Chelsea and Bayern Munich are reportedly keeping a close watch on the situation surrounding Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, as indicated by the Daily Mail.
Ramsdale’s future has become less certain after he was left out of the starting lineup for Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Everton on Sunday, with new addition David Raya taking his place.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has hinted at a potential rotation of goalkeepers and even substitutions during matches.
Arteta’s comments imply that Ramsdale still holds significance at the Emirates, but other clubs are monitoring the 25-year-old’s situation, speculating that Raya could eventually surpass him in the pecking order at Arsenal.
While Chelsea acquired Robert Sánchez and Djordje Petrovic during the summer, they remain open to bolstering their goalkeeper options.
Bayern Munich, on the other hand, is in search of a successor for Manuel Neuer, with Sven Ulreich and recent signing Daniel Peretz as their primary alternatives.
Ramsdale extended his contract with Arsenal for four more years in May and remains committed to the club. He will be hoping to regain his starting spot when Arsenal faces PSV Eindhoven in theChampions League on Wednesday.
Bayern Munich striker, Harry Kane expressed appreciation for the reported summer interest from Manchester United. However, he emphasised his delight in being with the Bundesliga club.
Kane’s transfer to Munich took place during the summer, following several months of speculation linking him to a move to Old Trafford.
In an upcoming Champions League clash, Bayern will be hosting Manchester United on Wednesday evening.
Obviously, over the summer, I know there were some talks between a few clubs in the background, but Bayern were a team I was really interested in and excited by,” the England captain told a news conference ahead of the game.
“There were not too many other discussions once they came in. It was between them and Tottenham to talk and then the deal got done.
“My focus is on here. Manchester United are a great club, a really big club as well. I just decided to come here and am really happy I have.”
In a letter addressed to the party, Dennis Kwakwa explained that his primary reason for resigning is the necessity to meet specific requirements to pursue other political aspirations.
In the letter, Kwakwa expressed his profound gratitude for the opportunity given to him by the Regional Executive Body to contribute to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He also conveyed his deep affection and respect for the work he had undertaken as the Communication Officer, recognising the importance of this role within the party.
“Though I love and cherish working in such a role, it is a requirement I have to fulfil in order to pursue other political goals in my political career,” Kwakwa stated in the letter.
Julian Nagelsmann is reportedly on the verge of becoming Germany’s new head coach until Euro 2024, despite accepting a substantial reduction in his salary.
The former Bayern Munich manager, who is still bound by his contract with the club despite being dismissed in March, is poised to assume the role of head coach for the German national team until Euro 2024, as reported by Bild.
Bayern Munich will terminate Nagelsmann’s contract to facilitate his official appointment as the successor to Hansi Flick as Die Mannschaft’s new manager.
According to the report, Nagelsmann will experience a significant salary reduction when he joins the national team, earning around €4 million from the German FA (DFB).
This amount is considerably less than the €20 million he could have earned had he fulfilled his contract with Bayern until 2026.
Nagelsmann and the DFB have already come to a preliminary agreement, and the remaining particulars of his contract will be ironed out in the coming days.
His inaugural match at the helm of the German national team might take place in an international friendly against theUSMNT on October 14.
Member of Parliament for Mpraeso Constituency, Davis Opoku Ansah, has joined the ranks of football enthusiasts unimpressed by the Kumasi Asante Kotoko jersey unveiled for the 2023–2024Ghana Premier League season.
The Porcupines debuted this jersey on Sunday, September 17, 2023, during their season opener against the Hearts of Lions.
On various social media platforms, numerous Ghanaians who followed the game expressed their dissatisfaction with the jersey’s quality.
They also criticised the club’s Interim Management Committee for entering into a partnership with a company that, in their opinion, produces jerseys of substandard quality.
Taking to social media to register his disapproval of the jersey, Davis Opoku Mensah said “Never knew we had disposal jersey”.
The uninspiring nature of the jersey may have had an unintended effect on the players, potentially robbing them of the inspiration needed to deliver a commendable performance in their season opener.
At the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Asante Kotoko faced off againstHearts of Lions, and to the dismay of their fans, the match ended in a draw.
Nevertheless, Coach Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum has called upon the fans to exercise patience and maintain their faith in the team. He expressed absolute confidence in the players’ ability to consistently perform at a level that will thrill the Porcupine family.
While Asante Kotoko dropped points at home, their rivals, Hearts of Oak, suffered a late defeat in their opening match against Real Tamale United on Friday, September 15.
A goalkeeper error by Richard Attah allowed RTU to secure their first win of the season at the Ali Mahama Sports Stadium.
Manager of Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, attributes Pep Guardiola’s enduring success at Manchester City to his consistent winning record. He said Pep “wins everything”.
These two highly regarded tacticians in the world of football have frequently clashed while leading two prominent Premier League clubs. Both managers have celebrated domestic league titles and relished victories in the Champions League.
Klopp has held his position at Anfield since October 2015, while Guardiola assumed the managerial role at the Etihad Stadium in 2016. They are both committed to their current contracts for at least two more years, and fans can anticipate their ongoing pursuit of prestigious trophies both domestically and on the international stage.
Liverpool manager Klopp has told TNT Sports when asked if he takes inspiration from long-serving greats of the game: “I never thought I will be one of them, so I forgot to look at them. It just happened. I’ve only had three clubs so each club has had a different story, a different starting point.
“What everybody wants to see—the CEOs, the presidents of the club – is that their team is in good hands, that they see development, and that it goes in the right direction. For whatever reason—I don’t know exactly, I could deliver that somehow, and that’s why I was allowed to work longer in clubs.With Pep, it is easier to see, because he wins everything, so why would you send him on the road?”
Klopp, who worked at Mainz and Borussia Dortmund before making his way to Merseyside, added: “I never compared myself with the real greats of the business who worked for nearly 20 years or longer in big clubs. I really think it’s only possible in big clubs, or you are a man of the club.
“In Germany we have a similar story with Christian Streich [manager of SC Freiburg since 2011, and involved in coaching at the club since 1995]. Otherwise, it’s only possible in big clubs where you have success from time to time, because otherwise people want to have a change, and that’s their right.”
Jurgen Klopp’s contract with Liverpool is set to extend until the summer of 2026, marking over a decade of his tenure at Anfield. However, there are ongoing speculations linking him to the position of the German national team coach whenever that role becomes available. This talk has gained momentum following the recent dismissal of Hansi Flick, the former Bayern Munich manager, from the Die Mannschaft post.
Earlier this month, Afriyie was disqualified by the Elections Committee for not meeting the criteria outlined in Article 13(2)(j) of the Ghana Football Association statutes for 2019.
Additionally, he failed to secure the required support from fellow GFA members.
While Afriyie did file an appeal, the Appeals Committee has upheld the initial decision, effectively barring him from participating in the upcoming election.
In his appeal, dated September 8, 2023, George Kwasi Afriyie contested the Elections Committee’s decision to disqualify him as a candidate for the GFA presidency.
The Appeals Committee conducted a thorough review, examining all pertinent documents, including Afriyie’s submissions, the Elections Committee’s ruling, video footage of Afriyie’s vetting, and interviews conducted by the Elections Committee.
The primary question was whether George Kwasi Afriyie’s disqualification was justified.
Afriyie argued that the Elections Committee had six members instead of the required five.
However, the Appeals Committee clarified that the sixth individual mentioned by Afriyie was the GFA’s in-house lawyer, who played an administrative role and did not alter the panel’s composition.
Furthermore, Afriyie claimed to have submitted six GFA member endorsements for his nomination, but the Appeals Committee found that he had provided only five valid endorsements, as per the standard nomination form, which allowed for a maximum of five endorsements.
The Elections Committee’s decision to disqualify Afriyie hinged largely on an endorsement from Victory Club Warriors F/C, which was deemed invalid due to the signatory, Mr. Jeffery Asare, not being a director of the club or an authorised signatory officially registered with the GFA.
Despite Afriyie’s arguments, the Appeals Committee upheld the Elections Committee’s verdict.
Consequently, George Afriyie is no longer in contention for the GFA presidency in the forthcoming elections, leaving the incumbent President Kurt Okraku as the sole candidate.
