Sports
Keep dreams alive, Dreams FC
• Abdul Karim Zito – Coach, Dreams FC
“When you dream, dream big; as big as the ocean blue. When you dream it might come true, when you dream, dream big.”
The above is a refrain of a song titled ‘Dream Big’ sang by Ryan Shupe & the Rubber band.
Evidently, that would be the song on the lips of Dreams FC supporters who are currently on cloud nine following the sterling performance of the club in the CAF Confederation Cup tournament.
They were even not given a dog’s chance when they qualified for the championship after emerging winners of the Ghana FA Cup competition.
Ghanaians are noted for not believing much in emerging clubs like Dreams FC. They are used to the traditional dominance of Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko.
Both sides have their rich history as far as participation in the continental club competitions are concerned. Kotoko, founded on August 31, 1935 have won the Ghanaian league for a record 24 times and at a point dominated at the continental level, crowning those moments with two Africa Club Championships trophies (rechristened CAF Champions League) in 1970 and 1983.
The climax of those formidable years was their announcement by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) as the African Club of the Century.
Accra Hearts of Oak pride themselves as the Premier Club of the nation but had to wait till the 2000s after their establishment on November 11, 1911 to be identified with the elites clubs on the continent.
They made it in a grand style; first winning the CAF Champions League in the year 2000 and went on to win the CAF Super Cup in 2001. It was followed by the Confederations Cup victory in 2004.
Such was the authority they wield in time past and entertained Ghanaian fans with their beautiful football.
Fans have since been left unconvinced about the abilities of Ashantigold SC, Medeama, Bechem United, Berekum Chelsea and others that have attempted to walk on the path of the traditional giants.
Therefore, having little or no confidence in Dreams FC’s fairytale was something very much expected from the start of the competition. The phrase is like ‘’if it’s not Kotoko or Hearts, then it’s no one.”
But interestingly, Dreams FC is on a path of their own to defy that order, faced with a tricky last hurdle to scale to land in the dream final.
Perhaps, it is their bumpy start that is making some fans believe they are still in a slumber, hoping to wake up to realise it was a dream.
In the first round match of the competition, Dreams FC accounted for Milo FC 3-2 on aggregate after holding them to a 1-1 result in Guinea and beat them 2-1 in Ghana on August 19 and 27, 2023, respectively.
With the rights to play in the second round, Dreams FC faced Sierra Leonean side, Kallon FC and recorded a slim 2-1 victory at home on September 15, 2023.
Many predicted doom for the Ghanaians in the second leg but they prevailed after holding the Sierra Leoneans 1-1 in the return leg on September 30, 2023 to book qualification into the group stage.
That in itself was historic for the club but it did not affect its forward match.
They were paired with Tunisia’s Club Africaine, Nigeria’s Rivers United and Academy Lobito of Angola.
On Sunday, November 26, 2023, Dreams FC kicked the group stage matches off in a whirlwind fashion, pulling a 2-0 victory over Club Africaine away, defeated Rivers United 2-1 at home on December 3, 2023, and suffered the first loss to Lobito (2-3) in Angola on December 10 to end the first round of the group matches.
Ten days later, Wednesday 20, 2023, Dreams recorded its heaviest scoreline in their campaign, registering a 4-0 victory over the Angolans in the second leg in Ghana, pulled a double over Africaine with a 1-0 victory on Sunday, February 25, 2024 and ended on a losing note to Rivers United (2-1) on Sunday, March 3, 2024.
That was enough to qualify them to the quarter final stage where they came face-to-face with Stade Malien on Sunday, March 31, 2024. They upset the Malians with a 2-1 victory but drew 1-1 in the return encounter a week on at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Ghana.
Against Zamalek and their prowess on the continent, Coach Karim Zito’s Dreams FC earned a goalless result in the first leg in Egypt on Sunday, April 21, 2024 with the second leg set for tomorrow at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
At this stage when it appears Dreams FC have surprised all including themselves, the onus lies on them to prove to all and sundry that the journey so far was no fluke.
The only real advantage they have is the fact that they are playing home and in front of their fans. And since both sides have no goal to their advantage, the tie is still 50-50 and knowing what Zamalek are capable of doing, irrespective of where they play, the pressure would surely be on the Ghanaians to deliver.
Indeed, this is the time to keep dreaming. The dream has been a long one and must not end now because there is nothing wrong about dreaming ‘BIG.’
By Andrew Nortey
Sports
Aduana can cause more problems for Kotoko
“Getting back to the top of the table is difficult but not impossible, and it’s not over until the end.”
These were the words of newly appointed Technical Director/Interim Head Coach of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Karim Zito Kabutey, as he gets ready to lead his charges against Aduana Stars at the Baba Yara Stadium tomorrow.
Supporters of the Porcupine Warriors have the belief that the league title is within reach and are supporting coach Zito to give it his best shot beginning from the game tomorrow.
