Justin Koduah – Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has confirmed that his outfit is hoping to conclude negotiations with the National Sports Authority(NSA) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS) to enroll athletes onto the scheme in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to him, a decision is yet to be made with respect to the number of athletes that could be enrolled at each of the sports disciplines or federations.
Reports were rife that the Ghana Football Association has signed a a two-year contract with the YEA to enroll 1000 players after a successful engagements.
“By end of the month we hope to have concluded negotiations with the NSA and MOYS on the number of persons we can enroll whether 1000 or 500 and how they will share among the disciplines,” Justin Koduah said in an interview with Oyerepa 100.7 FM in Kumasi.
The move is to assist the clubs financially due to the financial distress caused by the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease.
Football activities as well as other sporting activities are on hold since mid-March 2020.
Asante Kotoko legend, Ibrahim Sunday has appealed for the inclusion of retired players onto the new Board of Directors of the club.
Manhyia on 28 May 2020 announced a new board to steer the affairs of the club in the next three football seasons.
Conspicuously missing were representatives from the club’s supporters wing and Asante Kotoko Old Players Association (AKOPA).
However, the special assistant to Chief of Staff of Manhyia Kwame Aboagye Mensah explained that the old players’ association is currently not functioning as it used to be. With regards to the Circles, he explained that, the body has some much internal issues which they are addressing.
But the former captain of the side explained that it will be prudent to add the old players who have helped the club chalked success in the past.
“I am hoping we can also get a retired footballer on the board, he told Happy FM.
“They need people who are part of the club’s success and also know the history of the club. If we want Kotoko to progress, then it important to get one of these players onto the board. Some of the old players have served the club very well with their hearts and they deserve to be on the board”.
“I hope those in Kumasi can write a petition to Manhyia. If we want Asante Kotoko to return to its glory days, then it’s very important”, he added.
Ghanaian goalkeeper, Nana Bonsu has revealed that he received paltry amount as salary while playing in his homeland.
According to him, he never received over GHS 400 as monthly salary despite playing for five clubs in the West African country.
He indicated that he was paid GHS 50 when he was playing for Liberty Professionals.
“I played for 5 clubs in Ghana but my salary wasn’t even up to 500 cedis as a player,” he told Kumasi-based Wontumi Radio.
“AshGold was the club that paid me much but I was receiving 400 cedis then to RTU they were also paying me 300 cedis”
“For Liberty Profs. I was receiving just 50 cedis and that was 2005/06,
Berekum Chelsea did paid me 200 cedis ; Lions too I was receiving 300 cedis”
Bonsu currently plays for Nigeria outfit Enugu Rangers and although he did not disclose his salary, he indicated that no club in Ghana can pay the salary he is receiving.
“‘No club in Ghana can pay what am receiving here as salary so I won’t bother myself to reveal that to the public, no club and I say no club can pay what am receiving now.”
It was an productive weekend for Ghanaian players abroad as they produced a handful of goals and some quality display.
Edmund Okai Gyimah brings to you a complete wrap up of the performance of Ghanaian players abroad.
Spain Joseph Aidoo replaced Papa Cheikh in the heart of defence for Celta Vigo as they lost 1-0 at home to Villarreal.
Thomas Partey played the full game in central midfield for Atletico Madrid as they recorded a 1-1 draw with Real Betis.
Elsewhere, in-demand Mohammed Salisu was solid at the back for Real Valladolid for 90 minutes as they went away to defeat Leganes 2-1.
Baba Iddrisu came in for Marc Pedrazza in the 57th minute as Real Mallorca were battered 4-0 at the Son Moix Arena by league leaders, Barcelona.
In the Spanish second-tier, Black Meteors forward Samuel Obeng made his first team debut for Real Ovideo as he replaced Marco Sagnalli in the 79th minute in his club’s goalless draw with Ponferradina. Mujaid Aliu Sadick replaced Franciso Montero in the 79th minute as Deportivo La Coruna drew goalless with Sporting Gijon.
Denmark Ghana youth international Dauda Mohammed opened the scoring for Esbjerg in the eighth minute as they thrashed Randers 4-2.
