Former Ghana International Otto Addo has been named as the assistant coach of Borussia Dortmund after the club decided to part ways with their head coach Lucien Favre following a 5-1 humiliation at the hands of newly-promoted Stuttgart on Saturday.

The embarrassing defeat leaves BVB fifth in the Bundesliga, five points off the pace of leaders Bayern Munich, whose 24 points are matched by RB Leipzig.

By contrast, Dortmund has earned only four points in their last five matches, although they did make impressive progress in the Champions League, finishing first in Group F ahead of Lazio.

Nonetheless, Dortmund have run out of patience after 11 games of the new campaign, deciding to sack Favre and appoint assistant Edin Terzic as interim boss until the end of the current season.

Confirming the news, the official Twitter handle of the German club said: “Assistant coach Edin Terzic has been appointed as interim manager until the end of the current season. Terzic’s coaching team will be joined by Sebastian Geppert and Otto Addo”.

The move is further testament of how highly respected Otto Addo is at the club.

Addo, who is a former player of the Yellow and Blacks, was announced as the side's 'talent coach' last year.

The role which was created for the Ghanaian is to serve as a link between the youth and senior teams.

He is responsible for helping to promote Borussia Dortmund’s most talented youngsters to the senior squad and is in charge of their supervision and additional training.

The BVB elite talent coach would now have to help as Edin Terzic attempts to halt the club’s poor run in the league this season.

The former Black Star player was at the club between 1999 and 2005, making 98 Bundesliga appearances (16 goals) and winning the 2002 Bundesliga title during his time with Dortmund.

Born in Germany, Addo represented Ghana at the World Cup in 2006, making two appearances at the event as the Black Stars reached the round of 16.

Top international female artiste, Lady Jay is always on the move, and she has put together her latest love - wedding song, coming just some few weeks after she got married.

Now located in Rome, Italy, the amazing meticulous music empress says she is about to do more wonderful things.

Wahala Entertainment, her managers and promoters are excited about her new vision and are supporting her to break through Africa and Europe with her talent and charming voice.

All her songs have meaning or they tell a story and this is one that her loved ones will cherish.

“I wrote a wedding song for bae @kevins.haze ❤this is wedding part one, part two my destination wedding in Rome  loading 2021.Location @axis_suites  make up @ayo_a_ghana   Dress gifted by @fdfashionhouse88  shot by @wahalaentertainment  @freddahe  decor by @joycelynabeasi  @ritzy_events_ghana  I want to say a big thank you to everyone and here is a little snippet of my next single .enjoy thank. keep streaming.

The wedding song dropping soon with @ponobiom. I want to say a bug thank u again to @laladzy u know why I appreciate u” she posted on her social media platform.

“My People. Oooooohhh I Have Something for You All Today.  I got married ❤❤❤ and I will be posting a video soon. watch out for the surprises” she added.

Lady Jay made history to fly on stage; she is coming up with more wonders. Watch out.

Follow Lady Jay on instagram or twitter @LadyJayLives or on Facebook @LadyJayOFFICIAL

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghanaian defender Jonathan Mensah shed tears as he led Columbus Crew to win the 2020 Major League Soccer Cup on Sunday.

Mensah produced a sold shift in the defence to help Porter's men keep a clean sheet in their 3-0 win over Seattle Sounders.

The 30-year-old was seen in the video below crying as he became the first skipper to led Crew to win their second MLS Cup having clinched their first title in 2008.

Afful got the hosts off to a flying start at Mapfre Stadium by assisting Lucas Zelarayan for the opening goal in the 25th minute.

footballmadeinghana

The Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) is set to kick start a training programme for coaches and technical officials ahead of the 2023 African Games to be hosted by Ghana.

The programme is expected to take place between December 2020 and November 2021 after the GAA received certification from World Athletics (WA) and Confederation of African Athletics (CAA).

A statement signed by the General Secretary of GAA, Mr. Bawah Fuseni said the association is engaged with WA and CAA for support and capacity building initiatives aimed at enhancing Ghanaian coaches and technical officials in run up to the 2023 African Games.

”With the concurrence from WA and CAA and in consultation with the Local Organizing Committee through its Chief Operating Officer Dr. Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, the GAA is resuming implementation of series coaching and officiating courses around the country between December 2020 and November 2021.

”What is encouraging for Athletics in Ghana is that despite the lengthy list on WA and CAA support to organize Level 1 and 2 officiating courses, Ghana's request was fast-tracked. Permission was granted to organize Level 1 officiating courses in February 2021 and Level 2s in November 2021. GAA extends it profound gratitude to WA and CAA," the statement said.

The statement added that the GAA has had preliminary consultation with the COO of the Local Organizing Committee of the 2023 African Games with regards to the technical support from WA and the certification of running behind tracks to be constructed.

The GAA said they are poised in keeping Ghanaians updated with preparations towards the Africa Games.

Ghana hopes to enjoy its best-ever medal performance when it hosts the 2023 African Games ©GOC

Ghana has set the target of winning its highest-ever medals total when it hosts the African Games for the first time in 2023.

