Sports
Brand new car for Best Referee not bad idea, but …
Debates about referee decisions are part of the unique culture of football for both players and supporters alike.
Mistakes as a referee, will always happen; such controversy keeps making football more fun to watch.
Indeed, referees have a split second to make a decision and will never always get it right. Of course, no one is calling for perfection. No one is flawless!
However, some of the referees make such atrocious decisions that make you wonder whether they are even fit enough to handle juvenile football.
Now, we have reached a stage where the centre-men should be given no room to make ‘killer’ mistakes and just walk away, leaving in their trail irreparable damage on the affected teams.
That is why one was thrilled by the announcement of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) that the Best Referee of the 2021/22 Premier League season would swagger away with a brand new car. It is good enough motivation.
According to the GFA, the prize will encourage referees to put their best foot forward in the upcoming league season which kicked off last Friday.
“For the Ghana Premier League (GPL), the best referee for the year will take home a car at the end of the season. I’m very sure that our referees will be happy,” said GFA President Kurt Okraku, during the GPL launch, three days ahead of the opener.
“The whole idea is to encourage our referees to be competitive and deliver top-notch performances over the course of the season,” he added.
About 90 Referees and Assistants were selected by the Referees Committee and underwent various training programmes for the 2021/22 campaign, and one expects to see a credible performance from them to make the game dirt-free and more enjoyable.
For such Nights-of-the-Whistle, they should not only be thinking about the ultimate prize (car), but be concerned about the image they live behind – several years after they had retired from the game.
Sixteen years after ‘hanging his famous whistle,’ Italian former football referee, Pierluigi Collina, is still broadly considered to be the best football referee of all time.
The instantly recognisable Collina, a no-nonsense Italian referee – known for his famous bald head and piercing eyes, remains one of the most respected figures in football, 16 years after handing in his shock resignation from officiating, aged 45.
In a glittering 28-year career of refereeing, he took charge of Champions League, World Cup and UEFA Cup finals but for many, it was Collina’s larger-than-life personality that earned him such a respected stature.
He demanded, and in turn, earned respect from players, managers and fans around the world.
If a player decided to misbehave, the Italian would take action, but he was always fair and reasonable.
“You have to be accepted on the field of play not because you are the referee, but because people trust you,” Collina said after retirement.
“This means you can reach the best result a referee can reach, which is to be accepted even when he is wrong.”
This calm but stern approach to officiating earned him FIFA’s “Best Referee of the Year” award six consecutive times between 1998 and 2003.
Indeed, he redefined a role that was previously seen by many as dull.
It is the hope of many that our referees would look up to Collina and some of the finest ‘centre-men’ in the business, to carve out their own niche.
As a matter of fact, we do not need referees to be baited with a brand new car to do their own job. It is not fair. Coming to the pitch with a clean intention of being professional and fair-minded to all, in itself, should serve as enough motivation.
Be that as it may, one can only wish the referees well and hope they repay the trust reposed in them by the FA and the football populace. They must endeavour not to be the reason for which many football enthusiasts would swear not to patronize local football. Again, that would be unjust.
Aside from that, referees would be saving themselves from the unwarranted physical attacks they are often subjected too on the field – and the bout of public criticisms, if they perform their duties proficiently. For now, the ball is in their court to prove us wrong.
PlainTalk with JOHN VIGAH
Sports
Gideon Fosu chairs CAF African Schools Football Championship 2025 Local Organizing Committee
Executive Council member Gideon Fosu has been appointed as Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the CAF African Schools Football Championship, Accra 2025.
Gideon Fosu, a banker, is the Vice President and Executive Officer of Division One League side Kings Palace and also heads the Centralized Operations Unit (Payment) of the Ghana Commercial Bank.
Michael Ntow Ayeh of the Ghana Education Service is the Vice Chairman of the Local Organising Committee.
Other members of the LOC are Stephen Appiah of PAC Academy and Vice Chairman of the Ghana League Clubs Association, Phyllis Marku Moncar.
The Committee is expected to work with both the CAF and GFA Focal Points for the functional areas to ensure the smooth execution of the Championship scheduled for the University of Ghana Stadium in Accra between April 21-26, 2025.
The GFA Focal Points for various functional areas, such as Safeguarding, Media, Transportation, Workshops, Marketing, Travel, Television, Accommodation, Competitions, and Security, have already met with their CAF counterparts and are working towards the excellent execution of the U-15 championship.
