TIG Post

Tag: Stadium

  • Youth in Axim hit the streets over locked-up stadium project

    Youth in Axim hit the streets over locked-up stadium project

    The youth of Axim, located in the Nzema-East Municipality of the Western Region, have given President Akufo-Addo a two-week ultimatum to make a 95% completed stadium accessible for use.

    The facility, promised to the community, has been locked and left to deteriorate for years, with various parts, including VVIP areas and goalposts, falling into disrepair.

    During a demonstration covered by Channel One News, Jonas Kwabutey, leader of the Axim Youth, voiced the frustrations of the local youth who have been deprived of a place to play.

    He highlighted that the new seats and ceiling installed at the stadium are rotting away due to years of abandonment. The youth have given the President until July 29th to address the issue or face further protests.

    “We have no place to play, and the new facilities are all rotting due to neglect,” said Kwabutey. “We submitted a petition two months ago, but it was ignored by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Eric Essien.”

    Kwabutey expressed the community’s disappointment, noting that their previous efforts to address the issue had been met with silence.

    “We submitted our petition two months ago, and the MCE didn’t call us or even show up. We requested a police escort for our demonstration, but we were ignored.”

    The youth leader emphasized the urgency of their demands: “They promised to construct a multipurpose sports stadium for us. Now, if you enter the stadium, you can see that everything is rotting. They’ve done the VVIP section, mounted the goalposts, installed all the necessary facilities, but locked it up. We are determined to demonstrate.”

    “Our message is clear: whether the stadium is officially commissioned or not, it must be used. We have given a deadline of July 29th.”

    In response, MCE Eric Essien acknowledged the youth’s concerns and expressed sadness over the state of the stadium. He revealed that he has contacted the Regional Minister to resolve the issue.

    “I’ve reached out to the Regional Minister to get the contractor, who abandoned the site due to non-payment, to return by August,” Essien stated.

  • 2024 polls: Not in this current crisis – John Mahama on building new stadium

    2024 polls: Not in this current crisis – John Mahama on building new stadium

    Former President and flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama, has told reporters he cannot promise a new stadium under the current economic crisis, as Ghana’s sports infrastructure remains in distress.

    Ghana currently cannot boast a world class category A stadium, with the Confederation of African Football often forced to find compromises that allow the country’s football teams to honor continental matches at home.

    In an interaction with journalists Sunday night, Mahama was asked how he intended to address that problem if voted into power in December’s General Elections.

    “In the current crisis in which we are, I would not stand here and promise that we will build a new stadium,” he said.

    “But I’ve said that under the big push, we intend to spend a certain amount of money over five years on providing a good infrastructure to include roads, bridges, agro-industrial parks, and so on and so forth.

    “That could include sports facilities. And if we make allocation, then we probably would look at providing such a stadium,” he concluded.

    The Borteyman Sports Complex and the University of Ghana Stadium, both built for the 2023 African Games, are the only two facilities currently in good shape to host major multi-sports competitions.

  • In our current crisis, I can’t promise a stadium – Mahama

    In our current crisis, I can’t promise a stadium – Mahama

    Former President and current flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has expressed reservations about promising new stadium construction in light of Ghana’s ongoing economic challenges.

    Speaking to reporters, Mahama highlighted the dire state of the nation’s sports infrastructure and the impracticality of committing to such projects under the present financial strain.

    Currently, Ghana lacks a world-class Category A stadium, forcing the Confederation of African Football to frequently find compromises for the country’s football teams to play continental matches on home soil.

    During a Sunday night interaction with journalists, Mahama was questioned about his plans to address this infrastructure deficit if elected in December’s General Elections.

    “In the current crisis in which we are, I would not stand here and promise that we will build a new stadium,” Mahama stated. He emphasized the difficulty of making such commitments amid the nation’s economic woes.

    However, Mahama elaborated on his broader infrastructure vision, which includes the “big push” initiative aimed at substantial investments over a five-year period.

    “But I’ve said that under the big push, we intend to spend a certain amount of money over five years on providing good infrastructure to include roads, bridges, agro-industrial parks, and so on and so forth,” he explained.

    He indicated that if allocations permit, this plan could potentially encompass sports facilities. “That could include sports facilities. And if we make allocation, then we probably would look at providing such a stadium,” he concluded.

    Presently, the Borteyman Sports Complex and the University of Ghana Stadium are the only two facilities in good condition to host major multi-sport competitions, having been built for the 2023 African Games.

    These venues stand as exceptions in a landscape where many sports infrastructures are in disrepair.

