Ghana international Joseph Paintsil has expressed his eagerness to play for Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy after securing a move to the club.

Paintsil has officially joined the Galaxy as a Designated Player, committing to a four-year contract running through the conclusion of the 2027 MLS season from Belgian Pro League side K.R.C. Genk.

“Hi, my name is Joseph Paintsil, I can’t wait to get started, see you soon” he said.

The 26-year-old arrives with an impressive track record, boasting 61 goals and 35 assists across 228 matches played in Europe with various clubs, including K.R.C. Genk (2019-23), MKE Ankaragucu (2020-21), and Ferencvarosi TC (2017-18).

During the 2022-23 campaign, Paintsil made significant contributions, tallying 32 goal contributions (18 goals, 14 assists) in 39 matches for Genk.

His standout performance in the 2022-23 Belgian Pro League season, where he notched 28 goal contributions (14 goals, 14 assists) in 30 league appearances (28 starts), was instrumental in Genk's qualification for the 2023-24 Europa Conference League.

FootballGhana

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has paid the Black Queens outstanding bonuses owed them ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games qualifier against Zambia.

The Ghana women's senior national team have been the most talked about following unpaid bonuses from their last three qualifiers.

Reports on Wednesday suggested the playing body were looking to boycott the third round of their Olympic qualifier against Zambia due to the unsettled bonuses as well as per diems.

The public outcry prompted swift action from the Sports Ministry, led by Mustapha Ussif, the Ghana Football Association President, Kurt Okraku and the Chairperson of the Black Queens Management Committee, Gifty Oware-Mensah, who went to visit the team in the evening.

Following the visit of the officials, the players were assured that the outstanding bonuses would be paid today.

However, the per diems of the players including the owed ones have now been cleared with the unsettled bonuses all expected to be paid soon.

The first leg of the game is scheduled for Friday, February 23 at the Accra Sports Stadium, with the return fixture coming off five days later.

FootballGhana

… Wants More Corporate Involvement In Ghana Boxing

Priceless Life Entertainment, led by young businessman Mr. Edwin Elikem Amenyeawu are trying to introduce Digital Tickets into Boxing with their debut bout at the Lords’s Wembly on March 2, 2024 when Ghana’s Faisal Abubakar meets Ugandan Latibu Muwonge.

According to Mr. Amenyeawu, they want to take event organizing to a different level and make it easy for guests and patrons not to lose their tickets so now it is done by short code online with mobile phone.

Speaking to Yours Truly in an exclusive interview ahead of the bout which has the WBO Africa Super Lightweight at stake, he said it is time corporate bodies invest in boxing.

The promotion will feature the bout to determine who takes over the National Super Lightweight title to be relinquished by Faisal Abubakar and a Commonwealth title elimination.

Some of the nation’s top musicians like Fameye, Episode and others will entertain boxing fans at a rate of 30ghc for popular stand, 50ghc for regular stand, 100 for ringside and 150ghc for VVIP.

“We have 12 mouth watering bouts on the night and entertainment on the show, we want to change the face of Ghana Boxing so that investments will flow” he said.

He thanked Hon. Lord Commey and the GBA President, Mr. Abraham Neequaye and sponsors Kigali Hotel, Caveman, Tonino Lambhogini, FIDO, Priceless Group Africa as well as able partners, Francis Mensah Anane and Samuel Cobbinah for their support.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana’s Faisal Abubakar will take on Ugandan Latibu Muwonge for the WBO Africa Super Lightweight Title on March 2, 2024 at the Lord’s Wembly, Shukura in Accra.

The bout promises to be tough and interesting as both boxers have wonderful record and good following.

Faisal Abubakar is Ghana’s undefeated champion, while Latibu Muwonge is the ABU Africa Champion.

According to the promoters, Priceless Life Entertainment, the gate fees for the bout are 30ghc for Popular Stand, 50ghc for Main Regular Stand, 100ghc for Ring Side and 150ghc for VVIP. Sponsors include of the bout Caveman, FIDO and others.

According to Coach Ernest Ofori of the Charles Quartey Boxing Foundation Gym who was recently elected new secretary general of the United Coaches Association of Ghana, Abubakar is going to put up a performance that his numerous fans have never seen before.

He said Faisal Abubakar will win by a knock out because he has prepared very well to become a WBO Africa champion which will automatically put him among the top 15 in the WBO World rankings.

