In just two years, he has been bestowed with three Honorary Doctorate Degrees from top institutions.
The University of Cape Coast (UCC), a leading university in West Africa, is the latest to honor Napo with an Honorary Doctorate Degree.
A Special Congregation is scheduled for July 29, 2023, where the Minister of Energy and other esteemed individuals will be recognized.
This marks the third Honorary Doctorate Degree that Napo, also serving as the MP for Manhyia South, has received within a span of two years.
In May 2021, the University of Education, Winneba, acknowledged his unique and exemplary contributions with an Honorary Doctorate Degree.
Subsequently, in July 2021, the University of Professional Studies (UPS) in Accra also conferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree upon him.
Napo has played significant roles to help accelerate the effective development of the country. No wonder he has been a recipient of many enviable awards.
His positive contributions to the transformation of the country has especially been felt in the Energy and Education Ministries during the last six years.
During his tenure as the Education Minister, Napo worked tirelessly to introduce the NPP government’s flagship policy, the free Senior High School (SHS).
Napo, who is noted for his hard work, has written his name in the letters of gold at the Energy Ministry as he has worked to make the ministry vibrant, so far.
Aside theHonorary Doctorate Degrees, Napo has also been honoured by some reputable international organizations, including the United Nations (UN).
Meanwhile, the UCC would on Saturday, July 29, 2023, also honour other distinguished people such as Ehunabobrim Prah Agyensaim VI and Dr. K.K Sarpong.
Also to be honoured by the UCC are Prof. Harold Stwart Amonoo-Koufi, Dr. Deborah Rose, Dr. Yaw Adu-Agyei Gyamfi and Prof. Daniel A. Wubah.
Taiwo Oyedele, who was recently appointed as the chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee byPresident Bola Tinubu, has resigned from his position as a fiscal policy partner and Africa tax leader at PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
In a tweet on July 19, Oyedele announced his resignation from PwC, stating that he needs to focus on his new role assigned by President Tinubu.
President Tinubu approved the establishment of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms in early July and appointed Oyedele to lead the committee.
This move reflects Tinubu’s commitment to addressing the country’s challenges and implementing transformational reforms in fiscal policy and taxation, as stated by the presidency.
The primary objective of the committee, as the presidency has said, was to enhance the collection of revenue, ensure transparency in reporting as well as the promotion of the effective utilisation of tax and more revenue of boost the morale of the citizens, enhance heavy tax structure and encourage compliance voluntarily.
Oyedele’s statement reads in part: “This is to enable me to focus fully with undivided attention on my new role as the Chair of the Presidential Fiscal Policy & Tax Reform Committee, which I consider animportant national assignment.”
The Minister’s two house helps are currently facing charges before an Accra Circuit Court for supposedly stealing $1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghanaian cedis from her residence in Abelenkpe, Accra, in October 2023.
Yussif Sulemana, the Member of Parliament for Bole Bamboi, expressed his expectations in a Citi News interview. He stated that he believes President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo should immediately dismiss the Minister while investigations are carried out to verify the legitimacy of the money.
“I expect the President to fire her if it’s true that she kept that huge sum of money in her house. The question is where did she get the money? If indeed that money was legitimate, why did she put it in her house instead of the bank?
“If it is indeed established that this woman was keeping such sums of money, the first thing is for the President to sack her.
“That’s the only way we would know that the President is fighting corruption. The President must act and act immediately. The next stage is that any state institution interested in investigating her could do so freely,” Mr. Sulemana added.
The NDC MP for the Kumbungu constituency, Hamza Adam, also speaking to Citi News, said it would be shocking if it is indeed established that the said monies were kept in the house of the Minister.
“Every minister of state has the right to own properties provided those properties are owned on the back of legitimacy. The issue surrounding Cecilia Dapaah is something that has come up as a shock, especially when everyone knows that the country is in a crisis. It will be surprising if indeed such monies were kept by her in her house. We have to establish the truth of the matter.”
“We are expecting the proper legal action to be taken and an investigation triggered to establish where she got the money from. I think it is illegal to keep such money in your house,” the Kumbungu MP added.
Mauricio Pochettino is facing concerns at the center-back position due to Wesley Fofana’s latest long-term injury.
Fofana, who is 22 years old, previously missed four months of action last season due to a knee problem and is now expected to be sidelined for a significant part of the 2023-24 campaign after rupturing his ACL.
Despite inheriting a bloated squad at Stamford Bridge, the former Tottenham boss is now facing a shortage in defense with the recent departures of Kalidou Koulibaly and Cesar Azpilicueta.
As Chelsea prepares for a pre-season clash against Brighton in Philadelphia on Saturday night, Pochettino must carefully assess the defensive options currently available to him.
Thiago Silva
Thiago Silva may be approaching his 39th birthday but age is yet to slow down the Brazilian veteran.
As well as his commanding physical presence, the Champions League winner is a master in possession and ranked inside the Premier League’s top 10 centre-backs for touches, completed passes and passing accuracy last term.
With long-term skipper Azpilicueta having departed for Atletico Madrid earlier this month, Silva looks a leading contender to take the captain’s armband.
Levi Colwill Levi Colwill has yet to make his senior Chelsea debut but could yet end up being a key player for the Blues in 2023-24.
Having impressed on loan at Brighton last term, the 20-year-old then starred in England’s European Under-21 Championship win this summer, raising his stock significantly.
Reports suggest the Seagulls hope to sign the youngster permanently, meaning Pochettino must swiftly decide if Colwill is ready for a spot in his starting line-up.
Another man who may benefit from Fofana’s misfortune is Trevoh Chalobah.
The Cobham academy graduate, now 24, played 33 times in all competitions last season but was widely expected to leave West London this summer.
However, a combination of injuries and exits mean the former Ipswich and Huddersfield loanee is likely to stick at his boyhood club a little longer yet.
Trevoh Chalobah captained Chelsea during their 5-0 pre-season win over Wrexham
Plenty of new faces failed to hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge last season but Benoit Badiashile bucked the trend.
The two-cap France international, 22, caught the eye in his limited outings, with Chelsea only suffering defeat in two of the 11 games the ex-Monaco man featured in.
Though Badiashile is missing the pre-season tour of America due to a hamstring injury sustained last season, he looks certain to be a regular once back fit.
Marc Cucurella endured a challenging first season in the capital following his £62million arrival from Brighton.
Unable to replicate the fine performances he delivered for the Seagulls on a regular basis, the Spaniard still has to win over the Blues fanbase but insists he has no intention of leaving just yet.
Primarily a full-back, Cucurella is also adept at playing on the left of a back three if the Argentine opts for a change of shape.
Reece James had an injury-disrupted campaign at Chelsea last term If there is one player Chelsea can always rely on to perform, it is fan favourite Reece James.
The England ace, 23, is one of the first names on the team sheet and showcased his impressive versatility once again in 2022-23 despite being ravaged by knee and hamstring injuries.
Gifted with elite athleticism and technical ability, the Londoner can easily fill in centrally in a back four or five whenever required.
Former Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) Vitus Azeem, has urged three key state institutions to take an interest in a case involvingCecilia Dapaah, the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources.
The case, currently before an Accra Circuit Court, revolves around the theft of $1 million from the minister’s residence by two house helps identified only as Patience and Sarah.
According to details shared by The Chronicle, the house helps stole various sums of money from the minister’s house in Abelemkpe, including $1 million, €300,000, and several million Ghana cedis.
During a phone interview, Vitus Azeem, known for his anti-corruption efforts, stated that the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, and the Office of the Special Prosecutor should show interest in the matter.
He argued that the mandates of these institutions encompass the issues raised in the case, making it essential for their involvement.
“There are three institutions that come to my mind. The Office of the Special Prosecutor has talked about having a lifestyle audit so, it’s one of the institutions that should be doing something about this.
“Number two, the Ghana Revenue Authority should investigate it, if the person is doing business, or if some of the monies are gifts or disposal of assets, the GRA will need to find out if they paid tax on these things.
“And number three is the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice since the minister is a public officer, she is supposed to have declared her assets.
“So, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice should call for the asset declaration of the minister to look at what was the last time this lady declared her assets and did that declaration include these monies and the other assets we are talking about. If not, then that gives a problem for her,” he explained.
He wondered if the president would ever set a good example with his appointees.
“$1m + €300k and millions of GHS in a Ghanaian Minister’s home? Scandalous!! Even if genuinely acquired, why keep millions of hard currency at home? Will @NAkufoAddo ever set a good example for public office holders in his administration?” he tweeted.
However, Mbappe has remained adamant about staying in Paris.
While on Real Madrid’s pre-season tour in the USA, coach Carlo Ancelotti avoided discussing the Mbappe rumors, stating that he will only focus on his current players.
