Spanish club RC Celta Vigo have snapped up Ghanaian teenage brothers from lower-tier side White Wolves FC based in Accra.

White Wolves, a fourth-tier club established in Madina in Accra have secured a major double scoop for a football experience with the La Liga outfit.

The brothers have been touted as future superstars with immense talent and potential.

Abdul Samed Sally, 19, is well known in the vibrant Madina football community and has been likened to a young Sadio Mané for his aggression and speed.

Yunus Sally, 18, the youngest amongst the brothers is a defender, and is also one of the most sought-after talents as several clubs including giants Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko SC are monitoring his development.

The Sally brothers have already landed in Northern Spain to begin training with Celta.

The President of White Wolves FC, Manaf Mendes has confirmed the news and insists that talks have been positive and geared towards the players' comprehensive development.

"We’ve had fruitful discussions with our partners in Spain for several months now and both parties want the best for the boys. There is no pressure at all.

"This is why Yunus and Samed are currently in Spain to continue their football education which would ensure that the best arrangements would be made in the long term," as quoted by dailyviewgh.com

The move could potentially open the doors for other lower division teams like White Wolves to attract similar interest from major clubs in Europe as long as they are well-managed and in good standing.

Source ghanasoccernet.com

Ghanaian female athlete, Grace Obuor who recently landed in the USA has made an impressive performance in her first indoor outing to open her US collegiate season.

Representing Western Texas College at the  TTU CORKY CLASSIC 200m women, she made a time of 24.42 in her heat.

She qualified to move on.

Grace who participated in the Ghana Fastest Human in Ghana has been tipped to become one of the fastest female athletes in the world. She does 100m, 200m and 400m.

Watch out for more info.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Ghana Tug of War Association (GHATOA) has been invited to participate in the 9th All African (U23) Tug Of War Championships in Kimberley, South Africa.

According to the official invite letter signed by Anton Botha, President of the South African Tuf-of-War Federation, the championship is scheduled for 4^th to 6^th May, 2023.

He said entry fee is R100 per team, while food and drinks will be available at the Kimberley Pirates Sports Club.

Accommodation is available for R300- R400 per person, per night, while the SA Tug-of-War can assist with transportation within Kimberley to be in the visiting country’s own account.

Mr. Emmanuel Olla Williams, President of the Ghana Tug of War Association said this is another opportunity for exposure and experience for the Ghana Team.

“We will try to raise a formidable team to represent Ghana. We have the men, but funding has been our problem. Sports is a tool for unity, friendship and peace on the continent, so we shall  try to be there as worthy ambassadors” he said.

The Ghana Tug of War Federation has in recent times brought massive entertainment and sports to Bukom, Mamprobi, Chorkor, Koforidua, Cape Coast and Winneba.

He said there are plans to take the sport to the communities and the Security Services.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Xavi claims first trophy as Barcelona manager after beating Real Madrid in Spanish Super Cup final

Xavi claimed his first trophy as Barcelona manager after a comfortable victory over rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final.

The La Liga leaders dominated the match in Saudi Arabia and took the lead when 18-year-old Gavi fired in from Robert Lewandowski's pass.

Lewandowski struck just before half time when he finished from Gavi's pass.

Gavi got another assist in the second half as he set up Pedri, before Karim Benzema struck a late consolation.

The Frenchman's late goal was scant consolation for Real Madrid, who were a distant second best throughout.

Indeed, Thibaut Courtois prevented Barcelona from winning by an even bigger margin with a couple of smart saves.

The former Chelsea goalkeeper was tested early when he turned Lewandowski's sweeping effort onto the post and he also kept out Ousmane Dembele's powerful strike.

But after Pedri got his side's third midway through the second half with a tap-in there was never any doubt about the result as Barcelona won the Super Cup for the first time since 2018.

Real Madrid were just unable to handle the brilliance of Gavi who, alongside his two assists, became the youngest scorer in a Spanish Super Cup, with his goal surpassing the record of his current manager Xavi.

Back in October these two sides faced each other in the first El Clasico meeting of the season, with Real Madrid easing to a 3-1 win.

