The 2020 FIFA Global Transfer market report has proven the Ghanaian Football landscape received in excess of 1 Millions US Dollars from activities of player movements in the year under review.

FIFA published the 2020 edition of the FIFA Global Transfer Market Report, which charts the transfers of professional men’s and women’s players.

For the first time, the report also includes the transfers of amateur footballers worldwide. Thanks to changes to the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) and enhancements to the Transfer Matching System (TMS), since July 2020 FIFA has also been able to process and facilitate transfers of amateurs in TMS.

During the first six months of implementation, some 17,382 amateur players switched clubs.

Football player transfers represent not only the largest movement of sports people but also the largest of all sectors of economic or social activity.

A total of 35,744 transfers across borders were recorded in 2020: 18,112 involving professionals (men and women) plus another 17,632 involving amateurs.

For Ghana, a total of 106 players were transferred into the domestic leagues from other parts of the world, whiles 165 others were transferred from the Domestic leagues, with 37 engaging clubs, while 39 other clubs were involved in releasing the players.

The Financial benefits of the transfers amounted to 1.3 million US dollars coming to the Ghana League, with 0 US Dollars in Spending from the clubs.

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Cheetah FC named amongst top 10 clubs in Africa following FIFA’s 2020 Global transfer Market report

Ghana’s Cheetah FC came 4th behind Etoile Sportive du Sahel, Asec Mimosas of Ivory Coast, and TP Mazembe of DR Congo in the latest FIFA Global transfer market report for 2020 as the clubs with the most transfers on players [outgoing].

With 12 players leaving the club, Cheetah FC becomes the only Ghanaian club in the list, and sharing the singular platform with Africa’s great Football clubs including Al Ahly of Egypt who shipped out 15 players.

The report which analyzes the total transfer of Professional and Amateur men and Women Football placed the Central regional based club amongst the top 10 clubs in .Africa

Although the absolute numbers show a decline for the first time in the last

ten years, the transfer activity of professional football players in 2020 was still high, demonstrating the considerable resistance and strength of football in the worldwide employment activity, with a total of 17,077 international transfers representing a decrease of 5.4% compared to 2019, while still slightly higher than 2018. It is important to note that only 14,432

distinct players were involved in those 17,077 transfers, as many players moved more than once during the course of the year (e.g. going out on a loan and then returning from that loan).

These 14,432 players represented 180 different nationalities.

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number of transfers can be

easily identified in Figure 4.

In January 2020, the number of international transfers was up 9.2% compared to the same period in the previous year, and this increase would probably have been even more significant in the second transfer window.

But after the pandemic started spreading across the globe, the usual peak in July did not happen, with a large number of competitions not being completed and many member associations shifting their registration periods.

Instead, there was a longer and more extensive period of transfer activity, beginning in early July and reaching its peak in late September, and even continuing into October

Below is the top 10 clubs in terms of player transfers in Africa.

The Professional Combat Sports Association (PCSA) in collaboration with the Jiu Jitsu Federation of Ghana presents Combat Jiu Jitsu Referees and Judges course 2021 as well as Grappling and Officiating course including self-defence training for Journalists.

The programme comes on this Saturday, 23 January at 10am, at the City Engineers, inside Attoh Quarshie Boxing Gym at James Town in Accra.

Mr. Benie Johnson, PRO of the Association said it is time the sports media in Ghana know what they have been doing over the years, and study their laws, techniques and tactics.

He expressed that the combat sport  is very interesting and entertaining, and hoped that journalists would love the sports and inform the public accurately on their progrmmes and events.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Mr. Michael Tetteh, a popular boxing promoter  in Ghana has hailed the formation of the Boxing Writers Association of Ghana.

He said they will contribute to the promotion of Ghana Boxing and help in publishing boxing news and also get information on boxing all over the world.

He commended the members who are made up of astute and experienced sports journalists like Sammy Heywood Okine, Mustapha Nettey, Ekow Asmah, Nat Attoh, John Vigah, Phil Johnny Quartey, Sammy Ofosuhene, Prince Dornu – Leiku ( Dornu’s Corner) and others.

According to Mr. Tetteh also called ‘Golden Mike’,  Ghana Boxing in 2021 will be wonderful if government supports the GBA and the right structures get working as well as sponsors to support the promoters from the corporate entities.

He said there is the need to let the Ghana Government understand that Boxing is the only sport that has the name of Ghana written in GOLD in the whole world. “Boxing should be rated ahead of football in Ghana. Therefore the Government should support boxing to the fullest to enhance the boxers performance so as achieve laurels for the country” he expressed.

