The first Sydney Katz Tennis Open lived up to expectations leaving the organisers, Ghana Tennis Federation (GTF) and sponsors content and hopeful of a bright future for the sport.

Mrs. Cathy Morton of Activly Sports, one of the partners in organizing the competition described the programme as very successful.

"I am delighted of the standard of tennis exhibited by the junior tennis players" she said,

The tournament is to make the young players active and ready, as they prepare to take over Ghanaian tennis.

Raphael Nii Ankrah won the Boys Under 14 when he beat Nathaniel Allotey 6-1, 6-0 in an interesting game at the finals of the 2020 Sydney Katz Open for junior players at the Accra Sports Stadium last Saturday.

Doris Adjokatse outclassed Jessica Adjetey 6-3, 6-2 to win the Girls Under 14.

In the exciting Under 12 match finals, Lisel Ampah beat Hephzibaah Appiah 6-2, 6-1, while Matthew Nyarko defeated Donayus Nyaaba 6-1, 6-2 in the Boys Under12 finals. Special Prizes were given to the winners and runners up.

The 2020 Sydney Katz Juniors Tennis Open is sponsored by Twellium Industrial Company, IPMC, New York Tennis and Learning Programme, Puma Drinks, Active H.A.B.E.S.H.A and the Michael Nortey Foundation.

Over 100 children from all over the country participated in the first edition of the Sydney Katz Junior Open.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Accra Great Olympics oldies defeated Accra Hearts of oak oldies today at the La McDan Park by 2-0, goals scored by ex internationals Godwin Attram and Awuley Quaye jnr.

Lawyer Amarkai Amartefio was joined by Dr Daniel McKorley to presented a cheque of $10,000 to the winning team which was collected by Godwin Attram on behalf of the newly formed Accra Great Olympics Old Players Association (AGOOPA).

The purpose of the match was to raise funds for the Association and make people aware of the peace they are enjoying as the nation prepares for elections.

Some of the special guests for the match were TT Brothers, Perry Doku, Takyi, Director of Immigration, Fred Moore, MD of Accra Hearts of Oak, and Osei Kwaku Palmer, President of Iema Youth Football Club.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana forward, Solomon Asante has been named ‘Most Valuable Player’ (MVP) for the 2020 United Soccer League (USL) season following his outstanding displays for Phoenix Rising FC.

The attacker has this season been exceptional for his team, helping the side to emerge as Champions of the Western Conference.

Assessing the performance of players in the USL division at the end of the campaign, Solomon Asante who is captain for his Phoenix Rising FC side has been picked as the best players.

With the award, the former Black Stars forward becomes the first back-to-back MVP in the history of the USL.

For the 2020 USL Season, Solomon Asante scored 6 goals and provided 9 assists after featuring in 7 matches for Phoenix Rising FC.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt E.S Okraku, on Wednesday, November 04, 2020, held a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Lydia Dzane-Selby over partnership of mutual benefits.

The meeting, which took place at the headquarters of the NHIA in Accra, discussed a host of issues and also looked at how the two entities can work together for a common good.

They looked at various ways the GFA could get assistance for players, club administrators and GFA staff as well as a partnership between the GFA and NHIS.

Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Football Association Samuel Aboabire accompanied the President.

The leadership of NHIA, were also present. They included, Mrs. Yaa Pokua-Baiden - Dep. Chief Executive, Mrs. Ben Kusi, Director, Regional operations, Mr. Ahmed Imoro, Director, Finance, Mrs. Stella Adu-Amankwah, Head of Corporate Affairs and Mr. Francis Owusu Dep. Chief Executive for Finance.

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) was established under the National Health Insurance Act 2003, Act 650, as a body corporate, with perpetual succession, an Official Seal, that may sue and be sued in its own name.

The mission of the National Health Insurance Authority is to provide financial risk protection against the cost of quality basic health care for all residents in Ghana, and to delight subscribers and stakeholders with an enthusiastic, motivated and empathetic professional staff who share the values of honesty and accountability in partnership with all stakeholders.

GFA COMMUNICATIONS

Bechem United teenager, Prince Adu Kwabena has been handed his debut Black Stars call-up ahead of Ghana’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Sudan.

Ghana is set to face off with Sudan in a double-header encounter in the qualifiers to the 2021 AFCON tournament in the upcoming international break in what will be a clash in Group C.

Last Friday, Black Stars head coach CK Akonnor announced a 23-man squad that he will be using for the two matches.

Although the attackers did not include Prince Adu Kwabena, he has been given a late call-up  and will be part of the squad for the Sudan games.

This comes as a reward for the 17-year old’s outstanding displays in the Ghana Premier League during the 2019/2020 season.

In a campaign that was ended abruptly as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, Prince Adu Kwabena scored 8 goals in 14 appearances for his Bechem United outfit.

In the upcoming international break, Ghana will host Sudan at the Cape Coast stadium on Thursday, November 12, before traveling to Khartoum to face the Falcons five days later in the reverse fixture.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghanaian-born Jamie Leweling has reportedly rejected a call-up to play for the Black Stars in the Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan.

Leweling was a surprised inclusion in Coach CK Akonnor’s squad for the doubleheader.

