Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has become the first player to win the Premier League Player and Young Player of the Season awards in the same season.

The 22-year-old striker’s 36 goals have seen him break the Premier League record for most goals in a season.

Overall, he has scored 52 goals during the campaign.

“I am honoured to have become the first player to win both awards in the same season – thank you to everyone who voted for me,” said Haaland.

Haaland, who received the most combined votes from the public and a Premier League panel, joined City from Borussia Dortmund last summer and has helped the club win a third successive top-flight title.

He has already been named the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) men’s footballer of the year.

“It has been an incredible first season in the Premier League and lifting the trophy last weekend in front of our fans at the Etihad was a very special moment for me,” added the Norway international.

City are also on course for the Treble as they will face Manchester United in the FA Cup final on 3 June before playing Inter Milan in the Champions League final on 10 June.

“These awards would not have been possible without my amazing team-mates, the manager and all of the staff at the club who help me perform on the pitch,” said Haaland.

“Now we have two more finals to go and we want to finish the season strong.”

Source: BBC 

Luton Town will play in the top flight for the first time in 31 years next season after beating Coventry 6-5 on penalties following a 1-1 draw at Wembley.

The Hatters, relegated in 1992 in the final season before the Premier League was formed, took the lead in the first half through Jordan Clark in the Championship play-off final, before Gustavo Hamer hit back for Coventry in the second, although the Hatters eventually prevailed in the shoot-out after Fankaty Dabo missed in sudden death.

This was a League Two game as recently as 2018, while Luton have also become the first side to drop from the top division in England down into non-league and back again. They were outside the EFL just nine years ago.

Coventry, meanwhile, will see their 22-year wait for Premier League football go on for at least another year. But that takes nothing away from an incredible season for Mark Robins and his side, who had also completed their own meteoric rise.

Source: Sky Sports 

Bayern Munich won an 11th consecutive Bundesliga title as they beat Cologne to overtake Borussia Dortmund on a thrilling final day.

Dortmund would have won their first title since 2011-12 had they beaten Mainz, but a 2-2 draw opened the door for Bayern.

They took advantage thanks to Jamal Musiala’s 89th-minute winner.

A Cologne penalty had cancelled out Kingsley Coman’s earlier strike, but Musiala sent the away fans wild.

Dortmund’s players and fans were left dejected despite coming back from 2-0 down at the break, with Sebastian Haller having a first-half penalty saved.

It looked as if Bayern had blown their opportunity when Cologne’s Dejan Ljubicic levelled from the penalty spot with just nine minutes remaining.

But Musiala curled home in the closing seconds to break the hearts of Dortmund, who equalised late on through Niklas Sule.

Bayern beat Dortmund to the title on goal difference, with both sides ending on 71 points.

It marked a successful end to the season for boss Thomas Tuchel, who replaced Julian Nagelsmann in March.

Minutes after the final whistle, Bayern announced the dismissals of chief executive officer Oliver Kahn and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, who won 14 titles between them as Bayern players.

Source: BBC 

Transgender women will be banned from competing in British Cycling’s competitive women’s events in changes that will see the men’s category become an open one.

The new policy change ends the hopes of transgender cyclist Emily Bridges of competing in women’s competitions.

It is 14 months since the 22-year-old was barred from competing in her first women’s event in Derby – when she was due to face five-time Olympic champion Dame Laura Kenny – after cycling’s world governing body ruled she was not eligible to race because she was still registered as a male cyclist.

Today’s policy announcement, which is set to take effect by the end of the year, only covers British Cycling events.

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), cycling’s world governing body, is yet to announce a new transgender eligibility position.

British Cycling apologised for the “uncertainty and upset that many have felt” since their transgender and non-binary participation policy was suspended in April 2022 to carry out research and consultation.

Asked if the new policy is discriminatory, British Cycling chief Jon Dutton told Sky News: “We have taken a view that this is absolutely about being inclusive for all.

“We’ve created a new open category that anyone has the ability to ride in and also a non-competitive policy that is absolutely inclusive and accessible.

“We will not tolerate any form of discrimination in moving forward with this policy.

“And it’s really important that we support, we empathise, we are compassionate to the riders that are affected by this policy change.”

British Cycling said the female category will be for those riders whose sex was assigned female at birth and transgender men who are yet to begin hormone therapy.

Bridges, who set a national junior men’s record over 25 miles in 2018, came out as a transgender woman in October 2020 and began hormone therapy last year to reduce her testosterone levels.

She posted a statement on Instagram following the British Cycling announcement.

