USA Boxing has announced that the upcoming 2020 National Championships will be postponed until the first quarter of 2021 due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Through this challenging year USA Boxing has made all decisions based on three guiding principles;

1. The health and safety of our boxers, coaches and officials
2. The health and safety of administrators and USA Boxing staff
3. Being responsible members of society to help battle COVID-19

Following these principles USA Boxing was able to formally move #Back2Boxing on July 11.  During the following months our Local Boxing Committee (LBC) Leaders, boxers, coaches and officials worked to cautiously and responsibly begin boxing at the local and regional levels following our guiding principles.

In September USA Boxing was forced to change the location of our Nationals after Hurricane Laura struck Lake Charles.   USA Boxing quickly pivoted and partnered with the Louisiana Office of Tourism, the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission, and with Mayor Perkins, Mayor of Shreveport, all of whom opened their arms to host our 2020 National Championships.

COVID-19 has challenged our nation and our membership with illness and death but we continued to move forward like all great boxers.  As we prepared for the 2020 National Championships, we again faced the uncertainty of COVID-19 and how it impacted our members and our nation.

“After speaking with our dedicated USA Boxing physicians and local health care professionals, as well as the Shreveport-Bossier government and the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission, we have all decided it is in the best interest and safety of our members and the Shreveport-Bossier community to postpone our 2020 National Championships until a later date,” stated Mike McAtee, USA Boxing Executive Director. “All parties agreed this decision is based on our three guiding principles and even though we have been knocked down by COVID-19, we are rising from the canvas to continue the fight. USA Boxing and our Louisiana partners are committed to a safe and successful National Championships in 2021.  With that being said, again USA Boxing staff and our Louisiana partners are pivoting to provide a safe and successful event in early 2021.”

Because of the Thanksgiving Holiday and the changing COVID-19 landscape, USA Boxing is requesting our members to understand as we gather more information regarding tournament and membership registrations in the coming days.

USA Boxing is looking forward as we move into 2021 so we can support our LBC leaders regarding local, regional and ultimately our National Championships in the first quarter 2021 in Shreveport. All participants that have registered for the December tournament will have their event registration for the new dates transferred.

By USA Boxing  

Ghana Premier League side Legon Cities are set to announce experienced Ghanaian coach Bashiru Hayford as the head coach of the side.

The former AshGold and Black Queens gaffer has reached an agreement with the Accra-based club over a three year period.

The gaffer will be announced as the head coach of the club in the coming days as the mega-rich club looks to stabilize their technical department.

Following the dismissal of their Serbian coach, several names popped up as possible replacement for The Royals who have signed several top players this season.

Ghana Black Stars B trainer Ibrahim Tanko was the favourite to land the job but the club is believed to have settled on Bashiru Hayford.

Several names including Yaw Preko, Malam Yahaya and Godwin Attram also popped up but the experience of Bashiru Hayford on the local front gave him an advantage.

Hayford’s experience spans from his days as head coach of Medeama SC through to Asante Kotoko where he guided them to win the Ghana Premier League in 2008.

He also won the league for AshGold in 2015 before being handed the coaching job of the Black Queen’s for the 2018 AWCON hosted in Ghana.

His most recent job was moving out of the country to handle the national team of Somalia and also serving as the Technical Director of the Somalia Football Association.

Footballmadeinghana

Ghana and Ajax football prodigy Mohammed Kudus says he is making progress as regards his recovery from a leg injury which has seen him miss a month’s football for both club and country.

The young attacker suffered the injury against Liverpool in a Champions League encounter in October.

He had made a lightning start at Ajax following his high profile summer move from Danish outfit Fc Nordsjaelland. However, the fairytale start was short-lived due to the injury that put a spanner in the works.

The player looks well on the road to a return to action after sharing information about his rehabilitation process.

Speaking in a video interview with his club, Kudus said “I can do almost anything again, walk normally, drive a car. Life returns to normal. I watch every game. I’m with them, in my mind too. I pray for them every game they play.”

His injury meant he needed surgery, and according to him, everything went well. “The operation went well. I have received nice messages from everyone. I want to thank everyone for those boosts,” Mohammed Kudus revealed.

“It |injured leg] is almost back to normal now. I can do almost everything again, such as driving and walking without crutches. I am doing rehab and it is now back to normal.”

Ajax have estimated that Kudus will be out for several months. However with his recovery stepping up, he might perhaps make a return to playing sooner than expected.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Black Stars coach CK Akonnor and Technical Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Bernhard Lippert are both at the Accra Sports Stadium to watch the Hearts of Oak encounter against Ashanti Gold.

The German tactician was seen alongside Black Stars head coach Charles Kwablan Akonnor at the stadium.

Lippert was hired as Francis Oti Akenteng's replacement this year. He has been tasked to help Ghana identify its football pattern.

He was in Turkey last month when played Mali and Qatar in an international friendly.

The pair started working together recently and are expected to continue to help Ghana secure qualification to the next Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament and the FIFA World Cup.

Bernhard Lippert and coach CK Akonnor will most likely lookout for players that will help the national team as they sit to enjoy the titanic clash between two of the top clubs in the Premier League.

