Over 600 players representing 64 teams will be participating in the tournament, showcasing their skills and vying for regional titles

The VOE Foundation (https://theVOEFoundation.org/) is thrilled to announce that the registration for the highly anticipated 2023 FC Bayern Youth Cup Nigeria is now open. This tournament has become a true testament to the power of sportsmanship, skill and competition, and we cannot wait to witness the incredible display of talent that is expected this year.

As reigning world champions, Team Nigeria has brought honor to our country, and this year’s tournament promises to be just as exciting as the last. Boys born in 2007 and 2008 are eligible to participate, with regional qualifying tournaments scheduled to take place in Enugu, Abuja, Jos, and Lagos, respectively. The National finals will be held at the UNEC stadium in Enugu, from April 26th to 30th.

Over 600 players representing 64 teams will be participating in the tournament, showcasing their skills and vying for regional titles. The regional champions and all-star teams from each of the regions will advance to the national finals in Enugu, where a national champion will be crowned. The top 10 players from the tournament will be selected to represent Team Nigeria in Munich at the FC Bayern World Finals, where they will compete against the best young players from other countries to defend their title.

Victor Edeh, tournament director of the FC Bayern Youth Cup Nigeria and VOE Foundation representative, expressed his excitement for the tournament, stating, “We are confident that this year's tournament will provide an excellent platform for new talent to emerge and follow in the footsteps of the young and promising football players like Daniel Francis, Kelvin Agho and Barnabas Moses who have developed into professional players after being discovered at the youth cup. It gives us immense pride to continue our partnership with Bayern Munich for the sixth year in a row. Their dedication towards promoting the sport in Nigeria is clearly visible through the support that Nigerian academies, coaches, and players receive from the Bayern Campus. This assistance takes the form of apparel, coach training, and valuable knowledge-sharing from the Bayern academy, which are crucial in the development of outstanding players.

We are also delighted to welcome our new partners, Integral and Brookehouse college, who have joined us this year to help us deliver the leading youth tournament in Nigeria.”

Integral’s representative, Murtala Lanval, expressed their enthusiasm for the tournament, “We are thrilled to be a part of this program. Bayern Munich is one of the most prominent clubs in football, and we see the incredible value in the football development Bayern Munich and VOE Foundation bring to Nigeria. We are confident that this program is sustainable and will promote the growth and development of football in Nigeria. We are proud to play a key role in delivering the Bayern Youth Cup in Nigeria and we look forward to its success.”

FC Bayern Legend and World Cup winner, Hans Pflugler, will be making his second trip to Nigeria for this tournament. He expressed his eagerness, “After Team Nigeria’s outstanding performance last year, I’m thrilled to return to the land of the FC Bayern Youth Cup World Final 2022 Champions. Our partners’ work in Nigeria has produced tremendous results, and we will build upon this success to discover the next 10 young talents that will defend the title.”

Registration for the tournament is now open, and we encourage all teams and schools with young football players to sign up and take part. We are confident that this year's tournament will exceed all expectations and provide even more excitement and competition than the previous editions.

We look forward to welcoming players, coaches, and spectators to this year's tournament, and we cannot wait to see the incredible talent on display.

To register for the tournament, please visit the tournament website, www.YouthCupNigeria.com, and follow the registration process.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VOE Foundation.

For more information about the tournament, please contact VOE Foundation via Instagram (https://apo-opa.info/3MlDbpb), Twitter (https://apo-opa.info/415XoDH), Facebook (https://apo-opa.info/3KeY2YH), WhatsApp (08159742674).

SOURCE

VOE Foundation

Over 100 Sports Journalists In Ghana Apply For AIPS Cards

114 sports journalists in Ghana have as at Friday April 7, 2023 applied for Association of International Sports Press (AIPS) ID Cards.

The AIPS has identified Ghana as the of the countries with many sports journalists.

According to General Secretary of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Mr Charles Osei Asibey, the deadline is 10^th April, 2023, as the final list will be presented on 14^th April, 2023.

He noted that traditionally the window is often opened in October unlike this year where AIPS wants to print the cards earlier.

One must serve SWAG for some period to attain AIPS membership.

To become a member of SWAG, one must be a practicing sports journalist for at least two years, after completion of a reputable journalism institution.

One must also have the flair for sports reporting, presentation and writing.

The sports scene in Ghana will demand the media services for the 13^th African Games ‘Accra 2023, the Afcon 2023 in Cote d’Ivoire and the FIFA World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico.

