Sports
Better times ahead for Stacey
Harry Stacey
“I’m not too mad at the performance, although it wasn’t my best. It’s been a learning experience and definitely building blocks for the future.”
The above was the reaction from one of Ghana’s two representatives in swimming at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Harry Stacey.
As a debutant and relatively a new face as far as swimming was concerned in Ghana, not much was required of him.
So when he lined up in the 100m Men Freestyle event in Heat 4, expectation was modest.
Stacey finished seventh with a time of 51.12 seconds, failing to qualify to the semifinals of the event.
As if that was not enough, the former Marlins Swim Club member’s time could notbetter his national record time of 50.57 seconds over the distance.
Naturally, the performance and disappointing outcome appears to have gone with the wind because ‘Fellow’ Ghanaians are becoming indifferent towards the country’s contingents at such sports festivals.
As a beneficiary of one of the two wild cards granted by World Aquatics, FINA, following Ghana’s showing in swimming at the Accra 2023 Africa Games, Stacey was granted an opportunity to more or less dine with the swimming greats.
He represented no threat to any of the medals at stake because his time comes nowhere near the properly qualified swimmers.
As a young lad coming up, he and Ghana should be grateful for the opportunity and not be so shattered about his performance.
Stacey must be guided by the second part of the quote attributed to him that, “It’s been a learning experience and definitely building blocks for the future.”
That perfectly describes his situation, especially when featuring in an event like swimming, dominated by countries such as the USA, Australia, South Africa and others with competitive advantage.
Instead of crying over spilt milk, Stacey should remain focused on improving his performances to record better times. His dream is very possible, but will take a lot of time, sacrifice and dedication to reach there.
The fact that swimming is yet to chalk any major feat as far as international championships are concerned does not mean that no athlete from Ghana can gain global recognition.
Under our own eyes and noses, South Sudan, a country with a dog’s chance in the world of sport is being discussed on major platforms because of the performance exhibited by its basketball team, the Bright Stars.
They convincingly defeated Puerto Rico in the basketball event at the ongoing Games. Prior to that, they faced almighty USA in a preparatory game before the Games kicked off, losing by just a basket.
Clearly, that is an indication that there could be light at the end of the tunnel for the young and upcoming Stacey who would ride at the back of this opportunity to take the swimming world by storm.
By Andrew Nortey
Sports
Black Queens get new Head Coach
Swedish Football Coach, Kim Lars Björkegren, has been appointed new Head Coach of the Senior National Female team, the Black Queens.
He replaces erstwhile Coach, Nora Hauptle, whose contract with the GFA expired at the end of December 2024.
Kim Lars Björkegren started out as a footballer and played for his community club in Ljungsbro, later featuring for Allsvenska Åtvidabergs FF (Swedish First Division club at the time).
An injury he sustained at the age of 22 put an end to his football career and he chose to pursue a career in Coaching.
In a career covering 18 years, Kim, now a UEFA License A Coach, has gained significant experience and success coaching in Sweden and other countries. Kim’s successes include his winning the Cyprus top Women’s league with Apollon Ladies as well as the Damallsvenskan (Swedish Women’s top league) with Linkopings FC. In the 2020-2021 season, he was adjudged the Coach of the season in Cyprus.
Kim holds the joint record with the renowned Sven Goran Eriksson as being the second Swedish manager to win two domestic titles in two different countries.
Kim Björkegren worked with the Finland Women’s National Team as a Scout and Analyst.
He has also coached Beijing BG Phoenix in the Chinese Super League (placing third in both the Chinese Women’s FA Cup and Super Cup in 2018) and has worked as Technical Director of Manila Digger FC of the Philippines. Kim also coached a number of male teams at various levels of the Swedish Football League system.
Most recently, Kim has been manager of Racing Louisville in the National Women’s Soccer League of the United States of America [USA].
Kim’s philosophy of football is to play possessive attacking, purposeful and entertaining football, utilizing the skills of his players in the best possible way, thus making him a flexible and adaptable Coach.
He places a lot of emphasis on discipline, team organization, hard work, teamwork, dynamism and flexibility. This philosophy merges well with Ghana’s football philosophy.
With his coaching experience in Women’s Football, coupled with a background in Education and Sports Psychology, Kim Björkegren is viewed by the GFA as the ideal choice to take over the coaching reins of the Black Queens and lead them to greater heights.
GFA COMMUNICATIONS
Sports
New Technical team announced for Black Queens
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is pleased to announce the reconstitution of the Technical team of the senior national female team, the Black Queens.
The new Head Coach of the team is Swede Kim Lars Bjorkegren as the new Head Coach. Coach Bjorkegren, a highly experienced and qualified coach, will be assisted by Coach Charles Sampson as the first Assistant Coach, while Anita Wiredu takes up the role of the second Assistant Coach.
Nassamu Yakubu has been appointed as the Goalkeepers Coach, with Enoch Jordan Daitey serving as the Athletic Coach.
The medical unit of the team will be led by Kate Boachie-Agyemang, who will be assisted by Team Nurse Asinawu Abubakari. Margaret Foli has been appointed as the team’s Physiotherapist.
Drucilia Arthur will serve as the Welfare Manager, while Patience Nana A. Quarshie and Adwoa Bayor have been appointed as Equipment Officers.
Ronnie Bergdahl, an experienced video analyst, will provide technical support to the team as the Video Analyst.
The GFA is confident that Coach Bjorkegren and his technical team will bring the necessary expertise and experience to lead the Black Queens to success in upcoming international competitions.
GFA COMMUNICATIONS