The CAF African Schools Football Championship was launched by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe in April 2022 in Maputo Mozambique. Since its inception, more than 1,965,000 boys and girls from 46 countries have participated in the programme, making it the most successful youth sport mobilization movement in Africa.
Girls and Boys teams from Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, South Africa, Morocco, Algeria, DR. Congo, The Gambia, Senegal, Benin, and Cote D’Ivoire will compete in the Championship.
Sports
Outstanding Premier League Matchday 20 Preview
The outstanding matchday 20 of the Premier League takes place across seven centres on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
Here is a preview of Wednesday’s matches.
Young Apostles vs Asante Kotoko
Young Apostles welcome Asante Kotoko to the Wenchi Sports Stadium on Wednesday in the Premier League.
Apostles’ 1-0 victory over bottom-placed Accra Lions last Saturday was their seventh win in the league this season after 21 matches. They’ve secured 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat in the last five outings, having scored 14 and conceded 20 in the process.
Young Apostles are currently occupying the 10th position in the league table with 27 points. They head into this fixture with an unbeaten record in their last five successive home league games (W3, D2) without conceding in four of those games. The Wenchi lads will be desperate to grab all the spoils over the Ghanaian giants on Wednesday.
League leaders Asante Kotoko came from behind to salvage a point in a very absorbing fixture at Samartex over the weekend. That victory has seen the Porcupine Warriors record the most wins in the league so far (11). They’ve amassed 38 points in 21 league matches, having scored the joint most goals (24) and conceded 14.
Prosper Nartey Ogum’s men are the third-best away performers in the league currently and will be desperate to secure all the spoils away from home on Wednesday when they trip to Young Apostles.
Young Apostles are playing Asante Kotoko at home in the league for the first time since the Wenchi lads gained promotion into the Premier League this season.
FC Samartex 1996 vs Medeama SC
FC Samartex 1996 will hope to continue their impressive form when they entertain Medeama SC at the Nsenkyire Sports Arena on Wednesday March 19, 2025.
The league champions are unbeaten in their last seven consecutive league matches (W2, D5), having scored 14 and conceded the second joint least goals (11).
They are currently 8th in the league table with 28 points. The Timber Giants come into this fixture as the sixth weakest home side after 11 matches at home. They will be keen to snatch the maximum points on Wednesday over a Medeama SC side they’ve never lost to at home in the league since 2022.
The Mauve and Yellow have slipped to the 7th position in the league table with 32 points, following two wins and three defeats in the last five outings.
They’ve scored the second most goals in the league (22) and conceded 19. Medeama SC head into this fixture with three successive defeats in their last five matches away from home and will aim for a decent result on Wednesday.
FC Samartex 1996 have played Medeama SC twice at home in the league since 2022/23 season with FC Samartex 1996 winning one and drawing one.
In the 2022/23 season, FC Samartex drew goalless with Medeama SC and won 1-0 in the 2023/24 season.
Bechem United vs Hearts of Oak
Bechem United entertain Hearts of Oak at the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park on Wednesday in the Premier League.
Ernest Danso’s men ended their two-game losing streak by defeating Premier League new boys Vision FC with two unanswered goals last time out (W2, D1, L2). The Hunters are currently 6th in the league table with 33 points, having scored the third joint most goals (21) and conceded 14. United are the best home performers in the league so far (W8, D2). They head into this fixture as the only team yet to concede at or suffer defeat at home this season. They will seek to continue their impressive home form on Wednesday.
Hearts of Oak’s seven-match unbeaten streak came to an abrupt end at the weekend as they were beaten 0-1 by Dreams FC at home soil (W2, D2, L1). They’ve amassed 36 points in 21 league matches, and are currently occupying the 4th position. They’ve scored 19 and conceded the least goals in the league (11). The Phobians are the second best away performers and will be desperate to bounce back to winning ways on Wednesday when they trip to Bechem.
Bechem United have played Hearts of Oak four times at home in the league sine 2020/21 season with the Hunters winning one, drawing one and losing two.
In the 2020/21 season, Bechem United lost 0-1 to Hearts of Oak, drawn 1-1 in the 2021/22 season, won 1-0 in the 2022/23 season and suffered a 2-3 defeat in the 2023/24 season.