SWAG was founded in 1968. Mr. Kwabena Yeboah is the current President.

The founding President of SWAG is Mr. Joe Lartey.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Member of Parliament for Yendi and Chairman of the Muslim Caucus of Parliament,  Alhaji Farouk Aliu Mahama has urged youth from Zongo communities to be inspired by the virtues of Ramadan to remain peaceful.

Speaking at the launch of the eighth edition of the annual Sheikh Sharubutu Ramadan Cup in Accra - a football tournament which brings about 30 Zongo communities together, Farouk Aliu Mahama urged, particularly, the youth who will participate in the tournament to use it to promote peace and harmony in line with the tournament's objectives main objectives of bringing the youth together to promote peace, unity and discipline.

"It is very important that we use this occasion, especially during the month of Ramadan to promote peace and harmony," said Mr Aliu Mahama.

"We all know what our grandfather, the National Chief Imam stands for, so let us all be inspired by him and use this tournament to promote togetherness," added the Yendi MP, who chaired the launch.

Present at the ceremony was the Minister for Youtn and Sports, who officially launched the tournament, which will feature 30 Zongo communities from various parts of the country.

At the launch, a draw was also conducted for the preliminary stage of the competition, which will be played on April 29 and 30 after Ramadan.

graphiconline

Paris 2024 unveils its testing programme starting from July 9  

PARIS, April 7, 2023 - Preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games are being stepped up with less than 500 days to go before the main sporting action begins. The Organising Committee is launching its testing programme this summer at several of its venues due to host next year’s Olympic and Paralympic competitions. 

Testing programme to be ready when the Games begin

While not intended to be an exact replica of the Games competitions, the tests are designed to ensure that Paris 2024 and all stakeholders involved in organising the Games are ready by summer 2024, when the eyes of the world will be fixed on France. They will enable the organisers to identify and carry out any modifications that may be necessary to make sure the Games run as smoothly as possible.

The testing programme will be held over the 12 months leading up to the Games, culminating with an athletics and Para athletics test event at the Stade de France in June 2024. The first Paris 2024 test event will take place from 9 to 16 July this year in Marseille, when the city’s marina will host a major international sailing competition.

The Paris 2024 testing programme has been carefully put together in accordance with the specific requirements of each sport and the different Olympic and Paralympic competition venues, in close cooperation with the relevant International Federations. Venues with a strong hosting record will therefore only be tested from an operational point of view. For example, for the Roland-Garros Stadium, whose expertise in organising international tennis competitions is universally acknowledged, will be tested just for its transition from tennis to boxing on the Philippe-Chatrier court.

The testing programme has also been planned in a responsible way. For example, where a major event on the 2023/24 international sporting calendar is being held at a Games competition venue this has been incorporated into the testing programme. This will enable Paris 2024 to carry out various tests without holding additional events at these venues. The World Rowing Junior Championships, for example, will be organised by the French Rowing Federation at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium from 2 to 6 August 2023. Paris 2024 will test its venue operations, especially the timekeeping and scoreboard systems, during this event.

Paris 2024 stakeholders will be involved in the testing programme so they can prepare for situations similar to those that they will experience during the Games. In August 2023, Paris city centre will simultaneously host a stage of the Archery World Cup on 19 and 20 August and an international triathlon and para triathlon competition, offering a brief but intense taste of what will occur at the same location a year later. These tests will cover the floating triathlon pontoon and other complex structures, the cycling and running courses for the triathlon and para triathlon events and, finally, traffic and crowd management in and around the venues.

Three types of tests

In order to meet the needs identified by Paris 2024, three types of tests have been defined:  

Olympic Games Test events organised by Paris 2024 are international-standard competitions created in order to meet a specific need for knowledge linked to certain sports or venues. The sailing test event at the Marseille Marina will bring together the world’s best sailors, who will compete in all the events in the Games programme, enabling Paris 2024 to test the sporting, medical and technological systems at the competition venue. Paris 2024 will also organise three other events in the run-up to the Olympic Games: an international triathlon and para triathlon competition from 17 to 20 August 2023 that will follow the same course on the Seine and the streets of Paris that will be used at the Games, an international mountain bike competition in Elancourt on 24 September 2023 and an international hockey competition at the Yves du Manoir Stadium from 3 to 5 May 2024 (to be confirmed).

