Black Stars captain, Andre Dede Ayew has joined English Premier League side Nottingham Forest on a 6-month contract.

The attacker was subject of interest to several European clubs after he mutually terminated his contract with Qatari based club Al Sadd a couple of days ago.

The former Swansea player enjoyed an impressive stint with Al Sadd, scoring an impressive 21 goals in just 39 appearances in just 18 months.

The 33-year-old might not need time to settle into the Premier League given that he’s had past experiences with some premier league clubs before moving to the Middle East in July 2021.

The wingers first premier league experience came when he joined then Premier League side Swansea City from Olympique Marseille in 2015, scoring 12 times in 34 league appearances for the Swans.

He later joined English top flight side Westham United in 2016, scoring just 9 goals in 43 PL games for the Hammers before returning to Swansea City for a second stint this time in the Championship.

Andre Ayew captained Ghana to their 4th ever World Cup appearance in Qatar last year, despite scoring in their 3-2 defeat to Portugal in their first game, he missed a crucial penalty to give Ghana the lead in their last group stage game against Uruguay

Speaking after signing his contract he disclosed why he chose to join the Nottinghamshire club, saying “Steve Cooper is someone who knows me very well and knows how to work with me both on and off the pitch. We have a strong relationship, he’s a special coach”.

He becomes Nottingham Forest’s 30th signing of the season after reportedly snubbing 19th placed Everton to sign for Steve Cooper’s side.

soccerwayghana.

The President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah in his 2023 New Year message, announced that work on the sports facility at Amasaman in the Greater Accra region has commenced with the arrival of initial funds from the OlympiAfrica Foundation.

The refreshing news was greeted with high expectations at the last Annual General Congress of the GOC in December 2022 at the Trust Sport Emporium in Accra. .

President Nunoo Mensah shared the exciting news about the Amasaman Project by first stating that the GOC, having now acquired full and legal ownership of the 16.5-acre land at Amasaman, would commence work on the ground.

Thanks to continous dialogue with the IOC, ANOCA and the OlympAfrica Foundation, at the beginning of November 2022, the respective bodies showed their commitment to get the project going by sending an amount of $100,000.00 to the GOC account for the commencement of work.

According to Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah, the Board has put together a five-member committee chaired by the Deputy Treasurer of the GOC to see to the initial actualization and progress of the entire Sports Complex Project.

He said the facility has been christened “GOC/OlympAfrica Centre for Juvenile Sports Excellence” and in the next few days, other members, stakeholders and the media will be invited for the grand sod-cutting ceremony.

Mr. Nunoo Mensah emphasized that through engagements, the GOC/CGA, together with the National Federations and other Stakeholders, are making frantic preparations to put in place structures and that will ensure Ghana’s successful preparation for, and participation in upcoming games.

Some of the games slated for 2023 and beyond are the ANOCA Zone Three Games – Accra, African Youth Games – Congo Brazzaville, African Beach Games – Tunisia, ANOC World Beach Games – Bali, Indonesia, African Games – Accra 2023, Commonwealth Youth Games – Trinidad & Tobago. and Paris 2024 Olympic Games – Paris.

GOC Communications

Southampton manager Nathan Jones has described the signing of Kamaldeen Sulemana as a positive one for the club.

Sulemana signed a four-and-a-half year deal to join the Saints from French outfit Stade Rennais on transfer deadline day.

His arrival is expected to spark a revival at the relegation threatened side.

“This is another really positive addition for us this month. We’ve obviously been keen to add a little more potency to the side, and Kamaldeen is someone who does that for us," said Jones after the signing of the winger.

“He’s at a stage in his career where we feel he can help us in the immediate term, but also continue to grow and develop further into the future.”

The 20-year-old forward leaves Ligue 1 after a season-and-a-half with Rennais, where he made 47 appearances and contributed six goals.

Southampton, who were eliminated from the Caraboa Cup on Tuesday by Newcastle United, will shift their attention to Premier League survival.

Sulemana joins compatriot Mohammed Salisu at the Saint Mary's.

GhanaSoccerNet

Ridge City FC becomes first female club to partner English side Everton

Ridge City FC have become the first women’s football club in Ghana to join forces with Everton FC in an exciting new partnership.

The  Accra based club, formed just four years ago, are the newest addition to Everton’s International Academy Affiliate Programme (EIAAP) as the club looks to build on the huge progress made in the women’s game in recent years.

They are also the first African club to join the EIAAP programme, which aims to expand the knowledge and expertise of Everton’s player development processes to affiliated clubs across the world.

Everton aim to help expand the profile of Ridge City Football Club by facilitating and developing the women’s game in Ghana and offering a pathway for players.

The two clubs will also collaborate on player and coach development, coach education and helping Ridge City establish themselves as a foundation club for women in Ghana.

Formed in 2018, Ridge City FC have thrived following a truncated start as a professional club caused by the Covid pandemic: earning promotion to the Ghanaian Premier League in only their third season, as champions of Division One.

