Head coach of the Black Stars of Ghana, Chris Hughton has noted that he is bent on getting good results for the national team.

The gaffer is currently with the national team in Accra preparing for a crucial encounter against Madagascar next weekend.

Speaking to the press on Tuesday, coach Chris Hughton stressed, “For me, the most important thing is getting results. This is the most important thing so I continually have to judge the level of the squad and from my experience and knowledge on the local teams and improve in that and there will be that balance.

“If there is an area where we have a plan I will talk with my assistants to know the best players and the best replacements we have.”

He further disclosed that the spirit in camp is high ahead of the Madagascar game as players target a win.

“Generally the morale is very good. The concentration is the football match and that is winning a football match,” Chris Hughton said.

The match between Madagascar and Ghana is the last but one match in Group E of the qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

The game will be played on Sunday, June 18, in Antananarivo.

From Elizabeth Alhassan

… Calls For More Resources And Investment

World Aquatics Coaching Instructor Cedric Finch believes Ghana has the potential to be a force to reckon with in Africa and World Swimming if the government and Swimming Federation invest more in the sport.

Speaking to Yours Truly at the Assistant Coaching Level 1 Course in Accra, the South African Olympic Team coach said Ghanaians are naturally born athletes, and what they do on the running tracks can be transfered to the pool.

“There is the need for more resources to be invested in the sport and Ghana will be among the top swimming nations, I know Ghanaians to be great sportsmen and women” he said.

According to Coach Finch, the participants showed their willingness to learn and their readiness to impart knowledge to kids who wish to be swimmers and future champions.

The World Aquatics is holding a Three Day Assistant Coaching Certification Course Level 1 at the Conference Room of the Ghana Olympic Committee in Accra.

The Assistant Coach Course – Level 1contains theory online, face to face and practical sessions for about 30 coaches.

The programme outline includes technique and skills, athlete’s development support pathway and periodization, evaluation of practicals, review of performance.

Ms. Farida Iddris, Treasurer of the Ghana Swimming Association revealed that there are only two certified coaches in Ghana in the persons of Daniel Opare of Legon Sharks and Jonathan Amoako Attah in 2018, and this year’s course which she hopes many will pass is very timely and important, because Ghana will host the African Games.

She commended the participants for contributing positively at the course which is going to give them the confidence, knowledge and equipment to be able to train others.

Ms. Iddris who is also the Administrative Manager of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) said after the face to face sessions, they go for practicals at the University of Ghana, Legon Pool, and she was optimistic that the participants are going to make good use of their certificates, awareness and information.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Joseph Awinongya Jr. rules 154lbs junior division at 2023 USA Junior Olympics

Boxing prodigy Joseph Awinongya Jr. dominated the 154lbs junior division at the 2023 Junior Olympics held in Lubbock, Texas, United States of America (USA).

The 15-year-old, born and raised in Joliet, was unstoppable in the USA Boxing National Junior Olympics, having defeated Noel Bastiste in the finals of the 154lbs division.

Awinongya Jr., who is often referred to as “Jojo,” dominated his opponent in the finals of the competition, as all five judges scored the bout 10-9 in all three rounds for Awinongya Jr. at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Centre.

In the last edition of the Junior Olympics held in Wichita, Kansas, Awinongya Jr. was very impressive in his debut competition, winning gold in the 132lbs junior division.

Jojo, who is an 18-time national champion, has been touted as one of the fattest rising boxers in the United States, having won numerous titles.

Some titles won by Jojo include the Silver Gloves National Championship in 2017 and 2018, the St. Louis National Championship, the Junior Olympic National Championship, the Wisconsin National Championship, and the USA National Championship, all on multiple occasions.

His coach and dad, Joseph Awinongya Snr., who was once a professional boxer, has been the pillar behind Jojo’s success, and was at the forefront during his participation at the Junior Olympics.

Awinongya Jr. recently graduated with an Associates of Arts and Science. From Joliet Junior College and has received a scholarship from St. Francis University.

Team Awinongya

The Ghana U23 team, the Black Meteors have finally arrived in Egypt for camping ahead of the 2023 Africa U23 Cup of Nations.

Some members of the playing body, the technical team and the management of the Black touched down in Cairo in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The team will immediately move to their hotel before training begins later in the day.

The rest of the squad will join the team later on Tuesday as preparations takes its final stages before the competition.

In Egypt the team will play a couple of friendlies before travelling to Morocco, where the tournament will start from June 24.

Meanwhile, three members of the squad Kamaldeen Sulemana, Ransford-Yeboah Konigsdorffer and Ernest Nuamah will join the team after participating in the AFCON qualifier between Ghana and Madagascar.

Ghana is chasing one of the tickets for the Olympic Games in Paris next year.

The Black Meteors last played at the Olympic Games in Athens 2004.

ghanasoccernet

The Ghana Swimming Association (GSA) is hosting a three day Assistant Coaching Course – Level 1 under the auspices of World Aquatics from Tuesday, June 13 to Thursday June 15, 2023 at the Conference Room of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) in Accra.

The Assistant Coach Course – Level 1 which include theory and practical sessions is instructed by Cedric Finch from the Republic of South Africa involves 22 participants mostly from Ghana and one from The Gambia.