Mr. Tetteh who is a member of international boxing bodies said despite the fact that there was not much bouts, boxers like Wasiru Mohammed who holds the WBO Global title deserves recognised.  He remembers Wasiru successfully defended his WBO Global bantamweight title in grand style last year against an experienced Benin opponent.

“Although Emmanuel Tagoe and Isaac Dogboe also fought last year theirs were 10 rounders but Manyo Plange was also special, as he fought twice outside Ghana” he noted.

The CEO of Golden Mike Boxing Promotions appealed to people to observe the protocols of the Covid -19 pandemic.

He promised to put up a boxing show very soon, which will feature some of the very popular boxers in Accra.

By Naa Amerley Commey

Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed his confidence that China will host a successful Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, reports Xinhua News.

President Xi made the remarks during an inspection tour in Beijing on Monday, January 18 on the preparatory work for the Games.

At the Capital Gymnasium, athletes and coaches of China’s national figure skating and short track speed skating teams told Xi of their preparations for Beijing 2022 and expressed confidence in winning gold medals.

President Xi said that the CPC (Communist Party of China) Central Committee paid great importance to the preparatory work ahead of Beijing 2022 and added that both the Party and the Chinese people had given tremendous support in both material and spiritual terms.

The President noted that he was very gratified to see that the preparations for Beijing 2022 were well underway and that the athletes’ training was producing good results. He also expressed confidence that the 2022 winter sports extravaganza would be a success and would boost winter sports participation among the population.

At the National Alpine Skiing Center in Yanqing District, President Xi observed the operations of the Alpine skiing competition venue and also took in a training session for athletes in the competition’s finishing area.

The foundation of building a sporting powerhouse lies in mass sports, he said.

President Xi called for the development of China’s winter sports, especially snow sports, as well as better promoting winter sports among 300 million people. He also expressed hopes that hosting the Beijing Winter Olympics in February 2022 would contribute to China’s goal of becoming a global sporting power.

“Let’s go, Chinese winter sports,” attendees chanted in unison as President Xi was set to depart from the skiing center.

“Let’s go,” the President replied.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has signed a one-year partnership deal with Woodin Ghana Limited as Official Textile sponsors.

Per the partnership agreement, Woodin would provide the GFA with customized fabrics throughout the year.

The Fabric Company is also expected to provide customized office wears including Polo shirts, joggers, jackets, baseball caps to the GFA.

The sponsorship agreement is subject to renewal after December 31, 2021.

Woodin is a leading fabric retailer with 22 stores across the continent. Its stores and styles reflect the African pride and versatility in a vibrant and creative atmosphere with an aim to be the top retailer in Africa.

GFA COMMUNICATIONS

2020 Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Sports Personality of the year award winner Raphael Botsyo Nkegbe has begun preparations towards the 2020/ 21 Paralympic Games which comes on in Tokyo, Japan.

Nkegbe who plays wheelchair basketball and races on the wheelchair was named SWAG Personality of the Year after winning multiple competitions in wheelchair sprint events including the Desert Challenge in the USA and qualifying to his fourth Olympics and Paralympics.

The veteran versatile para athlete has commenced training at the Accra Sports Stadium and his early preparations is geared towards ending his medal drought at the Olympics after three missed attempts.

Nkegbe’s training at the Stadium is non residential and forms part of multiple phases to be completed before leaving for Tokyo.

He said the second phase will be residential camping in Cape Coast or Tamale to prepare for the third phace in Switzerland, France or Tunisia to compete in some international events before the Paralympic Games in August.

Qualifying to the Tokyo Olympics which was moved from 2020 to August later this year due to the Covid -19 pandemic makes Nkegbe the sole Ghanaian athlete with the most appearances at the multi sport competition.

He appeals to the government and people of Ghana, companies, the National Paralympic Committee of Ghana, the National Sports Authority (NSA) and the media to support him to realize his dream of getting Ghana first medal Paralympic.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Black Queens Midfielder Elizabeth Addo has joined North Carolina Courage in the National Women’s Soccer League.

The Black Queens skipper penned a year deal with the United States of America based women’s top-flight side.

NC Courage head coach Paul Riley eulogized Addo’s style and her experience after her signing.

