Sports
Can Medeama tame Heart of Lions?
The 2024/25 Ghana Premier League (GPL) reaches week five this weekend with intriguing clashes across the various centres.
The action spot would surely be the Tarkwa and Abosso (T&A) Stadium where highflying league leaders, Medeama SC, engages Kpando Heart of Lions today at 6pm local time.
Medeama is currently enjoying a perfect run and seem to be working towards the vow to return to Africa club competition by winning the league.
That appear to have been bolstered by the fact that they have one of the finest venues in the competition and pushed a vibrant supporter’s wing.
At home, they look good to maintain their good run against the Kpando side who have also given a good account of themselves so far.
It may look like a clash of equals but the Mauves and Yellows possess more firepower to end up victors.
Following from tomorrow, Asante Kotoko would return to their adopted Len Clay Stadium base in Obuasi to welcome Accra Lions.
Kotoko have performed creditably so far and would hope to annex the maximum points after dropping points against Berekum Chelsea last week.
But against a resurgent Accra Lions, who recorded their first win last week, it will be a tall mountain to climb.
Karela United will welcome defending champions, FC Samartex 1996, to the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale, what also promises to be full of fireworks.
At the Nana Konamansah Park at Nsuatre tomorrow, Nsoatreman FC will host Legon Cities in a battle the host would use to redeem themselves after losing 3-1 to Accra Lions in the previous week.
The GoldStars FC versus Bechem United game at the Duns Park in Bibiani will be expected to be full of fireworks just as Berekum Chelsea engagement with Young Apostles FC at the Golden City Park.
Winless Dreams FC will maintain the hunt for a first win when they play Nations FC at their adopted Tuba Astro turf while the Nii Adjei Kraku II Sports complex in Tema host the battle of the GPL debutants, Vision FC and Basake Holy Stars.
Hearts of Oak and Aduana Stars opened the weekend’s round of matches yesterday at the University of Ghana Stadium in Accra, yesterday.
By Andrew Nortey
Sports
Kurt E.S Okraku elected CAF Executive Committee member
The President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has been successfully elected as a member of the Executive Committee (EXCO) of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The four-year term runs from 2025-2029.
The President, who was elected uncontested, joins the 24-member committee of the powerful body of the continent’s governing body.
Kurt Okraku’s election to the CAF Executive Committee comes as recognition of his remarkable leadership at the Football Association, where he has worked to rejuvenate Ghanaian football since taking office in 2019.
His efforts to enhance transparency, promote grassroots football, women’s football and focus on youth development have been well noted within the African football community.
With Ghana’s strong footballing tradition and legacy, the presence of the GFA boss on the CAF EXCO is seen as an opportunity to advance the interests of the country and help promote football development across Africa.
Mr. Okraku’s role will give Ghana a stronger voice in the decision-making processes that shape the future of football on the continent.
President Simeon-Okraku becomes the sixth Ghanaian to serve on the CAF Executive Committee in a list that includes Ohene Djan, Kobina Hagan, Nana Fredua Mensah, Samuel Okyere, and Kwesi Nyantakyi.
Sports
GFA concludes training of Club Safety and Security Officers and Regional Sports Security Officers
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has successfully concluded its training program for Club Safety and Security Officers (CSSOs) and Regional Sports Security Officers (RSSOs).
This comprehensive training, which took place from March 7 to March 10, 2025, aimed to throw more light on the enhance safety and security measures across Ghanaian football.
The training was conducted zonally, covering all 86 elite clubs and 16 regions. Participants were divided into three zones, with Zone 2 covering the Ashanti, Western, Western North, and Central Regions, and Zones 1 and 3 covering the remaining regions.
The training modules included:
Challenges of Safety and Security in Ghana: Identifying and addressing key safety and security concerns in Ghanaian football.
Roles of the Club Safety and Security Officer (CSSO) and collaboration with Regional Safety and Security Officers (RSSO): Defining the roles and responsibilities of CSSOs and RSSOs, and promoting effective collaboration between them.
Club Safety and Security Officer Checklist: Providing a comprehensive checklist for CSSOs to ensure that all safety and security protocols are in place.
Introduction to the Enhanced Safety and Security Protocols 2025: Introducing new safety and security protocols aimed at improving safety and security at match venues.
Practicum and scenario session: Providing hands-on training and scenario-based exercises to prepare participants for real-world safety and security challenges.
The training workshop was led by DCOP Lydia Donkor, Chairperson of the Security Committee. Others included Capt (Rtd) Nick Owusu, Vice Chairman of the Safety Committee, Julius Ben Emunah, Head of Competitions, John Ansah, Felix Bewu and Emmanuel Osei, members of the Safety and Security Committee.
This training is part of the GFA’s enhanced approach to ensuring improved safety and security at match venues across all competitions.
