Ghana’s top weightlifters are very optimistic about qualifying for the Olympic Games scheduled for Tokyo, Japan in July and August 2021.

The weightlifters are back in the gym training after the restrictive measures put on sports  to contain the Covid – 19 pandemic.

Forrester Osei and Christian Amoah are the top athletes hoping to book places at Tokyo 2020 when qualifying resumes.

Ghana Weightlifting Federation spokesperson John Vigah said they are hopeful to make it due to their current good form and confidence.

He expressed that both Osei and Amoah did well at the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation Annual Weightlifting Championship in Uzbekistan, and they will build upon that performance.

The 30-year-old Osei won three silver medals in the 95 kilograms category, while the 20-year-old Amoah brought home two bronze medals in the same weight class.

Amoah represented Ghana at the last Games in Rio in 2016, and says he has learnt a lot through experience.

Osei believes Tokyo 2020 Olympics is another opportunity to make Ghana proud. 

They thanked their federation president, Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah for his encouragement and support.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Jacob Kingston and Rodney Appiah, sons of former Black Stars greats, Laryea Kingston and Stephen Appiah, could be surprise signings for Premier League side, Accra Great Olympics, in the coming weeks.

Jacob, an attacker who rose to fame when he captained St. Thomas Aquinas Senior High School (SHS) in the Inter-Schools and Colleges competition, is expected to follow in the footsteps of his father by playing for the Wonder Club.

According to Daily Graphic sources, the 23-year-old talent, who was raised up in Scotland, could put pen to paper when the transfer window opens on February 16.

Olympics look good to add Rodney, a 19-year-old son of the former Black Stars skipper, Stephen Appiah, as they seek to bolster their squad for the second round of the league.

The source disclosed that Rodney, an offensive midfielder who was born in Udine, Italy, is looking forward to launch his career in Ghana.

“Everything is in place for them to sign for Olympics when the transfer window opens,” the source said.

“They are keen on making an impact in the local league and I believe they have a lot to add to this Olympics team when they sign”.

The duo have been training with Olympics for some time now under the tutelage of Coach Yaw Preko who recently took over the club in a caretaker capacity.

Appiah and Kingston started their careers in the Ghana Premier League with Hearts and Olympics before playing at the highest level in Europe.

By Graphic.com.gh

Another milestone from the University of Ghana. The Director of Sports at the University of Ghana Dr. Bella Bello Bitugu has been appointed by the International Centre of Martial Arts for Youth Development and Engagement under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to serve a 3-year term on its Governing Body.

The Secretary-General, Mrs. Ama Serwaa Nerquaye-Tetteh on behalf of the Chairman for the Ghana National Commission for UNESCO, congratulated him on his new appointment and hopes he will bring his expertise to bear to further the objectives and work of the Centre as he uplifts the image of Ghana and the African continent.

He will join six other world experts to supervise, manage and determine the activities of the Centre to promote the core mandate of UNESCO towards promoting culture, sports and education among children and youth around the world.

Dr. Bella Bello Bitugu brings along a huge repertoire of experience and roles to the Governing Board. He is the current Chair of the International Scientific Network on Sport for Development and Peace, a former board member of Football Against Racism in Europe, former international board member for International Sport Platform  at George Mason University in the United States of America, consultant and expert for FIFA, UEFA, European Commission, Austrian Government, Africa Union, UNESCO, United Nations Office on Drug and Crime, SOS International and Hermann Gmeiner Fond Deutschland,  Ghana Football Association Appeals Committee member, Ministry of Youth and Sports Ghana, GIZ, the former Country Director of Right To Play Ghana  among many others.

Dr. Bitugu expressed delight in his appointment to represent Ghana and Africa at the world stage:

“This is a recognition of the ability to deliver in the area where UNESCO is mandated for children and youth in education, culture and sports. I am grateful to all fraternities I have worked with who have contributed to this feat – colleagues at the University of Ghana, Ghana Universities Sports Association and so on. I am fully aware that I am representing Ghana, the Sub-Region and Africa as a continent and clearly the youth and children across the globe. I hope the support will keep on coming so I can deliver better and more to build upon what has been achieved so far.”

The Sports Directorate, Sports Advisory Board and the Sports Management Committee of the University of Ghana wish him well on his new appointment.

UG Sports News

Tokyo, Japan, February 1, 2021: With six months to go to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, athletes are back on stage.

Over the last few weeks, international events have been organised in 25 Olympic sports, while 10 International Federations have restarted Olympic qualification.

As a result:

*61 per cent of the athlete quota places have already been allocated;

*25 per cent will be assigned during the remaining qualification period, which will run until June 29;

*the final 14 per cent of athletes will be selected through rankings as per the respective qualification system for each sport.

Five sports and disciplines have already completed their qualification process: Cycling Road, Cycling Track, equestrian, hockey and volleyball.

