Tecno Mobile has honoured ace sport journalist, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah as a Brand Legend for his work in local and international Sports Journalism.

The other Tecno Legends Awards recipients include Stephen Appiah and Asamoah Gyan as former national football team captains, Azumah Nelson as multiple world boxing champion and Gifty Anti for her media and humanitarian works over the years.

The awards cited Yaw Ampofo Ankrah as a role model in sports journalism, promotion of Ghanaian teams, athletes and sports personalities across local and international platforms and his contribution to the development of Beach Soccer and grassroots sports in Ghana.

Yaw Ampofo Ankrah who has a lot of experience working with different institutions, and covering international sports events is currently Head of Sports at Max TV and Communications Director of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC).

He is also chairman of the Beach Soccer Committee of the Ghana Football Association.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Executive Council Member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Samuel Anim Addo has expressed disappointment in the performance of the Black Meteors following their exit at the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Ibrahim Tanko and his charges having failed to qualify for the Olympic Games in 2019 were hoping to make a return to next year in Paris.

Having opened their campaign with a 3-2 win over Congo, the Black Meteors suffered a 5-1 defeat against Morocco in the second group game.

Ahead of their final Group A game, Ghana needed a win to secure a place in the last four of the tournament but were held to a 1-1 draw after Emmanuel Yeboah scored in the first half.

Following the team's early elimination, the playing body and the technical team have been dissolved by the Football Association.

However, Anim Addo speaking on Asempa FM admitted that the performance of the team was disappointing.

"The performance of the team is something I cannot talk about," he said.

"It was disappointing," he added.

Ghana exited the tournament with four points after three games. The last time Ghana played at the Olympics was in 2004 in Athens.

FootballGhana

The Ghana Amateur Boxing Federation (GBF) will organize the 2023 National Individual Boxing Championship at the Sports Hall, Accra Sports Stadium from 12th July to 14th July, 2023.

The communique from the Federation signed by its Secretary General invites all persons of interest within the boxing space to fight for places in the national team, the Black Bombers.

The Championship will find boxers who are ready to represent Ghana at the Olympic qualifiers in Senegal and the next Africa Games to be held in Accra in March 2024.

Coach Ofori Asare, the National Boxing Coach / Technical Director of the Black Bombers said he expects a competitive competition as the boxers have witnessed the gains of boxing as a Commonwealth or Olympic Games medalist.

He noted that due to the Professional Boxing League which has caused many boxers to become pro unmatured the number of participants may reduce.

“We expect about 100 boxers and am very sure there would be surprises and upsets” he stated.

He said there would be bouts in all 13 male weight classes including 12 for female boxers.

This will be the first edition of competitive amateur boxing to feature many female boxers.

The last National Individual Championship was held last two year to select representatives for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham where they won two silver and one bronze.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Black Queens of Ghana have intensified their preparations ahead of the Olympic Games qualifier against Guinea next week.

The team moved to Accra to continue preparations ahead of the first leg which will be played between July 10 to 18th.

Black Queens, Nora Häuptle named a 31-woman squad which will be pruned down before the all-important qualifier.

Black Princesses shot-stopper Afi Amenyaku has earned her debut senior call up following her heroics at the recent WAFU B U-20 Girls Cup of Nations in Kumasi.

Also in the squad are trio Ernestina Abambilla, Jennifer Cudjoe and Alice Kusi who return after a long absence.

The Black Queens are hoping to secure one of the tickets to the Olympic Games next year in Paris.

From Elizabeth Gyamfi

National Female Table Tennis Players Receive Winning Bonuses After Winning Bronze At WTTC

The Ghana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) led by President Mawuko Afadzinu with support from the executive members has officially presented the West Africa Table Tennis Championship (WTTC) winning bonuses to players of the senior National female team who represented the nation.

The presentation ceremony took place at the Hathramani Sports Hall during the youth discovery series championship on Saturday, 1st July, 2023.

The female side led by captain Cynthia Kwabi came 2^nd and won silver after display of stunning rallys’ held at the Trust Sports Emporioum in Accra.

The female Loopers included Bernice Borley Borquaye, Frema Cecilia, Augustina Baidoo, Blessing Labanti, Beatrice Gyasi, Juanita Borteye and Celia Baah Danso.

Cynthia Kwabi who spoke on behalf on the team after the presentation expressed gratitude to the president and his executives.

Adding that, it would serve as a motivation and reignite their passions.