The Newcastle manager was originally set to hold a pre-match press conference at 7 p.m. local time on Monday ahead of their Champions League debut against AC Milan.
However, the press conference was postponed and eventually took place at 9 p.m. at the San Siro stadium.
Just before Newcastle’s scheduled flight to Italy was supposed to depart at 5 p.m., a sudden storm hit Milan, leading to the flight’s delay.
Upon arriving at San Siro, Howe told reporters: “It’s just part and parcel of the job that we do. It’s not out of the normal that that can happen.
This was a weather problem, but we’ve been in similar situations. It’s something we’re used to, although it’s a slightly later arrival time than we would have liked for the players. It’s no big deal, though.”
After an absence of two decades, Newcastle United is making a comeback in the Champions League. Their opening match is set to take place on Tuesday, when they will go up against AC Milan. Additionally, Newcastle finds themselves in a group that includes Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund.
In an interview with SVTV Africa, Amoako Agyemang disclosed that he was paid a modest monthly salary of GH₵500 during his tenure with Asante Kotoko in 2009.
The former player explained that he had harboured dreams of playing abroad because he aspired to lead a more comfortable life.
Agyemang elaborated that life in Ghana presented a range of challenges that motivated him to explore opportunities overseas.
When an opportunity arose to play in Thailand with a promised monthly salary of $1000, he was inclined to accept it, despite his agent’s initial reservations about the offered salary being relatively low.
Reflecting on this pivotal moment, Agyemang stated, “When I was in Ghana, I was earning ₵500 a month, but when I went to Thailand, I was being paid $1000 a month; this was in 2010. So, imagine being offered this money and asked which one to choose; I would definitely go for $1000.”
He further explained the significant difference in earnings, highlighting that at the time, $1000 equated to GH₵3000 per month, a substantial increase on hisGH₵500 compared to his Kotoko salary.
Agyemang, who now resides in Germany, admitted that he even went as far as threatening to quit football if his agent didn’t allow him to sign the lucrative deal.
“My agent said the $1000 was more but I told him to stop ranting because I was being paid ₵500 a month at Kotoko. Those days $1000 was ₵3000 a month so a big difference of ₵2500,” he said.
Agyemang emphasised that players often migrate to clubs in other countries not because they prefer them, but because of the low wages in the Ghanaian league.
Ghanaian international Kamaldeen Sulemana has had the contentious red card he received in last Saturday’s Championship match rescinded by the English FA, following an appeal by Southampton.
Sulemana, representing Southampton, was shown a straight red card in injury time on Saturday, September 16, after a challenge on James Justin.
The Ghanaian winger, who had recently returned from a knee injury, was sent off during Southampton’s disappointing 4-1 home loss to Leicester City in the English Championship.
With the winger now available for selection, Saints’ manager Russell Martin also provided updates on the availability of Jan Bednarek, who was absent from Friday’s match, and Flynn Downes, who was forced to leave the game after just 50 minutes.
“Flynn Downes came off and is a bit doubtful for tomorrow. It’s not going to be a long one, but it’s touch and go for tomorrow.
Jan Bednarek is back in the squad and we won our appeal with Kamaldeen, so Kamaldeen is in the squad, which is good news.”
Sulemana will be part of the Southampton squad when they travel to face Ipswich Town on Tuesday, September 19 at the St Mary Stadium.
Manchester United’s defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka is facing an extended period on the sidelines due to an injury sustained during their 3-1 defeat at home to Brighton over the weekend, as confirmed by the Premier League club on Monday.
While the precise nature of the issue is still under assessment, United has ruled out the right-back for “several weeks.” According to a report in The Athletic, the England international, who made a late appearance as a substitute in the 85th minute on Saturday, is expected to be out of action for approximately two months due to a hamstring injury.
Wan-Bissaka’s injury further compounds the growing injury woes at Manchester United, with midfielder Mason Mount and defenders Luke Shaw and Raphaël Varane also sidelined in recent weeks.
Manchester United faces Bayern Munich in their opening Champions League Group A match on Wednesday, followed by a Premier League fixture against Burnley on Saturday.
Ghanaian winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has revealed the challenging choice he faced when deciding to depart from Chelsea during the summer transfer window.
The 22-year-old, who had spent the previous season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, completed a last-minute move to Nottingham Forest on transfer deadline day, thus concluding his 16-year association with Chelsea.
Hudson-Odoi emphasised that leaving Chelsea was a momentous decision, one laden with substantial emotional significance. He acknowledged that he instigated the move, understanding that his prospects for regular playing time at Chelsea were expected to be limited.
“Chelsea has been my home for a very long time, and knowing it was time to go was emotional,” Hudson-Odoi shared in an interview with The Telegraph.
“It was difficult; we had conversations, but I thought it was best if I leave. It was a mutual agreement, but I’d say it was more my decision.
“Forest is the right place for me to excel in my football and do more than I probably could at Chelsea. I want to be playing as much as possible,” he added.
Hudson-Odoi is on the verge of making his debut for Nottingham Forest, as the East Midlands club is scheduled to take on Burnley in the Premier League on Monday night.
This move from Chelsea represents a new phase in his career, and he is enthusiastic about seizing the fresh opportunities that await him at Forest.
Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom has strongly criticised the “appaling” standard of refereeing in the Premier League after his team endured a last-minute defeat to Tottenham on Saturday.
The newly promoted Premier League side seemed poised to secure their first win of the season thanks to Gustavo Hamer’s goal.
However, Spurs snatched a dramatic victory with late goals from Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski in the 98th and 100th minutes, respectively.
After the match, Heckingbottom expressed his anger towards the officials for several incidents that occurred during the game.
“The focus all of a sudden comes on time-wasting, so they’re dictating how we play. If you play to take goal kicks from the back, you set up one way, and if Spurs go against that, that dictates the decision you make.
Paul Heckingbottom was upset with the officials after his side suffered a defeat at Tottenham on Saturday. Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images
“We’re getting told to just play long — you can’t do it. Wes [Foderingham] got booked for handling outside the box and then you’re threatening him with another yellow [for dissent]. You just can’t do it.
“When I speak to the referees, they haven’t got a clue what I’m talking about. They’re officiating our games at the top level, and they simply do not know the game. We need to sort that, and sort it quick. It ruined the spectacle.”
Heckingbottom was also upset that there was little protection for United goalkeeper Foderingham and questioned the decision to send off striker Ollie McBurnie late on.
“You see all the frustration,” he added. “Both teams, both sides, both teams taking the mickey out of the ref and to sum it all up, we get Ollie McBurnie sent off for telling the referee someone’s pulling his shirt.
“We’ve just seen someone turning their back, jumping into our goalkeeper, leading with an elbow; he needs stitches — and that’s deemed the same offence. What’s going on with our game?”
AS Roma is continuing to contemplate the possibility of signing Spain international Alvaro Morata following discussions with the player’s agents, according to Corriere dello Sport.
Jose Mourinho’s club had been linked with the 30-year-old over the summer, but Morata had expressed his desire to remain with Atletico Madrid.
Roma’s sporting director, Tiago Pinto, held talks with the player’s representatives to explore the financial feasibility of a potential transfer.
It’s worth noting that Mourinho previously managed Morata during his tenure at Real Madrid.
Morata said of Mourinho in the summer: “He’s a great coach; he was the one who gave me the opportunity to play my first professional match. I’m very grateful to him and Iwish him the best.”
The coach expressed his satisfaction with the response of his players during half-time in their 3-1 victory against West Ham. City had been trailing 1-0 at the break, and Guardiola was pleased to witness his players’ determination to reverse the course of the match.
“The manager can go on TikTok and repeat motivation but it doesn’t work. Every player has to be moved and feel that,” Guardiola told a press conference. “It belongs to them, I knew at half-time I should come to the players because they were angry.
“I said ‘Why are you angry, you’re losing 1-0 but performing well. Be clinical upfront and you’d be 3-1 up?’ We push them, they have an incredible mentality, to never give up.”