Local Organising Committee chairman Kwaku Ofosu-Asare has urged National Federations to make sure they begin preparations to ensure the country is as successful as possible.

"This is the first time Ghana would be hosting the Games since its inception over 50 years ago and we need to do well on the medal table," Ofosu-Asare told sports leaders at a special meeting, the Government-owned newspaper the Ghanaian Times reported.

Ghana has won a total of 185 medals, including 36 gold, since making its debut at the first African Games in Brazzaville in the Republic of the Congo in 1965, leaving them 11th on the all-time table.

At the last Games, in Rabat in 2019, Ghana were ranked 15th on the final medals table.

They won a total of 13 medals, with Rose Amoanimaa Yeboah winning gold in the women’s high jump and the men claiming victory in the 4x100 metres relay.

Ofosu-Asare chaired a meeting of all Ghana’s national governing bodies to discuss preparations for the Games due to take place in Accra, Kumasi, and Cape Coast on dates to be confirmed.

"We are mainly interested in medals and ultimately to make a huge impression on the continent," he said.

"This is not one of the usual talk shops.

"The Federations have agreed to work with us to serve the interest of athletes, coaches, administrators and the country at large."

By Duncan Mackay 

Precious Okoh Nunana emerged winner of the maiden trophy in the 2020 She Plays Tennis Trophy Challenge.

The second edition of the all ladies tennis competition dubbed" SHE PLAYS TENNIS" which attracted 25 participants ended the Accra Sports Stadium - Accra Tennis Centre.

Precious, a member of the Ho Tennis Club defeated the defending champion, Linda Mercedes Jones. She demonstrated another definitive performance with her unique balls returning abilities to beat Lola Mogaji to lift the trophy.

Babolat Sport Shop, Omo, Zen Garden, Beautiful Beneath among others supported the competition.

Precious Okoh Nunana who received sponsors products and a trophy expressed her joy after lifting her first ever trophy and thanked all who made it possible for her to travel to partake in this competition.

"I am extremely happy for myself after this feat, this is my first trophy as a tennis player, it's a great achievement for, I am now determined to work hard to win more laurels. I also thank everyone who made it possible for me to travel and play in the competition" she said.

"SHE PLAY TENNIS" is an annual tennis competition organised for only up and coming ladies in both the Beginner and Intermediate levels to create awareness and encourage ladies on the benefits of the sport.

Mrs. Catherine Morton, the C.E.O and organiser of the competition articulated the necessity for more females in all professions to join the tennis fraternity to broaden their scopes. She called on other benevolent organisations who wished to offer generously as forms of sponsorships to come on board.

"There is always the need for ladies in all professions to join the tennis fraternity, this I believe will help broaden their scope a d help them in line of sports. I also call on all institutions, corporate bodies and private individuals to come on board to sponsor or partner us in this sports call tennis" she added.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Columbus Crew captain Jonathan Mensah wrote his name in the club’s history as he became the first African to lift the Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup for the Black & Gold.

Crew beat Seattle Sounders 3-0 on Saturday night to win their second MLS championship.

A brace from Lucas Zelarayan and a goal from Derrick Etienne was enough to ensure that Mensah will be lifting the trophy at the end of the game.

Zelarayan’s first goal was assisted by Ghanaian full back Harrison Afful who also had an outstanding season in the MLS.

Harrison assisted the goal that opened the scoring in the #MLSCup final.

Mensah played every minute of the 2020 MLS regular season and was named in the MLS Team Of The Year following his standout performances.

The 30-year-old, who was appointed Crew captain of the club prior to the 2020 season opener, was also very influential in the finals and thanked the fans for their support.

The former AshGold defender assisted the only goal in the MLS Conference Finals and helped his side keep a clean sheet in the final against Seattle Sounders.

Mensah celebrated with Ghanaian compatriots Harrison Afful and Emmanuel Boateng after Crew’s triumph.

Harrison Afful second from left and Emmanuel Boateng at the center all celebrated Crew’s title.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana's world title hope, Jessie Manyo Plange aka ‘The Black Flash’ dominated Alexis Kabore of Burkina Faso and won via unanimous decision after 10 rounds of international bantamweight contest at Floxy place, Lekki AjahEpe Expressway Lagos, Nigeria on Saturday, December 12, 2020.

The undefeated talented and skillful Jessie Manyo Plange (20-0-1, 17 KOs) weighed at 116.8 lbs for the 10-round bantamweight contest on the LPMG Boxing Promotions fight night in Lagos, Nigeria.

His  opponent, Alexis Kabore (28-3, 7 KOs) of Burkina Faso came in heavier at 119.05 Ibs as a sub for Aminu Akintayo in their Saturday night clash, but Plange was too much as he boxed marvelously to also entertained the officials with neat technique.

“Good Professional and Measured performance. Hardly broke a sweat. Good job Manyo, let's see what’s next in the year” said John Marfo of Fight Ready Promotions.

Plange is a former skipper of the national boxing team, the Black Bombers, and has vast experience in the game.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana’s Jonathan Mensah, Harrison Afful and Emmanuel Boateng have won their first Major League Soccer Cup with American club Columbus Crew.

