The Technical Directorate of the Ghana Football Association has developed a structure for all national team Coaches (Male and Female).

The structure which is aimed at improving Technical analysis, data keeping and player development will run from the junior national teams to the Home based senior side (Black Stars B).

Head Coaches of the Black Starlets, Maidens, Princesses, Satellites, Meteors, Queens and the Home based senior side are to use this perfect template to build a data base for the teams, analyse and asses players and also to monitor their progress and development. The Directorate also intends to monitor tactical reports from Coaches before, during and after matches.

The three thematic areas that are of importance to the Directorate are as follows:

Scouting Report

The Technical department requires individual reports of players in other to be able to monitor these players scouted, therefore we require the Coaches to provide us with initial information of the players to monitor and access their growth.

Pre match Technical report:

This is to inform the Technical Directorate about the layout plan for each match and how a coach would like to approach the match. Each coach is required to furnish the Directorate with details before every match.

Technical Report

This is a post-match report and the Directorate requires that each coach furnishes the office with a similar format after each match. This will assist the Technical Director in giving advice and recommendations to the Coaches.

The move also forms part of the general effort to put together a comprehensive data for all national teams and to equip the Coaches with the right Technical information and approach to International games.

GFA COMMUNICATIONS

Midfielder Samuel Bekoe has become the latest Ghanaian to switch nationality following his decision to represent Sierra Leone ahead of Ghana.

Bekoe has chosen to play for Ghana’s West African neighbours after receiving massive backing from fans from his club and people from the country.

The midfielder, nicknamed “Eto’o” made a move to Sierra Leone outfit FC Johansson in 2019 as he looked to enjoy regular playing time.

His time in the Sierra Leone has been a smooth ride for him so far as he has earned the support of the club’s fans while also convincing people in the country with his stellar displays week in and week out.

With a call from Ghana looking far beyond him, the player has now decided to switch his nationality and play for Sierra Leone.

Bekoe is expected to okay a part for the West African side during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nationals in Cameroon in February.

The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has confirmed that the process to capture the midfielder has been completed and the 24-year-old will put on the colours of the Leone Stars.

According to the SLFA, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has also been informed of Bekoe’s decision to switch his nationality.

Bekoe, who grew up playing football around Town Council Line Park in Accra, featured for Inter Allies during the 2019 Ghana Premier League before been invited for trials with Red Bull Salzburg in Austria.

He becomes the latest to switch allegiance following the decision of Santa Clara defender, Kennedy Kofi Boateng to represent Togo.

Source: JoySports

(Photo by IOC / Greg Martin) IOC 

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Monday (November 8) announced the winners of the prestigious award for the best broadcast coverage of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

Awards were presented across 12 categories: Best Coverage by the Host Broadcaster; Best Athlete Profile; Best Equality & Inclusion Content; Best Innovation; Best Olympic Digital Service; Best Olympic Feature/Documentary; Best Olympic Programme; Best On-Air Promotion; Best Social Media Content/Production; Digital Fan Engagement; Commentary; and a Lifetime Commitment Award.

IOC President Thomas Bach, said: "The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 were the most engaged Olympic Games ever and another landmark moment in sports broadcasting history. Through the IOC’s partnerships with leading media companies around the world, we are able to share the magic of the Olympic Games to inspire billions of people. Our close partnership with our broadcasters is a great reflection that we can only go faster, we can only aim higher, we can only become stronger, if we work together – in solidarity. There were more submissions for the Golden Rings Awards than ever before, and the breadth, diversity and creativity of the production is testament to the passion and commitment of the individuals who work with us to broadcast the Olympic Games.”

Best Athlete Profile    

Gold: TV Globo - “Rayssa Leal” - Producer: Carol Oliveira - Director: Rafael Pirrho

Silver: 7Network - “Kai and Saya Sakakibara” - Producer: Nick Barrow - Director: Lewis Martin

Bronze: MARCA Claro - “Paula Pareto” - Producer: Gustavo Ramirez Beguerisse - Director: Juan Carlos Lopez de la Cerda

Best Coverage by the Host Broadcaster        

Gold: OBS - Sailing Team - Producer: Henry Mok - Director: Leon Sefton

Silver: OBS - Cycling - Mountain Bike - Producer: Chris Jensen - Director: Olivier Moser

Bronze: OBS - Surfing  Producer: Helen Borobokas - Director: Lyle Fielmich

Best Equality & Inclusion Content (Presented by Worldwide TOP Partner P&G)