City begin their defence of the Champions League this week and Guardiola hopes his team do not become complacent after finally winning Europe’s top prize last season. “The important thing is that the players don’t feel relaxed. If the board are relaxed, good, they don’t score goals. For our club to win the Champions League is something incredible.
“How many teams have won oneChampions League. In perspective we didn’t do anything special, just one. For us the club didn’t have it, to be part of that is proud.”
Guardiola’s team commences their group stage journey with a seemingly uncomplicated home match against Crvena zvezda on Tuesday night.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mané continued their impressive form by scoring once again as Al Nassr comfortably defeated Al Raed 3-1 on Saturday.
The former Premier League stars have now scored in four consecutive matches in the Saudi Pro League, contributing to Al Nassr’s excellent run of form.
After losing their first two league matches, Al Nassr has bounced back with four consecutive victories, with Ronaldo and Mane playing key roles.
Mané, who joined the Saudi Arabian League after a challenging season at Bayern Munich, opened the scoring just before halftime, while Ronaldo added to the tally late in the game.
Ronaldo currently leads the league in goals this season with seven, while Mane has six to his name.
In other matches, former Newcastle United forward Allan Saint-Maximin scored the decisive goal as Al Ahli triumphed over Al Taawoun in an exciting 3-2 contest.
Steven Gerrard’s team, Al Ettifaq, also secured a win, with former Celtic striker Moussa Dembélé finding the net in a 3-1 victory over Abha.
Al Hilal remains at the top of the league standings following this weekend’s matches, and Neymar made his debut in a convincing 6-1 win against Al Riyadh.
Mason Greenwood marked his return to professional football by making his debut for his new club, Getafe, on Sunday.
The 21-year-old striker, who is on loan from Manchester United, entered the game as a substitute during the second half in a thrilling 3-2 victory against Osasuna.
Greenwood will be spending the entire season with Getafe, as Manchester United chose to part ways with him after a six-month investigation into his behaviour.
A criminal case against Greenwood, stemming from his arrest on charges of attempted rape and assault, was dropped in February.
Although Greenwood has a contract with Manchester United until 2025, it is unlikely that he will play for the club again.
Before his debut for Getafe, the striker had not played a competitive match since January 22, 2022. During his 18-month suspension from United, he underwent an individual training program away from the club to prepare for his return to professional football.
It’s worth noting that during the match, a small group of Osasuna fans expressed negative sentiments towards Greenwood.
“The chants [against Osasuna] were very bad and the chants against Greenwood were very bad too,” he said. “He is a player who, in the end, the justice system had its say.
“He is a very good player. But if we talk about chants, we should talk about all the chants, not just some.”
Bayern Munich is contemplating the possibility of signing Scott McTominay in the upcoming January transfer window, according to The Daily Mirror.
While Joao Palhinha remains their primary target, the move for the player fell through on deadline day because Fulham couldn’t secure a replacement in time.
Interestingly, it was McTominay whom Fulham was attempting to sign for Craven Cottage, and now the Scotland international has emerged as a backup plan for Bayern.
At 26 years old, McTominay has received indications that he can explore opportunities with other clubs, as he doesn’t seem to be part of Manchester United’s long-term plans undermanager Erik ten Hag.
Real Madrid is closely monitoring Bayern Munich’s wing-back, Alphonso Davies, as reported by Relevo.
Davies, primarily a left-back, is set to become a free agent with Bayern Munich in 2025, and negotiations for a new contract have hit a standstill.
The contractual uncertainty is partly attributed to changes in the club’s administration, particularly the departure of former director Hasan Salihamidzic at the conclusion of the 2022–23 season.
However, Bayern is now looking to reinitiate talks for an extension, as they are committed to retaining the Canadian international at the Allianz Arena.
Davies is aware of Real Madrid’s interest, and Bayern might consider parting ways with the 22-year-old next summer to prevent him from leaving on a free transfer in 2025. Notably, Coach Thomas Tuchel has already identified a replacement for Davies within the Bayern squad, namely Raphaël Guerreiro.
Previous reports from Relevo have suggested thatReal Madrid is willing to expedite a deal for Davies if the right opportunity presents itself, possibly even before his contract expires.
West Ham United’s Head Coach, David Moyes, has emphasised that it will take some time for new signing Kudus Mohammed to adapt to the team’s playing style.
Kudus had a brief appearance for the London-based club in their 2-1 victory over Luton Town before the international break. During the break, he had a prolific spell, scoring two goals for Ghana against the Central African Republic in a friendly and Liberia in an international friendly.
Despite his promising start, the former Right to Dream product has yet to secure a full-time role after two games. On Saturday, September 16, he began as a substitute against Manchester City.
Kudus, aged 23, made a significant move to West Ham United from Dutch giants AFC Ajax in August, with the transfer fee amounting to €45 million.
Moyes, in a post-match discussion, acknowledged, “We might need to wait a little more time for Mo (Kudus) to get settled in.”
Kudus could potentially be handed a starting positionwhen West Ham United faces Serbian side TSC Backa Topola in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, September 21.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic made an appearance at AC Milan’s training session, which took place a day before their upcoming Champions League match against Newcastle United.
AC Milan is coming off a demoralising 5-1 loss to their rivals, Inter, in a Serie A match last Saturday. Now, they are aiming for a strong comeback in their Champions League fixture against Newcastle United.
In a bid to provide inspiration and support for the team, the iconic former Milan forward, Ibrahimovic, visited the training ground.
During his visit, he engaged in a conversation with manager Stefano Pioli and Pioli’s assistant.
In June of this year, Ibrahimovic declared his retirement from professional football during AC Milan’s last match of the 2022–23 season, which took place in front of a full San Siro stadium.
Looking ahead to their Champions League match on Tuesday, Coach Pioli might consider some adjustments to the Milan starting lineup, and there’s a possibility that he will place USMNT star Christian Pulisic on the bench.
At 23 years old, Hudson-Odoi has attracted attention from the West African nation despite having previously played for England. He notably won the Under-17 World Cup under the guidance of Steve Cooper in 2017.
Although born in Wandsworth, Hudson-Odoi has also donned the jersey of the Three Lions, starting from the Under-16s and progressing through to the Under-21s, earning three senior caps for England.
When asked about the possibility of playing for the four-time African champions, Hudson-Odoi acknowledged it as a viable option but conveyed that he is still in the process of making a decision.
“That decision hasn’t been made yet. I’m still thinking it over. Ghana is a very good option but let’s wait and see,” he told The Telegraph.
“Hopefully, once I start playing games here, maybe Gareth [Southgate] or Ghana will come. It’s a nice position to be in and hopefully, sooner or later we will know,” the winger, who spent last season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, added.
Meanwhile, Black Stars coach Chris Hughton hinted in an interview with talkSPORT that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has been trying to convince Callum Hudson-Odoi and Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah to switch allegiances to play for the Black Stars.
“The issue is, and it is understandable, particularly for someone like myself who was born here. I have an Irish mother, and a Ghanaian father and I chose to play for Ireland at that particular time.
“These are two players (Callum Hudson-Odoi and Eddie Nketiah) that have represented England on quite a few of the underage teams. So some of it is understandable. We have been in contact with them.
“Not just in my time; I think from before as well. It is a process. But ultimately it will be about both of them making that decision that they want to play but we have had good dialogue with them.”
Callum Hudson-Odoi concluded his long-standing16-year affiliation with Chelsea, having risen through the ranks of the academy and accumulated 126 appearances in the first team. He made a move to Nottingham Forest during the summer transfer window.
Notably, Forest acquired Hudson-Odoi’s services for a fee of just £3 million.
Famous Ghanaian actor and soccer administratorYaw Dabo, has claimed that Lawrence Ati-Zigi, the goalkeeper for the Black Stars, is his brother-in-law.
Yaw Dabo stated that the Sweden-based goalkeeper is married to his sister, and they share a close and positive relationship.
“Lawrence Ati-Zigi is my in-law. He’s married to my sister and he is aware. If he jokes, I will reveal the identity of his wife,” Yaw Dabo told YouTube platform Saddick Adams.
Dabo, a well-known actor in Ghana, has ventured into the world of football by founding the Dabo Football Academy.