Columbus Crew were crowned the 2020 MLS Cup champions after they defeated Seattle Sounders FC 3-0 at the Mapfre Stadium, in Columbus Ohio.

Ghanaian center back, Harrison Afful grabbed an assist after he set up Argentinian player Lucas Zelarayan who scored the first goal of the game for the Crew.

Columbus Crew dominated the first half as they pressed forward often and remained committed at the back. The team got its second goal thanks to Derrick Etienne who scored in the 31st minute.

Seattle Sounders came close to scoring a couple of times in the second half but were very unlucky in attack.

In the final minutes of the game Lucas Zelarayan grabbed his second goal of the game in the 82nd minute.

Ghanaian captain and defense marshal, Jonathan Mensah led Columbus Crew to win their second MLS Cup. Emmanuel Boateng, Columbus Crew’s 3rd Ghanaian player, was an unused substitute in the game.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Anthony Joshua put up a good performance to dispatch Kubrat Pulev in nine rounds in London on Saturday, and looked up to facing Tyson Fury in 2021 for a unification bout.

The WBA, IBF and WBO world heavyweight champion retained his titles by turning on the power switch to drop Pulev twice in the ninth round. It was Joshua's first knockout win since his previous performance on home soil, in September 2018.

According to ESPN report, Pulev crumbled to the canvas under a barrage of right uppercuts and was then finished by a straight right hand.

Floyd Mayweather Jr., the retired former pound-for-pound boxing No. 1, made a trip from the United States to be among the 1,000 present at the SSE Arena and was the first to congratulate Joshua at ringside.

Since halting Alexander Povetkin two years ago, the English boxer lost his titles via a shock knockout to American Andy Ruiz Jr. before regaining them on points a year ago. This was a much more explosive performance from Joshua than the Ruiz rematch, as Joshua floored tough Pulev twice in Round 3 and twice in Round 9 in front of the first crowd at a professional boxing event in the U.K. since March.

Anthony Joshua unleashed a barrage of right uppercuts on Kubrat Pulev before finishing him with a straight right hand. Andrew Couldridge/Getty Images

A second defense in his second reign as world heavyweight clears the way for Joshua to fight either rival world heavyweight champion Fury, his fellow Englishman, or Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk first in 2021.

Fury, regarded as the world No. 1 heavyweight by ESPN after stopping Deontay Wilder for the WBC title in February, would be the preferred choice, but because of mandatory defense obligations, former undisputed world cruiserweight champion Usyk might be the first person in the opposing corner to Joshua in 2021.

"It's not about the opponent -- it's about who has got the belt, and if that's Tyson Fury, let it be Tyson Fury," Joshua said. "It's one fight at a time, picking them off one by one."

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn said he wants Fury to be Joshua's next opponent in 2021, despite the obstacles, including legal action Wilder has brought to enforce a third fight with Fury.

"Let's make the Tyson Fury fight straightaway; it's the biggest fight in boxing," Hearn said. "Let's talk more action. It's about legacy and we will get it done."

Fury does not have a fight booked at this time, and Top Rank promoter Bob Arum tweeted his intentions to make this fight after Joshua's win.

"It looks like the stage is set for the biggest Heavyweight championship fight since Ali-Frazier in 1971, when @Tyson_Fury meets @anthonyfjoshua for the undisputed crown," Arum wrote. "We at Top Rank will start on Monday working to put that fight together."

Fury also had a message for Joshua on social media, which will only increase speculation the fight will be made for Joshua's next fight.

Anthony Joshua removes doubt with Kubrat Pulev win, but is he ready for Tyson Fury?

Joshua (24-1, 22 KOs), 31, told ESPN he has worked on his stamina after his clash with Pulev was delayed from taking place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in north London, in June because of the coronavirus pandemic.

But so, too, had Pulev (28-2, 14 KOs), 39, judging by how he looked. The Bulgarian weighed slightly less than Joshua's 240 pounds, lighter than when he challenged Wladimir Klitschko for the same world title belts six years ago, and that conditioning enable Pulev to get up from two knockdowns in the third round.

After a heated weigh-in, both started cagey behind their jab, and it was difficult to decide who won the opener. But Joshua exploded into action in the third round and dropped Pulev twice.

The champion opened his attack with a right to the temple and Pulev never recovered, turning his back before being given a count. Pulev was sent tumbling back again for another count later in the third after taking a right uppercut. After surviving a third-round crisis, Pulev showed great resilience again in the fifth after taking a straight right hand and responding with his own shots.

But Joshua dominated this fight, even if he was less aggressive and explosive than he was in the third round until the ninth-round finish. Joshua leaned on his jab and movement, staying out of danger while setting up openings for combinations. The end was savage.

"Boxing is about less talk and more action, and I hope everyone was satisfied," Joshua said. "For me, I stuck to what I know best where I'm going to put shots."

Joshua finished Pulev with a classic one-two in the ninth round, after dropping Pulev earlier in the round with a series of right uppercuts. It was a great finish, which surely restores some confidence in Joshua after the Ruiz defeat in June 2019.

From Sammy Heywood Okine