… Rose Yeboah Amoanimaa and Grace Mintah battle for topmost award

The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG), the umbrella body of sports journalists in Ghana has announced nominees for the 49th edition of the most prestigious SWAG Awards.

The SWAG Awards, an occasion and event to celebrate sports excellence, is the longest running award scheme in Ghana that rewards top performing Sports Men and Women consistently since 1975 and recognizes the efforts of persons involved in Sports development.

A statement issued and signed by the General Secretary of the Association, Charles Osei Asibey, mentioned that the 49th edition is scheduled to take place at the Accra International Conference Center on Friday, January 24, 2025, at 6pm prompt.

The statement said over 80 Top performing athletes and officials within the year under review who contributed to results and the development of sports have been shortlisted for honours.

Below is the full list of nominees for the 49th SWAG Awards.

CORPORATE AWARDS

Access Bank

KGL

AFE Lotto

MERITORIOUS AWARD

Mr. Ernest Thompson – Football

Dr. Kwaku Ofosu-Asare – 13th African Games

Ernest Danso – CDM, 13th African Games

DEDICATION AND VALOUR

Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah Asare – Cricket

Hannah Akua Humphrey – Taekwondo

Believer, Matchmaker – Boxing

Mr Joseph Yaw Appiah – Football

Carl Lokko – Pro Boxing Trainer

Alhaji Grunsah – Football Administrator

New Juaben Table Tennis Club

POSTHUMOUS AWARD

Dr Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah

STUDENT ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

William Amponsah – West Texas A&M University

Mariam Yussif – St Louis Senior High School

Naseera Efua Kwansah – Effutu Senior High School

REFEREE/UMPIRE OF THE YEAR

Nii Otoo Larkyne – Armwrestling

Julien Nunoo – Football

WO1 Clement Smith Danyagri – Athletics

PROSPECT OF THE YEAR

Abdul Aziz Issah – Football

Blessed Abeka Nunoo – Arm wrestling

DISCOVERY OF THE YEAR

Jada Yankey – Swimming

Ayisha Aminu – Golf

SPORTS ADMINISTRATOR/PRESIDENT OF THE YEAR

Bernard Quartey – Ghana Boxing Federation

Charles Osei Asibey – Ghana Armwrestling Federation

Bawa Fuseini – Ghana Athletics

SWAG TOP FIVE (5) FEDERATIONS

Badminton Association of Ghana

Ghana Hockey Association

Ghana Arm wrestling Federation

Ghana Taekwondo Federation

Ghana Athletics

Ghana Swimming Association

Ghana Boxing Federation

Ghana Football Association

NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR

Black Challenge – Amputee Football

Black Sticks Ladies – Hockey

Black Satellites – Football

Black Princess – Football

Athletics Relay Team

CLUB OF THE YEAR – MALE

FC Samartex – Football

Dreams FC – Football

CLUB OF THE YEAR – FEMALE

Hasaacas Ladies – Football

Royal Ladies – Hockey

BEACH SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Alexander Adjei

CYCLIST OF THE YEAR

Emmanuel Sesi – Royal Stars Cycling Club

Victor Cudjoe Akpablu – Gladiators Cycling Club

WEIGHTLIFTER OF THE YEAR

Winifred Ntumi

TAEKWONDO ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Erica Tuagbor

Kelvin Amuzu

SWIMMER OF THE YEAR

Abeiku Jackson

PULLER OF THE YEAR – FEMALE

Grace Mintah – Ghana Police Service

PULLER OF THE YEAR – MALE

Edward Yamoah Asamoah – Ghana Immigration Service

TABLE TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Israel Aklie

Joanita Borteye

HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE YEAR – MALE

Benjamin Acquah – Exchequers Hockey Club

HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE YEAR – FEMALE

Elizabeth Opoku – GRA Ladies Hockey Club

Mavis Ampem Darko – Army Ladies Hockey Club

BOXER OF THE YEAR

Amadu Mohammed

Joseph Commey

COACH OF THE YEAR

Yussif Basigi – Black Princesses

Desmond Offei – Black Satellite

Boakye Yiadom – Black Sticks Ladies

Husseini Akuetteh Addy – Golden Arms

Dr Ofori Asare – Black Bombers

Nurudeen Amadu – FC Samartex

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – MALE

Joseph Paul Amoah

Edwin Gadayi

Cadman Evans Yamoah

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – FEMALE

Rose Yeboah Amoanimaa

FEMALE FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR – HOME BASED

Ophelia Serwaa Amponsah (Ampen Darkoa Ladies)

