Outreach; a non-profit all volunteer organization whose mission is to provide low-cost and no cost athletic apparel and equipment to the youth to get them active and improve their wellbeing last Saturday 20th February 2021 donated tennis equipment to the St. Francis Tennis Academy in Ashaiman.

Jynna Asiedu-Ofei; the CEO of the Bergins Outreach and a former tennis player herself presented the items which comprised of tennis rackets, balls and tennis shoes .

According to her; "my siblings and I got the opportunity to study abroad (USA) through gaining tennis scholarships. So the aim is to create and give the children the same opportunity we got and the donation of tennis equipment is to ensure that young tennis players enjoy the opportunity to further and improve their training.

 Bergins outreach chose St. Francis because of the tennis stars it has been able to produce in the years past and still producing despite the very limited resources it has. Also we believed it was a foundation where we could track progress of the children and be part of the great things they're already doing and will continue supporting less privileged children with sports and school supplies to make a difference and support the community.’ She added

Story: Gabriel Amoakoh

Team USA will feature some exciting young faces at the Tokyo Olympics.

Sydney McLaughlin, Noah Lyles, and Morgan Hurd are just some of the budding stars representing America this year.

The young competitors will look to show their skills on the world stage and build up their global reputations in Tokyo.

The Olympics are a proving ground for young, ambitious athletes to claim their moment on the world stage.

After a year of delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, America's finest young athletes are reved up and ready to show what they can do. And they're ready to do it in front of a global audience at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

Here's a look at the young Americans looking to achieve global fame at this year's Summer Olympics.

Sydney McLaughlin - Track and Field

Sydney McLaughlin is already a budding household name after becoming the youngest American to participate in the Olympics since 1972 at the Rio games in 2016. At just 16 years of age, McLaughlin finished 16th in the 400-meter hurdles.

Five years later, a polished McLaughlin, who claimed first place at the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships, is a heavy favorite to bring a medal to the United States.

Noah Lyles - Track and Field

Noah Lyles has done something only once achieved by the great Usain Bolt.

In 2018, Lyles broke the 19.7-second mark in the 200-meter dash at four different competitions. Lyles has no shortage of confidence that he could be in the same class as Bolt. In 2016, he took a risk on himself by passing on a scholarship offer from the University of Florida to jump straight into the pros, according to Stephen Ruiz of the Orlando Sentinel.

He's been nothing short of the world's fastest-rising sprinting star ever since.

Grant Holloway did enroll at Florida, but there was a catch. Holloway initially committed to play wide receiver for the Gators' storied football program but came to the epiphany that, deep down, he didn't see himself as a 'team player,' according to NBC.

Source - yahoo

Two Ghanaian Badminton players are in Uganda, to participate in the 2021 International Badminton Championship.

The duo; Kevin Alphous and Prospera Nantuo would participate in the Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, and Mixed Doubles events on Thursday, February 25.

The two Mixed Doubles National Champions began their practice on Wednesday, evening at the Limpopo Stadium, Kampala ahead of their matches.

16 countries are participating in the Individual Badminton Championship, with 96 international players.

The Championship would give the athletes the necessary points for their 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and 2022 Commonwealth Games Qualifiers.

Speaking to the GNA Sports, the team said they would return home with gold medals since they had prepared adequately for the competition.

The championship would also serve as preparatory grounds for the African Mixed Team Event in April 2021,

GNA

Afful Basit from the Central Region and Belinda Segbobu from the Upper West Region stole the show at the 2021 National Cross Country race organized by the National Sports Authority (NSA) at Sefwi-Wiaso in the Western North Region, on Saturday.

Basit, making his third appearance in the competition clocked 29m 44s.14 to win the Men’s category ahead of John Kudan and David Nakuosi from the Ashanti Region and Upper West Region made a time of 30m.15s.48 and 30m.20s.09 respectively in the 20km race.

The race which started in the early hours of Saturday at Ayemkrom and ended at the Glistering Park at Sefwi-Wiaso had 200 athletes drawn from the 16 Regions participating.

