A select side of Ex- footballers from the Greater Accra Region defeated their contemporaries from the Central and Western Region 4-3 in the Battle of the Stars match played at the Nduom Sports Complex in Elmina on Sunday.

The Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG) members engaged each other in an exhibition clash as part of an initiative of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), the GFA and the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG), with support from GTV Sports+, to promote domestic and international tourism through football.

Ex- Ghana international Felix Aboagye shot  the Central& Western PFAG team in the lead with a quick brace before the Accra-team pulled one back.

Augustine Arhinful then scored for the Central& Western side but after some substitutions in the second half, the Accra-based side fought back to secure a hard earned win with.

Godfred Aduobi who scored a hat-trick for the Accra-based side and emerged as the best player for the match.

The players who featured in the game include former Ghana & Bayern Munich star Samuel Osei Kuffour, former Getafe and Ghana midfielder Derick Boateng, Yaw Preko, Abukari Damba, Felix Aboagye, Godwin Attram, Laryea Kingston, Odartey Lamptey and Peter Ofori Quaye.

Others include, former Ghana right back John Paintsil, Godwin Ablordey, Jerry Akaminko, Thomas Duah, Afo Dodoo, Ablade Kumah, Yaw Acheampong, Godfred Aduobi and Razak Ibrahim.

The western based side also featured the likes of Kofi Nimo, Stephen Baidoo, Kweku Essien, Felix Aboagye, Augustine Arhinful, Joe Hendricks, Odartey Lamptey, Linda Eshun etc.

The game was attended by top football officials including GFA President Kurt ES Okraku, General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo, CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority Akwasi Agyeman and the Omanhene of Edina Traditional Area, Nana Kodwo Condua VI.

FootballmadeinGhana

Yeni Malatyaspor midfielder, Afriyie Acquah has said that he is "extremely happy" to be recalled into the senior national team.

The 28-year-old who is in top form for the Turkish Super Lig side is returning to the Black Stars team for the first time since the 2019 Nations Cup.

“Anytime that I am invited to play for the national team I am always happy," he told Sportsworldghana.com.

"The feeling is always great and I know that many Ghanaians appreciate my inclusion in the Black Stars because I always try to give my best to help the team. I am extremely happy to be back."

Afriyie Acquah added: “I always try to do my best for the team. I am going to do the same job I have been doing for the team. To play well and help the team win the game."

"I want to help the team to qualify for the AFCON as we try to win the tournament this time around. We reached the finals in 2015 and have made a couple of semifinals appearances and now the most important thing for us is to try to win the AFCON for our country. This is what I am looking forward to achieving with the team.”

Sportsworldghana.com

Ghana could miss the services of midfield dynamo, Thomas Partey in the AFCON qualifiers against Sudan on Thursday at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.

The highly-rated midfielder limped off in Arsenal game last Sunday against Aston Villa where the Gunners were hammered 3:0.

Partey will be undergoing a scan on Monday to know the extent of the injury.

But speaking after the game, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta responding to a question on Partey’s injury said, “We don’t know [the extent] of it,” Mikel Arteta revealed. “We have to scan him tomorrow or the day after and see what he felt straight away. Let’s wait and see what the magnitude of the injury is.

“I don’t know [if he will go away with Ghana now]. As I said, the doctor will have to have a look at him and probably scan him. Then we will decide what to do with him.”

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Due to medical reasons, Coach of the Black Stars C. K Akonnor has made seven additions to his squad ahead of Ghana’s doubleheader against Sudan.

The players include Andrew Kyere Yiadom (Reading FC), Majeed Ashimeru (Red Bull Salzburg), Joseph Attamah Larweh (Keyserispor), Afriyie Acquah (Yeni Malatyaspor) and Clifford Aboagye (Tijuana FC).

The rest are; Kwadwo Amoako (AshantiGold SC) and Christopher Nettey (Asante Kotoko SC)

The Black Stars will begin camping in Accra on Monday, November 09, ahead of the game on Thursday, November 12, 2020.

Ghana will face Sudan at the Cape Coast stadium on Thursday, November 12, before travelling to Khartoum three days later for the reverse tie.

GFA

Mensah has announced that he is taking a temporary break from international football

Turkey-based midfielder Bernard Mensah has announced that he is taking a temporary break from international football after a chequered stint.

This comes days after the Besiktas star was excluded from a 24-man squad to face Sudan in a double-header of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Mensah, 26, claims he wants to concentrate on club football.

