Ghana won two gold medals at the just ended 2021 Arnold Classic Africa in South Africa.

The Ghana Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (GBFA), the body mandated by the National Sports Authority (NSA) to control the development of bodybuilding and fitness activities in Ghana registered 8 athletes (7 bodybuilders and 1 female bikini athletes) to participate in this year’s event.

The athletes; Godwin Frimpong, Joseph Ofolikwei, Arnold Aryee, Evans Amwagsi, Micheal Otu, Abraham Mawutor, Celestine Dogbeda, James Atsu and two GBFA executives are Charles Owusu Ansah and Rosemary Yayra left Ghana on the 16th of November to represent Ghana.

The Arnold Classic championship is a programme put together worldwide on each continent to celebrate bodybuilding great Arnold Schwarzenegger each year. It is the biggest bodybuilding event on the Africa continent.

After registration and the competition on the 21st of November, 2 Ghanaians; James Atsu and Michael Otu who were registered in the men’s Bodybuilding Up To 80kg placed 2nd and 4th respectively. In the men’s Bodybuilding Up To 90kg, Godwin Frimpong, Evans Amwagsi and Abraham Mawutor placed 1st, 2nd and 4th respectively. In the men’s Bodybuilding Up To 100kg, Joseph Ofolikwei placed 1st. Both Arnold Aryee (masters) and Celestine Dogbeda (female Bikini) who were competing internationally for the first time couldn’t make it to the top 6 in their respective categories.

In all Ghana won two gold medals, two silver medals and two 4th placed medals.

The president of the GBFA said “Ghana always perform very well, flying high the flag of Ghana anytime we travel out to represent the country in international events and Ghana bodybuilding is now given the needed respect when it comes to competing internationally. We’ve done some good job with bodybuilding in this country over the years with our own fundings and I think it’s high time the authorities above give bodybuilding the needed financial support to continue the development of the sport in Ghana”

“Going to South African as Usual, athletes and executives needed to raise their own funding to make the trip possible, which have continued for far too long and I believe it’s high time we change things”

Yartey said “bodybuilding is the backbone of most sporting disciplines, because most sports athletes go into the gym to develop their muscles and it is these same bodybuilders who are instructors who train these athletes and people of all works of life in Ghana to let them stay fit and healthy”.

Next year will be a busy year for bodybuilding in Ghana and bodybuilding seriously need the support of the NSA and the Sports ministry”

Source - GBFA

Former Pearl Pia Ladies’ Mumuni Fuseina has won the 2020/2021 Uzbekistan Women’s Premier League with FC Sogdiana Club. 

The offensive midfielder was pivotal and contributed immensely to the success of club on winning the league.

The top scorer of the season accolade eluded the former Black Princesses star by just a goal, after getting on the scoresheet a whopping 31 times for Sogdiana Club.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghanaian boxing legend Azumah “The Professor” Nelson has ascribed Ghana's failure to produce more boxing Champions to lack of concentration and unruliness with the current crop of boxers.

Ghana in its entire boxing history has produced 10 boxing world Champions across various weight classes making it one of the most popular sports in the country.

Speaking to the media at the of the launch of the national title belts at the Trust Sports Emporium in Accra, the Boxing Hall of Famer said staying focused and disciplined should be the aim of every boxer who aspires to become a world champion.

"Boxing is a very tough sport and you don't have to joke with your training if you want to go far. Some people box for fun but you have to be serious with training if you aspire to become a world champion. So, if you want to be a world champion then you have to train like a world champion."

"You cannot go anywhere if you are not disciplined and focused as a boxer. With boxing you can’t have longer spells, your reign can only be 10-15 years so you would have to put in all your time when you get the opportunity.

"Laziness should not be part of a boxer's dictionary, you have to remain focused and know where you are going especially when you have world champion ambitions. Once you become a professional boxer you can't exhibit traits of an amateur," he said.

The three-time former world featherweight and super featherweight champion stressed that Ghana has a lot of boxing talents, but they have to be groomed well moraly and spiritually to ensure that they become world champions.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana’s Isaac Royal Storm Dogboe is still the NABF featherweight champion.

He retained his title on Saturday night, 20/11/2021 after the judges scored the bout against Christopher Diaz: 95-95 96-94 and 97-93 by a majority point in his favour.

Some terrific combinations and clear shots by Isaac Royal Storm Dogboe who looked very fit helped him on the way to a majority points victory over Christopher Díaz in Las Vegas.

Dogboe is edging closer to another world title shot.

On the main card, Terence "Bud" Crawford knocked out "Showtime" Shawn Porter in the 10th round to retain his WBO welterweight world title in front of a sold-out crowd of 11,568 at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas Saturday night.