Below are pictures of the technical director and the coach captured at the Accra Sports Stadium.

ModernGhana

The Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has commissioned an ultra-modern sports complex at New Fadama in Accra.

The sports complex, funded by the Zongo Development Fund, saw the complete transformation of the old New Fadama Park, and it has been named after the National Chief Imam, an illustrious son of the community.

Addressing Zongo chiefs, Imams, and thousands of people during the commissioning, Vice President Bawumia said the complex was constructed and named after the Chief Imam in fulfillment of a promise to him by President Akufo-Addo on the occasion of his 99th birthday in 2018.

"This gathering is a culmination of a noble gesture by President Akufo-Addo in April 2018, on the occasion of the 99th birthday anniversary of our father, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, to build an ultra-modern sports complex for the youth of New Fadama and name the facility after the National Chief Imam, a true icon of our nation," Dr. Bawumia said.

"Transforming this popular football park into an ultra-modern edifice for the football-crazy youth of New Fadama and its environs, is as apt as naming the facility after the most iconic member of this community, and one of the greatest statesmen this country has produced, Dr. Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu."

With the construction of the complex, the Akufo-Addo government has now constructed 29 Astro turfs across the country in four years, and ten out of the 29 are located in Zongo communities across the country.

Dr. Bawumia explained that President Akufo-Addo, as a former footballer in his youthful days, recognises Zongos as a hub for football talents, hence his government's decision to invest in the provision of modern football parks and stadia to help unearth, nurture and promote more talents in Zongo communities.

"Historically, Zongos have produced some if the nation's finest footballers like Baba Yara, Mohammed Polo, Sulley Muntari, etc. and it is our vision to help unearth more of such talents in the Zongis that is why we are investing in these sports complexes."

The Vice President stated that the transformation of the previously grassless and dusty Fadama Park into an ultra-modern complex for the youth of Fadama is part of the broader vision of President Akufo-Addo to prioritise and accelerate the development of Zongos, using the Ministry of Zongo and Inner Cities Development and the Zongo Development Fund as vehicles.

"Through the creation of the Ministry of Zongo and Inner Cities Development and the Zongo Development Fund, many Zongos are witnessing accelerated infrasture development and opportunities for human resource development."

"The Zongo Development Fund has supported the building and rehabilitation of access roads, bridges, drainage systems, clinics, chip compounds, toilets and water systems in many Zongo communities in all sixteen regions."

Dr. Bawumia also highlighted the Akufo-Addo government's investment in education in zongo communities such as building of classroom blocks, providing tertiary grants to needy students and awarding scholarships to 40 students from Zongo to study medicine in Cuba on government scholarship.

Having stated many achievements of the Akufo-Addo government in the Zongos, the Vice President was unequivocal in stating that no government in the history of Ghana has paid as much attention to Zongo communities as the Akufo-Addo government has done in its first term of office.

He appealed to the people of Zongo to reward President Akufo-Addo by voting for him to give him four more years to continue with his good works.

ModernGhana

SCR Altach Ghanaian forward Nana Kofi Babil hailed "a dream come true" after making his Austrian Bundesliga debut for his side at the weekend.

Coach Alex Pastoor introduced the talented 18-year-old after 81 minutes, an almost made an immediate impact.

It was almost a grandstand introduction to Austrian football after he highlighted the pace of the game upon his introduction into the game.

The talented 18-year-old climbed off the bench in his first official match for the side in their surprised 2-0 defeat at home to Wolfsberg.

Babil, who is on a season-long loan from Ghanaian side Medeama, is expected to be key for coach Alex Pastoor in his debut campaign.

The hugely talented Ghanaian has already hit the ground running and will be heavily involved for SCR Altach this season.

The speedster arrived at the Zurich Airport two months ago but the coronavirus thwarted the attacking youngster and cost his entire pre-season preparations.

But the Ghanaian finally enjoyed a dream bow in the Bundesliga after playing a cameo role in the side's defeat at home.

"Ever since I started playing soccer as a little boy in my hometown, I've dreamed of becoming a professional in Europe one day. It was the fulfilment of a childhood dream and an incredibly exciting experience at the same time - a game I will never forget. However, it is only the first step on the path that I want to take. It would have been even better if we had won the game." he told the club's official website.

He also talks about how quickly he has adapted to life in Austria- crediting his teammates for the massive show of support for the 18-year-old.

"Almost everything, actually (laughs). And that's still the case today. Whether it's the weather, the landscape, the way you train here or everyday things. I didn't know a lot and I have to learn first. But I'm getting on better and better and luckily I have teammates who support me in all areas."

He is expected to play a much bigger role when SCR Altach travels to LASK on Sunday.

The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) and the Ghana Amateur Boxing Federation (GABF) have initiated moves towards resolving the Bukom Fist of Fury’s impasse with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) over a US$30,000 sponsorship.

According to the consultant of the Fist of Fury boxing league, Mr Moses Foh-Amoaning, the organisers of the competition had engaged the leadership of the state-owned company towards seeking an amicable solution.