“Charles Quartey Foundation will start producing world champions for Ghana, the boxers are many and ready” he said.

Latibu Muwonge, 27 has won all his eight professional bouts in Kampala, Uganda, while 31 years old Faisal Abubakar is 15-0-0. It will be the night of undefeated champions which boxing fans can not afford to miss.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The ongoing IHF Trophy Africa Zone III tournament  at the new sports complex at Borteyman in Accra drew some exciting moments when Ghana and Côte D’Ivoire U20 players put up a great performance in a match that ended in a draw, 44-44.

Ghana’s rising star, goal keeper, Edward Addo aka Nana Addo.stole the show with his marvelous display.

The experienced Côte D’Ivoire side were strong, skilful and fast, but Ghana were tactical disciplined and led at most stages of the game with their resilience.

Nana Addo was awarded Man of the Match and got a trophy presented by Mr. Edward Nii Lante Bannerman, the president of the Handball Association of Ghana, NPP Parliamentary aspirant for Odododiodoo.

The draw against Côte D’Ivoire sends a strong message about Ghana’s potential in the tournament and sets the stage for an exciting competition ahead.

In the U18 category, Ghana beat Togo 57-13, with Atittah Bernard Brown winning the Man of the Match.

In other U18 results Nigeria thrashed Benin 45-19 as Mohammed Mustapha got the Man of the Match title. The Nigerians displayed their dominance in the U20 category with a commanding 61-19 victory over Liberia, where Kuti James, won Man of the Match.

The IHF Trophy Africa Zone III tournament was thrilling and has set the stage for surprises and upsets.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Accra 2023 LOC Takes 13^th African Games Awareness Campaign To Kumasi, The Garden City

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of Accra 2023 African Games has taken their awareness campaign to the Garden City, Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital, part of efforts to promote the event, slated for March 8-23, in Accra.

The LOC over the weekend were actively involved in the promotion of the event during the J.A. Kufuor Cup Match between Asante Kotoko and Nsoatreman FC at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi.

LOC of Accra 2023, was one of the major partners of the cup match, which was organized to honour the former President John Agyekum Kufuor as well as raise funds for the J.A. Kufuor Foundation.

Over 10,000 Senior High School students drawn from the Ashanti Region were sponsored by the LOC to attend the historic match and were all in the T Shirts of the Accra 2023 African Games.

In addition, the LOC also sponsored the Player of the Match award with a beautiful trophy, which eventually went to Steve Mukwalo of Asante Kotoko, who scored the winning goal for Kotoko to emerge victorious.

Dr. Kwaku Ofosu Asare – Executive Chairman of the LOC said they were privileged to be part of the designed to honour the former President.

He said, though the Games would be in Accra, there was the need to take their awareness campaign to Kumasi to sensitize the people on the event.

According to Dr. Ofosu Asare there was the need for the entire nation to be part of the Games and took the opportunity to extend invitation to the people of Kumasi to be part of the competition.

He said the Games was the most important sporting event on the continental calendar, hence the need for total support from the entire nation.

He said they were looking forward to one of the most successful events in the history of the competition.

The Ashanti region has been producing most of the nation’s sports talents.

Over 50 countries, with 7,000 participants are expected to participate in the African Games, seeking for honours in 30 sporting disciplines.

The African Games is from Marxh 8 to 23, 2024

From Sammy Heywood Okine

The energy towards the 13th African Games is getting stronger each and every day as sports fans in Ghana and across Africa are ever-ready to kick-start the biggest sporting event on the African continent.

With over 54 countries visiting Ghana to take part in this big event, the organisers of the games have dutifully set up a proper transportation plan to aid athletes and fans of the various countries coming to grace the 13th edition of the African Games.

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) has strategically positioned a good transportation system to aid in the smooth and safe movement of all participating countries preparing to come to Ghana for the big event.

The local organising committee has assured athletes, team officials, dignitaries, technical officials, volunteers, media, and guests involved in the games a welcoming atmosphere.

The official Transport Management Operation (TMO) will start on February 25, 2024, with over three hundred and thirty-two (332) fleets of vehicles available at the service of participants.

The Borteyman Sports Complex, which is the ground for most of the games, has been designated with twelve long buses and eight mini buses to help transport team officials and some athletes to the venue.

The Lagon Sports Village will host over twenty-two games, making it the venue with the highest number of games. The Sports Village will use twenty-three long buses and five mini buses.

