Sulley Ali Muntari believes that his former Black Stars team-mate Richard Kingston is the best goalkeeper he had seen in the World.
The duo played for Ghana between 2006 and 2010, helping the Black Stars to qualify for the World Cup.
Kingston, former Birmingham, Blackpool and Wigan Athletic goalkeeper undoubtedly goes down as one of Ghana’s best ever shot-stopper following his exploits with the National team.
Muntari has rated him as the best in the World.
“I played with some wonderful player likes Essien, Appiah, bra Laryea, Olele (Richard Kingston). For me I think Olele is the best in the World,” he spoke on the Mcbrown’s Kitchen show.
“He is the best to me, an amazing goalkeeper and he has done a lot for the National team as well.”
Richard Kingston kept the post for the Black Stars team between 1996 and 2010 and was one of the most capped for the National team.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) have reacted to the increasing number of coronavirus cases among Ghanaian players.
The Black Stars were involved in friendly games against Mali and Qatar, and so far three players have tested positive upon arrival to their respective clubs.
The players are Gideon Mensah, Bernard Mensah and Jordan Ayew. On Sunday, the GFA released a statement outlining how protocols were observed throughout during their stay Turkey.
Read full statement below:
“We are informed that some of our Black Stars players have tested positive for Corona virus following their involvement in Ghana’s friendly games against Mali (October 09) and Qatar (October 12).
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) contingent adhered to all the strict COVID-19 protocols, before, during and after our stay in Turkey. A minimum of three tests were conducted on players, technical and management team members during the training camp in Antalya.
The first test was conducted 24 hours prior to the game against Mali where one team official tested positive for the virus and was immediately isolated from the group. With just about an hour to the start of the game against Mali, the Ghana team Doctors, together with Turkish Health officials conducted another round of tests in the dressing rooms of both Ghana and Mali before kick-off.
The 3rd set of tests were carried out 24 hours before the second game against Qatar and again, no single positive case was recorded.
Furthermore, officials and management committee members of the National Team underwent another test on Thursday, October 15, 24 hours before flying out of Turkey, this time, one technical team member tested positive for the virus and was immediately isolated from the group, ruling him out of the trip to Ghana.
The GFA ensured all FIFA Covid-19 protocols were strictly adhered to throughout the National Team’s engagement and it is quite a concern that some members of the team have subsequently tested positive for the virus.
The GFA will continue to monitor the situation and will provide all necessary support to the affected players while wishing them a speedy recovery.”
Black Meteors skipper Yaw Yeboah grabbed a brace and an assist as Wisla Krakow trounced Stal Mielec in the Polish Ekstraklasa on Sunday afternoon.
The 23-year-old creative midfielder broke his goalscoring for the Polish giants and contributed with an assist in a virtuoso display.
Krakow put their noses in front with a strike in the eleventh minute from the boots of defender Michal Frydrych. The lead was doubled on the half hour mark through Felicio Brown Forbes and tripled ten minutes later with Yeboah setting up Chuca.
Krakow continued their scoring spree in the second half when Yaw Yeboah turned from provider to scorer as he notched his maiden goal for his new side two minutes after recess.
He doubled his tally and his team’s fifth of the afternoon in the 54th minute to bring clear daylight between the two sides.
Plewka made it six as Wiesla walked away chest high with all three points as they picked their first three points of the campaign. The results leave Wiesla in eleventh spot after six games with six points to boot.
Ghana’s leading football website brings to you the performance of Ghanaian players across the globe as the 2020/21 football season kicks off.
Every weekend your European football specialist Herbert Boakye Yiadom will bring you a comprehensive report on how Ghanaian players performed abroad in their respective leagues as football restarts amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Mohammed Kudus scored on his injury return for Ajax in their 5-1 win over Heerenveen in the Eredivise. The Black Stars midfielder was adjudged man of the match after the game
Andre Ayew also made a century of appearance for Swansea City against Huddersfield in the Championship this week.
The 30-year old scored in the game which was not enough to save his side from defeat Huddersfield
Yaw Yeboah scored a brace for Wisla as they hammered Stal Mielec 6-0 in the Polish League.