Events organised by National or International Sports Federations or other third parties will enable Paris 2024 to test certain operations at events organised by other entities. The result of close collaboration with the National and International Federations concerned will also enable the public to discover the Games venues as they play host to international competitions. From 5 to 8 October 2023, for example, the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium will stage the finals of the Canoe Slalom World Cup, giving Paris 2024 the chance to test the sporting and technical operations of the course, as well as the new event on the Paris 2024 programme, Extreme Canoe Slalom. 

Finally, operational tests are ‘targeted’ tests organised by Paris 2024 and include specific tests held behind closed doors or with a small number of invited athletes. They are designed to make sure a particular venue is functioning correctly or to test the transition between different sports at the same venue. This type of test will be conducted at several venues, such as the Grand Palais (covering the glass roof to test the impact on the competition area and testing the transition between fencing and taekwondo) and the Bercy Arena (testing the transition between gymnastics and basketball).

Key dates of the Paris 2024 testing programme in 2023

Olympic Games Test Events - organised by Paris 2024

9–16 July 2023: Olympic Games Test Event, Marseille Marina

17–20 August 2023: Olympic Games Test Event: World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series and World Triathlon Para Cup, Pont Alexandre III, Paris

24 September 2023: Olympic Games Test Event: international mountain bike competition, Elancourt Hill

Events organised by third parties in which Paris 2024 will test various operations

26–27 July 2023: French Youth Championships, Golf National, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines

2–6 August 2023: World Rowing Junior Championships, Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium

5–6 August 2023: World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup 2023 – 

11–20 August 2023: WSL Tahiti Pro, Teahupo'o, Tahiti 

19–20 August 2023: Archery World Cup Paris 2023, 4th stage, Invalides, Paris

30 August – 1 September 2023: ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Cup, Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium

5–8 October 2023: ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Final, Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium

Operational tests

July 2023: Roland-Garros Stadium, Paris (transition from tennis to boxing)

August 2023: South Paris Arena 4 and 6, Paris (table tennis, Para table tennis, handball, weightlifting)

August 2023: Grand Palais, Paris (fencing, taekwondo and Para taekwondo)

August 2023: La Concorde, Paris (venue)

August 2023: Château de Versailles (equestrian, familiarisation with the cross-country course)

August – September 2023: Champ-de-Mars Arena, Paris (wheelchair rugby, judo, Para judo, wrestling)

September 2023: Bercy Arena, Paris (transition from artistic gymnastics to basketball and wheelchair basketball) 

Key dates of the Paris 2024 testing programme in 2024 (dates to be confirmed)

Olympic Games Test Events - organised by Paris 2024

4–5 May 2024: Yves du Manoir Stadium, Colombes (Hockey) 

Events organised by third parties in which Paris 2024 will test certain operations

8–14 April 2024: National Archery Centre, Châteauroux (archery and Para archery) 

29 April – 8 May 2024: Olympic Aquatics Centre (artistic swimming, diving, water-polo)

Operational tests

January- February 2024: Boccia (details and venue to be confirmed)

March 2024: Port de La Chapelle Arena, Paris (rhythmic gymnastics, Para Powerlifting)

April 2024: Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines National Velodrome (BMX racing)

May 2024: Château de Versailles (modern pentathlon)

June 2024: Le Bourget (climbing), Paris La Défense Arena (swimming, water-polo), Stade de France (athletics, Para athletics)

AIPS

… Believes Ghana has talent and warriors but need more training and education

Mr. Emmanuel Quaye, Inventor, businessman, farmer, musician, producer and promoter believes Ghana Boxing will hit the world with a bang in a few years.

Speaking to Yours Truly in an exclusive interview, the Canada, USA and Ghana based Boxing fan stressed that the likes of young boxers, Samuel Takyi, Alfred Lamptey, Holy Dorgbetor, Charles Tetteh can make grades on the international scene if they are well groomed.

He emphasized that juvenile boxers like Prince The Buzz Larbie and Mohammed Ablorh and others are the future of the Ghana Boxing.

He called for the motivation of the National boxing team, the Black Bombers by corporate bodies as it has always carried the flag of Ghana high at big international games.

He commended the organisers of the Ghana Professional Boxing League which has exposed some boxers like the Boxing Soldier and many talents.

According to the former Vice Chairman of the Greater Accra Boxing Association, the problem of Ghana Boxing is coaching.