Gold: NBC Universal NBC Olympics' - Coverage of the Games of the XXXII Olympiad - Producer: Rob Hyland - Director: Mike Sheehan

Silver: Televisa - Legacy of Champions: Ricardo del Real - Producer: Javier Sahagun - Director: Amaury Salyano

Bronze: Sky New Zealand - Sky's Tokyo 2020 reporting team Producer: Andrew Hawthorn - Director: Matt Quin

Best Innovation

Gold: Eurosport Discovery - The Eurosport Cube - Producer: Paul Whipps - Director: Alex Dinnin

Gold: NBC Universal - NBC Olympics' Friends and Family Integration - Producer: Lee Ann Gschwind - Director: Mike Sheehan

Bronze: NHK - Real-time sign language commentary with CG animation - Producer: Toru Ogawa - Director: Tsubasa Uchida

Best Olympic Digital Service

Gold: NBC Universal - NBC Sports - Producer: Eric Hamilton - Directors: Alexis Coble and Sam Tydings

Silver: TV Globo - Repercussion - Producer: Yas André Yasaka - Director: Chico Leao

Bronze: CBC/Radio-Canada - Full digital product experience - CBC/Radio-Canada Team

Best Olympic Feature/Documentary 

Gold: NBC Universal Imagine - Producers: Philip Parrisch, Elinore Wright, Aaron Cohen, Jack Felling - Director: Philip Parrish

Silver: Sky New Zealand - One Fern: One Hundred Years - Producer and Director: Paora Ratahi           

Bronze: 7Network - Jess Fox Gold Medal Split Screen - Producer: Nick Barrow - Director: Lewis Martin

Best Olympic Programme

Gold: NBC Universal - NBC Olympics' Coverage of the Games of the XXXII Olympiad - Producer: Rob Hyland - Director:Mike Sheehan

Silver: BBC - Today at the Games - Producer: Mike Jackson - Director: Matthew Griffiths

Bronze: France TV - Highlights of Tokyo 2020 - Producers: Pascal Golomer, Gilles Silard, Frederic Gaillard, Laurence Beyssac, Fabrice Colin - Director: Didier Fraisse

Best On-Air Promotion

Gold: France TV - Sumo - Producer: Hugues Allart - Director: Geoffroy Barbet-Massin

Silver: NBC Universal - Tomorrow in Tokyo - Producer: Jack Felling - Director: Jack Felling

Bronze: TV Globo - Anime - Producer: Yas André Yasaka - Director: Chico Leao

Best Social Media Content/Production          

Gold: 7Network - From Little Things, Big Things Grow - Producer: Nick Barrow - Director: Lewis Martin

Silver: BBC - BBC Sport - TikTok - BBC Sport Digital Video Team    

Bronze: SBS - Tokyo 2020 Direct Cam - Producer: Lee Moon-Ki - Director: Mok Jungwoong

Digital Fan Engagement

Gold: OBS

Commentary

Gold: OBS

Lifetime Commitment Award

Velitchka Nedialkova, ZDF

The Golden Rings Awards is a prestigious international competition organised by the IOC to promote and award excellence in the broadcasting of the Olympic Games.

The winners were selected by an international jury headed by IOC Member Anant Singh, who is a leading professional in the film and media industries, Chair of the IOC Communications Commission and a member of the IOC's Olympic Channel Commission and the Digital & Technology Commission.

In addition, Olympic Orders were presented to Peter Diamond, Vice President NBC Olympics and Besim Hasani, former President of the Kosovo Olympic Committee.

The awards ceremony took place in the IOC’s headquarters, Olympic House, in Lausanne, where the IOC is currently hosting a series of IOC commission meetings.

The prestigious African Cup of Nations Trophy is arriving in Ghana kind courtesy of TotalEnergies, title sponsor of the AFCON 2021.

On 16th and 17th November 2021, the principal streets of Accra and selected TotalEnergies stations will go into 100% football mode with the AFCON trophy.

TotalEnergies has been a major partner of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the governing body for football on the African continent, since July 2016. TotalEnergies group has become the title sponsor of ten competitions including the African cup of nations, which was rebranded the TotalEnergies AFCON for the occasion.

Building on the formidable unifying and universal power of football, TotalEnergies has created the “TotalEnergies Football Together” program to bring fans together, celebrate and share the passion of football on the continent.

Held every two years, the African Cup of Nations is the most important sporting event in Africa and the third-largest football competition after the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA EURO Championship.