“We are very grateful to the executives and the president, Mr. Mawuko Afadzinu, he did his possible best. During the WTTC we were able to get our equipment, everything was intact and we got everything that boosted our morale to win a medal for Ghana.

“I think it’s a motivation for us to push harder and know that when we do our maximum best there are a lot of advantages for we the women,” she added.

She took the opportunity to urge the younger pingpong generation to also thrive more for excellence and keep focus.

“They should keep on training and know that there are a lot of opportunities when it comes to the sport in terms of scholarships and it’s an assurance that when you go for tournaments and you perform well there are a lot of benefits for you,” the Captain Cynthia Kwabi stressed.

The GTTA as part of activities aimed at promoting and developing female talents and skills across the country held series of tournaments including the recently ended “Sheroes” championship where 15 year old Juanita Borteye emerged as champion.

By Nicholas Akussah

The Mayor of Accra, Hon. Elizabeth Naa Kwatsoe Sackey on Wednesday launched the second edition of the Accra Inter-City Marathon which will be held on Friday, August 4, 2023.

The Race which starts from the Accra Sports Stadium to Manste Agbonaa at James Town include the elite 21km, 10km, 5km and a Wheel Chair event for the disabled and roller skaters.

Hon. Sackey announced that the Race is part of the 125 years anniversary of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and took the opportunity to invite all sports loving people to register through the short code *380*21# to take part in the memorable event to celebrate the exciting Ga Homowo Festival which has a whopping 70,000ghc to be shared by all winners.

She was also proud to be the first female Mayor of Accra and during her time the Accra Inter-City Marathon is being held together with the Homowo Walk to sensitize the people on living healthy lifestyles.

She made it known that the winner will take home 10,000ghc plus sponsors products and the opportunity to represent Ghana at the Soweto Marathon in South Africa.

Hon.Sackey urged the Ghanaian athletes not to fear Kenyan or Ethiopian runners joining to run, but go all out and prove that Ghanaians are capable.

Nana Dwomoh, General Manager of Serene Insurance revealed their contribution of 1 million ghc to sponsor the event and 1,000ghc accident insurance cover for all registered participants.

He said Serene has an amazing travel insurance policy which all travellers must take advantage of in acquiring visas.

Mr. William Ezah, the Race Director said Marathons boasts tourism and is an event for health, culture and people so their presence and participation must be felt to beat the numbers of last year. He said registered participants will benefit more in the fantastic package.

Miss Merfia Ayeh Adisi, Marketing Executive of Medivents, the organisers said they are poised to stage a classic event.

Madam Kisiwa Fiagbe, Marketing Manager of HD+ said they are proud to be part of the Accra Inter-City Marathon because of its quality and innovation as well as promotion of health and culture.

Accounts Manager of TxT Ghana, Mr. Kwame Obeng Nuamah also indicated that the world is moving digital and all endeavors should take advantage of their mobile media services.

Mr. Henri Senyo Payin, General Manager of Medivents, Numo Nikoi Amasa II,Klan Wulomo and Nana Dwemoh unveiled the vests to be worn during the Marathon.

The Accra Inter-City Marathon is sponsored by Allied Consortium, HD+, Serene Insurance, TxT Ghana, Happy FM, Infobox Media Group (IMG), mybetAfrica.com, Zimansky Hotel, G4S, and Aqua Blue Mineral Water.

The partners are the Ga Traditional Council, Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Ghana Athletics Ghana Paralympic Committee and Ghana Olympic Committee.

Present were Naa Badu Adiagba I of Abelempke, Dzorwulu, Naa Yoomo Heshiebalor I of Soko and Magajia Khadija Dobomme of Oyibi who represented the Ga Traditional Council.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and Ghana Judo Association (GJA) on Wednesday supported Evelyn Dzato, a 16 years old form three student to present medals she has won in London and at the recent 2023 West African and African Judo Championships to her school, Accra Girls Senior High School.

Assistant Head Master of the school said they were so proud of her and promised that they will form a Judo Club in the school so that more girls join the sport and also learn about self defence and fitness.

He expressed that Evelyn Dzato has made a great achievement for the school and her family.

Farida Iddris, Administrative Manager of the GOC, Technical Director of the Ghana Judo Association, Coach Ezekiel Dodoo and General Secretary Mr. John Kennedy Koranteng also expressed their joy about the feat which is the first by a Ghanaian female judoka.

