Will Power Gym and Sea View Boxing Gyms have merged to compete in the Ghana Professional Boxing League.

The Gym and Palm Spring have also formed one team to compete for honours.

Meanwhile, four new Boxing Gyms have also joined the exciting League, they are Bridge, Bronx, Ghana Prisons and the Ghana Armed Forces Boxing Gyms to add up to a total of 14 teams who will be fighting for glory, honors and the Renault cars at stake for the Best Gym and Best Boxer.

In the first season, Charles Quartey Boxing Foundation won the Best Gym prize, while Charles Tetteh of the Panix Gym drove home the award for the Best Boxer.

Yours Truly expected others who contributed to the success of the first season will be rewarded, motivated or compensated in a way, but it did not happen, notably among those who made the programme worthy and attractive were the ring officials including referees, bellman, corner men, medics and media.

Some fans were also regular at the Bukom Boxing Arena, venue for the League and deserve mention just like the musicians who added to the entertainment.

The 14 teams who have registered for the season two, 2023 are Charles Quartey Memorial Boxing Gym, Panix Gym, Attoh Quarshie Gym, Wisdom Gym, Black Panthers Gym and Fit Square Boxing Gym.

The others are Bridge Gym, Bronx Gym, Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Prisons Service, The Gym /Palm Spring, Will Power / Sea View, Seconds Out Gym and Akotoku Academy.

President of the Ghana Boxing Authority GBA, Mr. Abraham Kotei Neequaye says he expects another exciting competition, and the season two may even be more competitive looking at the seriousness of the boxers and coaches.

He was very glad that Premium Motors Ltd promised and delivered, appealing to other companies to come on board to support Ghana Boxing.

To him, boxing is the best and number sport in Ghana, because Boxing has produced 10 world champions, namely D. K. Poison, Azumah 'Zoom Zoom' Nelson aka Terrible Terror, Ike Bazooka Quartey, Marvelous Nana Yaw Konadu, Alfred  Cobra Kotey, (late), Joshua Clottey, Joseph King Kong Agbeko, Emmanuel Tagoe the Game Boy, Richard Commey and Isaac Dogboe aka 'The Royal Storm'.

There are many rising boxers who should be encouraged to go up to the world ranks.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana midfielder, Majeed Ashimeru was in high spirits when the Black Stars trained at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium against Angola in the qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament..

RSC Anderlecht's Majeed Ashimeru is one of the midfielders invited by new Black Stars head coach Chris Hughton for the two matches against Angola.

He was a joy to watch with his deft touches and showed that he can be an asset for the Black Stars.

In the past years, he has been unlucky with injuries and at times neglected even when he was in good form at his club.

With another chance in the Black Stars in the international break, the midfielder has set sight on working harder to earn a permanent place in the national team under new head coach Chris Hughton.

Ghana on Thursday, March 23, will host Angola at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. The 2023 AFCON qualification match will kick off at 16:00gmt.

The senior national team is in Kumasi continuing preparations for the AFCON 2023.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Mr. Herbert Mensah, the newly elected President of Rugby Africa returned to Ghana on Tuesday evening.

He received a rousing welcomed at the Kotoka International Airport by the Ghana Sports Supporters, some federation heads and the media.

He told journalists that Rugby Africa will prove that Africa can rub shoulders with the world and promised to develop and promote Rugby in Africa to meet the standards.

He hoped to improve upon competitions on the continent and attract financial resources from the private sector, expressing that sports federations and Confederations can obtain sponsorship from outside government.

Mr. Mensah gave examples of when he was Chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko and the Ghana Rugby Union.

He thanked all the countries that voted for him and Ghana.

Some of the federations’ representatives at the airport were Bawa Fuseini of Ghana Athletics and Triathlon, Evans Yeboah of Ghana Badminton, Shaban Mohammed of Ghana Cycling, Joojo Ephson representing Ghana Amateur Boxing and some members of Ghana Rugby Football Union, as well as well wishers.

Abigail Twumasiwaa  Okantah of the Ghana Sports Supporters said they are glad with the achievements of Herbert Mensah and hope that God will protect,  guide and direct him to bring new ideas into Rugby Africa.

She advised the media to promote Rugby like they do for football and boxing.

Miss Rafatu Inusah of the Ghana Rugby Union said they are proud of Herbert Mensah and his feat will inspire them to work harder, especially the female players.

“We are so proud of Mr. Herbert Mensah and we look forward to taking Rugby Union to the next level in Ghana and across the continent” she said.