The TotalEnergies AFCON is a tournament between the 24 best African teams, divided into 6 pools of 4 teams and is played in 52 matches.

One year after welcoming the best talents in African football during the TotalEnergies CHAN, Cameroon is opening its doors to host the 33rd edition of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations, held from January 9 to February 6, 2022.

In view of that, the AFCON trophy will be arriving in Ghana on Tuesday 16th November 2021 and then make stops the next day Wednesday 17th November 2021 at the following Total Petroleum Ghana Network Service Stations in Accra: Osu Oxford Street Total Service Station, Liberation Road Total Service Station and Darkuman Total Service Station. This will give fans the opportunity to take pictures with the trophy and engage in activities with former Black Stars captain, Stephen Appiah.

The History of the AFCON Trophy

Throughout the history of the African Cup of Nations, three different trophies have been awarded to the winners of the competition.

The original trophy, made of silver, was the Abdelaziz Abdallah Salem Trophy, named after the first CAF president, Egyptian Abdelaziz Abdallah Salem.

As the first winner of three African Cup of Nations tournaments, Ghana obtained the right to permanently hold the trophy in 1978.

The second trophy was awarded from 1980 to 2000 and was named Trophy of African Unity or African Unity Cup. It was given to CAF by the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa prior to the 1980 tournament and it was a cylindrical piece with the Olympic rings over a map of the continent engraved on it. It sat on a squared base and had stylized triangular handles.

Cameroon won the Unity Cup indefinitely after they became three-time champions in 2000.

In 2001, the third trophy was revealed, a gold-plated cup designed and made in Italy. Cameroon, permanent holders of the previous trophy, were the first nation to be awarded the new trophy after they won the 2002 edition. Egypt won the gold-plated cup indefinitely after they became three-time champions in 2010, in an unprecedented achievement by winning three consecutive continental titles.

Unlike previous winners who would have then taken the trophy home, Egypt were presented with a special full size replica that they were allowed to keep.

The Ghana Badminton Association (BAG) has retained Mr. Evans Yeboah as President alongside eight others at a tele-conference Elective Congress.

The quadrennial Elective Congress BAG held via Zoom confirmed Mr. Yeboah led administration for another four-year term beginning January 2022.

The nine Executive members who contested for the vacant positions unopposed were confirmed according to article 17.1.9 of the BAG Constitution which says “if the no of nominations received is equal to the number of vacancies to be filled, the persons nominated shall be deemed to be elected.”

The new Executive Board members are, Mr. Evans Yeboah (President), Mr. Dennis Osei-Antwi, ESQ (Vice President), Mr. Delawoe Nyanyo (Treasurer). The rest are Mr. Helious Makafui Dablu, Mr. Ernest Adofo Osei, Mr. Nii Adjei Sowah, Mr. Samson Deen, George Loh, Esq, and former MP for North Dayi, and Madam Catherine Tukpe as Executive Board Members.

The 38 delegates and participants from the 10 Regional Associations, 21 Community Clubs in good standing, and seven Statutory Committees took part in the Elective Congress. The National Sports Authority (NSA) Technical Director for Sports Promotion, Mr. Jeffery Manzan Owusu administered the oath of office and Secrecy to the nine newly elected members.

The Electoral Commission with its members were also present to certify the nomination processes and all candidates meeting all requirements.

Mr. Yeboah said, “We pledge to the fulfilment of our 2025 strategic Plan showcasing participation, growth and supporting the principle that people should lead a healthy life, both in and out of their lifestyle, and Badminton World Federation’s goal in making badminton one of the world’s most popular sports-we will lead Ghanaians in this aim.”

He pledged his continuous support to the development of the discipline in Ghana.

Mr. Peter Adjei, the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) Secretary-General in a solidarity message said, “We are standing in solidarity to make Badminton and Para-Badminton, the first Paris 2024 qualification happen under this new leadership, and to enable all our dear athletes, and from all para-sports to take part in the Games-which this noble Badminton Association Leadership provides, which we at NPC Ghana believe and endorse in the spirit of broadening leadership.”

The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) has imposed further sanctions on Heavyweight boxer Harrison Nii Lartey, for engaging in acts they described as “shameful and embarrassing” to Ghana boxing.

A statement from the GBA said, Nii Lartey recently fought Abdulkerim Edilov in Russia and was knocked out in round one.

According to the GBA, investigations into the fight revealed that Nii Lartey did not fight as a Ghanaian but a Tanzanian licensed boxer.

