Sports
Unraveling riddles behind Laryea, FA turbulence
Laryea Kingston and FA President, Kurt Okraku
Events in three major sports including football and boxing have kept Ghanaian sports faithful spellbound, following attentively their outcomes which would determine Ghana’s participation or otherwise in major upcoming events.
The first is the ongoing West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Zone B U-17 championship at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium which Ghana’s Black Starlets were kicked out at the semi-final stage by a determined Burkina Faso side.
Secondly, the Road to Paris 2024 Boxing Championship in Bangkok, Thailand is one boxing fans are following to monitor the progress of the Black Bombers.
They need to secure some of the 51 allotted places for the Paris 2024 Olympics expected to take place in a few months’ time.
Then comes the Ghana Premier League (GPL) on its last stretch. For the second consecutive time, major traditional and city rivals, Accra Hearts of Oak and Accra Great Olympics are heavily involved in an interesting battle to avoid relegation.
That carries enough weight to dominate discussions on the various media platforms for the entire week.
However, a sudden Laryea Kingston outburst after the Black Starlets loss to Burkina Faso turned the scripts and swept the Hearts-Oly relegation discussion under the carpet.
Laryea, no doubt has emerged as one of the respected and confident young coaches and expected to take Ghana football by storm. His exploits with the Right to Dream Academy and the Starlets in a previous adventure made him an obvious candidate for the job.
The target was to land in the finals to guarantee qualification to the CAF U-17 Championship and subsequently qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
But the Burkina Faso hurdle proved too costly; leaving behind a dejected, disappointed, sad and disheartened young talents who obviously looked up to their coach for comfort and some consolation.
On the field of play after the match, they enjoyed that from their coach who inspired them in his play-days with Great Olympics, Hearts of Oak and the national teams.
They were, however, left shocked to the bone by the announcement of the coach’s resignation and the manner it was carried out.
The matter became murkier by an intolerant and emotional acceptance statement from the FA, raising issues over how Laryea handled his resignation when the team had a third place playoff in a few days’ time.
The FA played smart to ‘weather the storm’ by announcing assistants to take over and visited the team ahead of the Tuesday (May 28) bronze medal playoff against Nigeria.
Without knowing the exact issues that got Laryea infuriated, he has been ‘hanged’ already on reasons bordering on his temperament. Yes, I am tempted to side with the judges presiding on the matter handled in a court of public opinion.
No matter what may have angered him, he could have proved his critics wrong by going about his resignation in a decent manner rather than abandoning the team and his post-match duties including the meeting with the team’s management committee which he reports directly to.
Clearly, his action will deny him a platform through which his grievances can reach the FA for solutions.
That, however, does not also exonerate the FA because clearly, it goofed with the tone of its statement and their action creating a platform for a ‘buga-buga’ analysis of the matter.
By Andrew Nortey
Sports
President Kurt E.S Okraku closes FIFA Club Professionalisation and Management workshop
The President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has urged Premier League Club representatives to apply the knowledge gained from the FIFA Club Professionalisation and Management workshop, which concluded on Wednesday March 5, 2025.
The President made the remarks when he closed the two-day workshop, organised for top Ghana Premier League Executives and supported by the world governing body, FIFA, at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence (GSCE) in Prampram.
President Simeon-Okraku also expressed his gratitude to FIFA for supporting the Football Association’s efforts to enhance football development, while urging the club representatives to apply the knowledge gained from the workshop to foster sustainable growth within their teams.
‘I remember when all of you here offered me the chance to lead in 2019, I paid a visit to Zurich and I met President Gianni (Infantino). One of the foremost topics I picked up with him was ways of empowering Africa by way of knowledge and education-sharing. Because I truly, truly thought, and I still think, that it is a key need area for us in Africa,” President Okraku said
“Some of us are blessed to have had a chance to go and study football. But we need more people to have the right level of skill sets to be able to deliver football the way it has to be delivered. So bringing this training to our doorstep, in my opinion, is a blessing. And I will not only say thank you again to FIFA, but I will definitely ask for more.