Mbappe is currently in a contract stand-off with Paris Saint-Germain, who are eager to avoid losing him for free next summer.
The club wants him to sign a new deal, but the World Cup winner has expressed his desire to run down his current contract.
Last summer, Madrid came close to signing Mbappe, but he ultimately opted to sign a new two-year deal with PSG.
Despite the extension, reports suggest that his relationship with club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi remains strained.
Al-Khelaifi has reportedly given Mbappe an ultimatum to sign a new one-year deal or be sold this summer.
Furthermore, there are rumors that the club might resort to extreme measures, such as benching Mbappe, in an attempt to push him towards an exit.
Ancelotti on Mbappe
According to Mario Cortegana, via Fabrizio Romano, the former PSG manager refused to speak about Mbappe in his interview. He instead said he will only talk about players on his team.
“Mbappé? I have never talked about playerswho are not at Real Madrid”. I can talk about Bellingham, Arda Güler, Fran García & Brahim, who has returned very well from Milan…Talking about players who are not here is not right.”
Al-Khelaifi did not meet Mbappe face-to-face when the French star returned to training last week.
He instead welcomed six new signings to the club – Milan Skriniar, Marco Asensio, Manuel Ugarte, Lucas Hernandez; Kang-in Lee, and Cher Ndour, per Sky Sports.
Madrid youngster Rodrygo said he hopes his club buys Mbappe because he will help them.
Kylian Mbappe Returns to PSG
Earlier, Sports Brief reported amid the prevailing uncertainty surrounding his future, Kylian Mbappe has joined his Paris Saint-Germain teammates for the first time this preseason.
The 2018 World Cup winner has recently been in disagreement with the PSG hierarchy, expressing his dissatisfaction through interviews and a formal letter.
While Mbappe has affirmed his intention to remain with the Ligue 1 champions for the upcoming season, rumours linking him with a potentialmove to Real Madrid persist.
Inter Miami is keen on reuniting the Uruguayan attacker with his former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi, who recently joined the MLS side.
Suarez himself is eager to make the move to the United States, as confirmed by the coach.
However, Gremio is hesitant to let go of Suarez, leading to a challenging situation for the club. The pursuit of Suarez by Inter Miami has become an issue as Gremio tries to handle the potential departure of their star player.
“Suarez is now a problem that is in the president’s hands. They are exchanging ideas. As a coach I have to focus on leading the team.” the coach said at a press conference. “It seems like a Mexican soap opera that should end now. Until August 2 I’m quiet, then we’ll see how we continue.”
He added: “Of course we want Suarez to stay. I can’t vouch for him. I know what he thinks and what the club thinks. For now, he has been talking to the board and the president.”
Suarez, 36, spent six years playing alongside Messi at Barcelona and won the Champions League along with four La Liga titles.
If he joins Inter Miami this summer, he will also team up with ex-Barca co-stars Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba at the Florida club.
The Uruguay international will hope to have his future resolved before long as he eyes a move to Miami.
The Nigerian government has announced its plans to alleviate the impact of soaring fuel prices, resulting from the president’s decision to end the petrol subsidy.
To address the rising cost of living, the government will begin distributing grains and fertilizers from the coming week.
The increased expenses on food, transportation, and other services have raised concerns among citizens.
Moreover, the government is considering proposals to increase civil service salaries, aiming to ease the burden on public servants.
As frustrations grow over the cost of living, President Bola Tinubu, who has been in office for nearly two months, is keen on being perceived as actively addressing the crisis.
Among other measures, the administration intends to provide financial assistance to impoverished families.
However, before implementing this cash distribution program, the government aims to establish a new registry to determine the eligibility of beneficiaries.
There are also proposals to deploy electric buses and cars as well as vehicles powered by compressed natural gas to reduce the cost of transportation.
Labour unions have criticised the removal of the fuel subsidy without measures to mitigate rising prices.
Last month, the unions and the government agreed on an eight-week timeline to raise the minimum wage forgovernment workers.
According to Bild, Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and forward Thomas Muller are not pleased with the club’s pursuit of Walker.
The 33-year-old right-back has expressed his desire to leave City and join the Bavarian side.
Bayern Munich is looking to secure Walker on a two-year contract with an option for a third, which contradicts the club’s usual policy of refraining from offering long-term deals to players over the age of 30.
This deviation from the policy has caused frustration and resentment among Neuer and Muller.
Neuer, 37, and 33-year-old Muller wanted long-term contracts, too, but the former only saw his deal extended until 2024 while Muller was tied to the club until 2025.
Bayern risk upsetting a few of their players by pursuing Walker on a longer deal over their already established stars.
The England international will hope to line up with theGerman side when they take on City in a pre-season friendly on July 26.
Ex-Asante Kotoko midfielder, Emmanuel Sarkodie, has officially announced his upcoming transfer to Nations FC in preparation for the new season.
The 23-year-old has completed his medical assessment on Thursday and is set to sign a two-year contract with the Ghana Premier League debutants.
Sarkodie will be joining Nations FC as a free agent, having recently concluded his tenure with lower-tier club Kenpong Football Academy.
The club based in Kumasi is expected to make a formal announcement regarding the midfielder’s acquisition in the coming days.
“I’m done with my medicals, was successful and I will soon sign my contract with Nations FC. Just waiting for officials,” he told Nkratasem.
He becomes the club’s first signing ahead of the 2023/24 Ghana Premier League campaign.
Nations FC recently appointed Bechem United gaffer Kassim Mingle as they club’s new coach as the Kumasi-based side continue to boost their team ahead of their first topflight season.
Member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council, Dr. Randy Abbey, has dismissed claims suggesting that the GFA has any intention of dismissing Black Stars coach Chris Hughton.
The response came after Randy Abbey made public remarks about Hughton’s need to improve, as the team has managed only one win in three games since his appointment.
George Amoako, another GFA member, expressed his dissatisfaction with Hughton’s performance, stating that the team has not been impressive.
Meanwhile, team manager Ameenu Shardow acknowledged Hughton’s current role but mentioned that Ghana might have fared better under Otto Addo’s leadership.
However, Dr. Randy Abbey refuted any interpretation that the GFA is seeking Hughton’s removal, affirming that such claims are baseless.
He clarified that the GFA Executive Council has not discussed Hughton’s position as an agenda item.
“There is an unwarranted impression that there is a gang up against Chris Hughton,” he told Accra-based Original FM.
“I have only watched one of Chris Hughton’s games, but from what I gather from commentary, everyone, including himself, agrees we need to improve.”
“The Ghana Football Association Executive Council has not discussed Chris Hughton as an agenda,” Abbey added, refuting claims that the GFA has been planning to replace Hughton.
Chris Hughton took up the coaching role in February and has managed only one win and two goals scored in three games. Ghana’s match against the Central African Republic will determine the teams qualificationfor the AFCON in Ivory Coast next year.
President of the Cameroonian Football Federation, Samuel Eto’o, has been embroiled in a match-fixing scandal after an audio recording emerged, allegedly capturing him discussing plans to manipulate a match in favor of a particular club.
The leaked audio, widely circulated on Cameroonian social media, features the three-time African Footballer of the Year allegedly attempting to influence the outcome of a qualification battle in favor of Victoria United.
In the conversation, which reportedly took place in January 2023, Eto’o can be heard speaking with the president of Victoria United, a team that recently earned promotion from Cameroon’s second division.
He is heard saying, “Opopo must go up to the first division. That is our goal. It’s our Federation.”
“Stay calm, we will grant you the three points and we suspend the referee. But let me at least go back to Cameroon. He arrived on the 3rd (January) at night. So we’ll see you in the office on the 4th. . . .
According to a report by a Cameroonian football news outlet “Victoria United won the second level of Cameroon in April, earning promotion.
“And that is the second promotion in three years, as in 2020, when Eto’o was in charge, they went from third to second”.
Following the emergence of the audio on social media, football fans have condemned Samuel Eto’o.
Calls have heightened for his resignation with attacks directed his way owing to what many described as an attempt to influence the outcome of football.
Leaked footage shows Samuel Eto’o speaking to the president of Victoria United, stating:
” Our club (Victoria) needs to go up to the top-flight, that’s our goal. We can work with the president of the referees… we will penalize the referee.”pic.twitter.com/CfHqKXI1FB— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) July 21, 2023
The medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is contemplating the suspension of its crucial operations in theSudanese capital, Khartoum, due to a string of incidents where its personnel have been deliberately targeted.
The most recent incident occurred on Thursday when a convoy, transporting essential medical supplies to the Turkish Hospital in the southern part of the capital, was intercepted by a group of armed individuals, as reported by MSF in a press release.
“After arguing about the reasons for MSF’s presence, the armed men then aggressively assaulted our team, physically beating and whipping them, as well as detaining the driver of one of our vehicles.”
