Ibrahim Tanko explains Jeffrey Schlupp snub

Schlupp was excluded from the Black Stars squad against Kenya

Deputy coach of the Black Stars Ibrahim Tanko has lifted the lid on why in-form Crystal Palace attacker Jeffrey Schlupp was left out of the 18-man squad for the forthcoming 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Kenya.

Schlupp, who has been in scintillating form for Crystal Palace in the ongoing Premier League, was excluded from the Black Stars squad that will engage the Harambee Stars of Kenya on Match Day 2 of the 2019 AFCON qualifiers - which is set to come off on September 8 at the MISC Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi.

Several pundits have expressed shock over Schlupp's exclusion following his explosive start to the campaign for the Eagles.

“Jeffery Schlupp is playing more offensive for Crystal Palace now but we felt we had enough wingers or wingbacks now so yes he is playing well but we will consider him for the future,” he said.

Below is the list of defenders who made the list:

Defenders: Harrison Afful (Columbus, USA) Daniel Opare (Antwerp, Belgium) Kassim Nuhu (1899 Hoffenheim, Germany) John Boye (FC Metz, France) Daniel Amartey ( Leicester City, England) Andy Yiadom (Reading Football Club, England)

Courtesy of GHANAsoccernet.com - Ghana's leading football news website.

Deputy Attorney General Joseph Kpemka explains new decision on Ghana FA

FIFA President, Gianni Infantino with Ghana President, Akufo-Addo

The Deputy Attorney General of Ghana Joseph Kpemka has explained government's new agreement with the world governing body FIFA to discontinue its planned liquidation of the Ghana Football Association.

The authorities were given an ultimatum by the world football's governing body to withdraw an attorney general's petition to an Accra High Court seeking to dissolve the FA after an investigative documentary exposed corrupt and match-fixing activities of top officials and referees.

The government had initially stated its stance not to "bow" to any contrary international order but further considerations after Fifa issued an August 27 deadline saw the liquidation plan rescinded after a delegation held a successful meeting with Fifa in Switzerland.

"We are living not as an island, but we live by a comity of nations and our membership of international organizations are predicated on principles, on rules, on regulations, and on law," Kpemka said on 3 FM.

“And so far as you subscribe to an international organization, then you must again agree with the principles, rules, and regulations governing that international organization.

"That’s a basic fact, so fundamental to any agreement that anybody can actually reach.”

He also spoke on government's decision to liquidate the FA after the scandal rocked the country in June.

"We invoked the appropriate sections of law which is the legal system in our country.

"We decided that by the official Liquidations Act, we could actually invoke certain sections of it to say that the company formed was being used for a purpose either than what it was intended for, and so we then petitioned the court to order a dissolution," he added.
Source: footballghana.com

Kotoko management to finally compensate accident victims

The newly formed management of Asante Kotoko has decided to compensate the accident victims that petitioned the club’s Secretariat and Manhyia Palace to seek what’s due them.

The previous management of the club contacted a consultancy firm called Synergy to do an investigation on the accident before paying the compensation fee.

“From afar we have realized the massive public interest in this case so management has decided to pay them so we can concentrate on our various jobs but unfortunately I can’t disclose the amount” He told Oyerepa fm in Kumasi.

“We are sorry for any inconveniences caused, but we promise to redeem our promise to them”

Footballmadeinghana.com investigations has shown that the management has decided to give ¢40000 to the victims to share. This will be done after the Kotoko vs Hearts friendly match on Sunday.
Source: Footballmadeinghana.com

Kingsley Fobi signs for Spanish side UD Ibiza

Ghana defender Kingsley Fobi

Spanish lower tier side Unión Deportiva Ibiza have acquired Ghana defender Kingsley Fobi on loan.

The 19-year-old spent the past season at fellow Segunda División B outfit SD Formentera where he played 23 matches.

And the Watford FC player has accepted to continue his development in the third level of the Spanish football league system with the famous Ibiza Town-based club for the entire 2018/19 season.

Fobi was reported to have joined SD Ejea last month but has now been announced to have settled with UD Ibiza who play at Estadi Municipal de Can Misses as home grounds.