Reaction

Mr Foh-Amoaning was reacting to a Graphic Sports publication which indicated that the GNPC had failed to meet its sponsorship obligation of US$30,000 to the Bukom Fist of Fury.

According to the story, the GNPC issued a cheque for GH¢30,000 as its sponsorship package for the Bukom Fist of Fury instead of an agreed $30,000.

The former GBA boss, however, thanked the leadership of GNPC for their continuous support for the development of boxing and looked forward to more fruitful collaborations in the future.

Amicable solution

“We have been engaging them to resolve the mistake amicably and we don’t know how this got to the public domain. The GNPC has been very good to us since the commencement of the Bukom Fist of Fury and we don’t want their image dragged in the mud,” Mr Foh-Amoaning told the Daily Graphic yesterday.

The Bukom Fist of Fury is an annual boxing league made up of juvenile, amateur and professional fights. It is based on a collaboration between the GBA and the GABF.

Graphic Sports

Accra Great Olympics midfielder Gladson Awako says his target for the season is to earn a call up to the national team.

Awako, who is the captain of the side has been magnificent for the 'Dade' lads in the ongoing season.

The former U-20 World Cup winner starred in Olympics impressive 3-0 win over Legon Cities at the Accra Sports Stadium in matchday two of the 2020/21 Ghana Premier League.

“I want the team to secure a good place in the league and personally I hope to get a call up to any of the national teams,” he said in an interview.

On his outstanding performance of the season, he said “I have been taking care of myself and now I am more disciplined as a player. When you are growing in the game, you get more experience and also discipline matters too.”

He added that Great Olympics have been consistent also because of the decision to stick with Annor Walker as head coach.

The team had changed three managers in the truncated league season, which according to him destabilises the team when it happens.

“In a team, there should always be consistency and its good Coach Annor Walker stayed because changing of coaches didn’t help us.”

Great Olympics face Asante Kotoko in their next game in the Ghana Premier League.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Burgeoning boxer Samuel Takyi “Ring Warrior” is optimistic of winning Ghana’s first gold medal at the Olympics.

The 19-year-old amateur boxer secured a place at the rescheduled Olympics games after he defeated Uganda’s Isaac Masembe at the Olympics African Qualifiers in Senegal earlier this year.

Since the inception of the Olympics in 1952, Ghana is yet to win a gold medal in any sport and has won only 4 medals (1 silver and 3 bronze). All the medals except 1 were won by boxers.

Clement Quartey won Silver at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Eddie Blay won Bronze in Tokyo 1964, Prince Amartey as well won bronze in Munich 1972. The other medal was won by Ghana’s soccer team in 1992.

The featherweight boxer is aware of these records and has vowed to win Ghana’s first gold medal in the competition.

“I’m going to Tokyo to improve myself and I have already told Ghana I’m going to bring the gold home, we haven’t won a gold medal at the Olympics and I’m going to do this,” he told Enoch Adadevoh on KFM TV.

“I want to tell the President, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo and every big person involved to help us so we can prepare well and bring the medals to Ghana.

“And to every single Ghanaian, pray for me, I know this is my first time going to the Olympic games and I’m not going to Tokyo to joke, I’m going to bring the medal home,” Samuel added.

When quizzed whether the postponement of the Olympics from July 2020 to July 2021 due to Covid-19 has affected his preparations, he stated that it is a blessing rather than a curse for him.

“Yes I think it is good for me because I’ll get to train more and prepare well for the Olympics”.

The young boxer is one of two Ghanaian boxers who will be representing Ghana at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo. The other boxer is Suleman Tetteh, a flyweight boxer.

He made special mention of his publicist and media promoter, Mr. Sammy Heywood Okine aka ‘Genral One’ as well as the management and technical staff of the Ghana Amateur Boxing Federatin

By Mahama Shaibu

Karela Utd gets new astro-turf plus $300,000 sponsorship from GNPC

Karela United have announced a whopping $300,000 sponsorship deal from the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).

In the past year, the club has benefitted immensely from GNPC from the upgrading of the Anyinase Crosby Awuah Memorial Park to other needed interventions.

At the handover ceremony of the stadium, the Chief Executive Officer of GNPC, Dr K.K. Sarpong, announced a mouthwatering deal for Karela United for a period of three years.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors and Management of GNPC, I announce with great pleasure that from the 2020/2021 premier league season, GNPC has assumed the role of Title Sponsor of Karela United FC, which will use this park we are here to commission as its home base,” the Chief Executive of GNPC, Dr Sarpong said.

“GNPC is providing USD100,000 annually for three years, as title sponsor to finance Karela FC’s activities, in areas spelt out under a memorandum of understanding we have signed with the club,” he said.

Justifying the sponsorship and the building of the AstroTurf park for the club, Dr Sarpong said it comes as an opportunity for the GNPC to contribute to the development of Ghanaian youth.

“This affords GNPC the opportunity to contribute to the harnessing of talents and skills development of our youth as well as building social cohesion through football, the passion of the nation,” he added.

Each year, the club will receive $100,000 from GNPC to help in the running and development of the Premier League outfit.

GNPC has already upgraded the Crosby Awuah Memorial Park by laying an artificial pitch.

From Sammy Heywood Okine