Evelyn Dzato who started Judo at age 4 and represents the Ghana Prisons Team said she feels very proud, and will try to qualify to represent Ghana at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Present at the ceremony were assistant national coach Dodoo, coach Abdel Aziz Addy, Rashid Alhassan and Dominic, all judokas.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ashantifest 2023 Producing Exciting Players And Interesting Results In Zonal Preliminary Matches

The Zone 3 matches of the 2023 MTN Ashantifest Football Fiesta came off last Friday, 30th June 2023 at the Bantama Kookoase Park.

In the first game of the first day, defending champions, Tafo drew 0-0 with Bantama in a fierce battle of football.

In the second game, Suame won by a lone goal against Abrepo with Stephen Appiah Asare 'Shankiki' winning the hearts of spectators.

Bantama drew 0-0 with Suame in the third game of the day.

On Saturday, 1st July 2023, the tournament continued with game four also ending in a draw as Abrepo held Tafo to a goalless game.

In the fifth game Bantama went in stronger and cheered by the fans, the managed a 2-0 victory over Abrepo with Emmanuel Sarpong 'Agogo' and Romeo Appiah getting the goals.

Tafo bitterly lost 1-3 to Suame in the last match of the day with Babamu // Carlos, Ismael Antwi and Dede Ayew registering their names on the score sheet.

Suame leads the group with seven points from three matches. So far the players have displayed well and the best is expected to come as proceedings continue through to the final.

Table

Team               GP W D L GF GA  PTS GD

1. Suame 3 2  1  0  4  1     7   +3
2. Bantama 3  1  2  0  2  0     5   +2
3. Tafo 3 0  2  1  1  3     2    -2
4. Abrepo 3 0  1  2  3  0     1   -3

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Algeria topped the African Beach Games medals table with 15 golds ©COA

Algeria denied host nation Tunisia from topping the medals table at the conclusion of the Hammamet 2023 African Beach Games.

The Algerians improved upon their second-place finish from Sal 2019 with 15 gold, seven silver, and 12 bronze medals at the Games.

Tunisia followed closely behind, and also improved their total from four years ago, with 39 medals overall.

The hosts picked up 13 gold, 12 silver, and 14 bronze titles to beat Morocco to the runners-up tag.

Last editions champions settled for third on eight golds after a disappointing showing while Nigeria and Senegal rounded out the top five with six and five wins, respectively.

The final Algerian triumph came in the men's tennis doubles as they cruised past Morocco in straight sets by a 2-0 scoreline.

Aya Ferfad became the first Algerian kayaker to win gold at the continental event.

She prevailed in the sea kayak discipline over South African Ayenda Mayumbo and Tunisia's Meroua Belhaj Mohamed for first place.

This year's African Beach Games are seen as a chance for athletes to warm up for the Association of National Olympic Committees World Beach Games next month.

The event is scheduled to take place in Bali from August 5 to 12 after being selected in June 2022.

By Owen Lloyd 

Fred Acheampong has touched on several key components of Ghana’s failed attempt to qualify to the semifinals stage of the ongoing TotalEnergies African U-23 Cup of Nations.

Fred Acheampong, a Ghana Football Association Executive Council member and the management team leader of the Black Meteors upon the team’s arrival to the Kotoka International Airport at the dawn of Monday, July 3, 2023 spoke about the fitness of Ernest Nuamah and the future of the head coach, Ibrahim Tanko.

Many people, especially sports figures, have expressed concern over how Ghana as a nation might restore her top position in international football following the persistent bad results displayed by the Ghana national football teams.

In an interview with 3fm, Fred Acheampong, a member of the Ghana under-23 football team’s management committee, discussed some issues concerning the team following their elimination from the current U-23 AFCON.

According to Fred Acheampong, the U-23 squad would be dissolved due to likelihood of being inactive for more than two years.

However, he was unsure if Head Coach Ibrahim Tanko would keep his position because that decision will be made by the Executive Committee. He added that Ernest Nuamah had some discomfort in his thighs the reason he didn’t start in the last game at the U-23 AFCON.

In other statements made he rebutted claims and rumours of player revolts in camp

and address issues regarding payment structure of the team – “The coaches and the players do not receive salary,when they are invited they earn per diems and when the team wins they earn winning bonuses.

There was no revolt in camp,the players asked for winning bonuses before the last game and so spoke to the GFA and they signed the cheques” he added.

Fred Acheampong further reiterated that the players in the Black Meteors squad now stand a chance of receiving a call up to the senior national team should they improve.

Ghana amassed four points; a 3-2 win against Congo, a whooping 5-1 defeat to Morocco and a 1-1 draw against Guinea were not enough to push Ghana to the last four of the eight nations tournament.

Source kyfilla.com