In the female category, Segbofu, beat Sherifa Moro and Rosina Tit with a time of 35m.11s. She beat the duo with a difference of 35 seconds to emerge top.

The two athletes told the GNA Sports they prepared well for the competition and were hungry to compete for Ghana on the international front.

Overall, Ashanti Region picked 20 points to place first as the best Region, whilst Central Region and Greater Accra occupied the second and third position with 50 and 75 points respectively in the Men’s category.

In the female division, Upper West emerged as the best team with 22 points, followed by Ashanti Region (32 points) and Eastern Region (86 points) in that order.

For their efforts, the first three athletes in both categories received a cash prize of GHc3,000, GHc2,000 and GHc1,000 whereas the best Region received GHc10,000.

Also, all the participating athletes were presented with certificates, a book authored by the NSA Director General Prof. Peter Twumasi and products from Pomasidor Ghana.

Mr. Kofi Aboagye, a Pharmacist in the Region made a special donation of undisclosed cash to Western North Region for successfully hosting the competition.

The NSA Director General, after the event told the GNA Sports, “this is one of the competitions we can use to raise long-distance runners.

When it comes to long-distance running in Ghana, we really don’t put in resources to harness their potentials. When we continue to do this, we can identify talents in Ghana to match their opponents on the international front.

“We would mold and polish these talents for major competitions. We are satisfied that these budding talents would have the resources to be ready for the world. There were scouts here and some of these athletes would be picked.”

Eastern Region would host the 2022 National Cross Country Race.

Results Of 2021 National Cross-Country, Sefwi Wiawso, Western North (Feb 20, 2021)

INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENT

MEN:  Time

1st. Affual Basit - Central  29.44.14

2nd. John Kadam - Ashanti 30.15.48

3rd. David Nakuosi - Upper West 30.20.09    

WOMEN:    Time

1st. Belinda Segbobu - Upper West 35.11

2nd. Sharifu Moro - Ashanti 35.46

3rd. Rosina Tit - Upper West 36.06

REGIONAL PLACEMENT

MEN:   Score

1. Ashanti - 22
2. Central - 50
3. Gt.Accra - 75
4. Western - 79
5. Northern - 114
6. Savana - 115
7. Volta - 116
8. Oti - 128
9. Bono East - 159
10. Bono - 186
11. Upper West - 194
12. Western North -212
13. Eastern - 216
14. Upper East - 236
15. Ahafo - 281
16. North East (absent)

WOMEN:  Score

1. Upper West - 22
2. Ashanti - 32
3. Eastern - 86
4. Western North - 92
5. Upper East - 95
6. Bono - 113
7. Western - 145
8. Gt.Accra - 149
9. Volta - 154
10. North - 159
11. Central - 171
12. Oti - 189
13. Ahafo - 201
14. Bono East (absent)
15. North East (absent)
16. Savanna (absent)

NSA

The coaching problem of Hearts of Oak will end soon following fruitful discussions between the club and Medeama SC gaffer Samuel Boadu.

The young and brilliant coach has been a long admirer of the leadership of the Phobians and is finally joining the club after several attempts to lure him earlier proved futile.

Footballmadeinghana.com can exclusively disclose that Boadu is inches away from being the successor of Kosta Papic who left the club a few days ago citing interference in player selection as one of his reasons.

Boadu, before the appointment of Kosta Papic was the choice of the Phobians but insiders claim Medeama SC were not ready to let go of the young gaffer.

The relationship between Medeama SC and Boadu is believed to have been sour from the start of the season precipitating attempts of the young coach to leave.

Hearts of Oak are believed to have made a formal request for Boadu from Medeama SC last season by the Tarkwa-based club declined the request insisting the young man was a project for the club.

But with the recent sour relationship between the coach and Medeama SC, the club is ready to let go of the manager who is on his way to Hearts of Oak.

He will take over from Samuel Nii Noi who is currently the stop-gap coach of the side following the departure of Kosta Papic.

Nii Noi has since recorded a 100% winning start since assuming position; beating Dwarfs and Liberty Professionals respectively.

