Fabinho has left Liverpool to join Al-Ittihad in a deal worth £40million as the Brazilian midfielder becomes the latest player to join the Saudi Pro league

Fabinho's move to Al-Ittihad has now been confirmed

Fabinho has left Liverpool to join Al-Ittihad in a deal worth £40million as the Brazilian midfielder becomes the latest player to join the Saudi Pro league.

It brings an end to the 29-year-old’s five-year spell at Anfield, where he made 219 senior appearances. Playing at the base of a three-man midfield, Fabinho played a key role as Jurgen Klopp’s side won the Champions League in 2019 and secured their first league title in three decades the following season.

Those were two of the seven trophies that the Brazil international won during his time on Merseyside. He joins Jordan Henderson in the Saudi top flight after he agreed to terms ridiculous £700,000 per week wage to join Al-Ettifaq.

The moves are part of a new strategy from Saudi Arabian chiefs to bring big-name players to the country. The Middle East nation’s football scene has made waves ever since Cristiano Ronaldo was signed by Al-Nassr in January after the Portuguese superstar left Manchester United.

Al-Ittihad, based in Jeddah, have arguably recruited the most notably in this summer transfer window. They have added Fabinho to the current Ballon d’Or holder Karim Benzema – who joined from Real Madrid – alongside former Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante and Portuguese winger Jota, who joined from Celtic.

A statement accompanying the official announcement reads: "The Ittihad Media Center has announced that the Board of Directors of Ittihad Club, under the leadership of Anmar Abdullah Al-Hailae, has signed a contract with Brazilian player Fabinho, who is joining the club from Liverpool FC in England and has signed a three-season contract.

"This signing is part of Ittihad Club's efforts to reinforce the team with outstanding players, who will support their journey in the upcoming phase, which includes multiple domestic and international competitions."

Fabinho has left Liverpool after a successful spell at Anfield ( Image: @ittihad_en/Twitter)

Fabinho himself took to social media, penning an open letter to Liverpool supporters: “Today I leave my home. It's been five years wearing this jersey and always with the greatest honour and happiness possible. Since day one at Liverpool, I've been embraced by everyone. What I saw inside this club, the relationship between the people there, made me feel like family."

Meanwhile, Riyadh-based club Al-Hilal have also secured multiple signings from the Premier League – signing Kalidou Koulibaly from Chelsea and midfielder Ruben Neves from Wolves, while also splashing out on Lazio star Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

Fabinho is one of a few stars with a Liverpool association moving to Saudi Arabia this summer. Compatriot Roberto Firmino put pen to paper on a switch to Al Ahli after leaving Anfield at the end of his contract, while Henderson signed for Ettifaq to be reunited with Kop legend Steven Gerrard.

By Colin Millar / Mirror.

The Ghana Cycling Federation (GCF) and cyclists in Ghana as well as cycling lovers today remember top rider, Samuel Anim who passed eight years ago while training to represent Ghana at an international event.

As Ghana prepare for the UCL World Championship, we hope that Team Ghana will make an impression and make a mark in Glasgow, Scotland.

The spirit, motivation and influence of the former top cyclist should inspire the current stars and champions to excel and move higher.

Ghana will take part in Para Cycling, and Road Road among others.

Mr. Shabaan Mohammed, General Secretary of the Ghana Cycling Federation is Chef de Mission for Team Ghana.

The World Cycling Championship is from 3rd to 13th August, 2023 in Glasgow and parts of Scotland.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Accra International Conference Center on 2-3rd August 2023

500+ attendees

50+ speakers

15+ sessions  20+ nationalities

Come to Ghana

Enjoy Ghana

Experience AfroSport Summit

Where science meets business for sport in Africa

The Golden Rackets of Ghana have qualified to the World Cup of Tennis (Davis Cup) Africa Group III at the 2023 Africa Group IV Championship held at Ecology Tennis Club, Kigali, Rwanda.

Team Ghana topped Pool A after beating Kenya 2-1 in the opening match, then defeated Cameroun 2-1 and finished the group stage with a 3-0 victory over Botswana.

Ghana played host nation, Rwanda in the promotional play=offs and won 3-0.

President of the Ghana Tennis Federation, Mr. Isaac Aboagye Duah has congratulated the gallant Golden Rackets, and urged them to train hard to move on to Zone Two as it is possible, with hard work, determination and commitment to succeed.

Coach Fred Egyir also believes the Golden Rackets can make it to Zone Two if they are inspired and motivated.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ejisu displayed amazingly to the admiration of football fans at the Otumfuo Park at Dechemso last Sunday to win the massively attended 2023 edition of the MTN Ashantifest Soccer Festival.