The life of the driver was then threatened and the vehicle was stolen.
The charity has said that its work at the Turkish Hospital is in “serious jeopardy” without safety guarantees.
“In order to save people’s lives, the lives of our staff who are there to carry out this life saving work must not be put at risk.
“If an incident like this happens again, and if our ability to move supplies continues to be obstructed, then, regrettably, our presence in the Turkish Hospital will soon become untenable,” Christophe Garnier, MSF’s emergencies manager for Sudan, said.
The hospital is only one of two operating in southern Khartoum, both of which MSF supports, the charity says.
There are very few other international charities working in the country.
But now “the organisation is beginning to think that its ongoing support may soon no longer be possible”.
As the three-month conflict between the army and a paramilitary force continues, the few remainingmedical facilities in Khartoum are struggling to treat wounded patients.
MSF says it has treated over 1,600 war-wounded patients in the capital since April.
Switzerland got off to a strong start in Group A with a 2-0 victory overWorld Cup newcomers, the Philippines, in Dunedin.
Ramona Bachmann and Seraina Piubel scored on either side of the halftime break to secure the win for Inka Grings’ team.
The Swiss team made a triumphant return to the World Cup finals after missing the 2019 tournament, last participating in 2015.
With three points, they now share the top position in Group A with New Zealand, who defeated Norway 1-0. Switzerland’s next match in the group will be against Norway on Tuesday.
It’s worth noting that Alen Stajcic’s Philippines team has made history by becoming the country’s first team to qualify for a men’s or women’s World Cup finals.
And in the 16th minute, Guillou thought she had scored an historic goal when she latched on to a long ball, took it beyond goalkeeper Gaelle Thalmann and fired in – but the strike was disallowed by the VAR.
Having survived that scare,Switzerland – ranked 26 places higher than their opponents at 20th in the world – registered a number of attempts on goal, with the best opportunity seeing Ana Maria Crnogorcevic shoot over from close range in the 37th minute.
Soon after, Coumba Sow went down in the Philippines box under a challenge from Jessika Cowart.
Following another VAR intervention, with referee Vincentia Amedome watching the incident back on the pitchside monitor, a penalty was awarded and Bachmann dispatched it in composed fashion past Olivia McDaniel.
The advantage was then doubled 19 minutes into the second half when McDaniel parried a Crnogorcevic shot and Sow follow-up but could not prevent Piubel firing in the loose ball.
As the Red Devils head into the 2023-24 season, Bruno Fernandes has been appointed as the new permanent skipper, taking over from Maguire, who held the captaincy previously.
With Ten Hag’s move to remove the armband from the world’s most expensive defender, it appears that Maguire’s future at Old Trafford is uncertain.
Varane appreciates the manager’s assertiveness, as it demonstrates his clear authority and leadership in the team.
World Cup winner Varane has told ESPN: “He wants a team with character and he’s the leader so he has to show it himself. He’s not scared to take these decisions and take that responsibility. That is what we expect from the manager. He did it so I think, with things like this, you show by example.
He knows exactly what he wants. He’s shown that determination and from the first day we’ve known exactly what we’ve had to do and where he wants to go. It’s all clear for the players and for the team and we have a good connection with the manager.”
Fernandes is one of several leaders in the United camp, with Varane also sitting in that talent pool alongside the likes of Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez.
The Frenchman added on the Red Devils requiring players to step up all over the field: “We need players with character and personality.
If you want to win big trophies you need that kind of character. The difference between a good team and a top team is sometimes something mental. We need to believe, we need determination and the character of the players is something important.”
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have successfully achieved their goal of hosting Wales, as the national team is scheduled to play against Gibraltar at Wrexham.
This match will mark the Dragons’ return to the historic world’s oldest international ground, which is still in use, after a gap of over four years since their last friendly game in March 2019.
On that occasion, Wales secured a 1-0 victory against Trinidad & Tobago, with Ben Woodburn scoring the winning goal.
The SToK Cae Ras stadium, which first hosted an international match between Wales and Scotland on 5th March 1877, is undergoing significant developments.
An impressive new 5,500 stand, complete with hospitality facilities, is currently being constructed at the derelict Kop end of the stadium.
With these improvements underway, the Football Association of Wales may consider holding more international matches at the home ground of the League Two side.
Wrexham are also keen to be a part of the bid to host the 2026 UEFA U19 Euro finals as by that time the £17 million ($25m) stadium renovation work will be completed.
“We’re delighted to be able to welcome Cymru’s men’s first team back to the STōK Cae Ras for the first time since the Club’s takeover.
Rob and Ryan have been clear in the mission statement that they wish to return international football to the world’s oldest international football stadium.
We look forward to welcoming the Red Wall to the STōK Cae Ras in October, for what promises to be a brilliant atmosphere,” stated Wrexham CEO Fleur Robinson.
Darfur governor and former rebel leader Minni Arko Minnawi has once again called on civilians in the region to take up arms for self-defense, citing the necessity of the current situation according to Al Arabiya.
He claims that his administration is actively working to mediate between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the army to halt the ongoing conflict in Darfur, which has persisted for four months.
These repeated statements from Mr. Minnawi have raised concerns about the potential escalation of ethnic tensions and the risk of Darfur plunging into a full-fledged civil war.
Additionally, other parts of Sudan, including the capital Khartoum, have reported intense fighting between the army and the RSF.
Eyewitnesses in Khartoum said the army carried out the “heaviest” airstrikes so far against RSF positions in several areas.
The army said it killed 18 RSF fighters in clashes in Omdurman and Khartoum.
Renewed clashes were also reported in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state, after a lull in fighting.
The fighting has persisted despite continuing indirect talks between the army and RSF representatives in theSaudi city of Jeddah.
Guinness World Records (GWR) is encouraging more Africans to emulate Nigerians in their pursuit of breaking records.
However, they emphasize the importance of registering their attempts and adhering to the rules.
Nigeria has witnessed a surge in record-breaking endeavors, sparked by chef Hilda Baci’s four-day cook-a-thon, which was officially recognized by GWR.
According to GWR’s editor-in-chief, Craig Glenday, his organization has received a staggering 1,572 applications from Nigerians for record attempts since chef Hilda’s feat gained widespread attention.
People have been crying non-stop, massaging non-stop and frying huge amounts of snails, among other things – all in an effort to get recognition.
“I really like it when people are passionate about record-breaking,” Mr Glenday said.
“We definitely want to see more people from Africa generally setting records – it’s a good thing.”
But he added that GWR wants to be notified first so they can assess the record attempt and see if it is measurable and establish the rules.
Mr Glenday said 95% of record attempts get rejected.
Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga cites a “bad flu” as the reason for his absence from the three-day street protests, which he had initiated to protest against the rising cost of living and tax hikes.
“It is not a must that opposition leaders have to be seen on the streets,” Mr Odinga told a Kenyan TV station about the protests that are due to end today.
The veteran politician, who lost disputed presidential elections last year, said “game-changing” demonstrations belonged to the people and were not his alone.
He denied suggestions his absence was a ploy to do a deal with President William Ruto, adding he was not seeking to be a part of the government.
“We have not, and we will not seek a ‘handshake arrangement’,” the opposition leader said referring to the name for the deal he made with the previous President, Uhuru Kenyatta. President Ruto remains firm in his stance, asserting that he will not enter into any negotiations with Mr. Odinga to address the current deadlock.
Last Thursday, he commended the police’s response to the protests after the police chief expressed concerns about the demonstrations posing a threat to national security.
Riot officers were deployed across the country in response.
However, the security forces’ handling of the protesters has drawn criticism, resulting in multiple fatalities.
This week’s anti-government protests have seen significantly lower participation compared to previous demonstrations.
On Wednesday and Thursday, many individuals chose to stay at home, apprehensive of potential violence.
Nonetheless, as Friday dawns, there are signs of a return to normalcy, with schools and businesses reopening.
The opposition’s three designated meeting points for Friday’s protests, including one in Nairobi’s central business district, seem deserted with little or no activity.
With Andre Iniesta being tipped to join former Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, boss Tata Martino shared a transfer update.
The 2010 World Cup winner remains a free agent after ending his spell with Vissel Kobe in Japan. Despite being 39, he is being linked with a move to Inter Miami on a two-year contract.
Martino previously worked with Iniesta for a year at Barcelona when he was in charge of the Spanish side in the 2013-14 season.
When the Herons’ coach was quizzed about the probability of the move, Martino chose to keep his cards close to his chest.
“Iniesta is one of the best players and best people I have ever coached. Nothing more to say,” he told reporters.
Inter Miami are assembling a star-studded squad this season with seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi the pick of those deals.
They have also added Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba to the ranks and are now vying for the services of Luis Suarez, who is currently in Brazil with Gremio, but has seen a switch to the United States speculated on.