Yaw Yeboah
Joseph Paintsil scored a brace for Ankaragucu as they lost to Rizespor
Below is a comprehensive report on the performance of players abroad
ENGLAND
In the Premier League,Jeffrey Schlupp saw 87 minutes of action for Crystal Palace as they were held at home by Brighton
Tariq Lamptey played the entire duration for Brighton
Thomas Partey made his debut for Arsenal in their 1-0 defeat to Manchester City
Mohammed Salisu was not included in the match day squad for Southampton against Chelsea
In the Championship, Andre Ayew scored for Swansea City as they lost 2-1 to Huddersfield. The Ghanaian reached a century of appearance for the Welsh club in that game
Andy Yiadom missed Reading game against Middlesbrough.
SPAIN
In the La Liga, Joseph Aidoo missed the game for Celta Vigo in their 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid
In the La Liga II, Baba Iddrisu saw 90 minutes of action for Mallorca as they drew against Mirandes
Samuel Obeng came off the bench to play 11minutes for Real Oviedo in their 1-0 defeat to Girona.
ITALY
In the Serie A, Emmanuel Gyasi played 90 minutes for Spezia in their 2-2 draw against Fiorentina.
Alfred Duncan was unused substitute in the game for Fiorentina.
GERMANY
In the Bundesliga II, Patrick Twumasi climbed off the bench to play 14 minutes for Hannover 96 in their 1-0 defeat to Paderborn
Prince Osei Owusu played 18 minutes in the game for Paderborn
Raman Chibsah was on the bench for Bochum as they drew against VFL Osnabruck
Kelvin Ofori saw 16 minutes of action for Dusseldorf in their 2-2 draw against Regensburg
Hans Nunoo Sarpei played 90 minutes for Greuther Furth in their 1-0 defeat to Hamburger SV
FRANCE
In the Ligue 1, Majeed Waris cameoed in Strasbourg 3-2 defeat to Olympique Lyon
Aleksander Djiku missed the game due to suspension.
John Boye played 82 minutes for FC Metz in their 1-1 draw against Angers.
In the Ligue 2, Ebenezer Assifiuah saw 77 minutes of action for Pau FC as they lost to Paris FC
Nicolas Opoku and Emmanuel Lomoteyfeatured for Amiens in their 1-0 win over Grenoble
AUSTRIA
In Austria OFB Cup, Majeed Ashimeru made a brief appearance for Salzburg in their 3-0 win over St.Polten.
Seth Paintsil played 30 minutes for Ried as they lost 3-1 to Admira Wacker.
BELARUS
Dennis Tetteh and Francis Narh featured for Slavia Mozyr as they drew against Gorodeja 1-1.
BELGIUM
In the Jupiler League, Eric Ocansey played 70 minutes for Kortrijk in their 2-1 win over KV Mechelen.
Kamal Sowah featured in the game for OH Leuven as they held Anderlecht to a 2-2 draw.
Daniel Opare lasted 90 minutes in the game for Waregem in their 3-1 defeat to Antwerp.
Opoku Ampomah made his debut for Antwerp
Osman Bukari lasted the entire duration for Gent as they lost 5-2 to Cercle Brugge.
CHINA
Frank Acheampong scored a brace for Tianjin Teda in their 2-0 win over Shenzhen.
DENMARK
Raphael Dwamena saw 45 minutes of action for Vejle as they recorded a 3-2 win over Lyngby.
In the First Division, Emmanuel Toku played 90 minutes as Fremad Amager lost 3-1 to Viborg.
David Martin was on the bench for Fremad Amager.
FINLAND
Edmund Arko Mensah made a brief appearance for Honka in their 2-0 win over KuPS.
Nana Boateng featured in the game for KuPS.
Anthony Annan saw 75 minutes of action for Inter Tuku in their 2-0 win over llves.
HUNGARY
Abraham Frimpong played 90 minutes for Ferencvaros in their 2-0 win over Kisvarda.
NETHERLANDS
Mohammed Kudus scored on his injury return for Ajax in their 5-1 win over Heerenveen. The 20-year was adjudged man of the match after the game.
POLAND
Yaw Yeboah scored a brace for Wisla Kraków as they hammered Stal Mielec 6-0.