The transport system will also pay key attention to the medical side, where a number of vehicles will be allocated to medical duties in relation to the games. The medical team will use fifteen ambulances, seven minibuses, and three saloon cars.

Below are some vehicles to be used at the 13th African Games:

Land Cruisers: 29

Prado, 3

Saloon: 106

Waggon 78

Team Bus Marco Polo, 55

Ayalolo, 30

Minibus: 26

Trucks: 5

Source gbcghanaonline.com

The 13th African Games organization was handed to Ghana just after the 12th edition in Morocco, so Ghanaians who love sports knew Ghana will host the up coming edition since 2019.

Due to unforeseen circumstances and some political issues over the ownership of the Games by the African Union (AU), African National Olympic Committee Association (ANOCA) and the Association of African Sports Confederations (AASC) the biggest sports festival on the continent of Africa was postponed and the new date fixed was March 8th to 23rd, 2024.

The President of Ghana HE Nana Akufo-Addo and the Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Mustapha Ussif, with the support of Jubilee House and Ministry of Finance have been able to negotiate and source funds to support the Local Organising Committee (LOC) led by Dr. Kwaku Ofosu-Asare to renovate the Legon Sports Stadium which was started in the era of former President John Agyekum Kufuor.

And of course, put up the  new Borteyman Sports Complex which comprise of a dome (sports hall), tennis courts, swimming pool (aquatic center), running track and football field which was constructed in 896 days and commissioned 25 days to the Games.

The facility is supposed to turn into a university, however it needs accommodation structures and a main bowl to complete as a center of excellence and Olympic edifice.

Certainly most sports federations will be pleased for the facilities, but my question is why ready are they for this important sports extravaganza and maintenance to last for other generations to enjoy.

The federations must ensure that the facilities meet the international standards, and they must be ready to compete against the best on the continent.

The question then comes if the athletes and coaches are ready and motivated to perform. Some are experiencing such magnitude of games organization for the first time.

I must commend some federations who have organised technical programs to upgrade their officials, like athletics, table tennis, judo and swimming.

This week and the following will be periods for testing the new facilities before real competition starts.

My worry is the readiness and lukewarmness of some federations who seem not prepared. Or they know they cannot win medals.

For the first time, since 1965 when the first Games was held in DR Congo, as Ghana prepares to host the African Games, a continental multi sports event in the capital of Accra hosting 30 disciplines with support from the historic city of Cape Coast, a former capital to host female football, we wish all the federations good luck and pray that they target and grab the medals.

Boxing, athletics, table tennis, armwrestling and volleyball are five disciplines that I can bet will win medals for Ghana. Maybe Judo and football can surprise.

The African Games is about medals, so let's chase and grab the medals. Get Ghana gold.

The Games will also boast the hospitality industry; Tourism and Business will rise as many people are expected to visit the motherland. The Games is bringing over 5,000 guests. Some 12,000 will be accredited for different duties. 30 sports disciplines will be competed

By Sammy Heywood Okine                  

Steve. Mukwala - a leading marksman of Asante Kotoko was last Sunday adjudged Man of the Match in the game against Nsoatrreman FC at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.

Mukwala, who scored Kotoko’s winning  goal in the JA Kufuor Cup match, for his reward was given a Tecno Canon 25 by Tecno Mobile - one of the sponsors of the cup match.

The prizes was presented to him by former Black Stars player Steven Appiah, after the match.

He expressed his excitement over the feat saying it was good for the confidence of the team.

Mukwala, said the win would also motivate them to   Keep their performance stable in the Ghana Premier League (GPL).

He said they were bent on winning the winning league.

Asante Kotoko became the first winner of the JA Kufuor Cup match after beating Nosatreman FC at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium last Sunday.

The JA Kufuor Cup is an initiative of John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation to honour the former President and also to raise funds for the activities of the foundation.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

… National Super Bantam weight & UBO Africa Championship in Independence Eve Rumble

Box Office Sports Promotions & Platinum Punch Promotions brings to you the Independence Eve Rumble between Daniel Selasie Gorsh of the Bronx Gym versus Moses Adjei Selvi of James Town Gym for the 12 rounds National Super Bantam weight & UBO Africa Championship at the Bukom Boxing Arena on March 5th, 2024.

There would be other exciting bouts to celebrate the Independence Anniversary of Ghana.

By Sammy Heywood Okine