Grace Banwa (Hasaacas Ladies)

Mukarama Abdulai (Hasaacas Ladies)

FEMALE FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR – FOREIGN BASED       

Thelma Baffoe Atuah (TP Mazembe)

Salamatu Abdulai (Swieqi United, Malta)

Jennifer Kankam Yeboah (ZED FC, Egypt)

MALE FOTBALLER OF THE YEAR

Emmanuel Keyeke – FC Samartex

Stephen Amankona – Berekum Chelsea

Abdul Aziz Issah – FC Barcelona

SWAG SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Grace Mintah – Armwrestling

Rose Yeboah Amoanimaa – Athletics

SWAG PRESIDENT’S AWARD

SWAG LONG SERVICE AWARD – MEDIA

SWAG SPORTS JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Source:swagghana.com

Gabriel Allotey aka Coach Zico of the Sea View Boxing Gym believes Mustapha “ Bukom 69 Machine” Kamoko  will come back stronger and better after losing in the United Arab Emirates.

Mustapha Kamoko the third son of Briama Kamoko aka ‘Bukom Banku’ lost to  Mohammad Issa from Jordan in a WBC Youth Middleweight Championship on December 7th at The Academy City in Dubai.

According to Coach Allotey, they did not reach the venue on time to get acclimatized with the weather however they put up a good show, and the performance of Kamoko could earn him another chance to fight in UAE.

“My boxer got sick before the fight, but we have to fight, and we gave a very good account though we lost which is part of the game, its either win lose or draw and we lost, but we have learnt many lessons in boxing and life, so it was a great experience” he told Yours Truly.

Mustapha Kamoko, 20 now has a record of nine bouts, eight wins and one lose.

Meanwhile, Coach Allotey has made special mention of other boxers in his gym like Amadu Mohammed who is a future world beater, and Mohammed Aryeetey.

Amadu Mohammed who is based at Mamprobi in Accra hinted Yours Truly about his ambition to become one of the greatest boxers in the world and also a super star from Africa and Ghana.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Naseera Efua Quansah of Sammo and Mfantsiman SHS in the Central Region who won the female division of the 2024 GNPC Ghana Fastest Competition Cape Coast Meet has been signed by a University in the USA.

The finalist at the Accra Edition of the GNPC Ghana Fastest competes with established local stars like Mary Boakye from the Ghana Armed Forces, Mensah and Awuni Zeinab of Sagnation Club in the Ashanti Region.

She is a world standard athlete. In 2024 at the 5 Nations competition, she was champion in 100m 200m she also won West African Senior 4x100m.

Her favourite athletes are Olympians Sha Carri Richardson and Julian Alfred.

Quansah was honoured at the last WISA 2024 Awards held at the Accra Sports Stadium.

By Sammy Heywood Okine                             

The people of Tizza are seriously waiting for the second edition of the Tizza Football Gala.

According to organizer Mr. James Tompson the event is used to boost the peace and unity enjoyed by the people, the Chief of the town, His Royal Highness, Nnaa Bawayele Nayele Dakurah lll who uses the occasion to celebrate his anniversary on the skin. 

The MP Cletus Seidu Dapilah and the prominent people from the town such as Dr. Samuel Dery, Prof. Calistus Tengan and others have pledged to offer support to make the second edition more successful and well organized more than the first edition.

The Tizza Football Gala which  exposes football talents in the Upper-West Region of Ghana comes up at the Tizza JHS Football park  in the Jirapa municipality from the 26-28 of December 2024,.

Mr. James Thompson said the event is organised to promote peace, unity and stability among communities within the Tizza township and surrounding areas.

The Member of Parliament for the area Hon. Cletus Seidu Dapilah, a former sportsman has promised to help make the competition an annual program to give the youths in the area the opportunity to showcase their talents and skills to the rest of the world and also to project the image of the Tizza town.