ESBJERG, DENMARK – SEPTEMBER 15: Mohammed Dauda of Esbjerg fB controls the ball during the Danish 3F Superliga match between Esbjerg fB and Randers FC at Blue Water Arena on September 15, 2019 in Esbjerg, Denmark. (Photo by Lars Ronbog / FrontZoneSport via Getty Images)
Dauda Mohammed was on target for Esbjerg
Kamal-Deen Sulemana replaced Isaac Atanga in the 57th minute and scored 10 minutes later as FC Nordsjaelland drew 1-1 with FC Copenhagen.
Mohammed Kudus was replaced in the 80th minute by Francis Abu, while Abdul Mumin played the full game.
Sweden Enock Adu Kofi came in for fellow Ghanaian Ebenezer Ofori in the 70th minute as AIK went away to beat Orebro 2-0.
Samuel Mensah came into the game in the 81st minute as his Ostersund FK side lost 2-0 away to Hammarby IF.
Germany In the Bundesliga II, Daniel Kyereh played 87 minutes for Wehen Wiesbaden who went away to draw 1-1 with Holstein Kiel.
Jordi Osei-Tutu, who is on loan from Arsenal, played for 78 minutes for VfL Bochum who continued their impressive form with a convincing 2-0 away win over Osnabruck
Germany-born Ghanaian centre-back Patric Pfeiffer netted a 90th minute winner for Damstadt as they beat Hanover 3-2.
In the Bundesliga III, Striker Prince Osei-Owusu played full time for 1860 Minuch who lost 1-0 away to Hansa Rostock. Aaron Opoku also started the game for Rostock but was replaced in the 78th minute.
Turkey Bernard Mensah netted a Goal of the Sseason contender for Kayserispor as he curled in a sublime freekick from 25 yards in the 59th minute but it was not enough as Fenerbahce crawled back to win the game 2-1.
Fenerbahce’s Turkish midfielder Deniz Turuc (L) vies with Kayserispor’s Ghanaian forward Bernard Mensah during the Turkish Super League football match between Fenerbahce SK and Kayserispor at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul on June 12, 2020. – The Turkish Super League resumes after an almost three-month break due to the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus. (Photo by ERDEM SAHIN / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ERDEM SAHIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Bernard Mensah breaks away from Fenerbahce’s Deniz Turuc
Black Stars striker Caleb Ansah Ekuban scored a penalty for Trabzonspor in the 52nd minute as they went away to beat Goztepe 3-1.
Kevin-Prince Boateng made way for Umut Nayir in the 65th minute as Besiktas lost 2-1 at home to Antalyaspor.
Defensive midfielder Afriyie Acquah played 75 minutes for Yeni Malatyasposr who suffered a shocking 2-1 home defeat to Kasimpasa.
Slovakia In the relegation playoff, former Accra Lions winger Osman Bukari set up two goals and scored one as Tencin humiliated Pohronie 4-0.
Striker Sulley Sadam also played 90 minutes for FK Senica who drew 1-1 with SKF Sered.
Ukraine Former Black Stars right-back Najeeb Yakubu netted the opener for Vorskla in the 59th minute as they went away to drw 1-1 with Mariupol
Bulgaria Midfielder Carlos Ohene played the last four minutes for Beroe FC who went away to defeat Slavia Sofia 4-2.
Croatia Obeng Regan replaced Josip Tomasevic in the 86th minute as NK Istra lost 0-1 to Hadjuk Split
Czech Striker Benjamin Tetteh replaced Vaclav Drchal in the 46th minute as Sparta Prague beat his former club FC Slovacko 2-0.
Former Liberty Professionals midfielder Emmanuel Antwi was replaced by Lukas Pazdera in the 46th minute as his side Pribam were humiliated 4-0 by Teplice.
Aduana Stars forward Yahaya Mohammed has called on veteran coach JE Sarpong to apologize to all Ghanaian players after shockingly making a damming remarks about them.
The experienced trainer recently revealed th an interview that about 60 per cent of Ghanaian players smoke marijuana, noting that he has even bought some for a player before.
However, he could not mention a single player who is into smoking of weed neither could he mentioned the player he claimed to have purchased some for him.