"I can see our problem is coaching and the technical aspects of the game, we lack many things and I wish our trainers take orientation courses. I can rate only Coach Asare who is doing his best and Charles Quartey who won the Boxing League. The others must work hard; they need education on the game of boxing. We have the talent and warriors, but talent alone can not make you a champion" he said.

Mr. Emmanuel Quaye revealed he is planning for an exchange programme with some countries to support the Greater Accra Boxing Association and some Gyms.

He was former Vice Chairman of the Greater Accra Amateur Boxing Association and want amateur boxers to gain more experience before turning professional. He has worked with boxers like Bukom Banku, late Alfred Kotey, Gideon Annor, Joshua Okine, Malik Jabir and others.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana has dropped a place in the latest Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) World Rankings released on Thursday, for April.

Ghana missed out in the top 10 nations in Africa, falling to the 60th position in the world with 1396.01 points, and is now ranked 11th in Africa.

The West African nation, known as the powerhouse in football dropped from the top 10 in the continent due to its recent underwhelming results.

In Africa, Morocco leads the way with 1677.79 accumulated points and is 11th in the world following their explosive display in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the international friendly against Brazil last month.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finalists are followed by, Senegal in second position with 1613.21 points, and Tunisia occupying third place with 1535.76.

Algeria sits in the fourth position with 1504.19, Egypt 1500.67, and Nigeria with 1480.8 to take the fifth and sixth positions respectively.

Cameroon takes the seventh position with total points of 1470.21, with Ivory Coast with 1449.95 points, Burkina Faso with 1433.91, and Mali with 1430.75 placing eighth, ninth, and 10th position respectively to round up the top in Africa.

In the overall ranking, world champions Argentina returns to the summit of the world ranking with 1840.93, followed by France in second place with 1838.45 points.

Brazil is third with 1834.21 after a defeat to Morocco in the recent international friendly.

Belgium, England, Netherlands, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, and Spain complete the top 10 countries in the world.

FIFA

Paris 2024 organisers have announced a programme of Olympic and Paralympic test events between July 2023 and June 2024.

Three different types of test event have been organised, to help with preparations for sports and venues in the run-up to the next Olympics and Paralympics in the French capital.

Four test events are being organised by Paris 2024, with these created in cases where athletes need specific knowledge linked to a particular sport or venue.

The first of these Olympic Games test events is a sailing competition due to be held at Marseille Marina from July 9 to 16 2023.

The second test event is a World Triathlon Mixed Relay Series and World Triathlon Para Cup in Pont Alexandre III from August 17 to 20.

Pont Alexandre III is scheduled to host triathlon, Para triathlon and marathon swimming events, plus part of the road cycling competitions.

The third test event of 2023 is a mountain bike competition, due to be held at Elancourt Hill on September 24.

The final test event, due to be held from May 4 to 5 2024, is set to take place at the hockey venue, the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium in Colombes.

Nine test events are competitions organised by national or international sports federations or third parties, which will allow Paris 2024 to test certain operations at events.

The first of these test events is the French Youth Championships, due to be held at the golf venue, the Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines on July 26 and 27 2023.

Three test events are planned this year for the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium in Seine-et-Marne, which is due to host canoe sprint, Para canoe, rowing and Para rowing competition at Paris 2024.

The first is the World Rowing Junior Championships from August 2 to 6, followed by an International Canoe Federation (ICF) Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Cup on August 30 and September 1 and finally the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Final from October 5 to 8.

The World Rowing Junior Championships are due to test timekeeping and scoreboard systems, while the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Final is due to test the sporting and technical operations of the course.

Other third party events where various operations will be tested during 2023 are the World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup in the River Seine on August 5 and 6, a World Surf League Tahiti Pro event in Teahupo’o from August 11 to 20, and an Archery World Cup stage in Invalides on August 19 and 20.

During 2024 third party test events are due to be held at the National Archery Centre in Chateauroux from April 8 to 14 and the Olympic Aquatics Centre in Saint-Denis from April 29 to May 8. 

Finally twelve operational test events are being organised by Paris 2024, with these taking place to ensure venues are functioning correctly, and to test transitions at venues hosting multiple sports.

The first operational test event is due to held in July at Roland Garros in Paris to test the venue’s ability to transition from tennis to boxing.

Four more are due to be held in August 2023, at the South Paris Arena 4 and 6, Grand Palais, La Concorde and Chateau de Versailles, with the latter designed to help with familiarisation of the equestrian cross-country course.

A further operational test is due to be held at the Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris in August and September, followed by one at the Bercy Arena in September, to test the venue’s transition from gymnastics to basketball and wheelchair basketball.