This Division Two team, situated in the Ashanti Region, has been making notable strides, and Dabo expresses strong optimism that the team will eventually rise to prominence in Ghanaian football.
His motivation behind establishing the academy goes beyond sports success; Dabo views it as a way of giving back to society and playing a role in discovering and nurturing talent for the benefit of the country.
“I have the Dabo Soccer Academy because we have to support others. That’s my dream because, when you get money, you have to give it to somebody because everybody needs help,” he told Marca.
“Me, too. I need help. My brother needs help. So I want to give back to my society to support others. I go to orphanages and I go to the villages to bring talented players to everybody to see that in Ghana we have very talented players.
“A lot of good players are in the academy and go to school. I have workers, coaches, and caterers to support the football team. I have everybody. I came to Europe to find a solution to support my academy.”
Lawrence Ati-Zigi has assumed the role of the primary goalkeeperfor the Black Stars.He ascended to this position in preparation for the 2022 World Cup due to injuries suffered by Jojo Wollacott and Richard Ofori, who were originally the first and second choices, respectively.
This comes after the NDC flagbearer alleged that the incumbent president has congregated the judiciary with NPP affiliated judges He made these remarks during the 2nd Annual Lawyers Conference of the NDC on August 28.
Critics, including the Ghana Bar Association, described these remarks as disrespectful and unnecessary for the independence and integrity of the judiciary.
But the IMANI vice president shares the opposite opinion. He believes Mr Mahama has every right as a presidential aspirant to worry about the state of the judiciary.
During an interview on Joy News’ News File on September 18, 2023, Kofi Bentil said, “It is also okay for the politician to have worries and as far as I’m concerned, the observation or the statement that President Mahama made was proper !It was necessary for a person of his standing seeking to become president to make the kinds of observations and ask the kinds of questions he does.
“Nobody should hold it against him that this may be a problem”.
According to Kofi Bentil, it is commonplace for a ruling party to appoint people who share their political values and beliefs, people who subscribe to their mandate—to positions in that regard.
“For me, as a matter of fact, you don’texpect them to appoint people who do not believe in your political persuasion. “Of course, he may put a political spin on it by saying that the opponent or the other party is appointing judges who believe in their political, you know, whatever. So for me, that is not the problem,” he added.
Additionally, he recommends that amid all the realities that seem to be ‘overlooked’, it is incumbent on us to recognise and appreciate the concerns expressed by the former president and strive to attain a posture where, despite partisan affiliations, these judges in question will regard the rule of law and rule accordingly to uphold the country’s judicial system’s justice and integrity.
“It’s a good conversation to have. Let us not pretend that it is not necessary.”
We need to get to a point where, regardless of their political affiliation, we are getting judges or putting judges in place who will rule and continue to rule according to the laws and evidence before them.
“But let us continue to work towards the higher virtues so that we will continue to have the justices we have, he recommended.
In the latter stages of the summer transfer window, Getafe finalised an agreement with Manchester United for the transfer of Mason Greenwood. At that time, Bordalas had mentioned that another English talent already in La Liga had given his approval for the move.
He told Radio Marca: “Greenwood has a friendship with Bellingham and he recommended that he come and play in the Spanish league.”
It’s worth noting that Jude Bellingham also transitioned to La Liga, having completed a €103 million (£89 million/$110 million) transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid.
The Athletic reports that his entourage have been left “unhappy” at claims the 20-year-old midfielder interacted with Greenwood before his departure from Old Trafford was confirmed.
Boradalas has now sought to clarify his comments, telling reporters after seeing Greenwood make his debut for Getafe off the bench in their 3-2 victory over Osasuna: “I wanted to clear up a misunderstanding there has been. I said that Mason Greenwood came to Getafe because he had spoken to Bellingham.
“It has been clarified to me that this was not the case. I apologise.
“Mason arrived in a different way. It was our interest and they offered him to me and we were very interested. I just wanted to clarify that, it was not a bad intention.”
Getafe is said to have also reached out to Bellingham in order to offer his apologies.
Greenwood isup and running in Spanish football after being given 13 minutes against Osasuna.
That outing was his first since January 2022, following his arrest on suspicion of attempted rape, assault and coercive control.
Those charges were dropped in February 2023, freeing him to resume his professional career.
Getafe have welcomed Greenwood onto their books, with Bordalas adding on seeing the 21-year-old back on the field: “We were pleasantly surprised, it was a tough match and a tough time. There was a lot of back and forth. He has helped in offensive tasks, he has been very supportive.
Getafe have welcomed Greenwood onto their books, with Bordalas adding on seeing the 21-year-old back on the field: “We were pleasantly surprised, it was a tough match and a tough time. There was a lot of back and forth. He has helped in offensive tasks, he has been very supportive.
“We are working with patience and tranquillity, he has not played for many months.
“Today must have been a very special day for him. The player wants to compete and play. We have seen the response from the fans and his teammates. We have to be calm. The participation has been remarkable.
“We are very happy, he is very integrated for such a short period.
“The language is a handicap, he is with a teacher to try to accelerate the learning of Spanish to have better contact with his team-mates. He is having a remarkable start, and we are very happy and content.
“We are on the sidelines of what can be commented, I already clarified it. Now we are only talking about sports, I have told my team-mates, we are happy with Mason’s behaviour. It’s good for him.”
Director of the GFA Foundation, Malcolm Frazier Appeadu, visited the ailing former goalkeeper of the Black Satellites and Black Meteors, William Essu, and presented a generous donation of GHS10,000.
The primary purpose of the visit was to assess Essu’s current health condition and convey heartfelt wishes for his speedy recovery.
During their meeting in Cape Coast, Essu shared the details of his illness, including the disappointment of missing out on being part of the Black Meteors AFCON squad.
He also spoke about the challenging period he has faced over the last five months.
Essu expressed profound gratitude to both the GFA and the GFA Foundation for their financial assistance and the caring support they have extended to him.
His brother, Alexander Essu, noted a noticeable improvement in William’s condition since he resumed treatment two days earlier.
The Director of the Foundation reassured them that the GFA is actively working with the Ministry of Youth and Sports to ensure that the rightful bonuses for William Essu and the last Under 23 qualifying team are disbursed.
William Essu was a member of the National Under 23 Black Meteors team that successfully qualified for theCAF U23 AFCON.
Joe Marler has humorously compared himself to Cristiano Ronaldo after unintentionally providing a headed assist for a peculiar England try during the2023 Rugby World Cup.
The charismatic prop from Harlequins is known for his ability to draw attention, and he managed to do just that during England’s match against Japan in Nice.
With England holding a narrow 13-12 lead, a pass from George Ford slipped through Will Stuart’s hands and unexpectedly bounced off Marler’s head.
Remarkably, the ball fell favourably into the path of England’s captain, Courtney Lawes, who subsequently scored a try. The match officials had to confirm the try following a TMO (Television Match Official) review, as a knock-on is not called if the ball hits a player’s head.
Marler has taken great delight in his impromptu Ronaldo impression, comparing his accidental header to the one delivered by the superstar from the world of football during his days at Juventus.
Alongside a video of his face superimposed onto Ronaldo’s body, Marler posted on TikTok: “A goal is a goal.”
Eastbourne native Marler also claims to have been inspired by Brighton’s efforts in the Premier League this season, following their 3-1 win over Manchester United on Saturday, telling Sky Sports: “I take huge inspiration from Roberto De Zerbi and his mighty Seagulls doing a demolition job on United. Just taking huge inspiration from them and finding a way to help the boys score.”
Former Dreams FC goalkeeper Lord Bawa Martey, has shed light on the challenging circumstances surrounding the well-being and living conditions of players in the Ghana Premier League.
Speaking to Saddick Adams, Martey emphasised that the compensation provided to players in Ghana’s top-tier football competition is far from satisfactory, with many players earning meagre salaries.
He revealed that, in 2023, some players will still earn as little as GH300 cedis while participating as professionals in the Ghana Premier League.
Martey also highlighted the unfortunate trend where clubs often neglect players, particularly when they suffer serious injuries, leaving them to fend for themselves.