If Iniesta indeed makes the move to Florida then he would be counted as the third ‘franchise’ star at DRV PNK Stadium along with Messi and Busquets.
Inter Miami are currently at the bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference and are without a win in 11 matches.
They will hope that these marquee additions can turn around their fortunes.
However, their next fixture is against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cupwhere Messi and Busquets are expected to make their debuts.
The league is scheduled to kick off on the weekend of Friday, September 15, and run until Monday, September 18, 2023, with matches taking place across all nine Premier League venues.
Ahead of the new season, the GFA has mandated a rest period for all clubs, which will begin on June 19 and last until July 28, 2023.
During this time, clubs are expected to give their players a much-needed break to recharge ahead of the intense competition that awaits them.
The Registration window for the 2023/24 season commenced on June 20, with all stakeholders, including clubs and players, urged to adhere to the stipulated timeline.
Clubs will have until September 1, 2023, to finalize their squads for the upcoming campaign.
Pre-season preparations will follow the mandatory rest period, starting from July 29 and concluding on September 14, 2023.
A highlight of the calendar will be the much-anticipated Champion of Champions match, scheduled to take place on September 3rd.
The match will see the reigningPremier League champions, Medeama SC, face off against the winners of the FA Cup, Dreams FC.
The 2023-24 football season plan has received approval from the Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association.
Andre Onana has taken to Instagram to bid a heartfelt farewell to Inter fans as he approaches a potential €55 million (£48m/$61m) transfer to Manchester United.
The goalkeeper’s move to United is being facilitated by Erik ten Hag’s desire to reunite with his former Ajax player at Old Trafford.
In his touching message, Onana expresses gratitude and fondness for his time with the Serie A club as he prepares for the new chapter in his career.
Onana wrote: “I never imagined that a farewell would be so hard. A year ago I became a Nerazzurro, many people told me that this club and this city had something special. Now I can confirm it.
“In my first days as a Nerazzurro I realised that this is a family, that being Interisti is a way of understanding life.
“I fell in love with San Siro, la Curva and the city. Now the circumstances are right for me to start a new journey in Manchester. I do it with great enthusiasm, but knowing that I will miss you. Eternal gratitude to all the Interisti. You make this club great.
“Maybe one day our paths will cross again, but now it’s time to face new challenges and cheer you on from afar. Players come and go, but the club always remains, and Inter is above everything and everyone.”
Onana has already undergone a medical at Carrington and is poised to link up with the squad on their tour of the United States once the formalities are completed.
After enjoying his holidays in Lagos,Victor Osimhen, the Super Eagles striker, has returned to Napoli, where he was warmly welcomed by the home fans on Tuesday evening, July 18.
During the previous Italian league season, Osimhen left an indelible mark, scoring 26 goals and securing the Serie A golden boot, contributing significantly to Napoli’s Scudetto victory after 33 years.
His exceptional performances have endeared him to the fans and also attracted interest from top clubs across Europe’s major leagues, with Chelsea, Manchester United, and Paris Saint-Germain reportedly among those eyeing the Nigerian star as a potential transfer target.
As evident in a video circulating on Twitter and reported by Soccernet, Osimhen’s return to Napoli was met with an enthusiastic and rapturous welcome from the fans at the home ground.
Despite the ongoing speculation surrounding his future at the club, the warm reception from the Napoli fans showcased their admiration and appreciation for the striker’s talents, leaving Osimhen visibly delighted by the overwhelming show of support.
Napoli set for preseason friendlies
Meanwhile, Napoli have lined up friendlies against SPAL, Frosinone Calcio, and Anaune Val di Non this summer, and Osimhen is expected to be a key feature.
The Italian club’s new head coach, Rudi Garcia, has also made it clear that he wants the Nigerian striker to be part of his team for the coming season.
Lerry wants Osimhen in England
Earlier, Sports Brief had reported on the close friend of the Napoli star, Asiwaju Lerry, urging Osimhen to join the EPL amid continued speculation over his club football future.
However, the social media influencer recently slammed Man United for allowing veteran goalkeeper, David De Gea, toleave Old Trafford and told his friend to avoid the Red Devils.
The Spanish keeper’s contract expired at the end of the 2023/23 season and he left United as a free agent, with United reportedly searching for a new force between the sticks.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) appears to have changed its stance on Kylian Mbappe’s future and is now determined to retain the French forward, despite his initial desire to leave the club.
Mbappe’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, and PSG had given him until July 31st to either extend his contract or be sold during the summer transfer window.
According to reports from Football Transfers, PSG is now prepared to offer Mbappe a lucrative “mega contract,” which has already received approval from the Emir of Qatar, who oversees the club’s owners, QSI.
This new contract is said to be worth an astonishing €1 billion and would effectively tie Mbappe to PSG for the long term, with a proposed duration of 10 or 11 years.
Last season, Mbappe had already signed a substantial deal with PSG, ensuring him an annual gross salary of €70 million, along with significant bonus payments, including an €80 million bonus payment scheduled for this summer.
With this new development, PSG is ready to face competition from Real Madrid, who have been keen on acquiring Mbappe.
The club’s determination to keep the talented forward showcases their commitment to building a formidable team andsecuring Mbappe’s services for the foreseeable future.
Mbappe included in PSG preseason squad
Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe has been included in Paris Saint-Germain’s preseason squad despite the uncertainties surrounding the Frenchman’s future at the club, Get Football reports.
The club’s new summer signings Manuel Ugarte, Marco Asensio, Lee Kang-in, Lucas Hernandez, Cher Ndour and Milan Skriniar have also been included in the squad while Neymar misses out.
PSG will face newly-promoted Ligue 1 side Le Havre at their brand-new Campus training centre at Poissy this Friday for their first pre-season game under new manager Luis Enrique.
The 2018 World Cup winner has recently been in disagreement with the PSG hierarchy, expressing his dissatisfaction through interviews and a formal letter.
While Mbappe has affirmed his intention to remain with the Ligue 1 champions for the upcoming season, rumours linking him with a potential move to Real Madrid persist.
Cucurella accepts that the Blues endured a difficult season, in which the club finished 12th in the Premier League, and he has confirmed his desire to stay under new manager Mauricio Pochettino while urging former Brighton team-mate Caicedo to join him.
Chelsea have seen a £70m ($90m) bid for the midfielder rejected this week.
Per the London Evening Standard, Cucurella said: “Yes, for sure I want to stay at Chelsea. I am very happy here.
“It wasn’t an easy season and it was difficult for all the players, we needed time to adapt. You arrive at a big club, you need time to adapt, the results don’t arrive, you feel more pressure and, of course, we are footballer players but we are normal people as well. “We have problems in our personal lives and people need to understand this as well. This is part of life and these things can improve in the future. I am very happy, I have a lot of energy and I am happy to stay here and do my best for this team and club.”
Asked about Caicedo, he said: “I’ve read in the media that he wants to come here a lot of times!“I have a good relationship with him. He is a top player and if he came here I think we would have a top midfielder for a long time.”
Cucurella endured a tough season along with Chelsea, as he was limited to 21 starts in the top-flight and missed the final eight games of the campaign through injury.
Chelsea face Brighton on Sunday in their next pre-season friendly, having beaten Wrexham 5-0 this week.
President of the World Kickboxing and Karate Do Union (WKU) Mr. Klaus Nonnemacher, on Tuesday, paid a productive visit to the office of Professor Peter Twumasi, the Director General of the National Sports Authority, at the Accra Sports Stadium.
During their meeting, they engaged in discussions on various important matters aimed at enhancing combat and martial art sports in Ghana.
One of the key areas of focus was to establish collaborations that would facilitate periodic refresher courses for athletes, coaches, and referees.
This initiative aims to improve the skills and knowledge of those involved in these sports, ultimately raising the overall standard of competition in the country.
By facilitating the supply of necessary equipment, the aim is to bolster the development and growth of kickboxing and karate in Ghana.
Mr. Klaus Nonnemacher, who is a German national and is currently in Ghana to organize the African Open Tournament, expressed his admiration for the level of participation and the standard of competition displayed at the tournament, which was held at the Korean Sports Complex in Tema.
It was agreed during the meeting that the African Open Tournament will now become an annual event held in Accra, Ghana.
The National Sports Authority pledged its support for the tournament, recognizing its significance in promoting kickboxing and karate in the region and providing a platform for talented athletes to shine.
Overall, the meeting between Mr. Klaus Nonnemacher and Professor Peter Twumasi emphasized the commitment to developing combat and martial art sports in Ghana, fostering talent, and elevating the nation’s presence in the international sports arena.
Five sports disciplines including Taekwondo,Karate-Do, Judo, Kickboxing, and MMA competed at the event where outstanding athletes were rewarded with medals, trophies and equipment.