Herbert Mensah’s election came during the 15th General Assembly in Cape Town, South Africa on Saturday, March 18, 2023, where he won with 30 votes, against his main contender, George Owuo from Uganda, who got one vote.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

 The big featherweight showdown for a world featherweight title between Cuban Robeisy Ramirez and Ghana's Isaac ‘Royal Storm’ Dogboe in a Top Rank Boxing main event on April 1 is going to be intriguing and a must watch bout.

“Two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist Robeisy Ramirez (11-1, 7 KOs), a 29-year-old southpaw, against former junior featherweight titlist Isaac Dogboe (24-2, 15 KOs), 28, of Ghana also an Olympian, in 12-round featherweight fight will headline the April 1 edition of Top Rank Boxing on ESPN+, according to Fight Freaks Unite.

The bout will be for the vacant WBO vacant full title vacated by Mexican Emanuel Navarrete who is now the WBO junior lightweight champion.

Navarrete burst on the world title stage by upsetting Dogboe in a one-sided decision win in New York in December 2018 to capture the WBO jr. featherweight crown. He hammered Dogboe in the immediate rematch with a fight that shouldn’t have been allowed to see the 12 round before it was stopped in May of 2019.

Dogboe who has more professional fights says Ramirez has not fought anyone like him, and he will meet his meter on April 1.

Dogboe knows the whole Ghana and Africa is behind him so he is going into the fight well prepared and focused.

His management, supported by Niche Cocoa is also putting in everything to ensure victory comes to the man popularly known as 'Neho'.

According the Nana Ama Akyere, PRO of the Team, Dogboe is in the best shape and his trainers are also working hard to ensure victory.

“We are set and ready” she expressed.

The Ghana Boxing Supporters Union (GHABSU) have sent goodwill and good luck messages, likewise the Boxing Writers Association of Ghana (BWAG) led by Yours Truly and the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) which has Veteran and experienced sports writer Mr. Kwabena Yeboah as President .

The Ghana Boxing Authority led by Mr. Abraham Kotei Neequaye is optimistic that Dogboe will be a two time world champion.

The fight will take place at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tulsa, United States. The fight will be shown on Sky Sports Action in the UK, and ESPN+ in the United States.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Paris St-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe has been named as the new captain of the France national team.

He succeeds Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who retired from international football in January.

Mbappe, 24, has 66 caps for France since making his senior debut in 2017.

“Kylian meets all the requirements to have this responsibility,” France manager Didier Deschamps told French TV channel TF1 in an interview to be aired on Sunday.

“On the field as in the life of the group, by being a unifying element.”

The French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed Deschamps had named Mbappe as captain and Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann as vice-captain on social media on Tuesday.

Mbappe was the top scorer at last year’s World Cup as he helped France reach a second straight World Cup final, where they were beaten by Argentina.

He scored two goals in the 2018 final against Croatia and was named as the tournament’s best young player as France were crowned world champions for a second time.

Deschamps’ side play the Netherlands at the Stade de France in their first Euro 2024 qualifier on Friday, before facing the Republic of Ireland on Monday.

Source: BBC Sports 

Ghana is preparing to play at the Olympic Games since 2004 when the Black Meteors qualified to play at the Biggest Sports Festival.

The new Black Meteors will travel to Annaba for the 1st leg on Friday, March 24, 2023 before hosting the North Africans at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Wednesday, March 28, 2023.

Ibrahim Tanko, coach of the Black Meteors, has invited some top foreign-based players including former Roma player, Afena Gyan to the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Algeria.

Emmanuel Essiam of FC Basel, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku of Sporting Lisbon, and Emmanuel Yeboah of CFR Cruj are among those invited.

Others called up are Alex Sarfo, Ernest Nuamah (FC Nordsjaelland), Zubairu Ibrahim (FK Jedinstvo Ub), Adams Salim (FC Cincinnati), and Daniel Afriyie Banierh (FC Zürich).

The winner of the two legs advances to Morocco for the TotalEnergies U-23 Africa Cup of Nations.

The squad trained on Tuesday at the Accra Sports Stadium under the direction of Coach Ibrahim Tanko and his technical staff, which included thirty players. Twenty-five players will make the trip to Algeria.

Former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan visited Black Meteors at the Accra Sports Stadium to support them ahead of their trip to Algeria.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Emmanuel Adebayor celebrates scoring for Manchester City against Arsenal

Emmanuel Adebayor has announced his retirement with a video including his infamous goal for Manchester City against former club Arsenal.

The 39-year-old Togolese striker shone in his three and a half years at the Gunners after joining from Monaco in 2006, scoring 62 goals and in 2008 was crowned African Footballer of The Year and named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.

However, in July 2009 he joined Manchester City for £25m - who had recently been bought by the Abu Dhabi United Group - with many Arsenal fans feeling let down by the move.