She hit out at the organisation for the ban, saying it doesn’t care “about making sport more diverse”.

Addressing British Cycling directly, she added: “Cycling is still one of the whitest, straightest sports out there, and you couldn’t care less.”

She added: “I agree that there needs to be a nuanced policy discussion and continue to conduct research, but this hasn’t happened. Research isn’t being viewed critically, or any discussion about the relevance of the data to specific sports.”

Mr Dutton said: “Emily, and a number of athletes are clearly affected by this policy.

“But what we wanted to provide at this point in time is clarity on the direction of travel.

“The decision that we’ve made on behalf of British Cycling is for the whole of the cycling community.”

British Cycling is emulating British Triathlon, which announced plans last year for an “open category” for men, transgender women and non-binary athletes.

International athletics and swimming governing bodies have banned athletes who underwent male puberty from competing in international women’s events.

Mr Dutton said: “It is very difficult. It’s divisive. It’s emotive. It’s affecting human beings. And we absolutely fully understand and appreciate that. So it has been a difficult process.”

Cycling’s global governing body is reviewing its rules after negativity provoked by Austin Killips, who is a transgender woman, winning the Tour of the Gila stage race in a women’s race in New Mexico last month.

Source: Sky Sports 

The Cape Coast Meet of the Ghana Fastest Human competition was held last Saturday 27/05/2023 with the presence and active participation of students from popular schools and colleges in the Central and southern regions.

Young sensation Joseph Andoh of Mfantsipm School stole the show in the seniors 100 meters dash.

Joseph Andoh Kwofi ran a good time of 10.25s) was followed by Bokpim Mustapha Alufar, LCAC/UG, Greater (10.31s) and Iddrisu Musah, GAF, Western (10.51s).

He has been consistent this season and with time and better condition, he hopes to be running with the world best.

Deborah Acheampong, UPSA, Greater (11.63s) took first position in the female seniors, followed by Naseera Quansah, Mfantseman Girls SHS, Central (11.75s) and Pomaavmaeiam Domfe, Greater (11.97s).

The competition is sponsored by GNPC, Adidas, Moringa King, Pippas Gym, Wrenco, Sports Equity Lab, Kriate Lync, Global Media Alliance and GCB. The Local Organising Committee of Accra 2023, African Games also supported the event. Dr. Emmanuel Owusu Ansah Dep Chairman of the LOC commended the athletes who took part.

Here are the full results-

U15 Boys – (Handtime Results)

1st. Jonathan Ofori, Yamoransah M/A Jhs, Central (11.62s)

2nd. Francis Kudjoe, Diabene Cath School, Central (11.79s)

3rd. Harrison Adjei, Demo. Basic School, Greater Accra (11.94s)

U15 - Girls (Handtime Results)

1st. Sarah Nkansah, Spice Gitls Academy, Greater (13.00s)

2nd. Mabel Aidoo, Mfantsiman Girls SHS, Central (13.03s)

3rd. Stella Tetteh, Spice Girls Academy, Greater (13.04s)

U18 Boys (Handtime Results)

1st. Francis Fantevi, Mfantsipim School, Central (10.69s)

2nd. Kingsley Nyarko, Adisadel College, Central (10.81s)

3rd. Micheal Mensah, Mfantsipim School, Central (10.91s)

U18 Girls (Handtime Results)

1st. Diamond Kusime, Mfantsiman Girls SHS, Central (12.09s)

2nd. Phileomena Quaicoo, Adiembre SHS, Western (12.94s)

3rd. Sandra Essah, Effutu SHS, Central (13.03s)

Seniors- Male (Handtime Results)

1st. Joseph Andoh Kwofi, Mfantsipim School, Central (10.25s)

2nd. Bokpim Mustapha Alufar, LCAC/UG, Greater (10.31s)

3rd. Iddrisu Musah, GAF, Western (10.51s)

Seniors - Females (Handtime Results)

1st. Deborah Acheampong, UPSA, Greater (11.63s)

2nd. Naseera Quansah, Mfantseman Girls SHS, Central (11.75s)

3rd. Pomaavmaeiam Domfe, Greater (11.97s)

Bt Sammy Heywood Okine

Stella Nyamekye will lead the Black Princesses in search of glory at the upcoming WAFU B U-20 Girls Cup of Nations in Kumasi after she was named by Coach Yussif Basigi as captain of the U-20 national team. Maafia Nyame of Northern Ladies, Afi Amenyaku of Northern Ladies and Abena Anoma Opoku of Ampem Darkoa Ladies are the assistant captains of the team.