  • 5,000-seater gov’t multipurpose stadium in Ashanti Region left to rot

    5,000-seater gov’t multipurpose stadium in Ashanti Region left to rot

    A 5,000-seater multipurpose stadium, constructed by the Government of Ghana in the Ashanti Region has been left to rot since its inauguration in 2020.

    This revelation came to light after sports journalist Saddick Adams visited the site and discovered the facility’s current state of disrepair.

    The stadium, which was inaugurated a week before the 2020 elections, has never been opened to the public or utilized for any significant events since then.

    Despite its potential to serve as a venue for various sporting and cultural activities, the facility has been left abandoned, surrounded by overgrown vegetation and showing signs of neglect.

    The situation has raised questions about the government’s priorities and its commitment to the development of sports infrastructure in the region.

    Saddick Adams, in a statement, expressed his frustration at the government’s failure renting a private training facility for the Black Stars ahead of their crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier game against the Central African Republic instead of making use of the stadium, especially considering its proximity to Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region

    The Black Stars’ recent match against the Central African Republic, held at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, saw Ghana triumph with a 3-2 victory.

  • Gov’t rented a private training facility for Black Stars when there was a gov’t multipurpose stadium – Saddick Adams

    Gov’t rented a private training facility for Black Stars when there was a gov’t multipurpose stadium – Saddick Adams

    The Government of Ghana has come under scrutiny for reportedly renting a private training facility for the Black Stars ahead of their crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier game against the Central African Republic.

    This decision has raised eyebrows, especially considering the presence of a newly constructed multipurpose stadium in the Ashanti Region, which has remained unused since its inauguration in 2020.

    Sports journalist Saddick Adams has highlighted the government’s questionable choice, pointing out that the 5,000-seater multipurpose stadium, built at a cost of around $40 million, has been left to rot in the bush.

    This facility, located just a stone’s throw away from Kumasi, was inaugurated a week before the 2020 elections but has not been opened to the public or utilized for any significant events since then.

    Adams, along with his team, recently visited the site and documented its current state of disrepair.

    In a statement, Saddick Adams expressed his bewilderment and frustration at the situation. “Why,” he simply asked.

    The Black Stars’ recent match against the Central African Republic, held at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, saw Ghana triumph with a 3-2 victory.

  • We want a good stadium to play better football – Partey to Bawumia

    We want a good stadium to play better football – Partey to Bawumia

    The senior national team, Black Stars, has called on the government to construct a stadium that will stand the test of time.

    Captain of the Black Stars, Thomas Partey, during a visit by Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, said that without a good stadium, the national team is not able to play better football that would satisfy the desire of football fanatics.

    “I have one request from all the players, asking for a good stadium because we want to play better football,” Captain Thomas Partey said.

    Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia paid a visit to the Ghanaian national football team, the Black Stars, to convey his best wishes for their upcoming World Cup qualifier against the Central African Republic (CAR).

    The Black Stars, under the guidance of head coach Otto Addo, are preparing for a challenging encounter against CAR in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

    The match is scheduled to take place at the Baba Yara Stadium on Monday, with kickoff set for 19:00 GMT.

    Coach Otto Addo has emphasized the importance of the upcoming game, especially after their impressive come-from-behind victory against Mali in Bamako during the third round of matches.

    Despite this recent success, Addo acknowledges the tough challenge that CAR poses and is preparing his team accordingly.

    “It’s going to be very difficult. For everyone who thinks we can just play them, I don’t think it will happen,” said the former Borussia Dortmund coach.

  • West Africa’s first International Standard Rugby Stadium unveiled in Ghana

    West Africa’s first International Standard Rugby Stadium unveiled in Ghana

    Ghana has proudly unveiled its Rugby Stadium at the 2024 African Games, scheduled from March 8 to March 23 in Accra, Ghana.

    Situated at the University of Ghana, the stadium holds the promise of becoming a cornerstone for hosting international rugby competitions.

    The Rugby Stadium is the first international standard rugby stadium in West Africa, adhering to World Rugby Guidelines and Regulations. It is determined to elevate the profile of rugby across the African continent.

    In the past, Rugby Africa, the continental governing body of rugby across Africa, has faced challenges in securing suitable venues for international rugby events.

    The opening of this facility not only addresses these challenges but also signifies a bold step towards fostering the growth of rugby across Africa. Beyond its role as a venue for international competitions, the Rugby Stadium will primarily be used by the Ghana Rugby Federation.

    Since 2021, stakeholders from various sectors have come together to make this vision a reality for West Africa. With vital support from government officials, the Ghanaian community, and the Ghana Rugby Federation, the project has been successfully completed in readiness for the 2024 African Games.