The club, which currently has around 30 women in its ranks, plus a burgeoning academy, aim to facilitate the development and promotion of women’s football in Ghana.

Ridge City’s mission also includes creating career opportunities for girls and women as footballers and in the technical and managerial aspects of the game, and contributing positively to the upliftment of female football in Ghana.

Cleopatra Nsiah Nketiah, CEO of Ridge City, said: “I am super excited about the partnership. We have been looking for an opportunity like this for a long time and the most important thing for us is that women in Ghana are serious about playing football.

“I feel like our relationship with Everton will help us on that pathway and let our people know that in Ghana you can play football and that there can be a career path, perhaps even having a chance to travel to the UK and trial there.

“The environment and resources Everton can provide is a huge pull and the opportunity to have online coaching programmes to follow, and even potential visits by their coaches, is another real positive that we can tap into, to help our women feel that they are part of something bigger.

“I want to let the world know that we can see a pathway forward for Ridge City and this is a relationship we can’t wait to be a part of.”

The EIAAP initiative provides clubs at all tiers of the game with access to the finest coaching knowledge from Everton’s renowned Academy to support with growth – a level of support that sets it apart from more traditional models.

These include:

A holistic approach to player, coach and club development, offering technical support from Everton’s Finch Farm training complex and business and marketing support from its Royal Liver Building business headquarters

Weekly support from a dedicated Everton Academy coach

Full access to the Everton Academy curriculum

Under the EIAAP initiative, coaches from Ridge City will have access to Everton’s state-of-the-art Finch Farm complex – the home of Everton’s senior men’s, senior women’s and academy teams - for education and training.

Paddy Byrne, Everton’s International Technical Manager, plans to make a future visit to Ridge City to assist in sharing the Everton Academy curriculum and implement methods used at Finch Farm to develop both player and coaching skills.

In turn, this provides Ridge City Women with further knowledge and help grow their club to achieve their vision and objectives.

Byrne added: “We are delighted to welcome Ridge City as an inaugural women’s partner club to Everton’s International Academy Affiliate programme.

“I’m excited to work with Cleopatra and her team and help them to build on the solid foundations laid in only four years of existence.

“We feel there is plenty of opportunity for them to grow - and by sharing our values and coaching methods we will build on the affiliate programme in a new territory.

“I am sure this will prove a fruitful partnership for both clubs, and we can’t wait to get started.”

Everton’s International Academy Affiliate Club programme, which is available to grassroots teams, professional sides, youth academies, girls’ and women’s teams, as well as colleges and universities, was launched in 2020.

The programme already has affiliates in the US, Canada, South America, Australia and Ireland.

GhanaSoccerNet

Ghana international, Kamaldeen Sulemana has signed a lucrative 4 and a half years deal with English Premiership side Southampton also known as the Saints, after passing his medical in France.

News reaching us state that the deal is a Club record signing for the Saints. €25m deal, 4.5 year contract.

Kamaldeen Sulemana who was poached from Rennes in France is a member of the Black Stars squad that represented Ghana at the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Sulemana had to choose between Southampton and Everton after the two clubs reached an agreement with Rennes, and he chose Southampton, where he will play alongside his Ghanaian teammate defender Mohammed Salisu.

Sulemana joined Rennes from Danish club Nordsjaelland in 2021  for a reported €20 million.

Sulemana made three appearances at the World Cup in Qatar and was recorded running at 35.7kph (22.2mph) during the tournament, the quickest speed of any player.

He is rated as one of the fastest players in the game of football.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

… Executives receive Provisional Certificate

The Ghana Tug of War Association has become the 50th Sports Federation to be recognized by the National Sports Authority (NSA). They are on probation for six months before attaining full certification.

Executives of the new discipline received the Provisional Certificate for operations from the  Director General of the NSA, Professor Peter Twumasi on Wednesday, February 1, 2023.

He advised them to spread the message of the benefits of sports to the grassroots, like unity, peace, promotion of the nation and health.

He expressed that sports is a great tool for development and urged the executives to organize more championships at the grassroot level.

He promised to support the Association with human resource from the recently recruited staff of development officers.

Mr. Emmanuel Olla Williams is the President of the Ghana Tug of War Association.

He promised to organize Championships in every region, the schools, churches and security services.

The Youth Coordinator of the Ghana Olympic Committee who is also CEO of One On One Foundation took the opportunity to present to the DG of the NSA the Corporate he won at the 47^th SWAG Awards Gala Night.

Mr. Mckorley, Vice President who is a former Sports Director of the Ghana Education Service said they will do more in the next six months to earn full recognition by the NSA.

Present were the Deputy Director of Monitoring and Evaluation and Deputy PRO of the NSA.

The Technical and Communications / Media department of the Tug of War Association was also in attendance.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nations (UN), H.E Harold Adlai Agyeman has endorsed the up coming 2023 Cadet and Junior Africa Fencing Championship to be held in Ghana.

