Medeama goalkeeper Eric Ofori Antwi has revealed that he will not extend his Ghana Premier League stay when his contract with the Tarkwa-based club run out.
Antwi, 28, has been impressive in the sticks since he joined the Yellow and Mauves, much particularly in the suspended 2019/20 Ghana Premier League season.
However, he is hoping to trek to seek greener pastures in Europe after almost a decade in the local scene.
“I have decided not to play for any club in Ghana again after my time with Medeama,” Antwi told B.A TV.
“Time and tide wait for no man so I will try and travel outside to continue with my career. I believe I’ve made my mark in the local scene,” he added.
Although Antwiwas selected by Chana coach C.K Akonnor in March when he announced his squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sudan and Sao Tome, the former Asante Kotoko goalie insists he is patiently waiting at chance since he has many years ahead.
“I have more time ahead of me as a professional player and God also works with time so I am certain that with my consistent performance in the local league, I would be given the chance to join the national team soon,” he said.
The Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association has approved three funds wich is aimed at developing the game in the West African country.
The three funds are namely Central Fund, Medical Fund and Special World Cup Benefit Fund.
The GFA in a statement has explained how all those funds will be raised to support football activities.
Below is the GFA Statement
The Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has approved three developmental funds for the federation.
These funds among others are set up to help the GFA improve in the areas concerned. The funds include the Central Fund, Medical Fund and the World Cup Benefit Fund.
The Central Fund:
This fund is set up to support activities of Juvenile Football, Women’s Football, RFA’s and the Medical Fund. This fund is important due to the pressing need for a dedicated source of funding for the aforementioned activities.
Sources:
Ten percent (10%) of all net statutory payments to the GFA
Ten percent (10) of all net revenues accruing to the GFA from the participation of all National teams in International assignments.
Two percent (2%) of revenue generated from Football Development Fund (FDF) via international transfers.
Revenue from corporate sponsorship
The Medical Fund:
This fund is set up to cater for serious injuries to players in the Premier, Division One and Elite Women’s division. Injuries such as bones, cartilage and ligaments shall not be solely left to the responsibility of clubs.
The Executive Council looks forward to securing partnerships with medical institutions and experts in ensuring that players especially, operate at optimum level at all times and are also guaranteed of quality medical care where the need arises.
The GFA is also looking to build the capacity of medical personnel at all clubs. This shall be achieved through retraining and certification of all practitioners while also enhancing the credentials of prospective practitioners.
Sources:
Central Fund
Proceeds from all FA Cup matches
Special World Cup Benefit Fund:
The fund is set up to enable key stakeholders benefit from World Cup participation for development projects. For this purpose, thirty percent (30%) of net revenue accruing to the GFA from World Cup participation of the Black Stars shall be channeled to key stakeholders in the following ratio:
Sixty percent (60%) to clubs in the Premier, DOL (Division One League) and WPL (Women’s Premier League).
Ten percent (10%) to Juvenile Football.
Ten percent (10%) to RFAs.
Ten percent (10%) to PFAG.
Ten percent (5%) to GHALCA.
Ten percent (5%) to Coaches Association.
The above stated developmental funds will help address some pertinent issues and challenging areas of operation of stakeholders in the industry, giving an attestation to the FA’s mission of igniting passion and creating wealth for all in football.
Ghana Football Association President, Kurt ES Okraku, says his association’s decision not to renew former Black Stars coach Kwasi Appiah’s contract after its expiration was a unanimous decision taken by the Executive council but not a personal one as reported by a section of the local media.
The Ghana FA decided to end their marriage with Appiah in December last year after ending his two-year deal.
Reports were rife in the media that, the former Executive Director of Dreams FC Kurt Okraku had personal scores to settle with the former Ghana Appiah who was in his second spell with Ghana.
Okraku denied those claims and insisted all twelve members of the executive council voted against maintaining Kwesi Appiah as coach.
“It will be most unfortunate because it could sound like a disrespect to all the twelve members on the Executive Council and other stakeholders who were engaged before that singular decision was taken “he told Sports Check host Daniel Oduro.
“We all know that we woefully didn’t perform at the AFCON, we all know the happenings from the Brazil 2014 World cup, we all know all the things that has happened before.
“So when the council put the motion into vote, it was twelve out of twelve a big “No.
“It was not about the president of the FA not wanting somebody,” Kurt Okraku concluded.
Asante Kotoko legal representative against Emmanuel Clottey, Lawyer Sarfo Duku ESq has taken a swipe at Clottey after the player accused him of bribery.
Clottey, whose case against Kotoko was dismissed disclosed in an interview with Kumasi-based Oyerepa FM that, Lawyer Duku discussed with him a compensation of GH 300,000 for an out-of-court settlement of the case, but he rejected before Wednesday’s ruling.
Responding to the claims, Lawyer Duku, who represented the Porcupine Warriors against the striker denied trying to grease his palms with that offer.
He explained that he came to meet that arrangement, but advised the Executive Chairman Kwame Kyei to allow the case to be continued at the court because he was convinced Kotoko will win the case.
“I do not want to say Emmanuel Clottey is unwise,it sound too strong but his level of appreciation of certain things is very low,” he told Kumasi FM.
“I had always maintained Emmanuel Clottey has no case in his suit against us,how would I turn to bribe him for an out of court settlement? Sometimes after sessions at the court room he will jovially tell us to get him some amount of money for an out of court settlement.In some few times I have to give him transportation fee back home.
He continued:”Before I joined Kotoko,I understand Dr Kwame Kyei tried engaging him for a mutual understanding in settling the issue rather than resorting to the law court. In one of my conversation with him I asked his demands for an out of court settlement and he requested for GHC100,000.He kept pressuring me to talk to Dr Kwame Kyei for a token so the case will be brought out of court but I insisted Kotoko had a fine case to continue in court after he had rejected our earlier plea.We never approached him with any amount of money.