The Chief of Tizza, His Royal Highness, Nnaa Bawayele Nayele Dakurah lll, has blessed the three day event. Hon. Cornelius Nobapuo the Assembly Member for Tizza central who doubles as CEO of the Point Trading Enterprise has also promised to give the tournament the needed support to make the program a successful one.

The teams participating in the second edition are drawn from the communities of Baguu, Sagri, Vinving, Mwofo, Bachoglo, Naayibog, Jefiri, Duori, Nimbare, Zempen and Boi.

By Sammy Heywood Okine                             

Kenneth Bouhairie is the USA based Director and Head of Public Relations for Premier Boxing Champions (PBC)/Haymon Boxing.

Kenneth who is a Ghanaian by birth has worked closely with Gervonta Davis, Canelo Alvarez, Deontay Wilder, Errol Spence, Terence Crawford, Jermall and Jermell Charlo, Adrien Broner, Caleb Plant, Edgar Berlanga, David Benavidez, etc.

Kenneth is the founder of BoxingAfrica.com, a site dedicated to Africa boxing, particularly Ghana.

He has been involved in the sport of boxing for 20 years. He has won four awards from the Boxing Writers Association of America and is a voting member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Source Augustus Dodoo

The end of season edition of Cabic Big Fight Night comes up at the Idrowhyt Event Centre in Dansoman, Accra on Friday, December 27, 2024.

Some of the nation’s best boxers are featuring on the bill, such as Ghana super flyweight champion Theophilus Kpakpo  Allotey of the Wisdom Boxing Gym, enterprising Africanus Neequaye, a product of Labone SHS, Emmanuel Mankatah, Emmanuel Quaye, Gideon Nortey and young Godfred Brown.

According to the match maker and promoters there will be massive entertainment to celebrate the Christmas holidays.

Mr. Gideon aka Jingles of Idrowhyt Events Centre says the best place to celebrate is Idrowhyt where they boast of a restaurant, gym, swimming pool and other luxury facilities.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Nigeria and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, Zambia striker Barbra Banda, and South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams emerged as the standout winners at the 2024 CAF Awards held on Monday in Marrakech, Morocco.

The ceremony honoured Africa's top football performers over the past year, celebrating the continent's rapid development in men's and women's football.

Lookman was crowned CAF Men’s Player of the Year following a stellar year with Italian club Atalanta and Nigeria’s Super Eagles. He succeeds compatriot Victor Osimhen, marking Nigeria’s first consecutive wins in the category since Nwankwo Kanu in 1996 and Victor Ikpeba in 1997.

Barbra Banda claimed the CAF Women’s Player of the Year award after a remarkable season with Orlando Pride in the United States. Banda helped her club secure the NWSL Shield and Championship, scoring the decisive goal in the final. Her hat-trick at the Paris 2024 Olympics also set a historic record as her third in Olympic Games football.

Ronwen Williams emerged as the night’s only double winner, taking home both the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year and Men’s Interclub Player of the Year awards. His heroic penalty saves at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, including four in a decisive quarter-final shootout, were key highlights of his year.

Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie won Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year for the second consecutive year, while Morocco’s Sanaâ Mssoudy took Women’s Interclub Player of the Year. Senegal's Lamine Camara and Morocco’s Doha El Madani were honoured as the Young Players of the Year for men and women, respectively.

Emerse Fae of Cote d’Ivoire won Men’s Coach of the Year for leading his country to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations title, while Lamia Boumehdi earned Women’s Coach of the Year after guiding TP Mazembe to the CAF Women’s Champions League title.

Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria’s Super Falcons were named the Men’s and Women’s National Teams of the Year, respectively. Al Ahly (Egypt) claimed Men’s Club of the Year, while TP Mazembe won Women’s Club of the Year.

The CAF Goal of the Year went to Angola’s Mabululu for his spectacular finish at the Africa Cup of Nations, the only award decided by fan votes.

The 2024 CAF Awards also honoured match officials, with Libya’s Mutaz Ibrahim named Men’s Referee of the Year and Morocco’s Bouchra Karboubi taking the Women’s Referee of the Year award.