The former Ghana U-20 skipper will be hoping to make his debut when manager Antonio Mendez’s side travel to face Sevilla II in the opening match of the season on Sunday,

 Source: starrsportsgh.com

Atsu to start for Newcastle against Chelsea

Atsu is likely to start against his former club on Sunday

Newcastle manager, Rafa Benitez, could be forced to start Ghanaian winger, Christian Atsu, in their game against Chelsea on Sunday.

The decision to introduced Atsu has become necessary because playing his regular player and Chelsea loanee, Kenedy, against his parent club would violate the rules of the English Premier League.

Per the rules of the game, players who are on loan cannot play against their parent club which means the Newcastle boss must fill the void that would be created by Kenedy’s ineligibility.


Jacob Murphy and Christian Atsu are his other options but Benitez is likely to favour the former Chelsea and Ghanaian international because he is a natural left-footed player.

During their first game against Tottenham, the 26-year-old Ghanaian was given the nod ahead of Murphy but had to sit on the bench for the former Norwich winger during their game against Cardiff at the weekend.

Last season, Benitez used the services of Murphy a number of times on the left-hand side including their last game against Chelsea which they won 3-0.

When Atsu gets the nod, he would be playing against the club that transferred him to the St James’ Park and would hope to impress to ensure he captures the left-wing position.

Christian Atsu joined Newcastle United in August 2016 on a one-year loan deal with an option to buy clause in the contract and in May 2017, Newcastle United confirmed that it had permanently signed the winger on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

For more news go to: www.graphic.com.gh

Playing for Hearts comes with more pressure than Kotoko - Amankwa Mireku

Hearts of Oak legend Yaw Amankwah Mireku

Former Hearts of Oak captain Amankwah Mireku says there is more pressure on players who play for Hearts than their rivals Kotoko.

The former defender in an interview on Asempa FM's sports show insisted that players at Hearts are mostly under pressure to perform, unlike Kotoko.

"There is more pressure on players who play for Hearts of Oak than Kotoko"

"Supporters at Hearts do not pamper players and will always put you on your toes unlike the Kotoko supporters who have patience for their players"

The ex-player, however, added that Kotoko pay more attention to their former players and normally give them administrative roles in the club as compared to Hearts of Oak.

Amankwah Mireku played for Hearts of Oak from 1997 to 2007.
 Source: primenewsghana.com

Women in Sports Network to train young girls

Women in Sports Network Ghana in collaboration with the Ghana Tennis Federation is organizing a 12-day tennis training and knowledge enhancement program for girls between the ages of 10 and 16 at the Accra sports stadium.

The event dubbed The Girls’ Camp , under the theme “Mentoring the Next Generation of Women Achievers through Sports and Education” will commence on Monday, August 20th 2018 and end on Friday, August 31, 2018.

According to Philippina Frimpong, “young girls will develop high aspirations when they are exposed to other women who have overcome all challenges and made it” she went on further to say that “through sports girls can receive education, develop self esteem and other life skills that would come in handy some day in their lives” it is understood that the Network of women seek to address some of the misconception that surround women and young women participating in sports.

It is a widely held view shared by mostly parents that sports is not an avenue for women to progress and become successful. She indicated that some adverse effects of growing up, such as teenage pregnancy and other unfavourable situations are being faced by quite a large number of girls in the nation can be addressed with sports.

It is in view of this that the Women in Sports Network in collaboration with Just Because Fitness, J Initiative, McDan Group of Companies, Tennis Foundation Ghana, Tenof and the Ghana Tennis Federation have joined forces to organiz the training and knowledge enhancement program to prove to these young ones that indeed women can make it even in the field of sports.

The knowledge enrichment aspect of the Camp will see the participating girls take and educational trips to institutions where women have risen to the top and participate in decision making. Institutions such as the Ghana Naval Base in Tema will hopefully expose the girls to Service women who work on the ships and the Air Force Base should bring our girls face to face with female pilots in the service. The girls will visit media houses to interact with some female sports journalist.

Also there will be speakers from the University of Ghana, Legon who will educate the girls on scholarship opportunities within and outside the country that are available to women in sports. The other session will comprise tennis training to enhance the skills of those who are already into tennis and to also build up those who have the interest in playing tennis but have not yet started learning to play.

It is hoped that the misconception that sports is not an avenue of progress for women will be cleared by the end of the fourteen-day residential program.

Organisers have assured that next years’ event will feature girls from a different region.
Source: Ghana Tennis Federation/GHANAWEB