Judo in Doha and water polo in Italy followed the example of many other sports, including tennis and golf, which are also among the 10 sports/disciplines for which Olympic qualification has restarted.

In addition to Tokyo 2020 qualification events, international events in 25 Olympic sports are currently under way or scheduled in the coming weeks.

After the men’s handball world championship in Cairo finished on January 31, more world championships are scheduled from February to July 2021, including for track cycling, baseball, sailing, triathlon, fencing, sailing, gymnastics, surfing, shooting, modern pentathlon, table tennis and canoe.

With One Year to Go to Beijing 2022 on February 4, winter sports events have also resumed. Qualification events in 11 out of 15 Olympic disciplines have restarted, with 17 per cent of athlete quota places allocated to date, while international events in 13 out of 15 winter sports disciplines on the Beijing 2022 programme have also resumed

The Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) has reportedly successfully appealed for the replay of African women's beach volleyball qualifying matches for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

According to Citizen Digital, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has annulled the results of last year's qualifying event involving Nigeria, Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cape Verde and Kenya.

The tournament, held in the Nigerian capital Abuja in March, was Group C in the second round of the African Volleyball Confederation (CAVB) Olympic qualification process.

Kenya, DR Congo and Cape Verde all withdrew from the competition with COVID-19 concerns, however, leaving Nigeria and Zambia to automatically progress to the final round of qualifying.

The KVF appealed to the FIVB for the event to be replayed, with President Waithaka Kioni claiming this had been granted.

"Following our appeal for the repeat of second round CAVB Olympic qualifiers due to the COVID-19 related travel restrictions imposed on some teams which included Kenyan teams, I am pleased to report that the FIVB has approved a repeat of the women BVB qualifiers," he said.

Kenya's women's beach volleyball head coach Sammy Mulinge revealed he was "very happy" at the decision but urged the FIVB to release new dates for the tournament, though it is thought competition will be scheduled for March or April.

"Justice has finally been served and we’re very happy though it was not our fault not to participate," Mulinge said.

"We’ll meet tomorrow to lay out the training plans because we should start the preparations in earnest.

"We only have a month or so to prepare also putting in mind we’ve not been involved in any action since March last year.

"I urge the FIVB to quickly release the actual dates for the repeat of the second round because we also have Club Championships coming up and my players will also represent their respective teams.

"That’s the biggest challenge we’re likely to face but we will definitely get the way forward."

The two winners of the group progress to the CAVB Continental Cup, where there is just one place available for the 24-team tournament at Tokyo 2020.

The Olympics are now scheduled to run from July 23 to August 8 following their postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

insidethegames

The Ghana Swimming Association has announce that top swimmer Abeiku Jackson has secured a 1 year scholarship to the FINA Development Centre Kazan in Kazan-Russia.

In attendance at the press conference held at Accra Sport Stadium media center were Mr Ben Nunoo-Mensah, President of Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Theophilus Wilson Edzie GSA President , Farida A. Iddriss Treasurer GSA, Charles Mensah TD GSA, Abbiw Jackson National Coach GSA and Seth Nti (Sport Development Officer).

Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah presented Jackson with his scholarship and documents. He advised him to be an exemplary ambassador and train hard to qualify to his second Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The President of GSA Mr Theophilus Edzie presented a cheque donation of 500usd to Abeku Jackson for his travelling expenses.a scholarship which was facilitated by FINA.

Source – Cecil Stanley Teiko Tagoe

Ghana’s  Sena Agbeko will feature on a SHOWTIME ShoBox TV on February 17, 2021 at the at the Mohegan Casino, Uncasville Connecticut. The boxer has been out of the ring for thirteen months (13) since he last made an impressive showing in January 2020 in an eight (8) rounder super middleweight contest against Roy King.

The ex- super middleweight champion of Ghana will meet undefeated Russian Vladimir Shishkin in a 10 rounder main event of a six card bout. This offers the US based Ghanaian opportunity to make a big statement in the 168lbs division as he has already found his feet in the American boxing space.

Agbeko 28 (23–1, 18 KOs) has 8 fights after his first against Raymond Gatica in Boxcino tournament on ESPN in the United States where he lost on a round 4 TKO which remains the only loss in his carrier. He says the US has become more like a home, now understands the politics of boxing and very much experienced to give off his best in his quest to becoming a contender in the division.

“Being in the US, I’ve amassed a lot of experience just traveling and working with some of the best fighters from Las Vegas, Miami, New York, Houston, Los Angeles and other cities. I’ve come to better understand the sport, the politics of it as well as the scientific elements of performance. I would say my greatest strength right now is my ability to adapt in the ring” he said when he spoke to the Seconds Out Boxing News.