Samuel Boadu will be the 16th Hearts of Oak manager since 2012 and the 4th this season after Nii Odoom, Kosta Papic and Nii Noi.

He will be confronted with transforming the club and winning back the love of the fans who have gone berserk following the departure of Kosta Papic.

Not only that, he will also be tasked with setting up his own technical team since the deputy coach of Hearts Asare Bediako and the goalkeepers’ trainer Ben Owu have all resigned.

He is likely to commence work before the start of the second round of the season which sparks in the middle of next month.

Hearts fans who have admired the young gaffer will be in high spirits ahead of his arrival as he’s seen as one of the beat managers on the local scene.

Boadu is credited with the recent transformation of Medeama SC and has unique admiration of young talents.

He’s the head coach of the Ghana U15 side that was started about two years ago and is credited with laying the foundation of the recent U17 side, the Black Starlets.

Despite being synonymous with the sacking of managers, Boadu is expected to demystify that myth and stay long with the Phobians.

Footballmadeinghana.com

Avram Grant with Dubai Sports Council's Saeed Hareb

Avram Grant, the former Chelsea and Israel coach, will kick-off Dubai Sports Council’s development programme for professional players in Dubai with a lecture at Hatta Club on February 23.

Grant, who has also managed the Ghana national team and English Premier League clubs Portsmouth and West Ham United, is taking part in the programme as a senior lecturer and he will conduct two talks at Hatta Club on Tuesday — the first for elite youth players and the second for the senior players of Hatta FC.

He will host similar sessions at Dubai’s other three football clubs — Al Nasr, Al Wasl and Shabab Al Ahli Dubai — in the coming days.

Approved by His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, the programme, which is being organised under the slogan ‘Your career is your future’, is an important addition to DSC’s efforts to develop players and the coaching staff at Dubai football and sports clubs.

The programme aims to enhance the professional status and awareness of players on the roles of Dubai’s four football clubs by involving all players in corporate social responsibility programmes as well as promotional events for sponsors and products. The player engagement will lead to a positive growth in the fan base of clubs, as well as greater exposure for their corporate partners, and consequently an increase in revenues.

The program also seeks to educate players on lifestyle changes that would enhance their status as professionals. It will involve more than 200 football players playing for the first and Under-21 teams of Dubai’s clubs, as well as elite players from the 14 to 19 age group.

The programme will include workshops and courses and special classes for overseas professionals to introduce them to the culture and history of UAE, and teach them the Arabic language.

Having worked in one of the biggest professional football leagues in the world, as well as in countries such as Israel, Serbia, Thailand and Ghana, Grant will bring nearly 50 years of football coaching experience to the programme.

Grant agreed to participate in the program during his visit to DSC in November, when he met Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of DSC, and Nasser Aman Al Rahma, Assistant Secretary General of the Council.

Grant, who started his coaching career at the age 18 as a youth coach of his hometown team Hapoel Petah Tikva in Israel in 1972, had expressed his admiration for the UAE, and the development taking place here, and expressed his keenness to share his vast experience for the betterment of football in Dubai and UAE.

Source: Gulfnews.com 

Emmanuel Tagoe, the former IBO Lightweight champion says he is very cool with the decision of his former promoters to part ways with him.

“I am very cool. Nothing is worrying to me and same with them. It’s not an issue we’ve got to fight over. So everything is cool.

"Now I have a foreign promoter who is promoting my fights and they have planned for me to mount the ring in May. So everything is fine”, he added.

When asked if he needs a manager to compliment his new promoters Tagoe aka Game Boy said “for now, I am not ready for a manager. I am just cool and hence not ready for a manager”.

Baby Jet Promotions have cut ties with their boxer Emmanuel ‘Gameboy’ Tagoe.

Attesting to this termination of their contract with Gameboy was a letter released dated 9th February 2021 stating that the contract is done with immediate effect.

Communications Director for the Ghana Football Association, Henry Asante Twum has confirmed the much-anticipated game between Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak will be staged behind closed doors.

The Porcupine Warriors will host arch-rivals Hearts of Oak at the Accra Sports Stadium in the Super Two clash on Sunday in this outstanding Ghana Premier League game.