Professor Twumasi congratulated Steavano Kojo Tuekpe, President of WKU Ghana for coming up with the idea to support Ghanaian athletes.
He urged other top sportsmen and women to remember their roots and give back to where they come from.
Renowned boxing legend, Floyd Mayweather, is currently on an African tour, making stops in various cities across the continent.
During this tour, Mayweather aims to promote and support local boxers under his brand, The Money Team.
One of the highlights of his tour was his recent visit to Zimbabwe, where he was accompanied by his entire entourage.
The visit garnered significant attention and excitement among boxing enthusiasts and fans in the country.
However, it was Mayweather’s extravagant visit to South Africa that truly made headlines.
During his time there, he made an unprecedented move by practically buying out the entire Gucci store.
This extraordinary act was captured in a viral video on Twitter, showing Mayweather leaving the store surrounded by a substantial security detail, a sight rarely seen even for celebrities.
What makes this incident even more remarkable is the reason behind it.Mayweather’s visit to the Gucci store in South Africa was not merely a display of lavish spending; it was driven by his desire to support and uplift the local community.
By making such an extravagant purchase, he sought to draw attention to the store, encourage sales, and ultimately contribute to the economy and livelihoods of the people in the region.
Through his African tour, Mayweather is not only showcasing his star power but also using his influence to make a positive impact on the lives of aspiring boxers and the communities he visits.
His commitment to supporting local talent and businesses has left a lasting impression on fans and locals alike, solidifying his reputation as more than just a boxing legend but also a philanthropic figure.
According to local reports, as cited by Marca, the 46-year-old departed the store after splurging a staggering amount on his shopping spree – believed to exceed $7 million.
The particular video in question was filmed at a Gucci store situated in Sandton City, Johannesburg.
Mayweather to empower African youths
Meanwhile, beyond the glitz and glamour, Harare reports that Mayweather’s Motherland Tour carries a profound purpose of empowering the youth and inspiring the next generation.
The flamboyant retired boxer intends to spearhead projects aimed at generating job opportunities for young people across Africa, recognising their potential and capacity for greatness.
Mayweather also reportedly plans to make undisclosed donations to both Zimbabwe and South Africa, demonstrating his commitment to giving back to local communities.
Mayweather spotted in Sandton City
It’s not every day that you bump into a superstar while shopping in a mall, yet this was the case for boxing fans who visited Sandton City recently.
Earlier, Sports Brief reported on Mayweather touching down in Harare, Zimbabwe, commencing his highly anticipated three-day visit to the African nation.
Money, who was invited to the country by prominent businessman and boxing enthusiast, Scott Sakupwanya, arrived in his private jet worth a cool $50 million.
Wayne Rooney has high expectations for Declan Rice, as he believes the England international must step up as a “leader” following his record-breaking transfer fee of £105m ($137m) from West Ham to Arsenal.
Rice showcased his talent in Arsenal’s 5-0 victory against the MLS All-Stars during their first friendly match in the United States.
Rooney, who was coaching the DC United team, was impressed by Rice’s performance and expressed his belief that the midfielder will become a “huge player” for Arsenal at the Emirates.
“I think could be the one who could… well, he has to be the leader now, really, I think of that Arsenal team,” he told the Press Association.
“I saw Frank Lampard saying he felt Declan could be the Chelsea captain for the next 10 years if he went there.
“I think he can do that [for Arsenal] and he seems to have that character and I believe he will be a huge player for Arsenal,” he added.
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has also put his weight behind Rice and insisted that Arsenal have the potential to win the 2023-24 Premier League after landing the midfielder.
The Gunners have revamped their squad and have also made major signings such as Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber as well as the 24-year-old.
As per German media reports, a representative from the Roof agency, responsible for handling Mane’s affairs, recently met with Al Nassr’s sporting director, Goran Vucevic, at a hotel in Portugal to explore the possibility of the transfer.
Mane, aged 31, made the switch from Liverpool to Bayern last summer for a fee of $45 million, signing a contract until 2025.
However, his first season with the German champions was somewhat inconsistent, as he managed to score only seven goals in 25 Bundesliga appearances.
Unfortunately, the Senegalese forward suffered a leg injury in November, causing him to miss both the World Cup in Qatar and some of Bayern’s games.
Al Nassr has been active in the transfer market, securing signings such as Marcelo Brozovic from Inter Milan and Seko Fofana from Lens.
The club is also aiming to finalize a deal for Manchester United’s full-back, Alex Telles.
Co-hosts Australia secured a well-deserved 1-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland in their opening match of theWomen’s World Cup in Sydney.
Stephanie Catley scored from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute, giving the Matildas a perfect start to the tournament.
The absence of star player Sam Kerr, who was injured, was felt by Australia in the goalless first half.
The match showed only glimpses of the Matildas’ dominance as they faced some resistance from Ireland.
Hayley Raso had the hosts’ first significant chance, but her header went wide. On the other hand, Ireland struggled to create opportunities and failed to register a shot on target in the first half.
However, the game’s pace changed dramatically in the second half. Shortly after the break, Raso was fouled in the box, leading to a clear penalty for Australia.
The thrilling encounter unfolded in front of a record-breaking crowd, and the Matildas got off to a strong start in their pursuit of a successful World Cup campaign.
Experienced full-back Catley stepped up and smashed the ball into the top corner, for what was only her third international goal in 55 appearances.
The visitors’ best chances to equalise came through set pieces, with Mackenzie Arnold regularly being tested from corners.
However, the Aussie goalkeeper was equal to them every time.
Australia’s players celebrate the only goal of the game AFP
Katrina Gorry missed a late chance to put Ireland out of sight, but more staunch defending from the hosts was enough to them to see out the game 1-0, and duly secure their seventh clean sheet in nine games.
For their part, Ireland were by no means disgraced, but it gets no easier from here, with an imminent matchup against Canada – a nation that has survived the group stage in each of the previous two WWC editions.
Bruno Fernandes has been appointed as the permanent captain of Manchester United, taking over the role just days after Harry Maguire was removed from the position.
The club has officially announced that Bruno Fernandes will lead the team as captain for the upcoming season.
Throughout last season, the midfielder took on the responsibility of wearing the armband on many occasions, as Harry Maguire faced challenges and eventually lost his place in the starting lineup.
Last week,Maguire disclosed that he had been informed by manager Erik ten Hag that he would no longer be the captain of the club.
Former member of the disbandedAsante Kotoko management team, Patrick Osei Agyemang, has humbly appealed to the club’s patron, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
During his passionate commentary on the Fire for Fire show, Songo stated that Otumfuo has full authority to make any decision concerning Asante Kotoko.
Songo even playfully suggested that if Otumfuo desires, he could exchange his royal stool for the football pitch.
“Otumfuo, take your team and do whatever you wish with it. Nana, in all respect, if you want to play the game, you can choose to do that. Nana, in all respect, if you to turn yourself into a spectator, you can do that.
“You can keep the team and go public with it whenever you want to. If you don’t want to play the league again …. When I’m called to duty, I will do it. Otumfuo has taken his team and I’m genuinely happy,” he said.
Songo’s effusions come on the back of the dissolution of the management and board committees of the club by Otumfuo Osei Tutu.
The patron of Asante Kotoko opted against extending the mandate of the board after their three-year term expired.
Rumors circling in the media space however indicate that Kwame Kyei who is the board chair will retain his seat.
Per a report by Nhyira FM, Kwame Kyei is likely to retain his position as the executive board chairman of the club.
Kwame Kyei, per the report, favors Frederick Acheampong who is a member of the Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association as the Chief Executive Officer of the club.
It is also believed that former Ghana coach, Kwasi Appiah will be the next head coach of the club as he has already held talks with Otumfuo on the move.
Despite not being his appointment, Kwame Kyei is believed to be open to the appointment of Kwasi Appiah and has communicated that to Manhyia.
Another member of the old hierarchy who is likely to retain her role is Akosua Dentaa Amonteng as the International Relations Manager of the club.
Though there has been no mention of the number of appointees, it is believed that it will take the same shape as the previous one.
The 12-member board of Asante Kotoko which was constituted by the Manhyia Palace in May 2020 has ended its three-year mandate, winning only the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League during their tenure.
The board comprised Dr. Kwame Kyei, as Board Chairman; Mr. Jude Arthur- Vice Chairman, Kwadwo Boateng Gyamfi, Kwasi Osei Ofori, Kwamena Mensah, Miss Evelyn Nsiah Asare, Mr. Kofi Amoah Abban, Mr Martin Osei Kwaku Brobbey.
The rest are; Mr. James Osei Brown, Mr. Kofi Amoah Abban, MD of Rickworld Oil Group, Mr. Martin Osei Kwaku Brobbey, CEO of Lexta Ghana Limited, Mr. James Osei Brown, CEO of Joshob Construction Company, Nana Ankobeahene of Asanteman – Baffour Kwame Kusi, Alhaji Lamin and Joseph Yaw Adu.