RUSSIA
Ghanaian defender Abdul Kadiri Mohammedplayed 90 minutes for FC Arsenal Tula in their 1-0 win over Ural.
SLOVAKIA
Edmund Addo scored for Senica in their 2-1 defeat to Ruzomberok.
SWEDEN
Enock Adu played the entire duration for AIK in their 2-0 win over Goteborg.
SWITZERLAND
Lawrence Ati-Zigi was back in post for St.Gallen as they drew 2-2 against Luzern.
TURKEY
Isaac Cofie played 90 minutes for Sivasspor as they defeated Kayerispor 3-1.
Yaw Ackah featured for Kayserispor in the game
Afriyie Acquah and Benjamin Tetteh featured in the game for Yeni Malatyaspor in their 1-1 draw against Konyaspor.
Godfred Donsah played 45 minutes for Rizespor as they recorded a 5-3 win over Ankaragucu.
Joseph Paintsil scored a brace in the game for Ankaragucu.
Midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu believes that Asante Kotoko will soon be back to where it belongs under the new Chief Executive Officer of the club, Nana Yaw Amponsah.
Nana Yaw Amponsah was unveiled as the club’s new CEO on August 7, 2020, and is expected to steer affairs of the club for the next three years.
He has so far been superb about securing new sponsorships for the club and branding. In a spate of two months, he sands his management have brought on board Errea Sportswear, Instat, VEO and others.
Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu
Badu believes the Porcupine Warriors also have a good technical head in Maxwell Konadu.
He also reiterated his desire to return to Asante Kotoko someday to continue from where he left off.
Badu, before leaving the shores of Ghana for Europe over a decade ago, had a loan spell with the Porcupine Warriors from Berekum Arsenals.
“I have always been saying that I have unfinished business at Kotoko. That’s either I will rejoin the team as a player or take up a managerial position, ” Badu told Hello FM.
“I have been monitoring them. The CEO is someone I chat with and Maxwell Konadu to I have worked with him before.
“We[Kotoko] have a solid coach. The CEO has experience in the game and I know what he can do. I have been reading about them, and I think they are having a good preparation.
“I think we need one or two players we can blend with the old players. I have heard about some two signings and I think they are buying quality going to Africa.
“I have been monitoring them, and I know Kotoko will be great again, ” he added.
Badu, 29, was a key member of the FIFA U-20 World Cup-winning squad.
Ghana Under-20 World Cup winner, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu has entreated Ghanaians to support Black Stars coach, James Charles Kwablan Akonnor and stop mounting pressure on him.
Coach Akonnor was hugely criticised following Ghana’s 3-0 defeat to Mali in an international friendly on October 9, 2020. The game which was his first game in charge of the Black Stars saw the players playing poorly.
He, however, had an improved performance in the second friendly game against Qatar three days later, thrashing the Asian champions 5-1.
Black Stars coach, CK Akonnor
Ghana has Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Sudan and Sao Tome and Principe and Badu believes we should use those games to assess Akonnor rather than the friendly games.
However, he indicated that coaching Ghana’s Black Stars comes with much pressure due to the calibre of players from the country and therefore, Akonnor should be strong and courageous.
“Ghana national teams have quality players. So, if you are coaching a national team like Ghana pressure will be on you and there is nothing he [Akonnor] can do about it. But he needs to be strong, courageous and know the players that can help him to do something, ” he told Hello FM.
“Even if he’s unable to win the trophy, but in his first year the team can play exciting, and convincing football people will have hope in him.
“I always say that it’s difficult playing in Afcon than the World Cup. If a coach can qualify and reach the finals then he’s done well.
“But I will not say it’s too early looking at the calibre of the nation we find ourselves. We all know Ghana is a football nation.
“However, we should not put pressure on him. Let’s wait and see how they will play in at least two games of the qualifiers. If we don’t see that there is improvement or seriousness then maybe we can start putting pressure on him, but for now, I think it is too early to put pressure on him.
“But you know, it’s Black Stars of Ghana, and there is nothing he can do about it, ” he added.
Agyemang-Badu, 29, has 76 caps for Ghana since making his in June 2008 and has scored 11 goals in the process.