Shishkin (11-0, 7 KOs) 29 ranked 9, 12 and 13 by the WBC, IBF and WBA respectively, very skilful and hard punching with sharp left and right combinations. There is everything to fight for as both boxers looks to improve their records and ranking.

Agbeko acknowledges that this fight will be his toughest in his carrier but sees the fight as just another fight in his path to becoming a world champion. He says he has always stayed focused and kept his feet at the gym and believes that it has what it takes to becoming a champion.

“Shishkin is a good boxer but I feel like it is my time, for me, is just another fighter in my path to becoming world champion. I am truly grateful to his promoter and Showtime for the opportunity to put it all on the line and this opportunity couldn’t have come at a better time. I am ready” he said.

By  Mustapha Nettey

Ghana international, Kwadwo Asamoah is on the verge of joining Italian Serie A outfit Cagliari.

It is reported Cagliari want to bring in Kwadwo Asamoah to beef up their squad as they fight to avoid relegation this season.

The Sardinians are in the relegation zone after six consecutive defeats, seven including the Coppa Italia.

Nonetheless, after Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Genoa, Cagliari released a statement confirming coach Di Francesco had signed a new contract that expires in June 2023 rather than 2022.

It is a big show of faith in the tactician, who was sacked by Sampdoria a couple of months into last season.

That’s not all, as Sky Sport Italia report Cagliari are also on the verge of signing veteran wing-back Asamoah as a free agent.

The 32-year-old Ghana international is a familiar face in Serie A from his time with Udinese, Juventus and Inter.

He terminated his contract with the Nerazzurri by mutual consent on October 5 and has been training on his own ever since.

442gh

… Journalists charged to demonstrate professional excellence

President of Ghana Table Tennis Association and Marketing/ Communications Manager of Stanbic Mr. Mawuko Afadzinu has charged sports journalists to demonstrate excellence in their work as they demand from athletes and officials.

Mr. Afadzinu, president of Institute of Public Relations (IPR) and former lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Journalism was speaking at the 3rd Betway/SWAG Sports Journalists Conference at the Best Western Hotel in Takoradi where over 60 sports journalists from Western Region and Western North attended.

Mr. Afadzinu speaking on “The Impact of Media on Sports”, said sports journalist are the transition between a powerful platform and powerful sentiments. He indicated that sports journalists bring like-minded people together so the principle of the athlete for success must be the guide for the journalist hence admonishing sports journalists to invest in their craft just like the athlete.

He revealed that the major challenge for the development and promotion of sports in Ghana is innovation and funding. He therefore challenged Federation heads to be very innovative in creation compelling content and tapping into the necessary contacts to raise investment for their respective sports.

Mr. Afadzinu concluded by saying “the confluence of sports and media, an outcome that few can match” hence the need for stakeholder engagement.

On his part, Mr. Michael Oti Adjei, General Manager-Digital at Media General charged sports journalists to consider major tournament as major career landmarks and not time for leisure thus admonished sports Journalists to adequately prepare for sports events whatsoever. He encouraged to have a long-term planning and preparations, research wide before embarking on the coverage of sports events.

Mr. Oti Adjei advised sports Journalists especially the younger ones, to make it a point to dress decently all the times, while encouraging them to seek opportunities in education to develop and enhance their career.

He emphasized that marketing your talent as a journalist is a constant job hence there’s no shame to in promoting yourself as a journalist.

In his submission, Mr. Kwabena Yeboah apprised sportscasters, particularly the younger ones to concentrate on building a solid and resound brand that will generate huge income in future, and not necessarily concentrating and focusing solely on money as reasons for pursuing sports Journalism.

He was of the conviction that, “a resounding brand pays hugely in future” and must be the objective and priority of the young sports Journalists.

The Sports Journalists Conference is a collaboration by The Sports Writers’ Association of Ghana (SWAG) and the leading sports betting company in Ghana, Betway with President of SWAG, Kwabena Yeboah, Michael Oti Adjei of Media General, Mawuko Afadzinu who is the President of Institute for Public Relations and Charles Osei Assibey, a renowned broadcaster and President of the Ghana Armwrestling as speakers.

Participants received certificates of participation and other complimentary gifts from Betway and SWAG.

Source : www.swagghana.com

Ghanaian medical practitioner, Dr. David Kofi Prince Pambo has been put in charge of Wednesday’s Championship of African Nations (CHAN), semi-final game between Mali and Guinea.

The former GFA medical Committee member is currently in Cameroon on working assignment for CAF at the ongoing CHAN tournament. The game will take place on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at the Japoma stadium in Douala.

Still on the CHAN tournament, GFA General Secretary, Alexander Asante has been appointed as General Coordinator for the other semi-final game between Morocco and host Cameroon. The game is scheduled for 8pm kick off at the Limbe-Limbe Omnisports stadium on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 in Cameroon.

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