The Asante Kotoko management led by Nana Yaw Amponsah of which Akosua Dentaa Amoateng was also dissolved.
Joao Felix has seen the plaque bearing his name at Wanda Metropolitano vandalised following his Barcelona “dream” transfer admission.
The Portugal international forward has incurred the wrath of Rojiblancos supporters after telling Fabrizo Romano: “I’d love to play for Barca.
” Barcelona has always been my first choice and I’d love to join Barca. It was always my dream since I was a kid. If it happens, it will be a dream come true for me.”
Those words have not gone down well in the Spanish capital, with Atletico followers making their feelings clear by striking a crossthrough Felix’s name outside their stadium.
They have also etched the words “going/go to Barca” and “wh*re” around a commemorative plaque.
Plaque
Any player that makes more than 100 appearances for Atletico receives a plaque. Felix is not the first to see his vandalised, with Antoine Griezmann receiving similar treatment following his 2019 transfer to Barcelona, while Thibaut Courtois angered supporters of his former club when saying that current employers Real Madrid are the bigger team.
It remains to be seen whether Felix gets his dream move to Barcelona, with financial struggles at Camp Nou making it difficult for them to put deals in place.
The 23-year-old, who has taken in 131 appearances for Atletico, spent the second-half of the 2022-23 campaign on loan at Premier League giants Chelsea.
Lionel Messi is gearing up to make his MLS debut for Inter Miami on Friday, July 21, in an eagerly awaited match against Mexican team Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup.
Tickets for this highly anticipated game have already been released, with some prices soaring as high as $110,000, and the average ticket cost being $487.
The football legend, a seven-time World Player of the Year, recently signed a two-year deal with Inter Miami after leaving Paris Saint-Germain in France.
It is reported that he will earn a staggering $50 to $60 million annually while playing for the club.
Interestingly, these ticket prices are nearly twice the amount charged for last year’s League Cup match between Inter Miami and FC Barcelona.
The excitement surrounding Messi’s arrival at the DRV PNK Stadium was evident as thousands of enthusiastic Inter Miami CF fans gathered on Sunday, July 16, for the grand unveiling of the Argentine star, who will proudly wear jersey No.10 for the Herons.
At the unveiling, an elated Messi pledged to contribute to the club’s project.
“I’m very excited to start this next step in my career with Inter Miami and in the United States,” Messi noted at his unveiling.
“This is a fantastic opportunity and together we will continue to build this beautiful project. The idea is to work together to achieve the objectives we set, and I’m very eager to start helping here in my new home”, he said.
Messi, 36, will reunite with Sergio Busquets who he played together with at Barcelona.
Australia captain and forward, Sam Kerr, suffered a setback as she was ruled out of two games in the Women’s World Cup, including the opening match against Ireland on Thursday. The 29-year-old sustained a calf injury during a training session a day prior to the announcement.
Kerr’s absence is a significant blow for Tony Gustavsson’s 10th-ranked Matildas, as they are considered strong contenders to win their home tournament. The Chelsea striker holds the record for the all-time leading goalscorer for her country, having netted an impressive 63 goals.
“I wanted to share this with everyone so there is no distraction from us doing what we came here to achieve,” Kerr posted on Instagram barely an hour before kick-off.
“Of course I would have loved to have been out there tonight but I can’t wait to be a part of this amazing journey which starts now.”
The team said she would be re-assessed by the medical team after Australia’s second group stage match on July 27th against Nigeria.
Australia enters the tournament with strong momentum, securing victories in nine out of their last ten games.
Notably, they achieved a remarkable 1-0 win over France in a recent friendly and also put an end to England’s 30-game unbeaten streak with a 2-0 victory in April.
However, there were some injury concerns surrounding Sam Kerr after the France game. She was seen with an ice pack on her hamstring when she was substituted in the 62nd minute.
This is the fourth World Cup for Kerr, who spoke about the pride of playing on the global stage in front of a home crowd.
“To be at home and get the feel for it, walk down the streets and see people that are excited or flying around the country to watch us, it’s nice to be able to feel the love,” she said on Wednesday.
“But also we’re really proud to bring this World Cup home and let Australia experience what we do all around the world.”
During Thursday’s match against Ireland, it was anticipated that Stadium Australia would host a capacity crowd. Ireland, making their first appearance at a major tournament, faced Australia in this significant event.
Sam Kerr, who was ruled out due to injury, was seen in the dugout, joining arms with the team’s substitutes as they sang the national anthem.
Kerr watching on from the touchlineProfimedia
Fans entering the stadium were crestfallen to hear the news.
“Oh, that’s not good, that’s very bad, that’s awful, she’s the best player we have so that’s bad for us,” said supporter Matt Starr.
“Very sad, we’re very sad, we came to see Sam Kerr but still Australia to win,” said fan Sue Moar.
Lisa Schibezi called the news “devastating” and hopes Australia make it through the group stage so Kerr has the opportunity to play in Sydney.
“Because this is our only chance to see her in Sydney so if they don’t make it through, we don’t get to see her play in Sydney, so just really really hope she’s okay and we get to see her again,” she said.
Kai Havertz has once again found himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons, this time due to his performance in the MLS skills challenge during Arsenal’s pre-season tour in the United States.
The German midfielder previously spent three years at Chelsea, but his time at Stamford Bridge was marked by inconsistent performances and a struggle to make a consistent impact.
This led to questions from fans regarding his role and fit within the team, despite Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta suggesting that Havertz would feature in midfield.
Havertz made his debut for Arsenal in a 1-1 draw against Nuremberg during the team’s first pre-season game.
However, even though he only played for one half, his underwhelming performance did not go unnoticed.
Havertz’s performance worries Gunners
Arsenal named a team of 10 for the MLS All-stars skills challenge at the Audi Field, including two goalkeepers, and they participated in a series of challenges, including cross and volley and touchdown challenges.
As seen in a video on Twitter by Men in Blazers, Havertz failed to score in the cross and volley challenge, becoming the first player to do so in the competition’s history.
The 24-year-old is getting trolled on social media,particularly by Chelsea fans, while for his new fans, it reiterates their initial thoughts that he was a needless signing.
He may have been getting the heat for his performance in that challenge, but Marca reports that he scored a competition-high of 86 points in the touchdown challenge to give Arsenal the victory.
Arteta asks for patience
Sports Brief reported that Arteta asked for patience over Havertz as he looks forward to studying the player more and finding a solution that suits him and the team.
This came after fans voiced their displeasure at the player’s performance in their first preseason game, where he was deployed as a left-sided number 8 but struggled to make an impact.
Mikel Arteta expressed hisstrong support for USMNT’s Matt Turner, highlighting that the goalkeeper “is on a great trajectory”.
Turner’s outstanding performance, particularly in saving two penalties against Canada in the Gold Cup, showcased his exceptional skills.
Throughout his career, Turner has demonstrated his penalty-saving prowess, having saved 11 out of 25 spot-kicks he faced, spanning from the USL Championship to the World Cup.
It is evident that he is the top choice for the goalkeeper position in the United States national team.
However, at Arsenal, Aaron Ramsdale remains the established starter, holding the undisputed position as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper.
But Mikel Arteta believes that Turner could provide stiff competition to the English keeper as he has been on a “great trajectory”.
“First of all, the same as last year which is a great contribution to the squad and a great contribution to the goalkeeping unit as well because he’s so competitive and keeps everyone at their best level every single day.
Then when he played he’s been great with us and with the national team he’s been superb, so I think he’s on a great trajectory.
“Obviously he needed some holiday because it’s been a long, long year for him, I don’t know how many competitions he’s played in, but it was so many and so he needed a break.
“When it’s after his break he will be back with us,” he told reporters after the 5-0 friendly win over the MLS All-Stars on Wednesday.
Arsenal will be competing for silverware on multiple fronts in the 2023-24 season and Turner will hope to feature at least in the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup on a regular basis if not in the Premier League and the Champions League.
He has previously leap-frogged Zack Steffen to become USMNT’s World Cup goalkeeper in Qatar 2022 and Ramsdale must be on his toes, lest he loses his No. 1 spot.
While Turner enjoys his vacation, Arsenal will be back in action in a pre-season friendly against familiar rivals Manchester United on Saturday at the MetLife Stadium at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford.
Bayern Munich began their redemption season with a spectacular display, setting off fireworks both literally and figuratively.
The German champions faced local rivals Rottach-Egern, a ninth-division team, and cruised to a resounding victory, scoring an astonishing 27 goals against their opponents.
While the overwhelming scoreline caught the attention of many, particularly Barcelona fans, it was the remarks of head coach Thomas Tuchel that generated the most interest.