“Elizabeth is skillful, clever, and has the pace to burn”

“She has game-changing ability and has NWSL experience already which is important for her in adapting to our style of play. Her good soccer mind and fabulous feet make her a handful for opponents. She will revel in the challenges of our training environment and the fans will have another individual talent to admire” NC Courage head coach Paul Riley said.

Addo joins the Courage from Apollon Limassol where she was on a short-term contract. Before playing for the Cypriot First Division team, she was a member of the Chinese team Jiangsu Suning, champions of the Chinese Women’s Super League. The forward helped the team win three major titles, scoring five goals and having seven assists in 14 games.

From Naa Amerley Commey

YAOUNDE, Cameroon, January 18, 2021/ -- FIFA (www.FIFA.com) President Gianni Infantino concluded a two-day trip to Cameroon, where he has met with dignitaries of the country and key officials from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Cameroonian Football Association (Fecafoot). The trip coincided with the start of the African Nations Championship (CHAN), which is being hosted in three Cameroon cities from 16 January until 7 February 2021.

The FIFA President, who was received in a private audience by Paul Biya, the President of the Republic of Cameroon, at the Unity Palace in Yaounde on Friday, subsequently attended a ceremony which conferred the title of CAF Honorary President to Issa Hayatou, who presided over the confederation from 1988 to 2017.

“I had the pleasure of providing President Biya with an update in relation to FIFA’s role in supporting football, not only in Cameroon, but also across Africa and globally,” said the FIFA President, who was accompanied at the meeting by CAF President Constant Omari. The FIFA President would also later meet Cameroon Prime Minister Joseph Ngute during the visit to Yaounde.

“Equally, meeting with CAF and Fecafoot officials, it was important to show FIFA’s support to football in Cameroon and across the African continent, especially as the African Nations Championship just kicked off, the first international tournament being played in 2021, and spectators are attending matches according to the safety protocols which have been established,” the FIFA President added. “It sends an important message to have football restarting in Africa, particularly in an indisputable football country such as Cameroon.”

Prior to leaving the country, Gianni Infantino attended the opening ceremony and the opening match of the CHAN final tournament, where hosts Cameroon narrowly overcame Zimbabwe at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium in Yaounde. In total, 16 African national teams are participating in what is the sixth African Nations Championship, a biennial tournament which involves players from the respective domestic leagues.

The event has also received support from FIFA as, since October 2020, CAF has been using FIFA’s COVID Relief Fund grant (USD 2 million) to restart their competitions, with the medical protocols, flights and accommodation for match officials at CHAN being subsidised through this funding.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Fédération internationale de football association (FIFA).

SOURCE- Fédération internationale de football association (FIFA)

Jessie Manyo Plange aka ‘Black Flash’ has been voted overwhelmingly as best Professional Boxer of the year 2020 by the Boxing Writers Association Ghana (BWAG).

He won the prestigious tag from contenders like WBO super bantamweight Global champion Wasiru ‘Gyatabi’ Mohammed, highly rated two times former IBF world champion Joseph ‘Fresh King Kong’ Agbeko, former IBO lightweight champion Emmanuel ‘Game Boy’ Tagoe and former WBO super bantamweight champion Isaac ‘Royal Storm’ Dogboe who made the top five.

Coach of the year was share by Carl Lokko of the Bronx Gym and Lartekwei Lartey of the Fit Square Gym.

Promoter of the year went to Box Office headed by Mr. Alex Ntiamoah, with Manager of the year going to Mr. Ivan Bruce Cudjoe of Cabic Management fame for managing to organize the broadcast of the Boxing Day Rumble on GTV Sports Plus.

Boxing Referee / Judge of the year was taken by Erasmus Owoo.

Special Appreciation Awards went to Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah, President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), the Ghana Boxing Supporters Union (GBSU) and Mr. D. A. Annan, an official of the GBA.

In the amateur division, the Best Boxer went to 20 year old Samuel Takyi aka ‘Ring Warrior’ who has qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Prince ‘The Buzz’ Larbie was voted as the Best Juvenile Boxer.

Best Boxing Facility went to the Bukom Boxing Arena inside the Trust Sports Emporium in Accra.

Mustapha Nettey, a member of the Boxing Writers Association Ghana said the year under review was very challenging as Covid-19 did not allow many boxing events to be held, however those who exceled in the nine categories must be recognized and rewarded.

He hoped that the Awards will get better as the years roll on.

“This is our premier programme and all the winners will receive plaques, we hope to celebrate our boxing heroes the best way that we can” he added.

By Sammy Heywood Okine