Sports
My worst injuries happened with the Black Stars – Essien
Former Ghana international Michael Essien says he holds no grudges against the country, even though he sustained his worst injuries while playing for the Black Stars.
Essien represented Ghana at two World Cups, including the country’s maiden appearance in 2006, and led Ghana to a third-place finish at the AFCON on home soil in 2008.
It is widely believed the former Chelsea midfielder could have done more for his country but for injuries.
The first of such injuries was against Senegal in London, in August 2007.
Essien would sustain another, and perhaps the most significant of the injuries he suffered while playing for Ghana.
Then, as a 25-year-old, Essien felt a pop in his knee during the international friendly played in September 2008.
Further tests showed he had ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament, ruling him out of action for the duration of the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.
”(I suffered) my first injury while I was playing for the Black Stars, agianst Libya. That was when I damaged my knee badly. I mean, it happens. If there are no injuries, maybe others will not get opportunities so it is part of it,” Essien told Joy Sports editor, Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo in an exclusive chat at the Nordsjaelland training base.
Two years after the career threatening injury, Essien would suffer another one, this time, at the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. Essien suffered what was initially thought to be the latest in recurring hamstring problem, in training.
Scans on Essien’s left leg in Luanda later indicated that he had suffered a partially torn medial collateral ligament in his knee and damage to his meniscus.
”Most of my bad injuries happened when I was playing for the Black Stars but who cares, it happens. I do not hold any grudges or anything. I was just unlucky and injuries are part of the game so we just have to deal with it. You know, I have no regrets. I think I had quite a decent career and I always look into the positive side of every situation.” he said.
Essien scored nine times in fifty-nine appearances for Ghana between 2002 and 2014.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
Sports
Bawumia Has Good Ideas And Programmes For Ghana, Not 24-Hour Discos– Pres Akufo-Addo
The President of the Republic Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is confident that Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia remains best qualified on our political market to lead the country into the much desired fourth industrial revolution.
According to the President, who is currently on a two-day visit of the Northern, North East and Savanna regions, Dr. Bawumia has been well prepared, and he is now ready to become President.
Whilst asking for the support and effort of the Nayiri and the people of Mamprugu for their son, the Vice President, President Akufo-Addo said, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is a man of good ideas and good programmes for the country.
“He is not proposing 24-hour discotheques. He is the man best qualified to lead Ghana into the fourth industrial revolution. So I want us to work together make sure he becomes the next president of this country,” he said.
Establishing the premise of his remarks, President Akufo-Addo said he is asking for the support not just because he is a son of Mampruguland, but because, “Dr Bawumia is extremely competent, fit and able to be our next President.
“I’ve worked with him for these past sixteen years and apart from being capable, competent and intellectually well-endowed, he is also a man of great loyalty, principled and honest. I am confident that if the people of Ghana agree with me and give him the chance, he will make an excellent President,” he added.
He was confident that if Ghanaians agree with him, and give Dr Bawumia the chance, “he will make an excellent President.”
According to him “Like all big Chiefs get concerned about matters relating to who succeeds them the person who will occupy your seat after you, the difference between us is that you will never know who will follow you, but in my case, I will know who will follow me.”
“Because you are a monarch and you will reign until you die, its only after your death that your successor is chosen, but I am a republican and democratic Chief, and I know who will succeed me. So I’ve come here to ask for your support to make sure that your son, my Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia succeeds me,” he concluded.
Sports
Appiah Kubi named Ex-National Goalkeepers Union best Premier League goalkeeper for September
Medeama SC’s Appiah Kubi has been named September’s Goalkeeper of the Month, recognizing his outstanding performances in the Ghana Premier League’s opening round.
The talented shot-stopper achieved two clean sheets in three consecutive Premier League victories during September.
Notably, Kubi is the first Medeama SC goalkeeper to receive this award since the 2023/24 season.
The shot stopper will receive a pair of gloves, branded towel, water bottles and T-shirt from the Ex- National Goalkeepers Union (NEGU).