    Following three years of meticulous planning and construction, the stadium now stands as a testament to Ghana and Rugby Africa’s commitment to the advancement of rugby infrastructure and development throughout the continent.

    “We are immensely proud of the inauguration of the Rugby Stadium, as it represents a monumental milestone for rugby across Africa. This state-of-the-art facility not only elevates the standard of rugby infrastructure in the region but also symbolizes our collective commitment to the growth and development of the sport. Ultimately, allowing us to create an opportunity of upward mobility within our competition structures,” stated Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa.

    “I extend my deepest gratitude to all involved for their unwavering support and dedication. Together, we are shaping the future of rugby in Africa.”

  • CCTV footage reveals prison officers’ involvement in the escape of Chinese national

    CCTV footage reveals prison officers’ involvement in the escape of Chinese national

    Two prison officers, Joseph Oteng and Sergeant Isaac Boateng Bonsu, are currently on trial at the Accra Circuit Court for allegedly aiding the escape of a Chinese convict, Wang Xiao, from Nsawam Medium Prison.

    According to a report by citinewsroom.com, Oteng and Bonsu are facing charges of conspiracy and aiding escape, as detailed in a charge sheet presented by police prosecutor Chief Inspector Wisdom Alorwu during court proceedings.

    The prosecutor outlined that on February 7, 2024, Oteng and Bonsu were assigned the task of escorting Wang Xiao to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for medical treatment.

    However, following Xiao’s treatment at the hospital’s Dental Department, the two officers allegedly conspired to accompany him to Oceans Hotel in Korle Gonno, purportedly to meet his wife, in exchange for a reward of GH¢1,000.

    Allegedly, Oteng and Bonsu facilitated Xiao’s meeting with his supposed wife in a hotel room, after which Xiao and the woman escaped via the hotel room’s balcony while the officers remained in the reception area.

    The prosecution revealed that upon discovering Xiao’s escape, the accused officers attempted to conceal evidence by hiding the handcuffs at Tema Station Hockey Stadium.

    Furthermore, they allegedly misled their superiors at the prison, claiming that Xiao had fled after being approached by an unregistered Toyota Vitz taxi.

    However, their attempts to cover up the incident were undermined when CCTV footage from the hotel became available.

    During investigations, the accused officers led police to the hotel, where a review of CCTV footage revealed Xiao and his purported wife jumping from the balcony of the first-floor building and fleeing while the accused officers were relaxing in the reception area after receiving meals from the convict’s alleged wife.

  • Watch Lionel Messi’s spectacular goal for new team Inter Miami in his debut game

    Watch Lionel Messi’s spectacular goal for new team Inter Miami in his debut game

    In a pre-season game, Argentine international Lionel Messi made a significant impact for his new team, Inter Miami, by scoring a winning goal.

    During his debut match with the club, Messi’s remarkable 94th-minute strike gave Inter Miami a late lead and secured their eventual victory.

    The World Cup winner exhibited his exceptional skills as he curled a free-kick from yards out over the wall and past the goalkeeper into the opponent’s net, prompting a jubilant celebration.

    The game against Liga MX side Cruz Azul concluded with Inter Miami prevailing 2-1. This exciting match took place at the DRV PNK Stadium.

    Messi made the move to Inter Miami from the French Ligue 1 side, Paris-Saint Germain (PSG), where he spent a season after departing from Barcelona. His immediate impact on the field shows the tremendous potential he brings to his new club.

  • Manchester City seek vengeance against Real Madrid

    Manchester City seek vengeance against Real Madrid

    The first leg of the Champions League semifinal between Manchester City and Real Madrid will take place at the Bernabeu Stadium on Tuesday May 9, 2023.

    Here, the PA news agency looks at some talking points ahead of the game.

    The tie is a rematch of last year’s semi-finals when City left the Bernabeu heartbroken after letting a place in the final slip through their grasp.
    City had been leading 1-0 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate heading into stoppage time when they suddenly capitulated and conceded twice. Real went on to win in extra time.
    Pep Guardiola’s men will certainly hope revenge is in the air and they will want to use the fact the home leg comes second this time to their advantage.

    City certainly approach the match in form having hit their stride over the last three months.
    They are unbeaten in 20 matches – 17 of which they have won – and have a strong chance of winning the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.
    Arguably, the Spanish giants are the toughest obstacle left to clear as they look to win the treble.