They edged out Santasi 4-3 on penalties in the grand final after a pulsating 1-1 draw to take home a giant trophy, cash prize of GHC20,000 and other souvenirs from MTN.

Ejisu who were tipped by fans to carry the day went a goal down after Enock Morrison gave Santasi the lead in the 55th minute from a freekick which beat goalkeeper Fatau Seidu after defenders misjudged the kick.

The eventual winners bounced back after a very slow first half to equalise in the 70th minute courtesy a splendid strike from Raruf Abubakar to set up an intriguing final minutes.

The two finalists played well to avoid mistakes, with defenders being careful and calculated, while the forwards strived to hit the back of the net.

After 90 minutes, the winner has to be decided via the shoot out, where the crowd gingered the Ejisu lads with high moral and motivation to clinch the victory.

Female referee Juliet Asante who was in the center of the final was also a delight to watch with her decisions and management of the game.

In the third place match Dichemso lost to Kwadaso 3-1. Samuel Sarpong scored twice , while George Agyemang added another for Kwadaso, while Ransford Bonsu got a consolation goal.

The finals was graced by dignitaries including chiefs, MTN officials, present and former footballers and coaches including Samuel Boadu, Paa Kwesi Fabin, Akwesi Appiah, Kweku Frimpong, Abdul Razak 'Golden Boy' and Ibrahim Danlad of Asante Kotoka and Black Meteors fame.

Senior Manager Brands and Communications at MTN, Mr Germain Naatey congratulated the winners for their efforts, and  commended the other teams for making this year's tournament very competitive and exciting.

"It had been an interesting journey which saw a display of great talents and also brought communities together in a very competitive but friendly atmosphere," he said.

He added that MTN Ghana is committed to the development and promotion of sports, especially football in the country and would continue to provide the platform for young people to excel.

He promised a bigger event next year as the tournament had seen massive improvement each year.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

… Takoradi in Western Region is next in August

The 2023 HD+ Kids Armwrestling event in Kumasi has been described as another WOW show by the Ghana Armwrestling Federation (GAF).

Thousands of people stormed the St. Louis Assembly Hall to have a FeeliFeeli Armwrestling Experience, and they had much to see and cheer about.

According to President of GAF, Mr, Charles Osei Asibey the wvent was “Great Attendace, Entertaining Event, Wonderful Talents on Display and appearance by the Kumericans led by Dr. Likee”.

The HD+ Kids Armwrestling Hits the Western Region in August.

ASHANTI REGIONAL QUALIFERS Results

LIGHTWEIGHT – BOYS

3RD – Adombila Aduko (Weweso M/A)

2ND – Isaac Quansah (Weweso)

1ST - Musah Haziz - Sakafia SHS

LIGHTWEIGHT – GIRLS

3RD – Kumi Owusu Amanda (T.I AMASS)

2ND – Margaret Ylekawonaa (St Louis)

1ST – Akaba Felicia (KNUST)

MIDDLEWEIGHT – GIRLS

3RD – Benedicta Arhin (KASS)

2ND – Jessica Amanfo (St Louis)

1ST – Matilda Abu-Bonsrah (KASS)

MIDDLEWEIGHT – BOYS

3RD – Stephen Donkor (KASS)

2ND – Issahak Abdul Rahman (Fomena AMASS)

1ST – Bernard Anewabah (Sakafia SHS)

BOYS HEAVYWEIGHT

3rd. Jonas Akanpoopa - KASS

2nd. Mohammed Masawudu - T.I. Amass

1st. Oliver Adams - KNUST

*GIRLS HEAVYWEIGHT*

3rd. Engison Amy Ama - St. Louis

2nd. Mary Ann-Abagale - St. Louis

1st. Mariam Yussif - St. Louis

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana’s tennis national team, the Golden Rackets, have made it back into the Africa Group III of the Davis Cup.

This was after a clean sweep in the Group IV playoffs in Kigali, Rwanda.

The Golden Rackets topped Pool A after beating Kenya 2-1 in the opening match, won 2-1 against Cameroon and finished the group stages with a 3-0 against bottom-placed Botswana.

Ghana met host nation Rwanda in the promotional play-offs final and won 3-0 to move into Group III from Group IV.

The four-day competition took place between Wednesday, July 26 and Saturday, July 29.

The Golden Rackets suffered demotion to Group IV – the lower tier of the Davis Cup Africa – in 2019.