Tuchel speaks on Bayern’s win
Tuchel was not at all pleased with the team’s display on the night. Despite the stream of goals he was treated to from the touchline, it was the details of the little mistakes his team made that left the German tactician frustrated.
Speaking in the post-match conference, Tuchels is quoted by @MunichFanpage on Twitter to have said:
“We won 27-0 but I’m not entirely satisfied with the result. We could’ve scored more goals. The 2nd half wasn’t the best.”
Many have reacted to the words of the former Chelsea manager with confusion, given it was the team’s first proper run-out following their summer holidays.
The Bayern boss did name a supremely strong starting team considering the occasion, as the likes of Jamal Musiala, Serge Gnabry, and Joshua Kimmich all featured.
There is hope that Bayern Munich fans will experience a better season as the club recently completed the signing of Napoli’s Scudetto-winning defender, Kim Min-jae.
The South Korean comes in as a welcome addition to help strengthen a defence that had its shaky moments last season.
The former Napoli man was signed in a deal in the region of 50 million euros (£43m), per reports from the BBC.
Tottenham reject Bayern’s second bid
Earlier, Sports Brief reported Bayern Munich’s bid to sign Harry Kane this summer from Tottenham Hotspur is proving more difficult than they may have anticipated.
Bayern had an offer of €60m plus add-ons to sign Kane rejected by Tottenham last month. Now the Bundesliga champions have returned with an improved deal.
The Bavarians have made an improved offer of €80m for the 29-year-old forward, as they are keen to bring the English forward to the Allianz Arena this summer.
As Azumah Nelson celebrates his 65th birthday, let’s take a look at 10 highlights of his most remarkable technical knockouts achieved by the boxing legend, fondly known as “The Professor.”
Born on July 19, 1958, in Accra, Ghana, Azumah Nelson’s extraordinary talent and unwavering determination propelled him to become one of the most esteemed boxers to emerge from Africa.
Throughout his illustrious career, Nelson participated in a total of 47 fights, showcasing his exceptional skill set and amassing an impressive record.
Among his notable knockout victories are encounters with Jeff Fenech, Juan LaPorte, Gabriel Ruelas, and Jim McDonnell, among others.
Of his total fights, Nelson experienced only six losses and two draws, while an impressive 28 victories were secured through technical knockouts (TKO), displaying his devastating power and superior boxing abilities.
Azumah Nelson held the distinction of being a two-weight world champion, reigning as the WBC featherweight titleholder from 1984 to 1987 and achieving the WBC super-featherweight title twice between 1988 and 1997.
Currently ‘The Professor’ is ranked as the 31st greatest pound-for-pound boxer of all time according to BoxRec, a website dedicated to holding updated records of professional and amateur boxers.
Azumah Nelson who is widely regarded as Africa’s greatest boxer of all time was inducted into theInternational Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004.
Liverpool midfielder, Jordan Henderson, will be absent from the team’s initial pre-season match against German club Karlsruher as negotiations continue regarding a potential transfer to Al-Ettifaq, managed by Steven Gerrard.
Reports indicate that Al-Ettifaq has reached an agreement with Liverpool for the 33-year-old, with the transfer fee set at £12 million (€13 million/$15 million).
Consequently, Henderson was excluded from Liverpool’s first pre-season friendly.
It is reported that Henderson is set to earn a substantial weekly salary of around £700,000 by joining Al-Ettifaq, following the trend of English players moving to the Middle East.
Additionally, Henderson’s teammate Fabinho is currently in discussions regarding a possible move to the Middle East, with Al-Ittihad reportedly nearing a £40 million (€46 million/$51 million) deal.
Nothing is official yet, but Henderson’s move will damage his reputation among Liverpool supporters and those within the LGBT+ community, given Henderson’s pro-LGBT+ stance in the past.
It could also be likely the move will signal the end of his England career.
Prospective buyer, Sir Jim Ratcliffe anticipates that the sale process for Manchester United will extend into the next season due to the Glazer family’s delay in making a decision.
Ratcliffe has expressed his interest in acquiring the club, but the Glazers have yet to respond to his bid.
The Guardian reports that the 70-year-old British billionaire remains optimistic that a deal can eventually be reached, even if it requires patience.
It is possible that the takeover could occur during the course of the upcoming season, marking almost a year since the Glazers announced their willingness to consider offers for the club they purchased in 2005.
Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, Ratcliffe’s main challenger for United, produced a fifth and final bid of £6 billion (€6.9bn/$7.7bn) at the beginning of June, but is yet to hear back from the Glazers and is said to have grown frustrated about the protracted process.
The continual speculation surrounding a takeover will be the main talking point at Old Trafford for the rest of the year, which could affecthead coach Erik ten Hag’s transfer dealings.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, in collaboration with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, is making a strong bid to host the final match of the2026 World Cup.
The United States, Canada, and Mexico are set to co-host the prestigious global soccer event, and the selection of the final venue is still underway.
Cities such as Dallas, Houston, Miami, Los Angeles, and the state-of-the-art $5.5 billion SoFi Stadium are expected to compete for the opportunity.
However, Adams and Murphy emphasized, during a call with Reuters, that they firmly believe there is only one choice for the world’s biggest game to be played on the world’s biggest stage – New York/New Jersey.
“The biggest game should be played on the biggest stage and there is no stage bigger on the globe than this region,” Adams told Reuters.
A YouGov online survey of professional football fans from across the US released on Wednesday agreed with Adams and Murphy that New York/New Jersey was the preferred place for the final.
The survey found 21% of those polled wanted the final in New York/New Jersey followed by Los Angeles with 17% and Miami 10%.
But 25% polled expect to see Los Angeles awarded the marquee match with New York/New Jersey on 23%.
FIFA is expected to announce the locations for marquee games, including the World Cup Final, later this year.
Co-hosting is nothing new to New York/New Jersey, the cities having combined resources to stage the 2014 Super Bowl with New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium the venue for the game and New York providing the glitz and glamour.
The plan would be the same for the final with the 82,000 seat MetLife getting the match and the Big Apple being party central, hosting the many other events.
“If I had to guess we will get eight or nine games no matter what, that’s eight or nine Super Bowls in six weeks with an enormity of scale,” said Murphy. “Obviously we think we are absolutely well suited to host the final.
“It’s going to be a huge event unlike any other… this is sort of the grand daddy of them all.”
New York is also one of the world’s largest media markets and has infrastructure in place to handle hundreds of thousands of visitors.
“No team or player will come to our region and feel homesick,” assured Adams. “You point to a country on the globe and you are going to find a community here.
“That is our biggest selling point, our diversity and how everyone is going to feel at home playing here.”
While the New York/New Jersey bid has its obvious strengths there are questions about violent crime which has made headlines recently.
“We are going to tell the real story,” said Adams. “We must now go in and get away from the fiction and show people the facts, this is the safest big city in America and we have one of the finest police departments on the globe and we know how to host big events.”
Promising winger from Crystal Palace who was born in Southwark, England, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, has expressed his aspirations to represent Ghana on the international stage.
Despite his English birth, Rak-Sakyi, driven by ambition and a desire to connect with his Ghanaian roots, aims to wear the Black Stars jersey and showcase his footballing skills for his parents’ homeland.
This decision adds a new chapter to Rak-Sakyi’s burgeoning career, positioning him as a potential key asset for Ghana’s national team in the coming years.
Charlton Athletic first-team coach Anthony Hayes, who previously coached Rak-Sakyi, revealed the player’s choice to represent Ghana.
“Jes[urun Rak-Sakyi] has ambitions to play in the Premier League and represent Ghana, to play in World Cup,”
Rak-Sakyi was originally in the youth system at Chelsea, before joining Crystal Palace in 2019.
His first appearance in the Crystal Palace first-team squad was as an unused substitute against his previous club on 10 April 2021, and he signed his first professional contract for the club two days later.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has stated that, despite FIFA’s new initiative of earmarking prize money for players, the organization will continue to distribute funds to federations rather than directly to the players themselves.
This announcement was made on the eve of the Women’s World Cup.
In June, FIFA declared that each player participating in the tournament would receive a minimum of $30,000, and Infantino emphasized that the organization is committed to ensuring prize money for the players.
“But Infantino said Wednesday that ensuring such payments go directly to players isn’t feasible. “Rather, prize money will still be paid to federations, but now FIFA is asking a portion of that money to go to players.
“We have issued recommendations, but we are an association of associations,” Infantino said.
“So whatever payments we do will be through the associations, and then the associations will make the relevant payments to their own players.
“But we are in touch with all the associations, and there are all different situations in different parts of the world — taxation, residence and so on — which require special agreements that are agreements for some associations with the players from before, of course.
“So, I think we have been taking some groundbreaking decisions, and it’s far from the end of the story.”