He has also promised to make available some support for the development and promotion of Fencing in Ghana and Africa.

According to the President of the Ghana Fencing Federation, Mr. Mohammed Mahadi, he informed the diplomat of his intentions to fix some of their Fencing equipment for the Cadet and Junior Africa Championship, which also serves as the preparation for the African Games 2023.

Mr. Mohammed Mahadi said the vision of the President H. E Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo is going to be  a turn around in Ghana Sports and will be one of the greatest legacy of the President.

This vision can be accomplished if all stakeholders embrace it with a patriotic heart  with the understanding that Ghana is the beneficiary of this investment.

He noted that some hotels, transport operators,  restaurants,  media and too many sectors will be direct beneficiaries, hence everyone must contribute to make the Championship successful.

"So we in Fencing understands the vision and as technocrats we taking the necessary steps toward that" he noted.

HE the Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nations urged companies to reconsider their decisions and support least financed sports disciplines to retake their glory.

He further stressed that in the month of love, people should show real love and encouraged the Fencing Federation to use the occasion to call for the celebration of Fencing by supporting  the organization of the International Championship. He promised to promote the event to attract more corporate support as well as Ghanaians in the diaspora.

He was also content with with the achievements of the organization of the event within a short period of its establishment.

The African Cadet and Youth Fencing Championship is slated for 14 to 21 February 2023.

Team Ghana is in camp, preparing to put up a show to be remembered.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Top Ghanaian cyclist Anthony Boakye was adjudged the Best Cyclist of the year 2022 at the 47th Sports Writers Association of Ghana Awards Gala held last Saturday at the Accra International Conference Center.

Here are some thoughts he shared with our reporter.

“l feel very privileged of been recognized as the number one best cyclist of my field of sport in my country Ghana.

“I have been working really hard on training ever since l was awarded in 2017 as the number one cyclist of that year and been awarded in  2022 is a great motivation of reflection of how dedicated l have been training .

“I will like to dedicate this award to my Manager, Teammate, GCF, mechanic, coaches ,friends and supporters and most important my families whom have been very helpful with advice and prayers through out this journey.

“l will like to say a very big thanks to the Ghana Swag committee members for their great efforts and inspiring sportsmen and women through these means as been recognized in their fields of dedication in Ghana as a sport.

“As we approach the coming African continental cycling championship in coming weeks which is the first time Ghana will be hosting ,we will like  the national sport authorities, the Ghana Cycling Federation and the Ghana government to support team Ghana cyclists in preparation towards the event so that we can all be victorious in winning some medals for mother Ghana at the end of the championship” he expressed in the exclusive chat.

Boakye poses with the Secretary General of the Ghana Cycling Federation at the event.

By Elizabeth Alhassan

Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Female Athlete of the year 2022 has sent a message of appreciation to all sports journalists who voted for her at the 47^th Awards Night held at the Accra International Conference Centre on Saturday.

The USA based student said on her Facebook wall:

“Thanks to SWAG, Ghana Athletics and all my loyal fans. Also, it is impossible to receive this recognition without the support of my management team and all those who assist me in various ways”.

She is the current holder of Ghana's indoor long and triple jump records.

Acquah had her secondary school education at Fiaseman Senior High School. She was a student of Western Texas College but is now currently having her college education at Texas A&M University.

She took part in the 2022 World Athletics Championships, 2022 Commonwealth Games, Africa Games in 2019 and World University Games.

Deborah Acquah become the first Ghanaian woman to win a medal in Long Jump,  clinching bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. She leapt 6.94 metres to smash her personal best and set a new national record, but most importantly make the podium Deborah finished with bronze behind Nigeria's Ese Brume and Brooke from Australia, who picked up gold and silver respectively. President of the Ghana Olympic Committee, Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah presented the medals.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Over 200 cyclists are expected to participate in the third edition of the highly anticipated cycling event, 2023 RideAfrique Accra Criterium at the Accra Sports Stadium on April 15, 2023.

The event will see top male and female cyclists from all over the continent coming together to compete for the ultimate prize.

According to Mr Richard Agu, the Chief Executive Officer of RideAfrique, this years competition would make history as one of the best the continent had ever witnessed, with measures also being put in place to ensure the successful hosting of the event.

He said there had been an increase in the number of cyclists expected to participate in the competition this year and was confident the event was going to attract lots of cyclists to Ghana.

“ This year we have added a second category to the race, the female race. This is slightly shorter sef of laps-15. This will be done ahead of the Men’s race which has 30 laps,” he added.

The gallant sports personality thanked the Ghana Cycling Federation for its continous support to see the growth of the sport in Ghana.

Mr Agu called on all stakeholders to support the event, which had benefits of unearthing talents who would represent their various countries in international competitions.

Participants of the RideAfrique Accra Criterium are expected to complete a total distance of 105km over 30 laps with an introduction of female race pecked at 15 laps.

The winner of the event would be handed a 2023 RideAfrique Green Jersey in addition to the ultimate prize winnings.

NewsGhana