Nii Lartey, who is already serving a five-year ban under GBA before going into the fight had been banned from all GBA organized functions and activities for the remaining years in the five-year ban.

In addition, he had been banned from visiting any gym or facilities under the jurisdiction of GBA.

“We hope the boxer would abstain from all forms of misconduct and be of good behavior,” it added.

The GBA last year imposed a five-year ban on Nii Lartey for forgery of documents and engaging in fights outside the country without their authorization.

Source GBA

A total of 55 athletes from 22 countries are set to compete at the African Muaythai Championships in Cairo ©IFMA

Egypt boasts the largest contingent at the African Muaythai Championships with 20 athletes out of the total of 55 set to take to the Cairo Stadium's indoor complex in the country's capital, beginning tomorrow.

The event will act as a qualifier for the 2022 World Games in Birmingham in the United States.

Out of the 20 weight classes, 13 male and seven female, the men's under-63.5 kilograms is the most hotly contested with five fighters competing.

Libya's Ahmed Bu Irqeeqah is one of the favourites for the gold medal and has been awarded a bye into the semi-finals.

He will face either Mohamed Walid Osman of Sudan or Egypt's Seif Kandil, who meet in the only quarter-final.

Cairo Stadium's indoor arena is set to host the African Muaythai Championships from November 11 to 14 ©Getty Images

Salim El Bahi of Madagascar and Moroccan Rhouni Othmane will contest the other semi-final bout.

The men's under-67kg also features some promising bouts.

Impressive Egyptian fighter Mahmoud Mabrouk will meet Rachid Hamza of Morocco while Sudan's Ibrahim Mohamed Ibrahim Ahmed faces Dean Akshay Naeck of Mauritius.

The under-51kg division is one of two women's weight categories that features four athletes.

Meriem El Moubarik of Morroco and Sudan's 26-year-old fighter Maryam Elrashid Abdelbagi Mohamed will compete for a place in the final, with the winner of Madagascar's Miora Tina Andriamiarisoa and Hoda Saad of Egypt awaiting them.

The under-54kg will see Maram Osama Badri Mohamed of Sudan, Morocco's Ajebbour Salma, Yomna Ayyad of Egypt and Senegal's Dieynaba Diallo fight for the gold medal in Cairo. 

By Owen Lloyd 

MTN support SWAG with 50,000.00 ahead of the 46th SWAG Awards scheduled for December 17th at the Accra International Conference Center

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has approved Tuesday, November 30, 2021, to Thursday, December 2, 2021, for the commencement of the Preliminary Round of the 2021/2022 MTN FA Cup.

The knockout tournament which is Ghana’s oldest football cup competition would enter the Round of 64 from Tuesday, December 21, 2021, to Monday, December 27, 2021.

The Round of 32 would be played between the weekends of January 18-20, 2022 and the Round of 16 would be honoured between the weekends of March 25-28, 2022.

The competition would enter the Quarterfinal stage during the weekend of April 12-13, 2022 while the Semi-final will be played from May 12-15, 2022.

The final is scheduled for Sunday, June 26, 2022.

 Mobility Technologies, one of the major sponsors of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), have donate two Motor Bikes for local rounds  and dispatches of the body charged with the responsibility of the nation representing at major international games, notably the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games.

The Apsonic bikes were presented by Mr. Jonathan Tetteh, Business Manager of Mobility Technologies on behalf of his Board Chairman Francis Boateng and received by Mr. Isaac Duah, Deputy Treasurer of the GOC on Wednesday.

Mr. Tetteh said four years ago they donated a board room furniture set, and under the new administration still headed by the affable Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah, they had to present two bikes to replace an old bike that got faulted after it was used to deliver a letter to their office.

He emphasized that the GOC under Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah is vibrant and chalked many successes for Ghana; from attracting sponsors to winning medals.

Mr. Isaac Duah who is the President of Ghana Tennis Federation tested the bikes after the presentation, and promised to use it fruitfully to benefit the GOC and Ghana Sports in general.

Present at the short, but impressive ceremony were Messrs. Michael Aggrey of Ghana Golf and CDM at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Albert K. Frimpong former President of Ghana Baseball, Delphina Quaye of Ghana Swimming, Shaban Mohammed, George Lamptey of the Boxing Federation, Mr. Kwab Asamoah of the Judo Federation and Miss Farida Iddris, Administrator of the GOC.

By Sammy Heywood Okine