The Gruether Furth attacker received an invite just months after representing Germany at youth level.

He featured for Germany in an U21 qualifier in September this year.

Reports say the 19-year-old is unwilling to switch his allegiance to Ghana with hopes of representing his country of birth at the senior level in the future.

Akonnor had claimed the player was recommended by Ghana Football Association Technical Director Bernhard Lippert.

Source-ghanasportsonline

Raphael Nii Ankrah won the Boys Under 14 when he beat Nathaniel Allotey 6-1, 6-0 in an interesting game at the finals of the 2020 Sydney Katz Open for junior players at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday.

Doris Adjokatse outclassed Jessica Adjetey 6-3, 6-2 to win the Girls Under 14.

In the exciting Under 12 match finals, Lisel Ampah beat Hephzibaah Appiah 6-2, 6-1, while Matthew Nyarko defeated Donayus Nyaaba 6-1. 6-2 in the Boys Under12 finals.

Mrs. Carthy Morton of Activly Sports, one of the organisers described the programme which was jointly made possible with the Michael Nortey Foundation as very successful.

Prizes were given to the winners and runners up.

The 2020 Sydney Katz Juniors Tennis Open is sponsored by Twellium Industrial Company, IPMC, New York Tennis and Learning Programme, Puma Drinks, Active and H.A.B.E.S.H.A.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Hamburg right-back, Jan Gyamerah, has expressed his intentions to play for the Ghana national team.

The 25-year-old has been a key part of the Bundesliga 2 side since joining them in 2019.

Despite having strong roots in Germany, he wants to feature for the Black Stars in the near future.

"It would be a dream for me to play for Ghana," the defender frankly admits to the Hamburger Abendblatt.

"I've been a big fan of the Black Stars since the 2006 World Cup. I was eleven years old - and Ghana was at a World Cup for the first time. I was absolutely thrilled."

"I told my father that I would definitely play for Ghana one day."

He has made five Bundesliga 2 appearances so far this season.

Source-footballghana

…Finals On Saturday At Accra Sports Stadium

The young Tennis players who want to take the future by storm were just exciting to watch during the week, after the Accra Sports Stadium has been fumigated to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

All the players who participated did well, even losers looked like champions and their performances prove that the future of the game is very bright, and special thanks must go to the organisers and sponsors.

The Under 12 Boys and Girls and Under 14 Boys and Girls played beyond expectations as some short or smaller player were beating bigger and older players.

At the time of filing this news, Hephzibah Appiah was supposed to play Ayidaana Akuguri in one of the Under 12 Semi Finals.

Priscilla A. Aboagye was also to play Lisel Ampah in the other Under 12 Semi Final.

In the Boy’s Under 12 Semi Finals, Ashiaman boy, Donatus Nyaaba beat Derrick Boateng of Tesano Sports club 6-2, 6-3, while Matthew Nyarko fro Winneba also defeated Joseph Atirsogbe of the Stadium club 6-0, 6-1

The finals on Saturday hope to be exciting, and Junior Tennis fans and parents are encouraged to come to the Tennis Courts of the Accra Sports Stadium with their kids to see the prospects of Ghana Tennis.

The 2020 Sydney Katz Juniors Tennis Open is sponsored by Twellium Industrial Company, IPMC, New York Tennis and Learning Programme, Puma Drinks, Active and H.A.B.E.S.H.A.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

StarTimes Ghana, the official broadcast rights holder of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) will broadcast live a minimum 68 matches in the first round of the season for the first time in the competition’s history.

This unprecedented offering is part of the work being done by the GFA and the television giant aimed at progressively growing the brand and to ensure availability of the GFA products to patrons of the game in Ghana.

To achieve this, the GFA will continue to deploy innovative ways such as the ever-popular Friday night games and Monday night football. Match scheduling will be crucial in ensuring that there are two live matches on Saturdays and Sundays.

On Matchday One, Ghanaians will be served with five (5) live games by StarTimes Ghana in the opener of the 2020-21 Ghana Premier League season, the company has announced.

Again, all the non-live league matches will be covered to give fans a comprehensive Highlights Show.

This forms part of StarTimes’ efforts to expand coverage of the top flight league to “provide the biggest and most advanced television production by far with at least 8 cameras for live matches”.

According to the Marketing Manager of StarTimes Ghana, Mrs. Akorfa Banson during the launch of the 2020-21 football season on Thursday night, the goal of the right holder is to “ensure a top-quality viewing experience for fans around the world”.

Addressing stakeholders during Thursday night’s launch, Mrs. Akorfa Banson further stated that StarTimes will “invest over USD 1 million on production, and over USD 500,000 on promotion” of the GPL activities.

According to General Secretary Prosper Harrison Addo, (Esq), this year’s league will have only 25% capacity of spectators at the various stadia in line with Covid-19 protocols of the Republic of Ghana and hence the GFA and its partners are eager to ensure that more matches are brought to the home of fans.

“The 18 Clubs are expected to give the broadcast rights partner, StarTimes all the support required as we build up the brand capital of the Ghana Premier League together” said the General Secretary of the GFA.

Source-FootballmadeinGhana