In light of these challenges, he advised players in the Ghana Premier League to seriously consider any promising offers from foreign clubs, as such opportunities could significantly improve their financial prospects.
“Even though it’s our profession and we believe in our talent, we don’t get the needed recognition. It is not reflected in our salaries. If we were to list our worries, we would not end. I chose not to sign for any team this season due to reasons best known to me. I had a lot of offers but I rejected them due to previous experiences.
“You could get injured in the line of duty and no one would mind you. We still have players who earn as little as GHC300 cedis. Assuming you are paid GH ₵300, how do you survive monthly? What motivates us is the desire to earn some recognition for our family and team. We see the Ghana Premier League as a stepping stone so if God helps us, we will get deals.
“If a colleague tells me he wants to play in Togo, I will advise him to go because there is no money in this league. I once listened to an ex-player who lamented that he got nothing from winning multiple goal-king awards. If the opportunity comes for you to travel, grab it because it’s good,” he said.
Bawa Martey also rejected the commonly held belief that the majority of Ghanaian footballers are promiscuous. He dismissed these accusations and argued that many players are compelled to engage in such behavior as a means to address their basic survival and financial requirements.
“It’s not easy having a girlfriend in this setting. We are often accused of being womanisers but it’s not true. Assuming I’m playing for a team in Tamale and I’m on a GH₵500 a month salary and, by grace, I get to date a waakye seller who gifts me waakye for free, I will have to work for it,” he said.
Bawa Martey, formerly associated with Dreams FC, is presently without a club after not managing to secure a contract extension with the team.
In the 2023/2024 Ghana Premier League season, which commenced on Friday, September 15, 2023, both Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko experienced difficulties in securing victories.
Hearts of Oak endured a late 1-0 defeat against Real Tamale United,while Asante Kotoko struggled to secure a single point in their match against Hearts of Lions at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday, September 17, 2023.
Ghanaian defender Tariq Lamptey received the Man of the Match award following Brighton’s impressive 3-1 victory against Manchester United.
Lamptey displayed sensational form for the Seagulls as they travelled to Old Trafford, securing a win as the English Premier League resumed after the international break.
Notably, Lamptey had been omitted from Ghana’s recent matches against the Central African Republic and Liberia due to his recent return from injury. His return to action took place in the game against Newcastle United just before the international break.
Manager Roberto De Zerbi entrusted the talented 22-year-old right-back with a starting role against Manchester United, and Lamptey delivered brilliantly by providing two assists during the 3-1 triumph.
Brighton initiated the scoring in the first half, courtesy of English-born Ghanaian Danny Welbeck, before Lamptey contributed with an assist for the second goal after halftime, which was expertly finished by Pascal Gross.
Lamptey continued to make his mark by setting up Joao Pedro’s goal, securing Brighton’s third as De Zerbi’s team dismantledManchester United in front of their own supporters.’
Messi’s performance at PSG fell short of expectations during his two-year tenure, leading to his departure when his contract expired in June.
He subsequently joined Inter Miami in MLS. Despite scoring 32 goals in 75 matches, these numbers were significantly lower than what he had achieved at Barcelona, even during his later years at the club when he was past his prime.
Nevertheless, Thierry Henry has come to the defense of his former Barcelona teammate. Messi faced challenges at PSG, including criticism from fans who even booed him towards the end of his time in France. Henry explained that the environment at the Ligue 1 club made it difficult for Messi to excel, especially given the presence of other star players like Mbappe and Neymar.
During an interview with former PSG midfielder Jerome Rothen, Henry was asked if he was disappointed with Messi’s stint in Paris, despite it resulting in three trophies.
He said on RMC Sport: “No, I’ll say why. I remind you that when I arrived at the beginning, on Amazon, I said, ‘For me to play this team, it’s a headache’. I was once again talking about structure, and organisation. I know you’re going to laugh again, but how do you play with all three (Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe) at the same time?”
Rothen then asked: “They could still do better, they could be a little more invested, right? It’s just in his behaviour.”
Henry retorted: “I can’t say that. For what? Because it happened to me. When he (Messi) played with the Argentina team, a structure. There are not three Messis, just him. You put him in a framework where he alone is the boss, [and he will shine]. But at some point, I’ll tell you something: I left Arsenal. This is something super important. I cried when I left Arsenal for Barca. It took me a year to realize that I had left Arsenal, in fact.”
The fact that PSG couldn’t secure a Champions League victory despite having Messi, Mbappe, and Neymar, who has now moved on to play for Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, in their lineup is quite telling.
These three players are undoubtedly among the all-time greats of the sport. While Messi joined PSG in the later stages of his career, their failure to clinch the prestigious European title cannot be solely attributed to him.
Messi, who is 36 years old, played a pivotal role in leading Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022. Currently, he is experiencing a rejuvenation of his career at Inter Miami, where he has made an impressive start by scoring 11 goals in his initial 11 appearances for the club.
Despite the ongoing criticism of the Glazer family’s ownership, the Red Devils have consistently shown a willingness to spend on new players and former Man United legend Gary Neville has questioned the worth of the new signings made by his former club.
This summer was no exception, as they made significant investments in talent, including the acquisitions of Andre Onana, Mason Mount, and Rasmus Hojlund, which collectively cost them over £170 million ($211 million).
However, in the 2023–24 season under the management of Erik ten Hag, Manchester United has had a less than ideal start, managing to secure only six points from their first five Premier League matches.
This has led to ongoing concerns and doubts about the club’s overall direction, both on and off the field.
Additionally, a protracted takeover process has been unfolding in the background, further adding to the uncertainty surrounding the club’s future.
Former Red Devils defender Neville has told Sky Sports of the issues holding United back: “There is no Manchester United fan I know, that has got a brain, that is most angry with Erik ten Hag. What they want really is a change of ownership and they want stability and they want a group of players that are committed. And I don’t think the players aren’t committed. I just wonder how good they are. That is my concern.
“There are players there that can step up. But the amount of money Manchester United have spent on that squad, it should have been a lot better. They’ve signed Onana, Hojlund and Mount. Does that make them better than what they were? Hojlund has got promise, but I feel for him a little bit.
“He has been asked to carry the whole of the team in some ways. Let’s see what happens but there are concerns, definitely, and concerns from the fans and concerns generally within the club. It doesn’t look right at this moment in time and it needs to stabilise.”
In their most recent match at home,Manchester United faced a setback, succumbing to a 3-1 defeat against Brighton. Now, they must regroup and prepare for a high-stakes Champions League showdown against Bayern Munich, the reigning Bundesliga champions, at the Allianz Arena this coming Wednesday.
Despite strong rumours linking Lionel Messi with a potential return to Barcelona during the summer transfer window, the Argentine superstar ultimately chose to join Inter Miami, a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise owned by David Beckham.
Messi’s arrival in the United States has been highly impactful, revitalising the once-struggling MLS team.
He has already secured his first trophy with Inter Miami, winning the League Cup, and his on-field performance has been exceptional, tallying 11 goals and eight assists in 11 matches, according to Transfermarkt.
While Messi enjoys his time in the U.S., his former Barcelona teammate, Ter Stegen, has expressed disappointment that the eagerly anticipated reunion during the summer did not come to fruition.
However, Ter Stegen still holds onto hope that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner may return to the club in the future.
Nevertheless, the German goalkeeper still clings to the hope that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner might find his way back to the club in the future.
“He would certainly have been an asset for us,” ter Stegen told GOAL. “Maybe he’ll return in another role at some point. Barcelona is his club and will always be a big part of his life. Many people here are still in contact with him. A few players he was very close with are now in Miami with him.”
USMNT star hails Messi’s impact on MLS
It’s evident that Lionel Messi currently holds the spotlight as the most prominent figure in American soccer, and Christian Pulisic, a star of the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT), has praised Messi’s influence on the sport in the United States, as reported by Sports Brief.
Pulisic, in remarks made prior to the USMNT’s 3-0 triumph over Uzbekistan and as reported by ESPN, acknowledged that he has been closely followingMessi since the Argentine superstar’s major arrival in the country.
Numerous European football stars, including some of his Barcelona teammates, have made moves to Saudi Arabia, notably Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al-Nassr.