2024 CAF AWARDS WINNERS;

CAF PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)

Ademola Lookman (Nigeria / Atalanta)

CAF PLAYER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)

Barbra Banda (Zambia / Orlando Pride)

CAF GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR (MEN)

Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)

CAF GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)

Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria / Paris FC)

CAF INTERCLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)

Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)

CAF INTERCLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)  

Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco / AS FAR)

CAF YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)

Lamine Camara (Senegal / AS Monaco)

CAF YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)

Doha El Madani (Morocco / AS FAR)

CAF COACH OF THE YEAR (MEN)

Emerse Fae (Cote d’Ivoire)

CAF COACH OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)

Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe)

CAF NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR (MEN)

Cote d’Ivoire

CAF NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR (WOMEN) 

Nigeria

CAF CLUB OF THE YEAR (MEN)

Al Ahly (Egypt)

CAF CLUB OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)

TP Mazembe (DR Congo)

CAF REFEREE OF THE YEAR (MEN)

Mutaz Ibrahim (Libya)

CAF REFEREE OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)

Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco)

CAF ASSISTANT REFEREE OF THE YEAR (MEN)

Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue (Cameroon)

CAF ASSISTANT REFEREE OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)

Diana Chikotesha (Zambia)

CAF GOAL OF THE YEAR

Mabululu (Angola)

Source Kweku Zurek / Graphic Sports

Mr. Sammy Anim Addo, manager of two times WBO Africa Featherweight Champion John Abaga Laryea is in pole position to be named Boxing Ghana Best Manager of the year 2024

After the nominations were released on Sunday, the former Ghana Football Association GFA Executive Council member and manager at Asamoah Gyan's Baby Jet Foundation is among the favourites to win his category.

His main achievement as the only manager who's boxer won a bout outside the country in far away Florida in the USA is a great motivation and achievement as almost all Ghanaian boxers who flew out to challenge were defeated.

John 'Expensive " Laryea is also nominated in the category for Professional Boxer of the year, while Coach Carl Lokko is tipped for the Coach of the year.

Other boxers from the Bronx Boxing Club who have been named are WBO Africa Bantamweight Champion, Daniel Gorsh who is rated number one in the November/ December ratings for best Ghanaian boxers, Stanley Nyantekyi aka the Ashanti Warrior and John Zile aka The Beast.

In all about 28 categories of awards will be won, including Best Female Boxer, Best Amateur Boxer Elite and Juvenile as well as Promoter of the year, Best Bout of the year, Best Dressed Boxer, Media Personality of the year, Best Boxing Writer, Boxing for good, Best Boxing Fan, Best Card Girl, Best Referee, Best Matchmaker, and others.

According to Coach Carl Lokko, the initiative is in the right direction as it will encourage boxers, coaches,  managers,  promoters and all working in the boxing industry to do the right things and attract sponsors.

He commended the organisers for their vision and prayed that there would fairness in determining the right winners.

He expressed that Bronx Boxing Club has done well this year to annex some Championship titles and hoped that the boxers will remain focused and motivated to  reach higher heights.

"Bronx Gym has the most champions and as you can see, we don't joke with training and discipline, we try our best to inspire our boxers and they also know what is ahead or their ambitions and targets" he stressed.

He noted that 2024 had been eventful with many exciting and disappointing moments.

The Bronx Boxing Club has four WBO Africa Champions, namely, Lightweight Sheriff Quaye, Super Welterweight Jacob Tetteh Laryea, Bantamweight Daniel Selassie Gorsh, Featherweight John Laryea and former National Cruiserweight Champion Jacob Dickson.

John Zile and Stanley Nyantekyi hold UBO Africa titles. There are talented boxers like Emmanuel Quartey, Felix Ajom, Derek Quaye, Samson Solomon from Nigeria and Super Heavyweight Awumey Nelson.

Abubakar Kamoko aka 'Bukom Tilapia', son of Bukom Banku also trains at the  Bronx Gym as well as former IBC Lightweight Champion Emmanuel 'Game Boy' Tagoe.