    Real’s form is more difficult to assess. With the LaLiga title seemingly out of reach, Carlo Ancelotti’s side have lost two of their last three league matches, suggesting the wily Italian has been prioritising other fixtures.
    Those would be Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against Osasuna, which they won 2-1, and the two City encounters over the coming week.
    Their triumph at the weekend, secured after two goals from Rodrygo, should certainly have raised confidence levels.

    Erling Haaland has been a sensation for City this season, scoring 51 goals in all competitions and with the high likelihood of more to come.
    After years of near misses in the Champions League, City are hoping the prolific Norwegian is the last piece of the jigsaw as they look to finally land the big prize.
    He has revelled in Europe, not least when he fired five past RB Leipzig in the last 16 and then struck in both quarter-final legs against Bayern Munich. All eyes will be on him to see if he can deliver at the Bernabeu.

    Cynics would suggest there is little coincidence over the timing of recent reports from Spain that the much-coveted Jude Bellingham is set to join Real in the summer.
    The England midfielder is widely expected to leave Borussia Dortmund this summer and Manchester City were reportedly among the interested parties.
    Whether the development would actually unsettle an outfit as composed as Guardiola’s City is debatable, but it certainly adds to the pre-match hype.
  • Ghana FA boss Kurt Okraku opens up on low patronage of Ghana Premier League

    Ghana FA boss Kurt Okraku opens up on low patronage of Ghana Premier League

    President of the Ghana Football Association Kurt Okraku has refused to accept responsibility for the Ghana Premier League’s underwhelming support.

    The Ghana Premier League has been hit with poor stadium attendance in recent weeks at the various stadia across the country.

    The low patronage of the domestic top-flight has become a major concern for stakeholders, with some blaming the media for the low attendance at stadium.

    With many pointing fingers at the Ghana FA, Kurt Okraku believes club owners have not done enough to win back supporters to the stadium.

    “Our fans are absent, our spectators are absent, we playing football, we doing the business of football bout our fans are not consuming our football. It should be a concern to every club owner that your fans are far away from your clubs and this is not the responsibility of the FA, it’s your responsibility”

    “There are other competing entertainment opportunities for every person and if you are not practical, proactive and don’t put up strategies that will bring back your fans believe me, your fans will not come. We need to be pragmatic, scientific and we need to go back to the basics on how to win the twelve man back into our football”

    “Usually, it’s very normal for everybody to point fingers at Ghana FA but it’s a lie, it’s your time to do some work, it’s your time as club owners and executives to listen to your fans, go to your fans, find their worries and wore them back and this is a challenge I throw to each one of us. We love our football; we want more money in football but we can’t be sleeping. We have to think about how to win the supporters back to the stadium”

  • Cape Verde renames stadium in honour of Pele

    Cape Verde renames stadium in honour of Pele

    Cape Verde’s national stadium is to be renamed after Pele, the country’s prime minister has said.

    The 15,000-seater Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde, located just outside the capital Praia, will become the Pele Stadium.

    The news comes after Fifa’s president Gianna Infantino proposed – while speaking at Pele’s memorial service in Brazil – that every country should name a stadium after the footballing legend who died on 29 December, aged 82.

    “As a tribute and recognition to this figure that makes us all great, I manifest the intention of naming our national stadium as “Pele Stadium”, in an initiative that, I believe, will be followed by several countries around the world,” Ulisses Correira e Silva wrote on Facebook.

    “With the physical disappearance of Edson Arantes de Nascimento, King Pele, who soon became a planetary figure, an icon of the masses showing that sport has the power to unite the world, it is now our wish to pay tribute to him,” added Mr Silva in a statement that stressed the importance of Pele to Portuguese-speaking countries like Cape Verde.

    “Cape Verde and Brazil have a history and culture that go hand in hand, considering they are two sister countries, linked by language and very similar identities.

    “Pele was and always will be a reference in Brazil, in our Portuguese-speaking countries and in the rest of the world, being an idol that links several generations.”

    Pele is credited with scoring a world record 1,281 goals in 1,363 appearances during a 21-year career, including 77 goals in 92 matches for his country, and was named Fifa’s Player of the Century in 2000.

    At Monday’s memorial to Pele in Santos, the city where he played club football, Infantino said that Fifa would be asking “every country in the world to name one of their football stadiums with the name of Pele”.

    However, South Africa’s Football Association president Danny Jordaan has since raised concerns that this could cause potential issues with stadium naming rights.

    Source: BBC

  • Fans pay last respect to Pele in stadium at Brazil

    Fans pay last respect to Pele in stadium at Brazil

    On Monday, mourners gathered in line to view Pele’s casket at the Urbano Caldeira Stadium, the longtime home of the Brazilian football legend’s team, Santos.