While several players have opted for the Saudi Pro League, others like Lewandowski, Mohamed Salah, and Kylian Mbappe have chosen to remain with their current clubs.
The Saudi Pro League has attracted significant investments, with the Premier League being the only league to outspend it during the summer transfer window.
Lewandowski on SPL links
Lewandowski, the ex-Bayern Munich forward, has expressed his indifference to the speculations connecting him to Saudi Arabia and has affirmed his contentment at Barcelona.
“I don’t even think about it (going to Saudi Arabia). I’m super happy in Barcelona, in the team, in the city, with my family. As a person I am happy,” the Poland striker reiterated via 90min.
The 35-year-old disclosed that he had contemplated a move to the MLS before the Coronavirus pandemic, but at present, his sole concentration is on Barcelona.
“Before the coronavirus pandemic, the idea of MLS was firmly in my head, but somehow I changed my mind afterwards. After the Barcelona chapter, it’s hard to imagine going there.”
Lewandowski blasts La Liga referees
In another report, Sports Brief stated thatRobert Lewandowski has criticised the standard of officiating in Spanish football, joining several other superstars who have blasted referees in La Liga over poor officiating.
The 34-year-old forward led Barcelona to the La Liga title last season but was appalled by the level of officiating, which he admits has made the Spanish topflight unattractive.
Following the dissolution of the team’s board and management, an Interim Management Committee (IMC) was established, with Kwesi Appiah assuming the role of Technical Director.
During his tenure, he has played a leading role in acquiring a mix of young and seasoned players and is optimistic that they will quickly adapt and contribute to the team’s success, given their skill set.
“We strongly believe that the players we have assembled will perform so that we can get the win,” he told the club’s YouTube channel.
“The important thing is that with the players we have now, most of them are new so this is the time all the fans must come in their numbers to offer their support to the team,” he added.
After falling short in their bid to defend the Ghana Premier League title last season and finishing fourth, trailing champions Medeama SC, Aduana FC, and Bechem United, the Porcupine Warriors are looking for a better season.
They are pinning their hopes on the capabilities of their Interim Management Committee (IMC), which also features coach Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum.
Renowned radio broadcaster Kwame Sefa Kayi has expressed astonishment at the transformation of the official residence designated for the Black Stars coach into an office for the technical director of theGhana Football Association.
Back in 2018, the Ministry of Sports handed over a spacious five-bedroom house in Accra’s Airport Residential Area to then-Black Stars coach Akwasi Appiah.
The property, a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Works and Housing, underwent renovation at a cost of GHȻ300,000.
The primary intention behind this residence was to provide housing for the appointed head coach of the Black Stars, regardless of who that individual might be, as designated by the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
However, after two years, the GFA made an unexpected alteration to this arrangement.
According to their statement, “the Association has renovated the Airport House given to the Association and turned it into a Technical Hub of the Association.”
Furthermore, it clarified that theGFA Technical Hub now houses the offices of the Technical Directorate of the GFA and serves as offices for all National Team coaches, from the U-15 National Team to the Senior National Teams for both men and women.
Black Stars coach’s residence turned into an office
In a conversation, ace sports journalist, Dan Kwaku Yeboah mentioned the issue as one of the mistakes of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Sefa Kayi who was shocked by the revelation, inquired, “So where does our coach stay?”
Dan Kweku Yeboah responded by saying, “The place offered by the government has been converted into an office for Ghana’s German Technical Director, Bernhard Lippert.”
Tano Bofoawa FC, who have returned to theGhana Premier League, have secured a partnership agreement with Pribet Shopping Mart in preparation for the 2023–24 league season.
Under this partnership, Pribet has become the official shopping mall partner and will serve as the primary outlet for all Bofoakwa Tano FC merchandise for the upcoming league season.
Additionally, Pribet will be the main sponsor for the team’s Player of the Month awards throughout the 2023–24 league season.
Bofoakwa Tano is set to participate in the 2023–24 Ghana Premier League season after defeating Techiman Eleven Wonders in the Division One league playoff.
The Sunyani-based club will commence their upcoming league season with an away match against Great Olympics in the capital on Saturday, September 16, marking matchday one of the Ghana Premier League.
Mauricio Pochettino (51) mentioned on Friday that the absence of European football will provide Chelsea some relief as they grapple with an extensive injury list.
However, the Argentine manager expressed confidence that the Premier League club would make a return to continental competition in the following season.
Chelsea, who won the Champions League in 2021, faced a tumultuous campaign last season and finished 12th in the league, which means they won’t participate in European competitions in the current season, with the group stages set to begin next week.
The London club has been dealing with several injury concerns early in the new season, with key players like full-back and captain Reece James, new striker Christopher Nkunku, and central defenders Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile among those sidelined.
“With the circumstances, I think it’s better for us (to not be playing European football) because we have 11 or 12 injured players,” Pochettino told reporters ahead of Sunday’s trip to Bournemouth.
“I think it’s important now that we can recover and be more competitive.
“But for Chelsea, it’s important to be involved in European competition, but that is not in my hands now.
“That is the reality. For sure, we are going to be involved in European competition next season, no doubt with the quality we have.”
The following injury update has been provided ahead of #BouChe. ⤵️
Despite Chelsea’s current 12th-place position in the Premier League standings, where they have garnered only four points from four games, Mauricio Pochettino emphasised that his team has performed admirably.
This comes in the wake of their losses to West Ham United and Nottingham Forest, as he mentioned.
“If you see the data, I think we are very good. The thing we are missing is to score goals, which is one of the most important things in football,” he added.
“We need to compete better. It’s the process of building the team. For sure, it’s only a matter of time.
“I want to win. We need to win. It’s too early to give up or say we are not going to achieve what we were talking about at the beginning.”
Earlier on Friday, Chelsea said midfielder Romeo Lavia, who was signed from Championship (second-tier) side Southampton for a reported fee of 55 million pounds last month, is “continuing to be assessed for an injury”.
“I think we are really disappointed because he was training really well. He twisted his ankle and now we are waiting for Monday to get the assessment from the doctor,” Pochettino said.
“We don’t know (the timeframe for Lavia’s return) because we need to assess him.”
Pochettino added that striker Armando Broja, who suffered a knee injury in December, will also be unavailable to face Bournemouth as he continues his return to fitness after surgery.
Spanish law enforcement detained three youth players affiliated with Real Madrid on Thursday on allegations of distributing a sexual video involving a minor, during a period when there has been increased concern about gender-related misconduct in Spanish soccer.
According to a police statement, the players, all of whom are adults, were subsequently released following a court ruling and the confiscation of data from their mobile phones.
Earlier Thursday, the club confirmed that a player for their reserve team, Castilla, and three players for the club’s third team, Real Madrid C, gave evidence to Spanish police over “the sharing of a private video on WhatsApp.”
“Real Madrid announced that it has been made aware that a Castilla player and three Real Madrid C players gave statements to [Spain’s militarised national police force], the Guardia Civil, in relation to the supposed sharing of a private video via WhatsApp,” the club said in a statement.
“When the club has detailed knowledge of the facts, it will take the appropriate measures.”
Police have confirmed that the three individuals were apprehended at the Real Madrid sports complex in Madrid, and an investigation is underway regarding a fourth player.
The incident originated from a complaint filed by the mother of a 16-year-old girl in the Canary Islands concerning an alleged recording of sexual activities. According to the police, although the girl stated that the activities were consensual, the recording was made without her consent in June, and she only recently became aware of it.
These arrests come amidst allegations of sexual assault involving former soccer federation chief Luis Rubiales, who kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips last month following Spain’s victory in the Women’s World Cup.
Rubiales resigned on Sunday after resisting calls to step down for weeks, and he is scheduled to appear before a judge on Friday. He continues to assert that the kiss was mutual and consensual.
The three Madrid players who were arrested are suspected of committing a felony known in Spanish criminal law as “revealing secrets of a sexual nature,” a police spokesperson said.
Convener of the Pensioner Bondholders Forum, Dr. Adu Anane Antwi, has stated that its members will not partake in the government’s new Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) for E.S.L.A. Plc and Daakye Trust Plc bondholders.
The Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Finance, has extended an invitation to holders of domestic notes and bonds to voluntarily participate in the debt exchange program.
In a statement released on September 13, 2023, the Ministry of Finance clarified that the new offer aims to provide bondholders who were unable to participate in the February 2023 debt exchange program due to technical delays with another opportunity.
In response to this development, Dr. Antwi emphasised in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM that no pensioner from their forum would accept the government’s latest offer, as they have been excluded from the DDEP.
“No pensioner bondholder can ever be targeted, because we have been totally exempted. We don’t have anything to do with this exchange at all. We are not part of it. There’s no pensioner available now for an offer to be made to, simple as that.
There’s nobody in category B who is there for the offer, and says, I wanted to go in, but I didn’t have the opportunity to go in so now, I’m going in. So category B shouldn’t be in this document at all,” he is quoted as saying by citinewsroom.com
“The government cannot overturn its own decision to exempt us. It is in the records of parliament, we have a letter, we have been exempted, and it’s not based on any condition, it’s an unconditional exemption. The government cannot go anywhere,” Dr Adu Anwti lamented.
He, however, rebuked the Ministry of Finance for failing to understand its own DDEP terms, which it issued in its September 13 release.
“I believe they [government] didn’t get the understanding well, they haven’t analysed things well. If you analyse the situation, the person who was writing the memorandum of exchange should have known that there were no Category B holders available for that offer. They have already accepted,
“We will have a press conference and explain to the people who are handling this matter that they are wrong. They didn’t understand the concept well,” the Convener of Pensioner Bondholders said.
Ian Nash, the passionate West Ham supporter who journeyed to Ghana to witness Mohammed Kudus representing the Black Stars, has now returned to the United Kingdom to watch the Ghanaian player in action against Manchester City.
Mohammed Kudus is set to participate for West Ham in the Premier League match against Manchester City following the international break.
In an interview with GhanaWeb before the game, Ian shared his plan to observe the 22-year-old player showcasing his skills for the Hammers against Manchester City.
“On Saturday, I am going to West Ham to watch the Manchester City game,” he said in an interview.
Ian also noted that he anticipates a warm welcome from fellow fans on his return.
“I was even seeing messages from other West Ham fans saying we know this guy, we know where he seats at the Stadium. I guess that people will give me a warm welcome,” he stated.
According to him, he would love for Mohammed Kudus to showcase his trademark celebration.
“I will encourage him that on Saturday, when he scores, he celebrates like the hammers do,” Ian said.
Ian Nash’s commitment to Kudus got the world’s attention when he travelled from the UK to Ghana to watch the country’s game against the Central African Republic in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.
He was later able to meet the player and was gifted a matchday shirt by Mohammed Kudus.
Tottenham Hotspur are prepared to provide comprehensive support for their Brazilian international, Richarlison (26), according to manager Ange Postecoglou (58).
This comes after the striker, who has been struggling on the field, expressed his intention to seek psychological assistance.
Richarlison made headlines when he was pictured in tears on the bench after being substituted in the 71st minute during Brazil’s 5-1 victory over Bolivia in a 2026 World Cup qualifier in Belem.
Following the match, Richarlison disclosed to the Brazilian newspaper O Globo that he intends to consult with a psychologist in order to ‘come back stronger’,
“Whatever Richy needs, we’ll help him get to the space he wants to. He was emotional after a game and that’s fine,” Postecoglou told reporters ahead ofSaturday’s Premier League game at home to Sheffield United.
“We’ll provide all the support he needs. I’m sure every player in the dressing room is dealing with something.
“There’s always something that isn’t where you want it to be. It’s about keeping perspective and balance. That’s part of life.”
🎙 “One part of your life could be flying, but there’ll be something — it could be a family member, it could be a health issue, could be a financial issue. Footballers are not immune from that.”
Postecoglou also commended the significant contribution of James Maddison, the English midfielder who was named the Premier League Player of the Month for August.
Maddison has made a notable impact, tallying two goals and two assists in four games since his transfer to Spurs from Leicester City, for a reported fee of £40 million.
“It was a fairly low-risk acquisition because of his quality. But the way he’s embraced the club, on and off the field, has been fantastic,” Postecoglou said.
“You’re looking for enthusiasm and freshness and he’s created a real good energy around the place.”
After failing to qualify for Europe last season, Spurs look like a team reborn under new manager Postecoglou and are playing with a high-tempo style that has propelled them to second in the standings with three wins and a draw from four games.
“We’ve had a promising start. I didn’t go into it with any kind of expectation,” the Australian said.
“Embedding a style of play into the group was the key thing for me. We could be sitting on 10 points but if we hadn’t been playing our style of football, I wouldn’t have been comfortable. We’re only a month into a long season.”
Spurs’ next opponents, 17th-placed Sheffield United, have taken one point from their first four games after promotion.
Getafe head coach Jose Bordalas has revealed that Jude Bellingham recommended to Mason Greenwood that he consider playing in La Liga.
In the previous month, Manchester United and Greenwood reached a mutual agreement for him to leave the club following a six-month investigation into allegations of attempted rape and assault, with the criminal case against him being dropped in February.
Greenwood made a season-long loan move to Getafe in Madrid from Manchester United on September 1. Interestingly, Bellingham had also made a move to the Spanish capital, joining Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund earlier in the summer.
Getafe coach Jose Bordalas
“Greenwood has a friendship with Bellingham and he recommended that he come and play in the Spanish league,” Getafe coach Jose Bordalas said.
ESPN has reached out to Bellingham’s representatives for their input on the matter.
Greenwood, who tallied 35 goals in 129 appearances for United, has not participated in a competitive match since January 2022. Prior to joining Getafe, he engaged in solitary training as part of his preparation for his return to the field.
Despite being under contract with United until June 2025, it is unlikely that the 21-year-old will make a return to Old Trafford next summer.
“He is a fantastic player,” Bordalas said of Greenwood. “We have to be patient and calm. His teammates and the coaching staff are helping him. He is adapting sensationally well and I hope he can help us.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has commended Declan Rice (24) for his swift adaptation to life at the Emirates Stadium after his club-record £105 million transfer in the summer.
Rice’s transfer from West Ham United in July allowed the England international to have a full pre-season with Arsenal. He has made a strong impression in the central midfield role, featuring for the entire duration of every Premier League match this season.
His performances earned him Arsenal’s Player of the Month award for August, and he scored his first goal for the club, a late winner against historic rivals Manchester United earlier this month.
“You always hope that the transition is going to be smooth and fast, but sometimes the reality is very different,” Arteta told reporters on Friday, ahead of Sunday’s league trip to Everton.
“In his case, it has been really positive, he’s finding it really easy. He understood the team, our way of playing really, really fast and things are going well for him.”
As Rice has seamlessly integrated into Arsenal, their former record signing, Nicolas Pepe, has departed the club. Arsenal opted to terminate the contract of the Ivory Coast international, who was signed for £72 million in 2019.
Pepe played a significant role in Arsenal’s FA Cup victory in 2020, but he subsequently faced limited playing time under Arteta. He departs Arsenal after having scored 27 goals in 112 games and has joined Trabzonspor on a free transfer.
“I wasn’t involved in that deal but what I can say about him as a person is that he’s a phenomenal boy, he tried really hard. It’s not his fault for the amount of money that we paid at the time,” Arteta said.
Arteta said winger Bukayo Saka “trained normally” amid concerns over a possible Achilles injury, while the Spaniard added that Arsenal are looking to extend the contract of skipper Martin Odegaard, whose current deal expires in June 2025.
“He’s our captain; he’s a massive player for us. He’s really important for now and the future. We want to keep him here for a long time,” Arteta said. “I’m always optimistic. We’re really close (to a new deal) with him and his agent.”
Arsenal is growing increasingly confident about reaching an agreement for a contract extension with midfielder Martin Ødegaard, according to sources from ESPN.
The 24-year-old’s current contract is set to expire in 2025, but negotiations for a new deal are progressing positively. It is anticipated that Ødegaard will extend his commitment to the club for at least another two seasons.