Crawford (38-0, 29 KOs) made the fifth defence of the title he won in June 2018 and was presented with the stiffest test of his illustrious career. Porter (31-4-1, 17 KOs), who has fought every elite welterweight of this era announced his retirement after the fight.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The Africa Cup for Club Champions[ACCC] -  MEN 32nd Edition & WOMEN 23rd Edition -  are scheduled to take place in Accra, Ghana  during the period 24-30 November 2021.

Vice President of Ghana Hockey, Madam Elizabeth King who is member of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and a top official of African Hockey said she expects a wonderful and memorable tournament.

She appealed to sports fans to visit the new look Theodocia Okoh Hockey pitch, near Tema Station in Accra and enjoy the game of hockey. She also urged student to come and watch to cultivate the interest in hockey.

The Men’s clubs participating are Eastern Company (Egypt), Tairat (Egypt), Zamalek (Egypt), Ghana Army (Ghana), Ghana Police Service (Ghana), Ghana Revenue Authority (Ghana), Wazalendo Kenya, Kada (Nigeria) and Police Machine (Nigeria).

The Women’s clubs taking part are Ghana Prisons Ghana, Ghana Police Service Ghana, Ghana Revenue Authority Ghana, Delta Queens Nigeria and Plateau Queens Nigeria.

The event is sponsored by Pharco Pharmaceuticals

In Abuja 2018 Ghana's GRA men and women played the finals against Egypt's El Sharkia men and Telkom Kenya women respectfully.

It is expected that the Ghanaian clubs will shine at home.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana's number one bodybuilder, Godwin Frimpong won the overall men's bodybuilder at the 2021 Arnold Classic Africa competition currently ongoing in South Africa.

With the expectational display of fitness and power, the three times Man Ghana winner swept the gold medal in the men's middleweight category with a win over other 13 competitors to eventually win the overall contest.

The 2021 Man Ghana winner, Frimpong first participated in the Arnold classic in 2017 and placed 4th, 3rd and 1st in 2018 and 2019 respectively in the middleweight category.

This achievement now earns Godwin his first professional Pro-Card and Ghana's second, after Cyril Adja's win in 2017.

Joseph Ofolikwei also won the Men’s Bodybuilding up to 100KG at the event to make it two gold for Ghana.

Michael Otu was 4th in the Men’s Bodybuilding up to 80kg.  James Atsu And Michael Otu Place 3rd & 4th respectively.

So far it has been a good Arnold Classic Africa 2021 tournament in South Africa.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Five sports federations represented Ghana at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, namely - Swimming, Athletics, Judo, Weightlifting and Boxing which earned the nation bronze after 29 years of participation in the world’s biggest sports festival.

When the team arrived in Accra from Tokyo, there was a huge crowd at the airport to welcome them due to their marvelous achievement, and most were boxing fans.

On Friday, August 20, 2021, the President of Ghana, HE. Nana Akufo-Addo promised the whole team made up of 38 including athletes, coaches, press attaché, medical doctors, covid officer, administrator and chef de mission and federation heads $5,000 each as reward for representing Ghana and not coming home empty handed.

Boxer Samuel Takyi is supposed to get $10,000, a car and $20, 000 for his professional development.

After three months of waiting for the Presidential Promise Bonus, part of Team Ghana, the athletes and coaches were rewarded, while the members who sacrificed a lot, day and night were left out.

Since sports is an ongoing activity, and athletes need to be training and preparing with funds and facilities from their federations, it has become difficult as they need funds to live, and better their performances.

The national boxing team, the Black Bombers for instance owe a lot of people and companies in their preparations towards the Olympic Games, so when they heard of the Presidential Promise, they blessed Nana, as their debts would be sorted, but it is still pending.

The President of the Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF), Mr. George Lamptey said he has been having sleepless nights just because he had to sacrifice for Ghana, same as other officials who backed Team Ghana in diverse ways.

Yours Truly, the Press Attache has been using his personal gadgets to work for the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and the federations, and was not adequately paid or compensated after the Olympic Games.

The Swimming Association of Ghana also hosted the 14th African Swimming Championship, and it was not easy for them financially, though they put up a successful event.

The athletes, both home based and foreign based have been constantly asking when is the Presidential Promise going to be fulfilled, because they qualified for the final, and did well to break the 100 x 4 national record. Well they now have it.

But with the Presidential Promise going to some and leaving others, the entire Team Ghana at Tokyo 2020 really feel bad and disappointed.

There were problems and issues at Tokyo, but Team Ghana led by Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah and CDM, Mr. Mike Aggrey as well as the experienced media attaché were able to manage and solve all crisis situations in peace and harmony.

The rest comprising the chef de mission, administrator, medical officers, media attaché, covid liaison officer and federation heads who did not receive hope and pray that President Nana Akufu-Addo will know that his promise to give every member of Team Ghana has not been fulfilled, as everyone played a role in ensuring that Ghana did not come home empty handed.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns beat Hasaacas Ladies of Ghana 2-0 as they made history and won the first-ever Women's African Champions League title in Cairo.

