Sports
Hearts, Kotoko, Oly, Karela poised for second round action
After close to a month’s break, the Ghana Premier League (GPL) will resume tomorrow with other thrilling fixtures across the venues taking place at the weekend.
Tomorrow’s encounter will see second-placed Accra Great Olympics, led by star player and captain, Gladson Awako, welcome Medeama SC to the Accra stadium, expecting to garner the maximum points
On Sunday, third-placed Hearts of Oak will play host to seventh-placed Aduana Stars at the Accra Sports Stadium in a late kick-off (6pm). The Phobians crashed 2-0 when they last visited Dormaa in December and will be eager to make amends.
The visitors will have a daunting task as they have also augmented their squad but will also miss the services of dependable centre-back Caleb Amankwah, Paul Aidoo, Justice Anane and a few others.
Kotoko will have a stiff contest when they travel to Techiman on Saturday to face Eleven Wonders. It will be the first test for new gaffer Mariano Barreto who is expected to stir the affairs of the club after agreeing a year-and-half deal with the Porcupine Warriors.
With a game at hand against Bechem United, Kotoko will be eager to begin the second round on a good note as new signings Andy Kumi, Solomon Sarfo Taylor and Brazilian import Michael Vinicius will be hoping to make an impact with the club eager to win the ultimate.
Wonders, on the other hand, will miss the services of talisman Salifu Ibrahim who left to join Hearts before the end of the first round. Coach Ignatius Ofosu and his charges might want to defy all odds to silence the visitors at their home ground.
League leaders Karela United will welcome AshantiGold SC to the CAM Park in a cracking affair as the leaders go all out to continue their fine form against the Miners who dropped from title-contending slot to fall in mid-table position. It will be the first test for Ashgold’s new gaffer Romain Folz, who replaced the ailing Milovan Cirkovic.
At the Theatre of Dreams in Dawu, high-flying Dreams will square off with struggling Inter Allies on Sunday.
Allies will be counting on returnee Gockel Ahortor, and Samuel Armah who had a short spell in Albania and returned to grab his first goal for his side in their 1-2 defeat to Aduana Stars on match day 16 in Dormaa.
King Faisal are ready to prove a point when they welcome WAFA SC to the Nana Agyemang Park in Techiman.
Being the busiest in the just-ended transfer market, the ‘Insha Allah’ boys have added close to 10 players ahead of the second round but will also have Kasim Gokyildiz as the new coach after parting ways with Andy Sinason.
Poor performing Liberty Professionals will travel to the Nana Gyebour Park in Bechem to face Bechem United on Sunday.
At the Ndoum Park in Elmina on Sunday, Sharks will welcome tricky Ebusua Dwarfs in a very cagey encounter.
Two struggling sides: Twelfth-placed Berekum Chelsea will square off with 15th-placed Legon Cities at the Golden City Park.
LINUS SIAW NARTEY
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.