Furthermore, Ødegaard is expected to receive a substantial wage increase from his current £120,000-a-week salary to better reflect his performance and elevated status since joining the club in January 2021.
The Norwegian international initially arrived at Arsenal on a six-month loan from Real Madrid before completing a permanent transfer in the summer of 2021 for a fee of approximately £30 million ($37 million).
Ødegaard was named Arsenal captain last summer and has scored 26 goals in 110 appearances for the club.
He refused to be drawn on his contract situation when asked earlier this week while on international duty with Norway, who he also captains.
Ødegaard said: “I don’t have much to say, apart from the fact that I am very happy at Arsenal and I hope I can be there for a long time.
“Beyond that, I have no comment right now. Now, it is the national team that is in focus.”
Chief Executive Officer of the Bui Power Authority (BPA), Samuel Kofi Ahiave Dzamesi, has announced that the BPA is the pioneer in combining solar and hydro energy sources in the West African sub-region.
During an appearance on GhanaWeb TV’s BizTech program hosted by Ernestina Serwaa Asante, the CEO of BPA highlighted that their hydroelectric dam generates 400 megawatts of electricity, contributing to the national grid.
“As we speak, we are now more interested in doing the solar hydro. And I want to tell you that at Bui Power Authority, we are the first company to actually hybridise solar and hydro together, Mr Dzamesi told the host of BizTech, Ernestina Serwaa Asante.
He added that “A lot of countries have not done that.
“We are about the first, if not in West Africa, in the whole of Africa. We are the first to be able to do that and that anybody who wants to learn about that thing should come to us…”
Discussing BPA’s expansion, Samuel Kofi Ahiave Dzamesi highlighted their achievements, including the installation of a 5-megawatt floating solar plant and a 50-megawatt land-based solar plant.
He also mentioned BPA’s plans to construct hydroelectric plants along the River Pra, River Ankobra, and River Tano.
He clarified that these dams, to be situated in the Western region, would be run-of-the-river dams rather than reservoir dams.
Sources have informed ESPN thatJadon Sancho’s future at Manchester United is at risk if he does not issue an apology following his public dispute with manager Erik ten Hag.
Sancho has been instructed to undergo solitary training sessions after publicly accusing Ten Hag of being dishonest regarding his omission from the squad in the 3-1 loss to Arsenal prior to the international break.
Discussions have taken place between the two parties at Carrington this week, but Sancho has declined to offer an apology. Consequently, there is no specified timeline for his return to the first-team squad.
ESPN’s sources have indicated that Ten Hag remains resolute in his requirement for an apology, both privately and in a public statement. If Sancho continues to refuse, it is increasingly likely that he will depart the club when the transfer window reopens in January.
A brief statement issued by United on Thursday read: “Jadon Sancho will remain on a personal training programme away from the first team group pending resolution of a squad discipline issue.”
Jadon Sancho has played just 76 minutes in the Premier League so far this season.
Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Ten Hag refused to go into specifics about the situation involving Sancho but did comment on his quest to set standards of discipline since his arrival at Old Trafford.
“There was no good culture before I entered last season, so to set good standards, that is what I did and it is my job to control the standards,” he said.
“Of course, it is never someone who only makes one mistake, it is a whole process before you come to a certain outcome about strict lines. If staff, players or whoever, there is a structure to cross lines, so you have to be strong.”
Sancho is following a precedent at Manchester United, where players have been requested to apologise to Ten Hag in the past.
An example of this is Cristiano Ronaldo, who faced suspension for a match last season after declining to substitute during a 2-0 victory against Tottenham in October.
Ronaldo was allowed back into the squad after expressing remorse for his actions, which included issuing a statement on social media.
Sancho has deleted the social media post in which he accused Ten Hag of making him a “scapegoat for a long time” but has not apologised for the outburst.
According to an ESPN source, part of Sancho’s discontent stems from his perception that he has been treated differently from other squad members. He is also frustrated by the fact that the club entertained offers for him in the last week of the transfer window, even though late interest from Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq did not materialize into a move.
Sancho’s future is further complicated by his substantial contract at Old Trafford.
The 23-year-old is under contract until 2026 and earns more than £300,000 per week, making it challenging to secure a transfer without Manchester United incurring a significant financial loss.
In a bid to strengthen Ghana’s energy sector to facilitate the country’s economic development, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, the Energy Minister, has led a Ghanaian delegation to the World Bank.
Accompanying the Energy Minister in the delegation are the Minister of State from the Ministry of Finance and key stakeholders from the power sector.
According to him, the engagement with the World Bank is about the World Bank’s support in the context of our Energy Sector Recovery Programme (ESRP).
Explaining how important the discussions with the World Bank are, the Energy Minister indicated that “it will afford us the opportunity for a comprehensive technical evaluation of our sector, under our continuous determination at keeping the lights on and the nation moving in the Ghanaian interest”.
Read his statement below
Our quest to ensure a robust energy sector that will support Ghana’s economic transformation continues unabated, with every ounce of energy we can muster.
In this regard, I am currently leading a delegation that includes the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and power sector players to engage the World Bank at its headquarters in Washington, DC, USA. Our discussions are essentially centred on the World Bank’s support in the context of our Energy Sector Recovery Programme (ESRP).
I have been making the point that we remain committed to strengthening the policy and regulatory framework of the energy sector, underpinned by efficient generation, transmission, and distribution value-chain with strong features such as competitive procurement, and a strategy for private sector participation, among others.
The next 3 days will certainly afford us the opportunity for a comprehensive technical evaluation of our sector, under our continuous determination to keep the lights on and the nation moving in Ghana’s interest.
Andreas Rettig (60), a seasoned sports director with a history at Bundesliga clubs, assumed the role of Executive Director at theGerman Football Association (DFB) on Friday.
He succeeded Oliver Bierhoff (55), who resigned following Germany’s unexpected early exit from the World Cup last year.
Germany, a four-time World Cup champion and the host of Euro 2024 next year, has been experiencing one of its worst runs in decades.
Their recent friendly international against France, which they won 2-1 on Tuesday, marked only their fifth victory in the last 18 matches. This victory came just two days after the dismissal of coach Hansi Flick.
Bierhoff had tendered his resignation in December, shortly after Germany’s second consecutive group stage exit at the World Cup.
Rettig, who will oversee the national team and the DFB academy, brings a wealth of experience from his roles at various Bundesliga clubs. He also served as the Chief Executive of the German Football League, responsible for the top two divisions, from 2013 to 2015.
“I look forward to the challenges,” Rettig said in a statement. “(The national teams) are shaped by great successes and currently have problems.
“I want to contribute towards making future successes possible again and to improve the direction of the DFB and the performance of its teams in every way.”
National Petroleum Authority (NPA)Dampare is Ghana’s finest IGP till date – Ahafo NPP Chairmanrecently held a three-day workshop on downstream compliance in Accra, with the aim of educating managers and supervisors from oil marketing companies (OMCs) on industry-related matters.
The primary objective of this workshop, organized by the NPA’s Business Development Department, was to enhance OMCs’ adherence to the regulatory requirements established by the authority, thereby helping them avoid potential sanctions.
Deputy Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mrs. Linda Asante, , inaugurated the workshop and emphasised the NPA’s commitment to providing industry players with the essential information necessary to meet operational standards.
Mrs. Linda Asante, Deputy Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA)
She assured participants that the NPA is always available to provide them with direct information and cautioned against involving third parties in such matters.
Mrs. Asante also encouraged OMCs to utilise the authority’s website as a valuable resource for accessing information.
Furthermore, Mrs. Asante acknowledged the challenges faced by the downstream sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, including fluctuations in exchange rates and rising petroleum product prices.
She highlighted the collaborative efforts between the NPA and industry stakeholders to make the sector more resilient and robust in response to these challenges.
Mr. Kwaku Agyemang-Duah, the Chief Executive Officer and Industry Coordinator of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies, emphasized the significance of compliance in ensuring the success and sustainability of businesses.
He commended theNPA for organising the workshop, recognizing it as an opportunity for industry players to exchange ideas and effectively address compliance-related challenges.
