Category: Sports

The Ghana Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (GBFA) has appointed Mr Eric Amoako Twum as the head of the national team (Black Muscles) management committee.

Mr. Twum a health and fitness enthusiast and a businessman had over 25 years of experience in marketing, project management and investment promotion.

He had worked with Millicom Ghana (Tigo), Nestle Ghana, One Africa Media, and United Kingdom-based Telecommunication giants Orange Telecom as their Brand Manager.

He served as a Deputy Chief Executive officer at the Ghana Export Promote Authority.

Mr. Twum also served as a government spokesperson at the Ministry of Information and a communications specialist and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

He holds an MA in Marketing Management from Birmingham University.

He and his team are mandated to ensure Ghana’s (the Black Muscles) smooth participation in international and local bodybuilding competitions.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr. Bawa Fuseini, President of Ghana Athletics has sent a strong warning to the public to desist against imposition of athletes on the federation towards the 13th?Africa Games.

He said Ghana Athletics was an independent body and that criteria for selection into the National Team was spelt out to every athlete registered under them therefore there was no need for anybody to suggest or impose athletes for them.

Mr Fuseini was speaking to GNA Sports in an interview after the launch of a weeklong World Athletics Referee Examination Certification System Level One training at the Media Centre of the Accra Sports Stadium.

The GA president explained the training was aimed at getting qualified and quality officiating officials to handle the upcoming African Games and therefore called on participants to take the lessons seriously so they could have a 100 per cent pass.

He said GA was looking at getting Ghanaian officials to solely officiate athletics events at the Games saying ‘We want to have Ghanaians officiatin
g at the Games because this is the time we have to build our human capacity.

‘The CAA is bringing just three officials, and we want Ghanaians to handle all our events so please make sure you get a 100 per cent pass so you can be selected to officiate.’

He added that the training would be in two folds, that is the theory and practical but added that before participants were certified, there would be three stages of practical test.

‘The first test will be on February 8 at the Borteyman Sports Complex then on February 24 at the University of Ghana for the Schools Athletics event and then the African Games would be the last practical test to be conducted before you are certified,’ he explained.

Participants for the course were selected from the Ghana Education Service, Security Service Sports Association, Physical Education instructors, and sports administrators. They will be tutored by Mr Kofi Bonney and Supt. Bawa Alhassan from the Ghana Police Service. ?

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr. Mohammed Ameen Mahammed Atoum, International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Expert has praised the efforts of Mr. Mawuko Afadzinu President of the Ghana Table Tennis Association (GTTA), for the successful organization the Olympic Solidarity Practical Training for athletes.

Speaking to the media, Mr. Atoum said the programme would promote and develop table tennis in Ghana and beyond.

He said, ‘I must congratulate President of the association, the coaches, technical directors and the players for this great programme and I also appreciate the media for supporting and promoting the sport’.

‘This programme is an opportunity to train players to prepare them for the Africa games and also to improve their talent.

‘The players have passion for the game, and they are even practicing twice a day which is three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon which is good.’

The ITTF Expert said that after the practical training the players would be having two trial games before camping for the continental
sports festival in March.

He said, ‘since 2014, comparing that time till now I could see the confidence level of the players and I must be honest there were couples of players both male and female that are determining to become African or world champions in future.’

He also called on for investment in the sport, ‘you need to invest because that is the key in table tennis, and you also need to go for international event as well.’

Mr. Charles Techie-Menson, Technical Director of the GTTA said the sport was in the right direction as the association is preparing for the African games.

He said, ‘there is endurance training and shaping the skills of the players and we are grateful for this success.’

‘We need to develop our game because other sporting activity like football has breaking the heart of Ghanaians.’

Madam Celia Baah Danso from the Ghana Table Tennis Club said with this training she was prepared for the African games.

‘We are yet to play the trials and this training programme has shape me well and
I’m ready for any Africa competition.’

‘We thank Ghana Olympic Committee for supporting this programme and we urge them to continue doing the good work for us.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

Emerse Fae caretaker Coach of Cote D’ Ivoire has admitted that he was under intense pressure before the Senegal showdown.

Cote D’ Ivoire defeated Senegal on penalties to advance to the quarter-finals stage of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), after initial setbacks in the competition.

‘There was a lot of pressure before the match, and match day was too long for me. I couldn’t nap as usual, thinking about all scenarios. If I said there was no pressure, I would be lying,’ Fae confessed.

But scraping through the group stage boosted belief before facing the champions.

‘Qualifying after Morocco’s win gave us confidence. We beat Senegal and eliminated them; morale is good,’ Fae said.