The first operational test of 2024 is due to be held at the boccia venue, although the venue and dates are yet to be confirmed.

Following later in 2024 are operational tests at the Port de la Chapelle Arena in March, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines National Velodrome in April, Chateau de Versailles in May and Le Bourget, Paris La Defense Arena and Stade de France in June.

By Neil Shefferd 

MAS Foundation donates boxing equipment to Greater Accra Boxing Association (GABA)

The Immediate past Mayor of Accra, Hon. Mohammed Adjei Sowah through his MAS Foundation has donated boxing equipment to the Greater Accra Boxing Association (GABA) and the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF) on Thursday April 6, 2023.

The day also mark International Day of Sport, the former Mayor addressed the gathering that the intention was to help the grassroot develop in order to build a strong foundation for the future of the sport which he believed is the bedrock for raising future world champions.

He indicated that being a born and raised within the James-Town, Ussher-Town community, he has seen how boxing has helped changed the economic situations for not only the athletes but the entire players which includes coaches, sparring partners, promoters, managers and even some supporters for better and believes investing in the sport is a way to go as it is a sure way to alleviate poverty within the community.

He pleaded with all well-meaning Ghanaians aspecially businessmen and businesses within or connected to the James-Town & Ussher-Town communities to support the sport in order to help take these kids out of the street and make their lives more meaningful to society.

He promised to his network and connection to mobilize more resources to support the boxing industry at the grassroot level especially within Ga-Mashie.

The 1st Vice President of the GBF - Alhaji Dauda Fuseini and the Chairman - Mr. Evans Bernie Johnson received the items which includes 3 boxing rings, 3 heavy punching bags, number of groin protectors, head guards, skipping ropes, hand wraps, speed balls and gloves.

They thanked him and promised to put the items into good use to make sure a desired result is achieved.

The event was held on Thursday April 6, 2023 at the Basket Ball Court at the Old Accra City Engineers Yard at James Town, Accra.

Source GABA

Photo credit: Mingle-motion Studios

The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) Executive Committee unanimously agreed on behalf of African Football to support Morocco’s FIFA World Cup 2030 bid.

Morocco recently announced at the 73rd FIFA Congress in Kigali, that it is bidding to host the FIFA World Cup 2030 in partnership with Spain and Portugal.

The President of CAF Dr Patrice Motsepe said: “The unanimous decision that was taken by the CAF Executive Committee to support Morocco’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2030 means that the bid of Morocco is now the bid of the African Continent. We are now focusing on ensuring that Africa once more hosts the FIFA World Cup and are committed to working together with all Football National Associations and Confederations to make this happen.”

A decision was also taken by CAF to open the bid for hosting the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 because of the requests by numerous CAF Member Associations and their Governments to host the AFCON competition.

CAF will announce the successful Nations that will host the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 and the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 at the same time before September this year.

The CAF Executive Committee was also updated on the substantial progress that is being made in relation to the inaugural African Super League that will kick off later this year.

CAF Communication

Ahead of the International Handball Federation (IHF) Challenge Trophy Africa Zone 3 to be held in Accra Ghana,  Awards Centre Ghana has donated sets of jerseys and socks to the Handball Association of Ghana on  Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at their Secretariat.

Mr. William Nii Okaidja Quaye, a board member donated the items on behalf of centre to the National Association. In a short speech during the  donation, Mr. Quaye stated that "one of the key interest of their organization is to provide athletes with quality sportswear and also promote them through their brand."

"Our brand shows what Ghana stands for in terms of quality wear in Ghana colors and to boost the moral of the team we decided to cloth them with 2 sets of jerseys and socks for them to know we are behind them towards this championship and also the upcoming African games" he added.

The short ceremony brought together executives of the Handball Association,  coaches of the national team, and members of the local organizing committee for the tournament.

On behalf of the President and the Association, Secretary General Charles Amofa received the items and thanked the centre.

"The donations has come at the right time, it will be a motivator and also boost the moral of our team".

"We  know with this it will encourage other sponsors to come and support our association. He further used the opportunity to call on cooperate Ghana and individuals to come and sponsor the federation."

Ghana will host six (6) other countries in this year's championship. They include Nigeria, Ivory Coast,  Benin, Liberia, Niger, and Togo.

The event serves as a qualification for the Continental Phase of the Women's IHF Trophy Africa.

By: Victoria Nana Adwoa Kwofie