The Gym recently hosted Coach Don Charles, trainer of Daniel Dubois, IBF Heavyweight Champion.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

MTN Ghana is set to make the 2024 Christmas season unforgettable with its annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, which will be held on December 20, 2024.

This highly anticipated event, which will be held at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre, promises a night of extraordinary music and storytelling. Attendees will be treated to performances by some of Ghana’s finest artistes, including Kwan Pa, Joe Mettle, Perez Musik, Efya, and Kidi.

These talents will deliver soulful renditions of classic Christmas carols infused with modern African rhythms, capturing the season's magic while showcasing Ghana's rich cultural heritage.

This year’s theme focuses on an Afrocentric Christmas, emphasizing the values of peace, love, joy, and togetherness. The festival seamlessly blends tradition with modernity, celebrating Ghana's cultural diversity and highlighting the essence of the festive season. Attendees will experience nine inspirational lessons to instill hope, gratitude, and reflection amidst the holiday cheer.

Now a cherished highlight of Ghana’s festive calendar, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols provides a unique platform for MTN stakeholders, customers, and the public to come together. With its elegant setting and thoughtfully curated program, the event continues to deliver a captivating mix of spirituality, culture, and entertainment.

Set against the grandeur of the Grand Arena, this celebration promises an energetic, uplifting experience that embodies the spirit of Christmas. More than just a musical event, it’s a cultural showcase that inspires connection and unity during the festive season.

Organized annually, MTN's Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols serves to usher MTN stakeholders and customers into the Christmas season, sharing in the joy and celebration of the holidays.

The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols has emerged as one of the most beloved events on Ghana’s festive calendar, cherished by customers of Ghana’s network of choice.

Source MTN

Four Ghanaian boxers, Ebenezer Tetteh, Joshua Quartey, Mustapha Kamoko aka ‘Bukom Machine’ and Gabriel Coffie who battled in foreign lands all lost their bouts, but with different stories to tell.

Tetteh now (24-2, 20 KOs), a former WBO Africa heavyweight champion fought gallantly on Sunday against Dillian Whyte now (31-3, 21 KOs) in a 10-round heavyweight clash at the Europa Point Sports Complex in Gibraltar.

The 36-year-old Tetteh, who held the WBO's continental heavyweight title in 2017, bounced back with four consecutive wins since his only career defeat to current IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois in London in 2019.

He gave Whyte, also 36, whose two defeats have come in world title bouts against Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury a good challenge.

Whyte, known for his gritty style, avenged his only other loss to Alexander Povetkin in 2021, claiming the WBC interim world heavyweight title.

The showdown was a fight of men with high-stakes in the battle which boxing fans enjoyed.

On the same day, in Liverpool, UK, former Black Bomber, Joshua Abubakar Quartey replaced 24-year-old Elvis Ahorgah (13-2, 11 KOs) and lost to undefeated Briton Mark Jeffers (19-0, 6 KOs) in the third round of their super middleweight 10-rounder at the Exhibition Centre in Merseyside.

In the UAE, another young Ghanaian, Mustapha Kamoko suffered his first defeat to Mohammed Issa from Jordan and lost the chance to become the WBC Youth Middleweight Champion at the Agenda Arena in Dubai.

According to his trainer, Gabriel .Zico Allotey, the weather was a big problem as Kamoko could not perform as expected, so he lost in round three.

Earlier on December 8, Gabriel Coffie who fought in Canada lost to homeboy Steven Wilcox at the Rebel Entertainment Complex, Toronto.

Reports said Coffie gave a very good account of himself going the full distance and lost by points decision.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic in Tijuana, Mexico, Isaac Sackey (26-2, 21 KOs) bout against top-ranked Mexican super bantamweight, Alan Picasso Romero (30-0-1, 16 KOs), on Saturday, December 14 could not be honoured as Sackey, a former two-time WBO Africa junior featherweight titleholder was refused visa to travel to contest the 10-round international clash.

It was supposed to be the second fight abroad for the 29-year-old Sackey, who previously lost to Yevgeniy Pavlov in Kazakhstan in 2021.

His manager, Mr. Bernie Johnson said it was sad as Sackey has prepared very well to shock the unbeaten Romero, ranked No. 4 in the world.

By Sammy Heywood Okine