Sports
Belgrade derby held in front of 25,000 fans
A near-capacity 25,000 crowd attended Partizan’s Belgrade derby victory over Red Star on Wednesday in the latest sign that football is starting to edge towards normality following the coronavirus pandemic.
The Serbian government has been loosening lockdown rules and earlier this month it announced that open-air gatherings with an unlimited amount of people would be allowed.
But coverage from television channel RTS appeared to show little sign of health guidelines being in place as Partizan beat fierce rivals Red Star 1-0 in the Serbian Cup semi-final match.
It turned out to be a tense derby in a familiar atmosphere at Partizan’s stadium as both sets of fans lit flares that covered the stadium in a thick smoke, with Bibras Natcho settling the match in the 58th minute.
Natcho’s close-range shot trickled through Red Star keeper Milan Borjan’s arms into the net after dazzling footwork from striker Umar Sadiq, who left his marker flat-footed and squared the ball to the Israeli midfielder.
Sadiq was a handful all evening for Red Star’s defenders, running past them almost at will and only a string of good saves from Borjan denied the towering Nigerian a goal.
Hungary became the first European country to reopen stadiums to supporters two weeks ago, although with capacities severely reduced due to social-distancing rules.
Belarus was the exception during the pandemic, with the nation never closing grounds or halting football while most of Europe was under lockdown.
Serbian league football resumed on May 29, initially behind closed doors, before the government further eased restrictions. – Reuters
Sports
Ghana’s Rising Stars: Young Referees excel at CAF African Schools Football Championship in Accra
Ghana’s representation at the recent CAF African Schools Football Championship went beyond football matches, with four products of the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) flagship “Catch Them Young Referees” program actively involved in officiating matches.
Adongo Angelous Akurugu and Edmund Ofoe Tetteh refereed in the boys’ competition, while Sophia Azumah and Cynthia Asandem officiated in the girls’ competition.
Notably, Akurugu refereed the boys’ final match between Senegal and Tanzania, and Azumah served as Assistant Referee 1 in the 3rd place match between Morocco and South Africa.
The GFA’s “Catch Them Young Refereeing” policy, launched in 2020, aims to identify, educate, and train young referees aged 13-16, providing them with the necessary skills and values to excel in refereeing.
To date, over 150 young referees have received training nationwide, and have gone on to officiate in various competitions, including the Women’s Division One League playoffs, regional Colts Leagues, regional Division Two and Three Leagues, Division One League Super Cup, and MTN FA Cup.
Retired referee Augustina Fugah also contributed to the tournament, serving as a fitness instructor for the referees.
Sports
Karate-Do Federation prez elected onto GOC Board
President of the Ghana Karate-Do Federation, Mr. Nathaniel Johnson, has been elected as a board member of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) for the next four years.
This marks a new chapter in Johnson’s sports administration career, and he is eager to make a lasting impact.
Mr. Johnson polled 38 votes, to secured one of the three co-opted member slots on the board, demonstrating the confidence and trust that his peers have in his leadership abilities.
In a chat with Spectator Sports, the head of the Karate-Do Federation stated that he brings a wealth of experience in business administration, management, and digitalization which will come in handy for the GOC board.
He said, “I plans to leverage these expertises to drive innovation and progress in Ghanaian sports. One of my primary objectives is to promote grassroots sports development, providing opportunities for young athletes to excel, while aiming to enhance the GOC’s digital presence, engaging fans and stakeholders more effectively.”
As one who is committed to supporting athletes and coaches, Mr. Johnson expressed his desire to collaborate with other board members to introduce initiatives that provide resources and training opportunities to help athletes improve their performance across the various sporting sector.
According to him, “I intend to work closely with other board members, sports federations, and stakeholders to advance the GOC’s vision and goals, by building strong relationships and partnerships, to secure more funding and resources for sports development programmes, ultimately benefiting Ghanaian athletes and the sports community.”
He added that he is passionate about the development and promotion of sports excellence in Ghana, and sees His election to the GOC board as a testament to his dedication and commitment to Ghanaian sports.
“With my leadership skills and experience, I believe I am well-positioned to make a positive impact on the board and inspire others to strive for excellence,” he concluded
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