A statement on his Twitter account read: ''I have decided to take a break from the national team until further notice .. I want to concentrate on my career for now .. thanks to all Ghanaians for their support.''

From Elizabeth Alhassan

Mr. Kudjoe Fianoo, Chairman of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) has commended organizer of the Ghana League Walk for her bold initiative to promote Ghana Football.

Speaking to the media after the programme, he praised the laudable idea of Miss Elizabeth Alhassan and appealed to other stakeholders to support the concept.

He said starting a good thing is often not easy, but prayed that as the years go by, the Walk will receive bigger attention and patronage.

“Like every new event, it came with teething challenges, but it wasn’t that bad” he stated.

He expressed that since the Ghana Premier League was doing quite well until the coronavirus pandemic broke, everything should be made to sustain the enthusiasm and passion.

Mr. Fianoo who started the Walk at the Accra Shopping Mall and completed at the Madina Zongo Astro Turf hailed the media, spearheaded by the Sports Writers Association (SWAG) for promoting the league.

The Walk attracted the MP for Madina, Hon Abubakar Boniface, Madam Gloria Commodore, Executive Director of WISA and Mrs. Joyce Mahama, President of WOSPAG.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Executives of the Ghana Mini Football Association last Friday paid a courtesy call on the president of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Ben Nunoo Mensah at his office in Accra.

The three man delegation comprised Mr. Ako Nai, President, Mr. Emmanuel Anyetei Adjei, Secretary and Mr, Evans Amewugah, Communications Director.

They briefed the GOC President on their history, preparedness to support the grooming, training of young players especially with the Mini Football and plans for the future.

They also enquired about processes to be affiliated to the GOC and the possibilities of adding Mini Football to the sports disciplines for the 2023 African Games to be hosted in Ghana.

The GOC President welcomed them and advised them to be active with their programmes, activities and contacts with their parent international body in Switzerland as well as the continental body in Tunisia.

According to Mr. Ako Nai, their game is different from the normal football and futsal, as they use a smaller field and ball and the game is handled by four referees.

He disclosed that Ghana has once participated in an international tournament and they are ranked 9^th.

He said they have applied and are in the process of joining the National Sports Authority (NSA).

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Ghana League Walk 2020 which took place last Saturday from the Accra Shopping Mall to the Madina Zongo Astro Turf has been hailed as a good initiative and should be supported by the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

The Ghana League Walk which is a concept to draw awareness and patronage for the local football competition is the brainchild of Miss Elizabeth Alhassan, a young sports journalist.

She said that is her portion of support for Ghana Football and appealed to sponsors to come on board in the next edition.

She also thanked Hon. Abubakar Boniface for his wonderful support and influence.

Madam Elizabeth King, Chairperson of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) Women’s Commission congratulated all who joined in the Walk and the Fun Match.

Mrs. Joyce Mahama, President of WOSPAG said the laudable idea should be organized by the clubs and GHALCA should support the concept.

Madam Gloria Commodore, Executive Director of Women In Sports Association (WISA) said women must support women’s initiatives, and commended the young lady who is also PRO of WISA.

She promised to honor female footballers and other personalities who excel during the year.

She appealed to corporate Ghana and partners of the GFA to support the Ghana League Walk.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Gina Fiagbenu’s book The Wish List was launched at the Accra City Hotel. The Wish List is officially out for sale.

She expressed gratitude to God for the gift of life, strength, perseverance and for connecting me to the right people.

She thanked all who supported her.

Grab a copy to find out what The Wish List is all about.

You can get copies from the under listed sources. More will be added later.

Yaa Boafoa Asare 0244672145

- Buabeng Books 0557744362, 0246882632,

www.buabengbooks.com/bookstore

-Northern Ghana Distributor Martha Anabila 0549578512

A copy is 50 cedis only.

From Sammy Heywiid Okine

44 participants have taken part in the recent 3 -day National referees and match delegate course.

It was organised by the Handball Association of Ghana at the Cape Coast Sports stadium from Wednesday 4th to Friday 6th November, 2020 where all the delegates were presented with certificates of participation by the association.

In attendance at the closing ceremony was the Central Regional sports Director at the NSA, Mr. Alexander Tieku and Central Regional PE Director, Mr. Seth Ayensu Bortsie including other top sports dignitaries.

A minute silence was also observed in respect of the late Saka Acquaye, who played an instrumental role in the development of sports in the country.

Picture of the official closing ceremony.

From Sammy Heywood Okine