Ghana international, Emmanuel Agyemang Badu has thrown his weight behind Black Stars coach, Charles Kwablan Akonnor to end the country’s trophy drought.
Ghana has failed to win a major trophy since 1982, and the Udinese midfielder on loan at Hellas Verona believes Akonnor can win the Africa Cup of Nations that has eluded the nation some years now with the backing of the Ghanaians.
According to him, Akonnor is new at the dugout of the Black Stars and should be supported to succeed.
“I watched the Mali game and we saw an improved game in the second friendly. He’s a new coach and because it’s a national team he can’t get much time to assess the players well. It’s not like a club side where coaches train with the team all the time, ” he told Hello FM.
“I know he has gotten a fair idea about all the players after playing the two friendlies and will know those he should call for the Sudan game. We should all support him to qualify the country.
“The [performance] in the first game [against Mali] was not convincing, but the second game [against Qatar] was very convincing.
“But we play the qualifiers with African countries and that’s where our concentration should b.
“Mali has always been tough but I know he has gotten to know the players and those who can help him for the qualifiers. I am 100 per cent positive that he will help the country to break the long trophy drought, ” he concluded.
Both sides had a slow start to the game having spells of possession in the opening 15 minutes without creating any real threat on goal.
However, it was the visitors Zamalek who surprisingly opened the scoring in the 18th minute of the game through Achraf Bencharki.
Ahmed Sayed Zizo dashed on the right-hand side and produced a sublime cross that met a lurking Bencharki, who rose high above the defender and the goalkeeper’s hand to nod home a fine header.
Raja’s reply came just three minutes before the break as Soufiane Rahimi’s header forced a good save from Zamalek goalkeeper Mohamed Abou-Gabal.
Abou-Gabal was the hero for Zamalek as he managed to keep his side in the game after saving a few dangerous opportunities for Raja in the second half.
With this victory, Zamalek will now go into the second leg with a one-goal cushion as they play Raja again next Saturday.
It’s worth noting that Al Ahly beat Wydad 2-0 in the first leg of the semi-finals and could set up a Cairo derby in the Champions League final if Zamalek overcome Raja.
Asante Kotoko defeated lower-tier side Odweanoma FC 3-0 in their first pre-season friendly ahead of the 2020-21 season on Sunday at Koforidua.
Two goals in the first half from returnee Ibrahim Osman and Naby Laye Keita, and one from Kwame Poku in the second half saw the Porcupine Warriors obliterate the Koforidua-based side at the All Nations University Park.
Coach Maxwell Konadu paraded two different sets of players for each half, handling debuts to three new signings – Mubarik Yusif, Emmanuel Keyekeh and Emmanuel Sarkodie – in the first team that started the game.
Ibrahim Osman, who returned on loan from King Faisal continued from where he left off in the cancelled 2019-20 season by opening the scoring in the 5th minute.
Osman beautifully connected a pass from Augustine Okrah with his left foot in the six-yard box to register the first goal in keenly contested first half.
Guinean import, Naby Laye Keita grabbed the Red’s second goal on the afternoon from the spot after a defender of Odweanoma FC handled Samuel Frimpong’s cross into the box in the 41st minute.
After recess, Coach Maxwell Konadu used an entirely different set of players for the second half. The new set dictated the half, dominating with some nice display.
In the 78th minute, midfielder Adom Frimpong located new signing Patrick Asmah with a nice searching pass in the midfield and he continued with a nicely-curved inswinger into the opponent’s penalty box which met striker Kwame Poku whose first-time low chip found the back of the net for the Porcupine Warriors’ third goal.
Team 1 Line-up:
Felix Annan – Samuel Frimpong, Ibrahim Imoro, Mohammed Habib, Yusif Mubarik, Emmanuel Sarkodie, Emmanuel Keyekeh, Martin Antwi – Augustine Okrah, Ibrahim Osman, Naby Laye Keita
Team 2- Line-Up
Kwame Baah – Christopher Nettey, Patrick Asmah, Wahab Adams, Ishmael Ganiyu, Mudasiru Salifu, Emmanuel Gyamfi, Adom Frimpong, Williams Opoku Mensah, Kwame Poku