Due to Covid-19, the country's football governing body have issued a directive for all games to be played behind closed doors for the next four weeks due to the rise in the COVID-19 cases in the country.

Asante Twum in an interview reiterated that there will be no exemption for this game as the Ghana FA will is interested in protecting the lives of the main actors from the COVID-19.

“There will be no fans at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday for the Kotoko vs Hearts match. We made it clear in the press release we issued on playing our games behind closed doors till the end of the first round of the league”, he told Happy FM.

“We have signed a contract with right holders at the beginning of the season so we can’t decide in the middle of the season and ask the right holders to broadcast the games on free to air. We need to protect their rights”, Henry said on making the game live on TV.

He also pleaded with the supporters of the two teams to be patient as the GFA engages all the various stakeholders on how to make the game available for all to watch.

“I will plead with the supporters to stay at home and watch the game on television”.

“From now till Saturday we will engage the broadcast holder and look at the best means to handle this situation. It is a win-win situation for the clubs, the Association and the broadcaster.

"We will make a decision that will be in the best interest of all stakeholders”. he added.

modernghana

Accra Hearts of Oak supporters leader Elvis Herman Hesse Jnr. has resigned from the club's board with immediate effect, GHANAsoccernet.com can report.

Hesse, the chairman of the National Chapters Committee tendered his resignation letter to the club's top hierarchy on Tuesday.

The supporters chief led a demonstration against the Accra Hearts of Oak board last week following the resignations of some technical team members.

Head coach Kosta Papic, assistant coach Asare Bediako, and Goalkeepers' coach Ben Owu all bowed out of the club within one week.

Hesse was put on the board of directors of the Phobians after his election as NCC Chairman in June 2019.

• 6 Kotoko Players
• 4 Olympics Players
• No Hearts of Oak Player
• Wakaso Returns

CK Akonnor has dropped eight players from his initial squad that began training for the 2021 African Cup of Nations [Afcon] doubleheader qualifier against South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe next month.

A new list of 26 players comprising 2 foreign base players are to report for training on Thursday, February 25, according to a list released by the Ghana Football Association today.

Notable amongst the list of players left out of the squad is Hearts of defender Mohammed Alhassan whose team has not had any impressive form.

Ebusua Dwarfs duo of Benjamin Acquah and George Asamoah have also been left out of the team, while Techiman Eleven Wonders winger Ibrahim Salifu is also missing from the list to prepare for the encounter.

Coach Akonnor has also left out all the 3 players he invited from the National division one league but has also included in his team China-based Emmanuel Boateng from Dalian Pro who is in the country on holidays, together with Mubarak Wakaso.

Ghana will be hosted by the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Johannesburg before playing the final group game against Sao Tome at the Cape Coast Stadium.

Black Stars just need a point to seal a qualification for the tournament that will be hosted in Cameroon.

Below is the full list of players to begin camping.

Goalkeepers: Joseph Addo (Aduana Stars), Razak Abalorah (Asante Kotoko), Eric Ofori Antwi (Medeama SC)

Defenders: Ganiyu Ismail (Asante Kotoko), Yusif Mubarik (Asante Kotoko), Kwadwo Amoako (AshantiGold SC), Konadu Yiadom (WAFA), Ibrahim Moro (Asante Kotoko), Haruna Jamal Deen (Great Olympics), Christopher Nettey (Asante Kotoko), Dennis Korsah (Ebusua Dwarfs), Joseph Agyei (Legon Cities)

Midfielders: Gladson Awako (Great Olympics), Justice Blay (Medeama SC), Michel Otou (Great Olympics), Yaw Annor (AshantiGold SC), Rashid Nortey (Medeama SC), Maxwell Abbey (Great Olympics), Augustine Boakye (WAFA), Salifu Moro (Bechem United), Mubarak Wakaso (Jiangsu Suning), Joseph Esso (Dreams FC)

Forwards: Emmanuel Boateng (Dalian Pro), Kwame Peprah (King Faisal), Kwame Opoku (Asante Kotoko), Diawusie Taylor (Karela United)