The programme outline contains technique and skills, athlete’s development support pathway and periodization, evaluation of practicals, review of performance.

Ms. Farida Iddris, Treasurer of the Ghana Swimming Association told Yours Truly in an exclusive interview that the course is taking place at the right time as the coaches are preparing swimmers for international tournaments like the up coming African Games to be held in Accra as well as the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

She was glad that the participants comported themselves well and contributed positively to the course.

Ms. Iddris who is also the Administrative Manager of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) expressed that other courses and the advanced ones would also come up, and urged Swimming Coaches to avail themselves to learn the modern trends in the sport.

Mr. Charles Mensah, an Executive Board Member and Principal Sports Officer of the GSA said all the participants have done the online aspect and are now doing the face to face and praticals sessions.

He noted that they would be certified after the course.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The 2023 MTN Ashantifest community soccer competition is all, but set for its grand launch tomorrow, Wednesday [June 14] at the Kaase Office in Kumasi at exactly 10am.

The annual Ashantifest was initiated by MTN to engage its cherished existing and potential subscribers in the Ashanti Region due to the absence of any markedly big festival cutting across macro /micro levels across all segments within identified communities.

Some of the activities marking the Ashantifest include walks, market storms, product and service activations, seminars, concerts and football matches for either the communities or MTN FA Cup match when it’s within the Ashantifest period, media engagements, CSR activities.

Apart from the above mentioned activities, the 2023 Ashantifest will witness a 16 Football Competition spanning over 2 months.

These teams will be drawn from 16 Communities.

Targeted Communities are Asafo, Amakom, Bantama, South Suntreso, Abuakwa, Santasi, Ahodwo, Atonso, Ahinsan, Tech and Ayigya.

The rest are Aboabo, Asawasi, Oforikrom, Asokore Mampong, Krofrom, Suame, Tafo, Abrepo, Bremang, Bohyen, Mamponteng, Kronum, Magazine and Afrancho.

Old Tafo are the defending champions having humiliated Asokwa 4-1 to emerge winners of the 2022 MTN Ashantifest Cup played at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Sunday, June 26.

From MTN Media Republic

Today marks 50 days to the first edition of the World Cycling championship which comes up in Glasgow, Scotland from 3 to 13 August, 2023.

The first edition of the UCI Cycling World Championships was awarded to Glasgow and across Scotland (Great Britain), with 13 separate UCI World Championships scheduled over 11 days of competition.

After this inaugural edition from 3 to 13 August 2023, the mega event will be held every four years, the year preceding the Summer Olympic Games.

Ghana will be represented to make Africa proud and the Ghana Cycling Association (GCF) is working hard to present a strong team of experienced and budding talented and skillful cyclists.

More than 2600 athletes will participate to win over 200 rainbow jerseys. 13

World Championships Featuring across seven disciplines in Glasgow and across Scotland.

In the first event of its kind - never seen nor cycled before - the world’s greatest riders will come together in Glasgow and across Scotland,

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Silvio Berlusconi dies at age 86

Former Italian PM and AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi has died at age 86.

AC Milan won 29 trophies in 31 years under Berlusconi as president and owner.

Silvio Berlusconi: the property developer who became a media tycoon – and Italy's most flamboyant prime minister.

Berlusconi, the brash media mogul who revolutionized Italian television using privately owned channels to become the country’s most polarizing and prosecuted prime minister.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Bibiani Gold Stars forward Abednego Tetteh is the top scorer of the 2022/23 Pawa Bet Ghana Premier League season with 18 goals.

Regardless of joining the Miners later in the season, the 32-year-old scored 16 goals in 19 matches in addition to his first two goals which were recorded with his former team, King Faisal during the first half of the season.

Tetteh beat rivalry from Bechem United’s Hafiz Konkoni and Tamale City’s Sampson Eduku who scored 15 and 14 goals respectively.

The former Hearts of Oak forward’s performance helped Bibiani Gold Stars to a fifth-place finish with 49 points only behind, champions Medeama SC, Aduana Stars, Bechem United and Asante Kotoko.

Tetteh highlighted in 29 Ghana Premier League matches and won four Man of The Match awards scoring seven goals in his last four games to widen the gap at the top of the chat.

His goal count is, however, lower than the previous winner Yaw Annor who equaled the 22-goal record of Ishmael Addo at the end of last season as well as former Kotoko striker Frank Mbella who scored 21 times.

Abednegoal Tetteh will receive an award from the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) and the Ghana Football association (GFA).

By Sammy Heywood Okine

President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Okraku could not hide his excitement at the climax of the 2022/23 Premier League campaign in Tarkwa on Sunday, June 11 2023.

The FA boss together with other officials and dignitaries were present at the coronation match between league champions Medeama and Tamale City in a charged atmosphere at the Akoon Park. After the game and presentation of medals and the trophy to the champions, Mr. Okraku gave his overall assessment of the season.

"Unbelievable, unbelievable, beyond my expectations. Today we have given a firm statement that we have the passion for our sports, we love our GPL and our GPL is alive," he told StarTimes.

"What we have seen this season, has been an amazing journey. A season that enabled all of us to enjoy football at the highest level of quality. And on the final day everybody sat on tenterhooks until the last minutes of our game. Ghana football is alive," he added.

By Suleman Asante /ghanasoccernet