But Barcelona have since only gone from strength-to-strength and are currently top of La Liga, three points clear of Real, with this victory extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to nine games.

source bbc

Written by Elizabeth Alhassan

The Congress of African Journalists (CAJ) has appointed three prominent journalists from Ghana to its leadership positions. In a statement from its international chief, Michael Adepuboye, he said Della Ahyawer, a journalist preoccupied with sustainability and climate, had been appointed deputy head of the West Africa region, while Sammy Heywood Okine, popularly known in the country's media circle as General One - had become Country Coordinator. with Helga Gokah as Deputy Coordinator.

Della Ahyawer is the editor of delreport.com. He is a professional journalist working in the media since 2002, in the field of professional journalism with the Ghanaian Voice newspaper as a sports columnist. He has moved on to various other positions in Ghana. In 2011, he decided to shift his focus from sports writing, and successfully carved out a niche as a sustainability editor/writer focusing on sustainability/climate-related journalism.

Mr. Ahiawor has traveled extensively and participated in many media events inside and outside Ghana. He is a member of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) since 2004, the International Association of Sports Press (AIPS), Switzerland (since 2004) and currently a member of the Conference of African Journalists (CAJ).

Okine, a sports and entertainment journalist with over 30 years of experience, will be assisted by Ms. Helga Jokah of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.

Okine, the son of St Augustine's College, Accra High School and Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) has held various positions related to media and publicity assignments. He was the former Deputy General Secretary of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG), and the former Public Relations Officer / Communications Director of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) and Ghana Kickboxing Association (GKA). He is the Ghana Director of the African Sports Media Network and Special Adviser to the Women in Sport Federation (WISA) of Ghana.

He is also Founding President of the Ghana Boxing Writers Association (BWAG).

Miss Gokah with her 14 years experience worked with The Tide Newspaper and now a Presenter at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. She is also a member of SWAG and WISA.

Source  The Asian,asia

Twenty-Five Coaches are undergoing a FIFA Youth Coaching Course at Prampram.

General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo and Technical Director Bernhard Lippert opened the course on Monday.

Former Ghana captain Abedi Ayew 'Pele' lectured the participants on Wednesday.

A veteran boxing trainer, Kofi Darko Ricketts has tipped boxer Abraham Mensah to win the 7^th Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) flagship Sports Personality of the Year Award ahead of the association’s big event.

Mensah has been nominated into the category on the back of his performance at the last Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham in the United Kingdom in 2022, emerging as Ghana’s sole medalist from the competition.

He would contest Joseph Paul Amoah (Athletics) and Kudus Mohammed (football) for the biggest sports award in the country at the 47th MTN SWAG Awards to be held at the Accra International Conference Center on January 28.

On the day, about 40 sportsmen and women together with Sports Administrators and institutions in 29 categories will be rewarded for excellence in the 2022 year under review.

Speaking in an interview with the Times Sports yesterday, Coach Darko Ricketts was of the view that though the other contestants excelled in their respective disciplines, Mensah has shown greater consistency in his performance.

“And if he can win this award as an amateur fighter, it will go a long way to encourage the many budding talents at that level that think the award is a recognition for established stars or athletes.”

Mensah’s burgeoning career has seen him annex a total of eight medals made up of five Gold and two Silver and a Bronze.

His success story started in 2016 as a young and unknown boxer emerged a bronze medal winner of the Greater Accra regional box­ing championship and followed it up the same year with a gold medal in the ‘Fist for fist’ champi­onship.

In 2017, Mensah won gold in the Tamale Real Innovation championship added two more gold medals in 2018 in an Individ­ual Championship and National Championship.

But it was his performance in the 2019 ‘Fist of Fury’ finals where he put up an explosive show but lost, settling for bronze medal.

That journey was climaxed with the Commonwealth bronze medal in 2022.

According to Coach Darko, Mensah’s nomination has garnered support from boxing fraternity, adding that, “the nomination itself has made us extremely happy. We are looking forward for Mensah to conquer his contestants.”

BY ANDREW NORTEY

Mr. Sammy Heywood Okine, popularly known in media circles as ‘General One’ has been nominated as Ghana Country Coordinator by the Congress of African Journalists (CAJ).

The ace sports and entertainment journalist with over 30 years experience will be assisted by Miss Helga Gokah of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.

Sammy Heywood Okine, a product of St. Augustine's College, Accra High School and the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) has held many positions related to media duties.