Basake Holy Stars vs Gold Stars FC
Basake Holy Stars will aim to get back to winning ways when they welcome Gold Stars FC to the Ampain AAK II Sports Arena on Wednesday.
Hoy Stars are winless in their last five league matches (D3, L2), having scored the third joint most goals (21) and conceded the third joint most goals (22). They are 12th in the league table with 24 points.
The Aiyinase lads have conceded just a single goal in their last five home matches (W3, D2) and are among the top ten best home sides in the league currently. They will yearn for all the spoils on Wednesday.
Gold Stars FC remain in the second position in the league table with 37 points despite suffering 2-0 defeat at Aduana FC over the weekend (W2, D1, L2). They’ve scored 20 and conceded the second joint least goals (12) ahead of the clash. The Miners come into this fixture with three defeats in their last five matches away from home (W1, D1) and will be keen to secure victory on Wednesday.
Basake Holy Stars are playing Gold Stars FC at home in the league for the first time since the Aiyinase lads gained promotion in the Premier League this season.
Heart of Lions vs Dreams FC
Dreams FC travel to the Kpando Sports Stadium to battle Heart of Lions on Wednesday.
An impressive 1-0 victory at home against struggling Karela United last Sunday has seen Bashiru Hayford’s men record their tenth win in the league this season. They are currently 3rd in the league table with 37 points, having scored 20 and conceded the second joint least goals (12).
The Kpando lads are the second best home performers, they’ve suffered just a single defeat in their 11 home matches played this season (W8, D2, L1). They will seek to maintain their remarkable home form on Wednesday.
Dreams FC ended Heart of Oak’s seven-game unbeaten streak in a 1-0 victory away from home last time out. The Believers are currently 13th in the league table with 24 points after 21 rounds of matches. They’ve won 2, drawn 2 and suffered just single defeat in the last five outings, having scored the least goals (11) and conceded 16. Head Coach Abdul Karim Zito’s men head into this fixture as the eighth best away side and will aim for a rare outcome on Wednesday when they trip to Kpando.
Heart of Lions have played Dreams FC once at home in the league since the Kpando lads gained promotion back into the Premier League last season with the game ending in a 1-0 victory for Heart of Lions.
Nations FC vs Aduana FC
Nations FC entertain Aduana FC at the DR. Kwame Kyei Sports Complex on Wednesday.
Nations FC’s form has been up and down, with two wins and three defeats in their last five league matches. Such inconsistency is hampering their chances of securing a place in the top four. They are 5th in the league table with 35 points, having scored the joint most goals (24) and conceded the third joint least goals (13). Kassim Mingle Ocansey’s men head into the game as the seventh weakest home performers in the league this season.
Aduana FC produced spirited performance to defeat Gold Stars FC (2-0) in their previous league fixture to continue their February-March impressive form (W2, D1) as they are yet to concede a goal in the league since February. They are currently 11th in the table with 25 points, having scored 16 and conceded 17. The Fire Club are among the top ten best away performers in the league this season, they will be eager to record victory away from home for the second time on Wednesday.
Nations FC have played Aduana FC once at home in the league since the Abrankese lads gained promotion into the top-flight last season with the game ending in a 2-1 victory for Nations FC.
Legon Cities vs Vision FC
Struggling Legon Cities welcome newly promoted side Vision FC to the University of Ghana Sports Stadium on Wednesday in the Premier League.
Ending a two-game losing run with a hard-fought 2-1 win at home to Berekum Chelsea, Legon Cities are now seeking consecutive league victories for the first time since January as they continue to vie to exit the drop zone.
The Royals are 16th in the league table with 20 points, having won 3 and suffered two defeats in the last five outings. They’ve scored 16 and conceded the most goals in the league this season (29). Cities have won their last three consecutive home fixtures ahead of the clash and are the ninth-best home performers.
Vision FC fell to their third defeat in their last five league matches last Sunday (W1, D1, L3), going down 2-0 at away to Bechem United and are just three points away from the bottom three in the table. They’ve amassed 23 points in 21 matches, having scored 16 and conceded second joint most goals (24).
The Tema-based is the fifth weakest away side (D2, L3) and will aim for a favourable result on Wednesday.
Legon Cities are playing Vision FC at home in the league for the first time since the Tema base gained promotion into the Premier League this season.