Some players have clashed with their federations over money promised to women players not making it to teams.
Just last month, the South African women’s team accused their federation of withholding Women’s World Cup bonus payments. The Jamaica women’s team launched a fundraising campaign to help them fund preparations for the World Cup amid allegations that federation was not providing agreed upon compensation.
Nigeria players protested in 2019 over unpaid World Cup bonuses, and again have clashed with the federation ahead of this World Cup over alleged withheld payments.
Sources with knowledge of FIFA’s plans for these payments told ESPN that under this new system, it is expected players will have recourse if prize money is not distributed as FIFA requests.
The $30,000 minimum payments for Women’s World Cup players — as long as their federations dole them out as instructed by FIFA — could be life-changing for some players. FIFA earlier this year reported that the global average salary for female soccer players was just $14,000.
Asked how FIFA would audit payments for the Women’s World Cup and outside of major tournaments to ensure it’s going where earmarked, Infantino said FIFA would keep in touch with associations.
“More than auditing or monitoring, it’s engaging,” he said. “We engage with the associations around the world because, I joke sometimes that we cannot artificially print the money. If we could, that would be nice, but at the end we can distribute, we can pay what we generate. So it’s impossible to ask them to do more if they generate less, right?”
FIFPRO, the global players’ union, had previously put FIFA under pressure to provide a “global guarantee” that 30% of the prize money would go to players after 150 players — including much of the U.S. women’s national team — signed a letter demanding equitable World Cup conditions.
Infantino was quick to point out that prize money from this Women’s World Cup has increased to $110 million to be paid to the players in the 32 teams compared to $30 million in 2019 for 24 teams.
The prize money for this World Cup, however, pales in comparison to the $440 million the men were offered for the World Cup last year in Qatar. Asked about that disparity on Wednesday, Infantino deflected, saying it wasn’t something he wanted to discuss until after the tournament was over.
“Well, you know, today is the eve of the opening game of the Women’s World Cup, and for me it’s a moment to focus on the positive, focus on the happiness, focus on the joy,” Infantino said. “… Until the 20th of August you will hear from me only positive things about everything and everyone.
“If somebody’s still not happy about something, well, I’m so sorry. I am happy with everything and I love everyone. As of the 21st of August, we focus on some other issues around the world and all the problems that are coming up.”
The Women’s World Cup kicks off in New Zealand and Australia on Thursday and runs until the final slated for Aug. 20.
Although Infantino has said that equal prize money between the men’s and women’s tournaments by 2027 is FIFA’s goal, he has been not committal, calling it an “ambition” and putting the onus on broadcasters to step up their bids for the rights to air the Women’s World Cup.
In previous cycles, FIFA bundled the sale of media rights and sponsorships for the men’s World Cup along with the women’s tournament, essentially giving the rights to the Women’s World Cup for free to those who bid on the men’s World Cup.
But for the first time in this tournament, FIFA is selling commercial rights for the women’s tournament separately — and Infantino said on Wednesday that this edition of the Women’s World Cup will break even.
Earlier this year, FIFA threatened a blackout in some European countries, with Infantino declaring the bids from broadcasters in the U.K., Spain, Italy, Germany and France unacceptable.
Deals were eventually reached, but Infantino said Wednesday the agreements were less about an increase in money offered but rather long-term promotion of the women’s game.
“The financial element was not the most important — we didn’t make 10 times more than what was offered or 100 times more than what was offered before,” he said. “But we added this promotion element, and this is the way, for me, forward to promote the women’s game. It’s the most effective way to grow women’s football.”
Infantino added that with the now-separate commercial deals in place, the Women’s World Cup is self-sustainable, having generated $500 million — enough to fund the tournament.
Former Ghana international, Laryea Kingston, is being considered for the vacant coaching position at Hearts of Oak ahead of theupcoming football season.
The club is currently without a permanent head coach following the departure of Davis Ocloo, and the mutual agreement to part ways was confirmed by the club on Wednesday.
Reports suggest that Kingston, who serves as the assistant coach of the Ghana U-17 team, is engaged in discussions with Hearts of Oak to potentially assume the role of head coach for the 2023/24 season.
Kingston has previously had two spells as a player with the Accra-based club, first from 2001 to 2003 and then during the 2012/13 league season towards the end of his career.
Earlier this year, he was appointed as the assistant coach of the Black Starlets, taking over from the previous backroom staff led by Paa Kwesi Fabin.
He was in charge of the team during their participation at the 2023 UEFA four-nation tournament where they ended up as winners, winning all of their games.
David Ocloo who initially joined the side as an assistant coach was named the interim coach after Slavko Matic was forced to resign midway through the 2022/23 betPawa Ghana Premier League campaign.
Hearts of Oak finished 12th, only escaping relegation on the season’s final day.
The 2023/24 Ghana Premier League is expected to get underway in September.
Reports suggests that,Atletico Madrid has agreed to facilitate Joao Felix’s much-desired move to Barcelona.
Back in December 2022, Barcelona came close to securing the Portuguese winger on loan, but Atletico withdrew from the deal and opted for Chelsea instead.
However, the current situation suggests a potential change, as AS reports that Atletico has given the green light for Felix to join their arch-rivals, Barcelona.
It is likely that any agreement will include a purchase option, granting Barcelona the opportunity to sign Felix permanently once the loan spell concludes.
In a recent interview with Fabrizio Romano, Felix admitted that he would “love to play for Barca” and the Liga champions have always been his “first choice” as it was his “dream” to don their jersey since he was a child.
Barca president Joan Laporta would love to welcome him at Camp Nou and they have already crunched the numbers that would take them to execute the operation, keeping in mind their fragile economic condition.
Felix has struggled to find his feet under Diego Simeone and has netted just 34 times in 131 appearances for Atletico.
His loan spell withChelsea saw him score four goals in 20 Premier League appearances and has been linked with a permanent move away from the Wanda Metropolitano, with Barcelona now emerging as the favourites for his signature.
Atletico and Barcelona are figuring out the details of the transfer and Felix will hope to finalise a transfer to Camp Nou before the start of the new season.
Scottish outfit Dundee United have signed England-born Ghanaian youngster Malachi Boateng on loan fromCrystal Palace.
The 21-year-old midfielder joins the club on a season-long loan from the English Premier League side until June 2024.
The midfielder returns to Scotland for a second consecutive spell after spending last season on loan at Queens Park.
Boateng produced a masterclass performance for Queens Park, making 41 appearances and scoring three times in the process.
He is expected to play a huge role for Dundee United in the upcoming campaign.
TheGhanaian midfielder joined Palace as a youth player, aged 11, and signed his first professional contract with the club in October 2019 after receiving the U18 Player of the season award the preceding season.
He made 20 appearances for the Palace U23s in the 2021-22 campaign and an additional three in the Papa John’s Trophy.
De Gea recently departed Old Trafford after a 12-year stint with the team. Manchester United is now nearing the acquisition of Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana as De Gea’s replacement, with the transfer fee expected to be around €50 million (£43m/$55m) along with additional bonuses.
Foster’s criticism suggests he believes United did not treat De Gea appropriately in the process.
“I didn’t like the manner in which David De Gea left, I really didn’t,” Foster told Caught Offside, who is targeting promotion with Wrexham to League One this season.
“Considering what David has done for Manchester United over the years he deserved more respect. Football is cut-throat.
“Sometimes you get players who will angle for more money or a bigger contract. And then the fans pile in and give them dog’s abuse.
“But with De Gea he’s given Manchester United over ten years of service and has won the Player of the Year multiple times. He’s been incredible and the way they dealt with his exit was disappointing.”
De Gea drew criticism for some high-profile errors last season, despite having the most clean sheets in the Premier League to pick up the golden glove. He will likely have no shortage of suitors as he is available on a free transfer.
At 32, and given the extended life of a goalkeeper, the Spaniard easily has another five years at the highest level.
Barcelona legend, Hristo Stoichkov, has revealed that Lionel Messi turned down a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia with Al-Hilal, which would have earned him £400 million ($505 million).
Instead, Messi chose to sign for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS). Stoichkov commended Messi for prioritizing his love for the game over chasing money in the Middle East.
Stoichkov emphasized that during their playing days, they didn’t play for financial gains but rather for the love of football.
“This shows greatness. It didn’t matter to me to know my salary or the bonuses, for me it was more important to play and that people value me.
“The agents take care of the other things. Messi comes to compete and play and he doesn’t care about money because he loves football.”
Messi has yet to make his debut for Inter Miami; he was scheduled to play against Cruz Azul later this month, but the club’s co-owner David Beckham has claimed that it may be pushed back as manager Tata Martino assesses the Argentine’s fitness.
Messi will hope to make his debut soon enough, with Inter Miami in desperate need of his magic after failing to win any of their last 11 MLS matches.
