Sports
We are ready for the World Cup- Yussif Basigi
Black Princesses Coach Yussif Basigi has reiterated that playing high-profile international friendly matches will aid his team’s preparation ahead of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.
The Black Princesses who are currently in Colombia have played two high profile friendly matches in readiness for the tournament. Ghana drew goalless against Mexico in their first match before drawing 2:2 against South Korea on Tuesday.
“This has been an improved game as compared to the first one. In the game against Mexico, you could tell they were a bit tensed but against South Korea, they played very well looking at how the Koreans play and we were able to hold them if not for the penalty, though it is part of the game,” Yussif Basigi told ghanafa.org after the friendly against South Korea.
“Conceding two penalties is a worry but it gives us a fair idea of what to expect in the main tournament because at times referees protect players a lot and so if you are not careful with a little touch, they take a penalty against you,” he said.
He said, “It has given us a fair idea of what to do and we will work on that before our next game.We are ready for the tournament. All that we were looking for in the team, we have seen it and it has given us hope that this team will live up to expectation.”
The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup will kick off in Colombia from Saturday, August 31 – Sunday, September 22, 2024.
Ghana will open their campaign against Austria on Monday, September 2,2024.
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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
Sports
Swedru All Blacks extend lead, Rospak slip up in Zone Two
Swedru All Blacks opened up a four-point gap at the summit of Zone Two after defeating former Premier League side King Faisal 2-1 on Sunday. Clement Tutu gave Swedru All Blacks an early lead in the 8th minute, while Zayat Bubakari made it 2-0 in the 71st minute.
Hayford Gyimah pulled one back for King Faisal in stoppage time. Swedru All Blacks now lead the table with 57 points from 25 matches.
In a setback, title contenders Sekondi Rospak SC threw away vital points, suffering a 1-0 defeat to Pac Academy at Offinso.
Justice Asamoah scored the only goal in the 28th minute for Pac Academy to keep them in third place. Sekondi Rospak SC remains second in the table with 53 points.
Meanwhile, Sekondi Eleven Wise moved four points clear of the drop zone after beating New Edubiase United 1-0 at the Gyandu Park. Albert Forson scored the winning goal for Sekondi Eleven Wise in the 20th minute, securing 30 points from 25 matches this season.
Here are the results in Zone Two:
