute, Cedric Franck Emmanuel Don converted the spot kick to make it 3-1.
Despite the late pressure from the Black Starlets in the remaining minutes, the Young Elephants held on to win 3-1.
Ivory Coast and Nigeria progress to the next stage of the competition from Group B.
Head Coach of Supreme Ladies, Joyce Boaitey adds her voice to the trend ushering in the National Women’s Premier League.
‘ We’ve started preparations towards the 2020/2021 women’s soccer season. Every individual who followed last’s season’s competition would attest to the fact that Northern Ladies together with us occupied the bottom of the league table at the end of the first tier which was of course very disappointing. ”
” This could partly be attributed to having about 80% of the players being students and younger and so there wasn’t 100% concentration at the camp… it was a back and forth affair having players return to school after matches and then returns a day before a match was the main contributing factor to our failure.”
Lastly, Coach Joyce has prompted Ghanaian Football lovers to wait for surprises this season as her team has been beefed up with a couple of old players who won MVPs last season in some matches such as Captain Sarah and her likes, also some newly registered players like Sandra Owusu Ansah ( Black Queen’s ), Mary Owusu Ansah and many others forming a solid indestructible team capable of carrying the trophy coming season.
We then spoke to the Black Queens Star, Sandra Owusu Ansah player of Supreme Ladies FC, and below is what she had to say ;
‘‘We have a chunk of expectations about last year’s poor performance. A lot of our players weren’t readily available for training because they were students and also recorded lots of injuries which made it impossible to register most of such players.”
“This year would be different because most of the students are through with school, the injured are healed and so we’ve improved upon our performance via hard work and consistent training. I couldn’t play last season because of injuries but this season I’m fit for the task which indicates we’d do great, therefore I urge everyone to expect more from us this season. “She added
Coach Joyce and Sandra Owusu Ansah are highly convinced and are of the opinion of putting up a super performance this season.