He was former Deputy General Secretary of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG), and former Public Relations Officer /Communications Director of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) and Ghana Kickboxing Association (GKA).

He is Ghana Country Director of African Sports Media Network and Special Advisor to the Women In Sports Association (WISA) of Ghana.

He is Deputy Communications Director of the Ghana Olympic Committee in charge of social media. He made history as the only sports journalist from Ghana at the 2022 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan as the Press Attache of Team Ghana.

He also holds the position of Communications Director of the Ghana Breaking Federation. He has risen through the ranks from Reporter to Editor working for a number of media houses notably, Rex Image producers of Sports Coin and Business Ghana, Western Publications producers of Daily Guide, The Statesman, Sports World, P&P (People and Places)  Rainbow Sports among others.

He produced 'On The Ball' on GTV and 'Health Check' with S&S Media Concepts and the 'World Cup Soccer Fiesta' with MOFA Productions.

He is a motivational speaker, gym instructor and fitness coach.

Miss Gokah is former Sports Editor of The Tide Newspaper and currently a Presenter Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. She is a member of the SWAG Welfare Committee and has also been in the journalism field for 14 years.

According to Mr. Dela Ahiawor, Vice President in charge of West Africa for the Congress, Sammy and Helga are supposed to rally journalists in Ghana to join CAJ and lead in seeking the welfare and respect for journalists in Ghana.

The Congress has several members across the continent and the headquarters is located in Abuja, Nigeria.

By Elizabeth Alhassan

Ghana Skaters Association Hold Annual General Meeting

The Federation of Roller Sports has held their first Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday, 7th January,2023.

The main agenda for the meeting was to call for the dissolution of the old interim Management Committee and reinstitute a new one.

Also the old name was changed from Federation of Roller Sports Association to Ghana Skaters Association (GHASA).

The interim Management Committee is to develop and amend the constitution as well as plan and organize more activities for the Association.

The new interim Management Committee has Johnson Gameli Kportufe as the new President of the Association, George Quartey - General Secretary and George Bamfo as the Treasurer.

Solomon Owusu Anim was elected as the Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Lartey as the Technical Director and Nana Yaw Quansah as an Executive member.

Members of the Association called for proposals of committees to handle the various disciplines under the body namely; Roller Derby, Ring Hockey, Inline Freestyle, Skateboard and Free jump amongst others.

The change of name of the Association gives a clearly representation of the sport as the former was mostly confusing to the lovers of the sport.

The emphasis on “Skating” is legibly in conformity to International adopted naming conventions.

 Newly appointed President of GHASA, Mr. Johnson Gameli Kwaku Kportufe has been an instrumental figure in this exercise with visible efforts in setting up similar ideas in neighbouring countries like Togo Benin Burkina Faso and Niger. Replicating such strides in Ghana has been at a snail’s pace due to insufficient commitment.

The IMC has been mandated to refine all ends of the Association in six months; processes in change of name, developing and amending the constitution and planning and organization of more activities this year.

Source Ghana Skaters Association

Mensch Eight Tennis Club (M8TC), Koforidua has inaugurated its new executive board who will steer the affairs of the club for the next two years.

Branch Manager of Absa Bank, Koforidua, Mr. Edwin Bleppony, was appointed as the new chairman of the M8 Tennis Club and is expected to make tennis more attractive to the corporate world and to get more members.

Mr. Kwadwo Asare who has a lot of experience in tennis management becomes the vice-chairman.

Speaking to ghanatennis.org, Mr. Edwin Bleppony said, "I'm privileged to be at the helm of affairs of M8 Tennis Club. It's a new club and I will do everything within my power to make this club very attractive for Tennis lovers join, the name of the game is love all".

He added that "our focus is to harness more talents among the kids through more social and junior tournaments. All our club tournaments will be sponsored".

The president of M8TC Dr. Bright Amponsah who is also the founder of Bright Senior high school, Kukurantumi also pledge his support to the development of Tennis in the region.

Other executives include Captain, Mr. Richmond Kotey, and Financial Secretary, Mr. Ohene Asare.

Mr. Samuel Owusu Kwaku Addai takes up the Organizing Secretary and Dr. Michael Ankamah becomes the Welfare Secretary.

Over 15 new members were given orientation and inducted to become full members of M8TC on the day.

Story: Gabriel Amoakoh