“Because knowledge exchange should always be timeless. Seeking knowledge should be a key part of our journey in this industry. And I believe that every club right here would want not only to exchange, but also to learn. Therefore, I would always say, FIFA, bring us more. Bring us more of such opportunities so that we can close the gap. Because in the time past, many years ago, we never had so many niche areas in the management of football.”
The workshop aimed to improve the overall management and professional standards of the clubs by equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills required for effective football administration.
The sessions focused on the latest trends in relation to club operations, stadium management, finance, marketing and communications, sporting strategy, governance, leadership and negotiation skills.
The GFA and FIFA hope to strengthen the administrative capabilities of Ghanaian football clubs, ultimately contributing to the long-term success and development of the sport in the country.
“This is what we need. Continuous exchange, continuous learning, continuous giving, continuous taking. And gradually, our football industry will be the industry that all of us have been yearning for. Without such spaces, such platforms, we will not get to the promised land. And I’m sure that between yesterday and today, you may have picked one of two new things.
“When we leave here, that should not be the end of our engagements. Let’s reach out to each others. Let’s cross-check what we have picked up here and add on. And by doing that, our clubs would improve. On behalf of the Executive Council, I thank you so much for accepting to be here. I pray that the almighty God will keep all of us together and together we would effect the changes in not only our clubs, but also the entire football family. Congratulations.” President Okraku applauded in his concluding remarks.
This initiative is part of the ongoing collaboration between the GFA and FIFA to professionalise football in Ghana and ensure that local clubs are equipped to compete at both domestic and international levels.
FIFA’s delegation is headed by Solomon Mudege, the Head of FIFA Development Programmes- Africa, Marcos Picallo Aguilar- FIFA Senior Professional Football Manager, and Development, Silmara Sousa – MA Regional Coordinator, FIFA Development Programmes.
FIFA Experience Instructor and Consultant Pedro Manuel Correia Miranda is the lead instructor for the programme.
From 4-5 March 2025, the workshop brought together two representatives from each of Ghana’s 18 premier division clubs.
Sports
Premier League Returns with Exciting Match Day 23 Fixtures
The Ghana Premier League is set to return with thrilling Match Day 23 fixtures following the unexpected break following the death of Asante Kotoko fan Francis Yaw Frimpong, as the title race and top-four battle continue to heat up.
League leaders Bibiani Goldstars will aim to maintain their position at the top when they welcome Nations FC to the Duns Park. Goldstars, with a narrow one-point lead, cannot afford any slip-ups as they look to extend their advantage.
Second-placed Asante Kotoko will host Legon Cities at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in a crucial match as they seek to keep up the pressure on the leaders. Meanwhile, Hearts of Oak will face Young Apostles at the Legon Sports Stadium in another key encounter.
In what promises to be an intense clash, Heart of Lions, who are just a point behind Bibiani Goldstars, will visit Vision FC at the Nii Adjei Kraku II Sports Complex in Tema New Town. With the title within reach, Lions will be eager to grab all three points.
Elsewhere, 7th-placed Medeama SC will lock horns with 6th-placed Bechem United in a crunch fixture, as both teams look to boost their standing in the league table.
Defending champions FC Samartex will take on Nsoatreeman FC at the Bibiani Duns Park on Monday, hoping to reclaim their dominance in the league.
Berekum Chelsea will square off against Accra Lions at the Nana Agyemang Badu I Park in Dormaa, while Dreams FC will battle Aduana FC at the Tuba AstroTurf in a game that promises fireworks.
Meanwhile, Karela United will play hosts to Basake Holy Stars, rounding off what is set to be an exhilarating weekend of football in the Ghana Premier League.
With the league standings tight at the top, every match will be crucial as teams fight for supremacy, top-four spots, and survival in Ghana’s elite football competition.
