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The Ghana Football Association has officially launched the “Catch Them Young Refereeing” policy aimed at unearthing young talented referees across the country.

The Catch Them Young Policy is designed to identify, educate and train young talents between the ages of 13-16 to officiate juvenile matches within their regions.

At the launch of the Policy, GFA President Kurt ES Okraku stressed on the need to imbibe the needed values in referees at an early stage and train them to attain the highest level in referee.

“If we want good referees who can compete with the best in the world at male and female competitions, then it is important to identify and start training them at an early“.

“We want to comb every corner of the country to find boys and girls with a passion for refereeing and add value to them”, he emphasized.

The GFA President also mentioned that the policy would enhance the morals and integrity of young prospective referees and build their ambitions in refereeing.

He further stated that the Association intends to replicate the policy across all District football Associations to give a fair chance to every young person with an interest in refereeing.

GFA Referees Manager Alex Kotey explained that as part of the policy, the GFA would establish a Centre of Refereeing Excellence (CORE) at the Technical Centre (GSCE) in Prampram and an Online-learning platform to support the education of referees at the Grassroots level.

He further stated that the GFA’s Referees Instructors will develop the profile of Grassroots  referees with the Referee’s department’s also developing Online and Facial Grassroots Refereeing courses to develop persons that fit the profile.
“Catch Them Young Referees are persons trained and qualified to officiate competitive, small-sided or recreational youth matches and amateur matches”.

“The Grassroots Referee course will be split into two parts: one online and the other in-person instructed by the GFA/RFA Refereeing Department”, the Ex FIFA/CAF referee explained.

Present at the event were GFA Executive Council members Habiba Attah, Samuel Anim Addo, Kingsley Osei Bonsu and Nana Safo Oduro.

Also present were the President of the Referees Association of Ghana(RAG), retired referee Justice Yeboah, Vice Chairman of the Referees Committee Michael Oti Adjei  and young refereeing prospect Christopher Okpoti, who is the face of the policy.

Source: GFA

Asante Kotoko midfielder, Richard Senanu has suggested the calibre of players the club should sign in order to succeed in the upcoming season.

He believes that although the Porcupine Warriors have quality in the current squad the club needs to augment it with three key signings to be competitive in their next campaign.

Kotoko will represent Ghana in the 2020-21 CAF Champions League following the cancellation of the 2019/20 season by the Ghana Football Association due to the CoVID-19 pandemic breakout.

Senanu thinks that the Reds will need a couple of experienced players to beef up their squad.

“We still need some couple of experienced players,” says Senanu. “We need players in the profile of Ahmed Toure, Song Yacouba and Justice Blay,” he said in an interview with Kotoko Express App.

“I would recommend only three additions to our team. I am convinced with the quality like the names I have mentioned, we can go beyond the stage we got to under CK Akonnor.”

Kotoko under Coach Charles Kwablan Akonnor broke a 10-year-old record by qualifying to the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup in the 2018/19 season. Senanu was a key member of that team.

However, he got injured. He has recovered after successful surgery and will be hoping to break into the team when football resume.

Coach Maxwell Konadu has spoken of his plans for the Porcupines as he reveals his key focus for the squad for the coming season.

Maxwell Konadu tells Kotoko Media he is happy with the progress made under his watch but wants the Porcupines to make fewer mistakes in our pursuit of laurels next season.

The former Kotoko player, who led the Porcupines to the 2011 Premier League title, rejoined the team in December 2019. 

The 2019/2020 Premier League season was canceled with the Porcupines sitting 3rd on the log, with just three points adrift the top and a game to spare, in a campaign that saw us score 14 goals and concede seven.

Maxwell Konadu will regroup his charges when the government gives the green light for football to resume in the country and his biggest task, he says, is to reduce the side’s margin of error.

“Our level is good but there is more room for improvement with hard work. We also need to make sure that, we make fewer mistakes than before,” says the Coach.

Credit: Kotoko Express App

Former Ghana international, Nii Odartey Lamptey believes Asamoah Gyan’s imminent transfer to the Baba Yara Stadium will serve as a piece of good news to Asante Kotoko and Ghana as a whole.

The former Black Stars captain has been linked with several local clubs, including the Porcupine Warriors, who want to bolster their side ahead of their domestic campaign in the upcoming CAF Champions League and the 2020/2021 Ghana premier league.

Gyan’s local manager, Samuel Anim Addo, in an interview with Graphic Sports last Friday stated that even though Kotoko had not make any official approach for Gyan, the Ghana all-time topscorer won’t hesitate to join the club once the offer was good.

However, former Kotoko star, Odartey Lamptey in an interview with Elimina-based Ahomka FM is of the view that, Gyan’s impending move to Kotoko will help the club economically.

Odartey Lamptey marked his debut Kotoko in a competitive game when the Porcupines beat archrivals Hearts of Oak to lift the president’s cup in 2005.

Click on the download link below to listen to Odartey’s reaction

SSource:Myfabulousonline

Asamoah Gyan will join Kotoko on one condition – Gyan’s Manager

The Business Manager for Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan, Anim Addo has disclosed that the former Sunderland striker will join Asante Kotoko only if they meet their demands.

Media reports suggested new Asante Kotoko Chief Executive Officer Nana Yaw Amponsah has had a preliminary discussion with Gyan in a bid to sign him for the upcoming season.

However, Anim Addo has debunked such reports, insisting his client is yet to receive any offer from the Porcupine Warriors.

Gyan on several occasions professed his love for the record Ghana Premier League winners.

Speaking to Graphic Sports, Anim Addo disclosed Gyan’s readiness to sign for the Reds if their demands are met.

“Kotoko have said they like him because he once stated that he’ll one day play for Kotoko, but for now no club has approached him with any offer,” Mr Anim Addo said.

“Gyan has had offers from Europe and Asia but if Kotoko can meet our terms, then why not?”

Gyan is currently without a club after he was released by Indian top-flight side, NorthEast United in January.

Former Asante Kotoko coach and player Abdul Razak ‘Golden Boy’ has claimed that he is the best person to help the club rediscover their glory days.

Razak ended the Porcupine Warriors ten-year trophy drought in the Ghanaian top-flight in 2003, under the chairmanship of Sylvester Asare Owusu – now Banahene, having last won the league in 1993.

Despite the historic feat, the 1978 African Footballer of the Year resigned from his post – a decision which surprised the majority of the club’s supporters.

Speaking to Pure FM, Abdul Razak disclosed that he is ready to play any role in the team if contacted.

“I am the only man to bring the Asante Kotoko spirit back. They should come back to me. I am ready for any role. I still feel sad about the treatment I had at Kotoko after winning the league for them in 2003,” Coach Abdul Karim Razak said on Pure FM.

The ‘Golden Boy’ as he is affectionately known had three separate spells with Asante Kotoko during his play days, winning three league titles with the club in 1981, 1986 and 1987, having joined the Reds in 1975. He later moved to New York Cosmos in the United States.