Mohammed feels coach Sarpong’s comments are unpleasant and should be made to apologize immediately since it is a dent on the players.
“Coach JE Sarpong must apologize to Ghanaian players. It is time for people to tell the truth to some people like him. His comments that about 60% of Ghanaian players smoke weed is very bad,” he told Kumasi-based Oyerepa FM.
“I don’t smoke but look at the people he has coached like Asamoah Gyan and others. Does he know the 60 per cent of 100 players. It is a false statement and should retract the statement.”
JE Sarpong has worked with many clubs in Ghana including Asante Kotoko, Hearts Of Oak, Okwahu United.
Dreams FC forward Emmanuel Ocran has settled on Asante Kotoko mercurial midfielder Justice Blay as the best player in the Ghana Premier League.
Blay – who is on loan from Medeama SC has been impressive since joining the Porcupine Warriors.
His swift movement, passing and strength have been admired by pundits and supporters who have followed the local game.
Ocran expresses his admiration for the Kotoko midfielder.
“We have seen a lot of good players in the league before it was suspended.
“But to me Justice Blay is the best player in the Ghana Premier League now. He has been in a great form before the league was truncated” Ocran stated in interview on Kyzz FM.
Kotoko has expressed huge interest in making Blay’s loan move permanent due to the player’s consistence performance.
However, the Yellow and Mauves have put all contract talks – including loan players – on hold await Ghana Football Association decision on football activities which has been suspended due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Football activities in the West African country was halted mid-March 2020.
Italian giants AC Milan has joined the race to secure the services of Ghanaian teenager Mohammed Kudus.
The 19-year-old who has been linked with many clubs across Europe such as Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton is reported to be on the radar of AC Milan, according to Italian portal Calciomercato.com
The report indicated that Milan is favourite to land Kudus, whose contract is expected to expire on June 30, 2021.
The versatile attacker who is also capable of playing from midfield has netted 9 times this season in 21 league games for FC Nordsjælland in Denmark.
According to Calciomercato.com the player is holding out for a dream move to European Champions Liverpool.
The Right to Dream product who moved to Nordsjælland in 2018 is capped once with the Black Stars, scoring on his debut.
Ghana football have produced many great talents who have made it globally. Here we are with a new prospect who is capable of developing into stardom within the shortest possible time with promises already witnessed aged 16.
Mathew Anim Cudjoe, is the name of the much talked about football gem. He was discovered after participating in the annual Asamoah Baby Jet U16 football tournament.
We chronicle the foundation that unleashed Mathew Anim Cudjoe to the world in a production from Emmanuel Osei.
The VIDEO below summarizes the beginning of the current Asante Kotoko SC wonderkid and his other talented colleagues.
The Spanish La Liga returned over the weekend after over two months break due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide.
Lionel Messi scored his 20th league goal of the season as Barcelona widened the points gap at the top to five points after following a a 4-0 triumph over Mallorca at the Visit Mallorca Estadi on Saturday evening.
Quique Setien’s side commenced the return in a style as Arturo Vidal headed home Jordi Alba’s cross after just under two minutes.
The visitors increased their tally in the 37th minute when Martin Braithwaite fetched his first goal for the club before Jordi Alba (79) latched on Messi’s pass to add a third.
Messi then put the icing on the cake with his 20th goal of the season for Barcelona in all competitions.
Barca, thus move five clear points of Real Madrid who will play against Eibar at home on Sunday.
Magisterial Ghanaian attacker Dauda Mohammed scored a sublime finish for Esbjerg in their comprehensive 4-2 win over Randers FC in the Danish Superliga on Friday.
Dauda, 22, raced his side into an 8th minute lead when he outpaced his markers to profit from a slip by the onrushing Randers FC goalkeeper.
Former Sunderland Premier League goalkeeper Vito Mannone delivered a long search shot into the half of the opponent and Dauda employed his pace to outrun his marker as the ball beat the goalkeeper to his delight as he rolled the ball home for the opening goal of the game.
The former Asante Kotoko striker, who is on loan at Esbjerg from Anderlecht, came close to scoring the second just moments after his opener but his header missed the post by inches.