Kotoko currently occupy the fourth position on the league log with 47 points, six points shy of leaders, Bibiani Gold Stars, while Aduana lie 10th with 38 points.
Games between the Porcupine Warriors and the ‘Ogya’ Boys have left fans at the edge of their seats, and tomorrow’s game will be no exception.
Kotoko recorded a 2-0 away win in Dormaa in the first round against the then-struggling Dormaa side; however, with the coming of Romanian coach, Cioaba Aristica, a lot has changed since then, and tomorrow’s game will not be a walk in the park for the home side.
Coach Aristica, ahead of the game, believes Aduana is too good a team to be languishing in mid-table and hopes to lift them on the log beginning with tomorrow’s game.
League leaders Bibiani Gold Stars will trek to the Nii Adjei Kraku II Sports Complex in Tema to play as guests of Vision FC.
With their title aspiration firmly in their hands, the Bibiani Boys will be motivated to hold their own against the Tema lads, who will need to play above themselves if they are to pick at least a point from this game.
Today at the Accra Sports Stadium, Accra Lions will welcome Bechem United in a must-win game for the host if they are to keep alive any realistic chances of avoiding relegation.
At 6pm, under the lights at the TNA Stadium in Tarkwa, Medeama SC will host Young Apostles.
In other games tomorrow, Legon Cities play Heart of Lions at the Tuba Astro Turf, Karela United will stay put at the Aliu Mahama Stadium in Tamale to host Dreams FC, while Berekum Chelsea will host Nations FC at the Golden City Park.
Defending champions, Samartex FC, will face off with neighbours, Basake Holy Stars, at the Nsenkyire Sports Arena.
Sports
Overcoming sponsorship fatigue in sports
Speaking to top sports administrators in Ghana over the innumerable challenges facing sports administration, one concern rings across, and that is sponsorship.
Sponsorship, the world over is the backbone of sports development and promotion.
A federation or major sanctioning bodies may have the most skillful hands in terms of personnel but without sponsorship, their plans would remain stuck in their books.
Federations with huge budgets and fat sponsorship deals like football, athletics etc, are touted as the most successful federations.
It is not always the case that those below that level lacked qualified personnel to plan; the truth is that without sponsorship, no discipline can rival the likes of football and athletics for example.
It is a global challenge; Ghana is no exception.
Fact is, a number of the sports federations here have failed to break out due to the lack of sponsorship deals and the truth is that, they may not be able to reach certain heights without it.
Barely six months in office as Sports and Recreation Minister, Mr Kofi Iddi Adams, has identified this huge funding gap and has been encouraging companies to partner government to develop sports.
During a visit to the Borteyman Sports Complex to watch an International Tennis Federation (ITF) juniors event, Mr Adams urged the private sector players to be involved in the organisation of sports in the country because government alone cannot shoulder that responsibility.
“Public-Private-Partnerships is one sure way to sustain such essential developmental initiatives and I believe the coming on board of more corporate bodies would help in that light,” Mr Adams said during his interaction with the media during the visit.As an ardent follower of sports, that is surely the way to go in the wake of what appeared a sponsorship fatigue among the private sector partners.
In the past, companies like Mobil Ghana, Nestle Ghana Limited, Ghana Brewery Limited and many others became so synonymous with sports as a result of their connection to the industry.
Through Mobil’s support for athletics, Ghana produced a lot of great athletes that performed at the highest stage of the sport while Nestle with its Milo brand helped unearth long distant runners through the Milo Marathon organised by the Dansoman Keep Fit Club and the Milo championship for tennis.
When they exited, other companies filled their shoes but sadly, those relationships have not been sustained and over the years, they have gone into hibernation.
Sponsorships of this nature are huge financial drains on these corporate sector players and for that matter, such calls does not produce the harmonious notes they want to hear.
Most of these companies that have expressed interest in partnering government in that direction have also complained about economic challenges and the absence of tax rebates.
From this, one gathers that there is the need for a common ground or some compromise for the sports sector to begin to attract these companies.
Sports no doubt has become a big business, providing varied platforms for a lot of the youth to get their daily bread and also, feed their families.
Obviously with the numbers it commands, it should be easier to attract the corporate sector support but since they are not coming, it’s clearly shows that there is a missing link.
This is the reason why the Minister of Sports and Recreation’s call for the involvement of the corporate sector must not be a rhetoric just as it has been with previous ministers that occupied the role.
This should be the time to walk the talk. Efforts must be made to identify some of these organisation with the wherewithal to support, get to know their frustrations with sports and why they shy away.
It would also be appropriate to know their expectation in such partnerships so that a win-win situation would be achieved at the end of the day.
From the side of the sports administrators, they must prove their professional capabilities and run the federations transparently to erase doubts about their operations.
By Andrew Nortey