The opening exchanges were evenly balanced with both teams enjoying periods of possession but some poor passing meant neither side could create clear-cut chances.

Sundowns came close in the seventh minute as Lerato Kgasago's free-kick from outside the area went narrowly over the bar. The breakthrough came in the 32nd minute as the front three of Sundowns combined well to get in behind the Hasaacas defence.

A first-time ball over the top from Melinda Kgadiete found Andisiwe Mgcoyi on the right-hand side and in behind the defenders, her cross was flicked in at the far post by Chuene Morifi.

The South Africans took control of the game in the second half and were rewarded in the 65th minute when Mgcoyi was on target when she got on the end of a ball from Nonhlanhla Mthandi, racing into the area ahead of Hasaacas captain Janet Egyir.

Hasaacas' best chance came in the 76th minute with a free-kick just outside the area and directly in front of goal but Perpetual Agyekum's fierce shot was well saved and pushed over the bar by Andile Dlamini.

As the Ghanaians pushed for a goal they were left short of numbers in defence but Sundowns were unable to take advantage and add to their tally.

Sundowns held on for the historic win despite playing the last few minutes with 10 women after Regina Magolola was shown a straight red card just moments after having come on as a substitute.

It was something of a turnaround in fortunes for the two sides with Sundowns having only scored twice en route to the final whereas Hasaacas had amassed 10 goals in their four previous games.

Before the final Mamelodi Sundowns manager, Jerry Tshabalala had said "defenders win tournaments" and he was proved correct as his side did not concede a single goal in the tournament, other than in the semi-final penalty shout-out.

Indeed his defence held firm in face of the tournament's top scorer 19-year-old Evelyn Badu, who scored half of Hasaacas' goals in Egypt.

On Thursday AS FAR of Morocco clinched third place with a 3-1 win over Malabo Kings from Equatorial Guinea.

Fatima Tagnaout scored early the only goal of the first half for AS FAR before Brazilian-born Carolina Martins Pereira equalised for Malabo.

On the hour mark, Malabo's Nigerian goalkeeper Ruth Sunday made a mistake that allowed Ghizlane Chebbak to put the Moroccan club ahead. Chebbak then made certain of the win as she scored a second in injury time at the end of the match.

By BBC Africa

Hasaacas Ladies’ Evelyn Badu has been awarded the golden boot in the maiden edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League.

The tournament which was hosted in Egypt saw Mamelodi Sundowns winning the trophy.

The midfielder scored 5 goals in the course of the tournament and will take the award as consolation after missing out of winning the main trophy after Hasaacas’ 2-0 defeat at the South African club.

The 19-year-old started the competition in a blistering manner, scoring a brace against Malabo Kings in Hasaacas Ladies’ 3-1 win.

She then went on to score another brace against AS Mande in the second group game but was missing on the scorer’s sheet in Hasmal’s 2-2 draw against Wadi Degla.

The forward-thinking midfielder was on red-hot form in Hasaacas Ladies’ 2-1 win over Moroccan side, ASFAR in the semifinals.

However, she could not help the Hasmal Ladies to a win to make history as the first team to lift the CAF Women’s Champions League.

The Ghana  Boxing Authority  (GBA) has bought new belts to be awarded to national champions beginning next month.

The Ghana Boxing Authority’s (GBA) President confirmed his outfit had taken delivery of 10 new belts to cater for the promotional needs of the boxing calendar.

After many years of unavailability of national title belts which always took some shine away from local promotions sanctioned by the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), the sancting body is now elated and excited.

As at October 2021, the GBA had only two title belts for all the active weight classes from flyweight to heavyweight.

Over the years, national champions were decorated by the GBA immediately after the ring announcer’s results, after which they returned the titles immediately to be used for other events.

GBA’s rules and regulations state that every champion is supposed to stage a voluntary defence after a maximum of 90 days and a mandatory defence within a period of six months. As the situation stands all champions have hardly kept any title belts in their closets.

The standard practice internationally among the four major sanctioning bodies is to incorporate the cost of making the belt in the overall promotional budget.   

Aesthetic Design

The belts are made of green leather and have three compartments with bold gold plated casted designs on the main body.

On the main front there is an enlarged rectangular boundary which has eight red stones dotted around its boundaries.

In the center there is a bold imprint of the national coast of arms of Ghana. All the way at the top center of the big rectangle is a protruding image of a boxer carrying a round object.

Also casted on the middle are two eagles holding on to a central disc which has the coast of arms.

There is a meandering sash beneath the disc. Each of the eagles also has one boxing glove behind them. On either side of the center is a coat of arms on a rectangular surface.

Source Friends of Boxing (FOB)