Sports
Can Chelsea bounce back against Kotoko?
Berekum Chelsea suffered, perhaps, their biggest home defeat in the hands of struggling Hearts of Oak in the Ghana Premier League (GPL) last week.
That outcome came as a shock to fans considering Hearts struggles in recent times.
As painful as that defeat was, Chelsea fans remain unconvinced about attempt by the players and technical team to blame proficiency in front of goal for the defeat.
They will hope to bounce back today in their match day 30 top fixture against a resurgent Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Golden City Park in Berekum.
But Kotoko appear to have halted the bad patch that made them relegation prospect and would count on their attack spearheaded by Stephen Mukwala to hand the home team a second defeat in a row.
Today at the Dawu Theatre of Dreams, Legon Cities would also oblige relegation threatened Accra Great Olympics in a game both sides would need the points at stake to avoid a drop.
It may be considered a game of equals, judging from the way the two sides are battling hard to avoid a relegation dogfight.
Their games have produced the usual thrills associated with local rivalries and this will be no exception although Cities look comfortable at their adopted home ground to pull a surprise.
However, Olympics who suffered a painful late minute goal against Medeama last week are more than angry to snatch the second win of their campaign.
The Accra Hearts of Oak versus Aduana Stars clash at the Accra Sports Stadium would headline tomorrow’s round of matches with the Phobians under pressure to prove their win over Chelsea was no fluke.
Both sides were among the favourites for the season but they failed to meet those expectations, churning out inconsistent outcomes.
Currently, they are out of contention for any silverware but finishing in the Top- Four remains a motivation that could drive them to put up a very good performance.
At the Prof. Nana Amoah Koronmansah II Park, Nsoatreman will engage Goldstars while Bechem United come face-to-face with Karela United at the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park.
In other games, Medeama return to the Akoon Park to face Real Tamale United while FC Samartex slug it out with Bofoakwa Tano.
By Spectator Sports Reporter
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