“I am very glad and honoured to captain the team and I am grateful to the technical team for the trust and I know the team will work together to achieve great results and we will work hard as a team to achieve success,” said Nyamekye, midfielder of Dreamz Ladies.

The Black Princesses are drawn in Group A with Benin and Cote d’Ivoire and will open their campaign against Benin at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Coach Basigi has named Ghana’s 20-member team for the May 20 – June 3 tourney in Kumasi with players from teams such as the Malta Guinness Women’s Premier League winners Ampem Darkoa Ladies, Hasaacas Ladies, Faith Ladies and Dreamz Ladies dominating the squad.

The players are goalkeepers Afri Amenyako, Amina Ahmadu and Deborah Brown, with Takia Zakaria, Sarah Kulible, Comfort Yeboah, Rose Boakyewaa, Fatimata Fuseini and Comfort Owusu constituting the defenders.

Wasima Mohammed, Success Ameyaa, Stella Nyamekye, Mafia Nyamekye and Tracy Twum are the midfielders in the squad, while the attackers are Abigail Sakyiwaa, Faiza Seidu, Mary Amponsah, Hellen Alormenu, Aoyem Georgina Ayisha and Abena Anoma Opoku.

The Princesses have been in camp at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence at Prampram preparing for the sub-regional competition.

Graphic Sports

The above property is going to be sold through a Public Auction on Wednesday 31^st May, 2023’

Property Description

A multifaceted property with six warehouses, multiple offices, a very large parking space, Good drainage system, etc.

Suitable for all purposes. There is a Reserve Price.

Auctioneer: Nathaniel Johnson, Supreme Auctions

Please call 0244630026 for inspection of facility

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana Black Stars captain Andre Ayew has been recognized by the Premier League for achieving a significant milestone of 100 appearances in the English top tier football competition.

The 34-year-old footballer extended his record to 101 games in the Premier League by featuring for Forest against Brentford toward the end of April. He reached this feat having represented three different clubs: Swansea City, West Ham United, and currently Nottingham Forest.

During his tenure in the English Premier League, Ayew has exhibited remarkable performance, netting a total of 21 goals and delivering 9 assists. His contributions have proven pivotal to his teams' successes over the years.

Ayew initially joined Swansea City in 2015 and subsequently made a transfer to West Ham. Following a stint with Al Sadd in Qatar, he made a triumphant return to the Premier League in January 2023, signing a short-term contract with Nottingham Forest.

The Premier League gave  Andre Ayew a plaque to show for his milestone.

FootballGhana

Black Stars midfielder Salis Abuld Samed has been honored with the prestigious title of Get French Football News (GFFN) 2022/23 Ligue 1 Central Midfielder of the Year.

The recognition comes in appreciation of Salis' exceptional performances and contributions to RC Lens' remarkable season, securing European football for the 2023/24 season.

Lens is currently in pole position to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season, sitting in second place with 78 points from 36 games, trailing leaders Paris Saint-Germain by six points.

Salis, who joined RC Lens last summer, quickly made his mark in the French Ligue 1. His skill, vision, and impressive work rate have established him as a vital component of the Lens squad.

Starting in 31 out of the 36 league games played so far, his presence on the field has been instrumental to the team's success, with a goal to his name.

His breakout season also earned him a place in Ghana's 2022 FIFA World Cup squad in Qatar, where he played a pivotal role in Ghana's campaign.

FootballGhana

Global Star Education Outreach in partnership with Noble Affis Consult Educational - UNIGAPS presents the 2023 edition of CASA SHS Summit under the theme- Enhancing the light in the SHS Graduate.

The Summit comes off at the GCB Hall, University of Ghana Legon on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

Guest Speakers for the occasion are Hon. John Dumello, Actor,, Farmer, UN Ambassador and Aspiring Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wugon, Mr. Oscar Jonas Tei Mensah of the Ghana School of Law, Dr. Ernest Darkwah of the Psychology Department, University of Ghana, Mr. Daniel Azure (UNIGAPS President), Dr. Patrick Owusu Asare, CEO of KOOFMAUR Foundation / Motivational Speaker and Dr. Emmanuel Ampofo.

Topics and issues to be discussed will include Career Guidance, Admission Process and Scholarship Opportunities, among others.

All participants can buy their summit tee shirt using the short code *713*33*103#.Irs strictly no code, no entry.

For further questions contact, 0246856667 and 0248785807

By Sammy Heywood Okine