He also indicated that he felt Clottey was ignorant about his own case.
“Emmanuel Clottey from the beginning was ignorant of his own case and misled his lawyers. He didn’t understand the ruling from FIFA. The court had sympathy for him until we tendered in excess of twenty-three(23) documents,the court got a fair idea of the case afterwards.
“Clottey is a fine player but lacks understanding in his own field,his age does not correspond with his intelligence,” he concluded.
Emmanuel Clottey has revealed that Asante Kotoko approached him with GH¢ 300,000 as compensation to withdraw the suit from the court before Wednesday’s ruling, but he rejected.
An Accra High Court Financial Division Two dismissed Clottey’s case against his former side. He prayed to the court to compel Kotoko to pay the fine of $180,000 which was imposed on him by the world football governing body – FIFA.
He also wanted the court to order the Porcupine Warriors pay his salaries and allowances he would have received within the period of his ban by FIFA.
Clottey, who has been speaking on various radio stations since the court’s ruling disclosed former legal head of Kotoko, Lawyer Sarfo Duku Esq discussed with him for an out-of-court settlement .
”Asante Kotoko wanted to compensate me with GH C 30000 so i withdraw the court case which i rejected,” Clottey told Kumasi-based Oyerepa FM.
The Great Olympics forward joined Kotoko in 2015 after unlawfully leaving his contract with Tunisian side Esperance, accusing to FIFA ruling.
He played only 30 minutes in a game for Kotoko after he joined the Reds in a three-year deal.
Clottey took the Porcupine Warriors to court in August 2019 and prayed the court to order Kotoko to pay the $180,000 fine which was important on him by FIFA after breaching his contract with Tunisian giants Esperance in 2015.
He also wanted the court to order Kotoko pay the salaries and allowances he would have received within the period of his ban by FIFA.
But the Great Olympics striker says he is satisfied about the court’s ruling since Kotoko have paid the fine which was imposed on him.
”I am okay with the Court verdict especially because Kotoko has paid the $180,000 and so will find money to pay the GH C 5000 ,no appeal” Emmanuel Clottey told Oyerepa FM
Former Hearts of Oak midfielder Charles Allotey has indicated that Asante Kotoko have quality players than his former club.
Charles Allotey – who was responding to a wide range of issues – noted that the Porcupine Warriors are ahead of the Phobians in an interview with Kumasi-based Oyerepa FM.
“Asante Kotoko has quality players than Hearts of Oak. The current crop of players at Kotoko are better than those at Hearts of Oak,” Allotey told Kumasi-based Oyerepa FM.
Allotey, who was a member of the Hearts team that won the 2000 CAF Champions League also said Hearts coach Edward Nii Odoom cannot replicate what former gaffer Cecil Jones Attuquayefio guided the team to achieve.
“Odoom is good but cannot replicate that of Attuquayefio. I see him to be good in developing players. The Auroras(u20) will be best for him.”
Charles Allotey played for the national U-17 and the Black Stars, and is now the coach of Shalom FC – a third division side in Cape Coast.
Hearts Of Oak legend, Charles Allotey has reiterated that the players who won the Caf Champions League in 2000 are bitter about the club.
He disclosed in an interview with Kumasi-based Oyerepa FM that, the players were promised an of an amount of $25,000 each for clinching the all-important trophy – which happened to be the first time in the clubs history.
However, the monies have not been paid after almost twenty years despite the management made an agreement with the players on a percentage of the competition’s prize money, according to Allotey.
”Hearts players who won the Champions League and Super Cup are bitter about the club because they owe each player $25000 which till date they are yet to pay, they are yet to honour that agreement” Charles Allotey on Oyerepa.
Hearts of Oak were unbeaten in the group stage which was the first time a club achieve such fate on the continue.
The first leg was played on  December 2, 2000 in Tunis and Esperance lost 1-2 to Hearts of Oak.
The second leg was honoured on Sunday, December 17, 2000 and it ended was 3 – 1 in favour of Hearts of Oak.
Hearts line-up
GK-Sammy Adjei,. Dan Quaye, Jacob Nettey, Edward Agyeman-Duah, Stephen Tetteh, Joe Ansah, Charles Allotey ( Emmanuel Adjogu 46), Adjah Tetteh (4. Edmond Copson 67), Ishmael Addo, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, Charles Taylor (13. Osmanu Amadu 73).
Chairperson of Women’s League, Madam Hilary Boateng says the body is not in a haste to resume the suspended leagu.
Football activities over the world have been put on hold due to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
However, some countries have started coming out with measures to resume their respective leagues, with the German Bundesliga being the first major league to return after the break on May 16.
Some administrators have called for resumption of our leagues, while others have proposed for it to be annulled.
But Hilary Boateng they are willing to resume the league when it is appropriate.
“One question we should be asking is, if government finally lifts ban on social gatherings which includes football, are the Women’s Premier League clubs ready to resume?,” she queried.
”As explained by several medical practitioners, countries like Germany have started implementing measures that can help resume football.
”All that I’m saying is ,as a country, do we have measures in place to test players every week in case we resume our leagues because, health is very important, do we have test centers specifically designated for the footballers when we resume? playing behind closed doors, can we raise enough money to cater for the clubs?
”As the Ladies at home ,do they train ? You and I know that because of ban on social gatherings, Police could arrest ladies training on the field . When quizzed about whether we can’t meet those measures to conclude the second round, she said: ”For that, we can’t conclude, probably there are measures put in place.”