To compound matters, two months later the teams met in the Premier League and Adebayor scored against his old club in a 4-2 win, famously running the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the travelling Arsenal fans, with projectiles, including a chair, thrown from the away end.

It earned him a suspended two-match ban and £25,000 fine, in addition to a three-match ban for a stamp on former Arsenal team-mate Robin van Persie.

Adebayor apologised, saying "the emotion took over me", but said the Arsenal fans had been insulting him all game.

The controversial goal - an 80th-minute header - features in his retirement announcement on Instagram, as does another strike for Manchester City.

Adebayor would later be loaned to Real Madrid, before a permanent move to Arsenal's north London rivals Tottenham, before stints at Crystal Palace and spells in Turkey and Paraguay.

The former Togo forward, who scored 32 goals in 85 games for his country, finished his career in his homeland at Semassi.

Only three African players have scored more Premier League goals than Adebayor's 97 - Chelsea's Didier Drogba (104), former Liverpool and Southampton winger Sadio Mane (111) and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah (131).

"From the highs to the lows, my career as a professional athlete has been an incredible journey," he wrote on Instagram.

"Thank you to my fans for being there every step of the way. I'm feeling so grateful for everything, and excited for what's to come!"

BBC Sports

Kingsley 29 who plays for Bundesliga side, FC Koln would be making his international debut for the Black Stars if he gets selected by coach Chris Houghton  to play on Thursday at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

The Stars newcomer has featured 26 times in all the German top flights this season, amounting 1,117 minutes, and scored one goal, which sealed the Europa Conference League group stage for FC Koln. Unfortunately they could not make it

He is a full back / winger and the fourth Ghanaian born in Germany to switch nationality in one year.

He stated his career at Holstein Kiel Bundesliga 2 as a full back and occasionally as a winger, which expresses his speed and versatility and ability to hit the net 12 times.

He will replace speedster Tariq Lamptey will is indisposed.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Former Chairman of the Media /Communications Committee of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Mr. Herbert Mensah, has been congratulated by Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah after his election as the President of Rugby Africa.

The former President of the Ghana Rugby Union's election came during the 15th General Assembly in Cape Town, South Africa on Saturday, March 18, 2023, where he won with 30 votes, against his main contender, George Owuo from Uganda, who got one vote.

President of the Ghana Olympic Committee Ben Nunoo Mensah said the entire sports fraternity of Ghana and board members of the GOC are very proud of the achievement by winning the highest position at Rugby Africa

"On behalf of the Ghana Olympic Committee board and sports federations in Ghana we hail your hard work, dedication and commitment to sports, especially Rugby. It is our fervent desire that you will distinguish yourself in your new position to promote and project Ghana, as well as develop Rugby to the best and highest standard all over the continent of Africa and beyond."

"The GOC believes in your capacity and capabilities as well as your passion in developing the youth. We know you are a great Inspiror and motivation to many people and pray for more wisdom and God's guidance to excel in the new position " he said.

The GOC President expressed his confidence in Mr. Herbert Mensah to bring on board new ideas and innovation to Rugby Africa.

"We also welcome him onto the body of Association of African Sports Confederations and hope he contribute with his rich experience" he added.

GOC Communications

Jerry Ahmed Shaib, the Founder of JAS Foundation in Collaboration with Gbawe Kwatei Family will organize health walk and free screening for Waija-Gbawe constituency on Monday, 24th April, 2023 at 5am.

The walk is aimed at fostering unity among the people of Gbawe and its environs.

Meanwhile, the medical screening will provide the platform for members to renew their National Health insurance and most importantly improve health awareness, creating a healthier and fitter population.

The health walk will start from the Forecourt of Gbawe Mantse's Palace road in Accra.

The foundation of JAS and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Coastal Development Authority (CODA), Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaib will lead the walk.

As part of efforts to enrol people on the National Health Insurance Scheme, there will be free  Registration and Renewal, which commences at 8am.

Furthermore, the Health screening, which comes at no cost, includes eye, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol tests among many others.

The Youth of Weija- Gbawe constituency are expecting to turn up on their numbers.

About of Foundation of JAS Foundation Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaib

Jerry Ahmed Shaib was appointed by President Akufo Addo in 2018 as the CEO of the Coastal Development Authority pursuant to section 3(1) of the Coastal Development Authority Act, 2017 (Act 961). And ever since he assumed office at the Coastal Communities of Ghana had regained hope.

Jerry Ahmed Shaib is the currently the Deputy General Secretary of thr Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and the president of Ghana Weightlifting Federation (GWF).

Mr. Jerry Ahmed Shaib holds a BA, LLB and MPhil degrees with a considerable number of years of practice as a lawyer.

Source JAS