He added that, the team cannot get carried away by this result as tougher tests lie ahead.

‘We must not stop here; we must continue working, maintain this morale, and keep playing match by match,’ the coach asserted.

After inspiring a remarkable reversal in fortunes, Fae seems determined to ensure this giant-killing act i
s just the start as the Elephants seek further AFCON glory.

Cote D’ Ivoire would take on Mali in the quarter-final stage on Saturday.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghanaian middleweight boxer Elvis Ahorgah was stopped by Hassan Mwakinyo of Tanzania in the 7th round of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Africa Middleweight Championship in Zanzibar.

The fight, which took place at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar, was billed as ‘Mtata Mtatuzi’ (The Problem Solver).

Mwakinyo lived up to the billing, putting Ahorgah down twice in the seventh round before the referee stepped in to stop the contest.

Mwakinyo was very good on the day and deserved to win the exciting bout which was officiated by Ghanaian referee May Mensah Akakpo.

Mr. Samir Captan President of WBO Africa, also a Ghanaian presented the belt to the winner.

He said winning the WBO Africa title was an opportunity to be ranked among the best in the world and congratulated the new champion.

Ghana boasts of some WBO Africa champions like lightweight boxer Sheriff Quaye, featherweight boxer John Laryea, Super welterweight boxer Jacob Tetteh all from the Bronx Boxing Gym and Osman Haruna now with the James Town Gym.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghana Premier League giants Kumasi Asante Kotoko will face Ivorian giants Asec Mimosas in the 2024 President’s Cup.

The match has been scheduled to take place on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the President of Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara are to grace the ceremony.

The President’s Cup is an annual one-match encounter that seeks to honour the sitting President and has been in existence for many decades.

Notably, this would be the first time a foreign club has been invited to feature in a President’s Cup match.

Kumasi Asante Kotoko have won the President’s Cup eight times, which is the most by any team, while defending champions Hearts of Oak have won it six times.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Tournament favourites Morocco have been booted out of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, after a 2-0 defeat at the hands of South Africa on Tuesday, evening.

South Africa would now play Cape Verde on Saturday, February 3, at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro at the quarter-finals.

It was a game that saw both sides hold each other to the task and battled for supremacy but failed to produce goals in the first half.

On resumption, South Africa took the lead in the 57th minute when striker Evidence Makgopa connected to a pass inside the 18-yard box to hit the ball into the bottom right corner of the net.

Morocco came back strongly to equalize, with intense pressure on their opponents as well as the introduction of new legs.

This resulted in a penalty in the 83rd minute when a ball hit the hands of Teboho Mokoena in the South African 18-yard box, after a VAR review.

Achraf Hakimi stepped up to convert but he ended up hitting the ball against the crossbar and his effort went off the pitch.

Sofyan
Amrabat was shown the exit after a challenge on a Mokoena as last man and was shown a second yellow, which was upgraded to a straight red after VAR review by referee Mahmood Ismail

South Africa took advantage of the numerical disadvantage and added the second goal to seal the game thanks to a wonderful free kick by Teboho Mokoena.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Over 100 professional and amateur golfers set out to challenge for the ultimate seventh Captain One Invitational Charity Golf Championship trophy at the Royal Golf Club in Kumasi. 

With former champions including Vincent Torgah, Prince Amponsah, James Akwaboah and defending champion Craig Tandoh on the greens, the battle line for the three-day event has been drawn as several other golfers were determined to clinch the ultimate trophy on day one. 

The Championship, which commenced on Friday, January 26 saw golfers test their strength and endurance with some impressive performances as they journey to clinch the coveted trophy. 

The event would honour distinguished players with trophies, cash vouchers, medals and other attractive prizes.

Speaking ahead of the official tee-off, Mr Pius Ayeh Appiah, President of the Captain One Golf Society expressed appreciation to the golfers for coming out in their numbers to participate in the event. 

He said, this year’s edition was beyond the regular competition for ho
nours but a contribution towards supporting the needy in society.

‘Your presence here today is commendable as you would not only be playing for personal honours but assist the society giving to the needy,’ he stated.

He reiterated that proceeds from the championship would also be used to support some orphanages within the region and beyond.

‘At Captain One, we are committed to supporting the needy by bringing golf to their doorsteps and happy to have everyone on board,’ he stated.

He urged golfers to go all out as they compete for glory, promising an exciting weekend of golf which started with the Captain One Kids Tournament on Friday.

He also thanked sponsors for their commitment towards the tournament over the past seven years, while calling on others to come on board to develop the sport in the country.

Source: Ghana News Agency