With their promotion now to Group III, they are two steps away from the top-tier competition.

The team arrived at the Kotoka International Airport on Sunday and would be regrouping for upcoming competitions.

Credit Myjoyonline

Ghana’s female amateur middleweight contender DR ORNELLA SATHOUD won Gold at the 2023 USA National Women’s Boxing Championship.

The New York based PhD holder in analytical Chemistry,eliminated San Francisco’s based 2019 Australia National Champion Caitlin Torrington in the semi-finals of the middleweight (75 kg) before defeating Pennsylvania’s Paris 2024 bound TRINITY BURKE for the gold medal.She had earlier dealt with former Canada national champion Kaitlyn Clark.

Miss SATHOUD, who represented Ghana at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, had less than 20 bouts during her career but she made it brilliantly in the first round of the final. Burke came back from the deep in the second with tough punches, but the Ghanaian had the stamina in the third to win this crucial final.

She had the man with 30 years coaching experience JERRICK JONES in her corner and may join her to the September,2023 Africa Olympic Boxing Qualifiers in Dakar-Senegal, where Ornella will in her 2nd attempt try to make history as Ghana’s 1st ever female to qualify for the Olympic games.

Other women to join at the Dakar qualifiers,may include, Janet Acquah (Flyweight),Ramatu Quaye(Bantamweight),Anatu Mohammed(Featherweight, Sarah Apew (Lightweight), Perpetual Okaijah(Welterweight) & Trudy Manteaw(Light Heavyweight) among others.

Boxing remains Ghana’s most successful sporting discipline at the Olympic games winning 4 of the 5 medals with the recent being Samuel Takyi bronze winning feat in Tokyo 2020 Olympic games.

GBF MEDIA

Ghana and Kenya have successfully increased the number of Africa's representives on the executive board of the World English Language Scrabble Players Association (WESPA) from two to four.

Haruna Adamu, who chairs the affairs of  Ghana Scrabble Association and Kenya's Scrabble Federation President, Limo Kipkemoi swelled the numbers after both administrators earned their positions through the ballot in an election held at the committee's meeting during the World Championships held in Las Vegas, Nevada,  USA.

They would join the President of Nigeria Scrabble Federation Olobatoke Aka and  Lukemon Owolabi who both retained their seats after some keen contests against other participants.

Meanwhile, the Chairman Chris Lipe was returned unopposed along with TreasurerJason Broersma and Carol Johnson who also retained her role as the secretary.

Tariq Perez (Pakistan), Tony Leah (Canada), Wayne Kelly (United Kingdom) and, Chock Heng Kong (Malaysia) completed the 11-man board that would oversea the affairs of WESPA.

The remarkable success was the outcome of a collaboration between the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) and leaders of African scrabble associations.

Their victory at the polls which has been hailed by many, confirmed the increasing influence of Africa in the administration of scrabble at the world level.

Source Tayo Ogunseye

Publicity Secretary, PANASA

WBC Cares and Wisdom Boxing Gym honours Professor Azumah Nelson

Professor Azumah Nelson on Saturday engaged 65 novice boxers as part of activities to celebrate his 65th birthday at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The event which was put together by WBC Cares and the Wisdom Boxing Gym saw the juvenile boxers drawn from various clubs being taken through series of boxing drills and shadow boxing by the former world champion who is seen by many as the best boxer to come from Africa.

The programme was supervised by national head trainer Dr. Ofori Asare and his assistants.

On Saturday evening, Azumah Nelson also called 'The Terrible Terror' was honored at the Bukom Boxing Arena during Fight Night Nine of the Ghana Boxing League.

Miss Sarah Lotus Asare, Secretary of WBC Cares Africa presented a special title belt to the champion in the ring.

She was supported by the President of the Ghana Boxing Authority, Mr. Abraham Neequaye and other Board members.

Ace Experienced Boxing coach, Dr. Ofori Asare, an Olympian medalist praised Azumah Nelson for what he has done for Ghana and Africa in both Professional and Amateur Boxing.

Coach Asare said they want to inculcate the habit of school going into the kids who love boxing, and hoped that corporate Ghana will support some of them with scholarship.

He hinted that there are many projects coming up organised by the Wisdom Boxing Gym to put Ghana Boxing on a higher level.

He urged the young boxers to emulate the examples of the great Boxing Warrior from Ghana and strive to become like him.

Samuel Azumah Nelson was World Boxing Council (WBC) Featherweight and Super Featherweight Champion for many years. He has been indicated into the Boxing Hall of fame.

By Sammy Heywood Okine