    The three-time World Cup champion’s coffin left Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo early on Monday and was taken to the stadium, where he played some of the best matches of his career for the Santos soccer club.

    The club said in a statement that the public would be able to pay their last respects at the stadium in the coastal city outside Sao Paulo.

    Visiting hours were expected to start at 10 am local time and it’s expected to close same time on Tuesday when a private burial ceremony would be held.

    Pele died on Thursday, December 29 at age 82 after a long battle with cancer.

    Pele had a colon tumour removed in September 2021. Neither his family nor the hospital has said whether it had spread to other organs.

    Source: African News

  • ‘Pele was talking about Ghana when he said African country will win the world cup’ – Akufo-Addo

    Ghana’s president His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says Brazilian legend and world icon Pele was talking about Ghana when he predicted an African country winning the FIFA World Cup.

    According to him Akufo-Addo, Ghana was on the mind of the legend when he was making such remarks a long time ago now.

    “A long time ago, the greatest footballer that has ever lived, the Brazilian, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pele, said that very soon an African country is going to win the World Cup and I know that, when he said that, he had in mind Ghana,” Akufo-Addo said when he signed the national flag to rally support for the Black Stars as they head to Qatar.

    “All of us know what football means to us in this country and what a very rich history we have in football.

    “History that goes right back to the 50s, and 60s and 70s, 80s and 90s, right up till today; and I’m very confident that the players that have been selected, right up to the excellent technical team that we have under the leadership of Otto Addo, that we are going to give a very good account of ourselves,” he added.

    Ghana will start their 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign with a game against European giant Portugal on November 24 at Stadium 974 in Doha.

    Four days later, the Black Stars return to action with a clash against the Asian powerhouse South Korea at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan.

    The Black Stars who are making their fourth FIFA appearance will end their group stage campaign with a clash against Uruguay at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah.

    No Africa country has ever reached the semi-final of the FIFA Mundial but the Ghana president believes this could be Africans year of breakthrough.

  • Indonesia: About 174 dead in football stadium crush

    One of the deadliest stadium disasters in history occurred at an Indonesian football game, where at least 174 people perished.

    In the aftermath of the host team Arema FC’s defeat to ferocious opponents at the packed stadium late on Saturday in Malang, East Java, some 180 people also sustained injuries.

    The crash took place after police tear-gassed fans who invaded the pitch.

    As panic spread, thousands surged towards Kanjuruhan stadium’s exits, where many suffocated.

    Fifa, the world’s governing football body, states that no “crowd control gas” should be carried or used by stewards or police at matches.

    One eyewitness told the BBC that police had fired numerous tear gas rounds “continuously and fast” after the situation with fans became “tense”.

    Fifa President Gianni Infantino said it was “a dark day for all involved in football and a tragedy beyond comprehension”.

    ‘It had gotten anarchic’ – Police

    Early reports put the death toll at about 130, but officials later announced a significant rise to 174, with 11 more people seriously injured.

    President Joko Widodo has ordered that all matches in Indonesia’s top league must be stopped until an investigation has been carried out.

    Videos from the stadium show fans running onto the pitch after the final whistle marked the home team’s 2-3 defeat, and police firing tear gas in response.

    “It had gotten anarchic. They started attacking officers, they damaged cars,” said Nico Afinta, police chief in East Java, adding that two police officers were among the dead.

    “We would like to convey that… not all of them were anarchic. Only about 3,000 entered the pitch,” he said.

    Fleeing fans “went out to one point at the exit. Then there was a build-up, in the process of accumulation there was shortness of breath, lack of oxygen”, the officer added.

    Videos on social media show fans clambering over fences to escape. Separate videos appear to show lifeless bodies on the floor.

    Damaged police vehicles
    IMAGE SOURCE,EPA Image caption, Damaged police vehicles lay on the pitch inside Kanjuruhan stadium

    The Indonesian football association (PSSI) said it had launched an investigation, adding that the incident had “tarnished the face of Indonesian football”.

    Violence at football matches is not new in Indonesia, and Arema FC and Persebaya Surabaya are long-time rivals.

    However, Persebaya Surabaya fans were banned from buying tickets for the game because of fears of clashes.

    Chief Security Minister Mahfud MD posted on Instagram that 42,000 tickets had been sold for the match at Kanjuruhan stadium, which has a stated capacity of 38,000.

    President Widodo called for this to be the “last soccer tragedy in the nation” after ordering that all Liga 1 games should be paused pending an investigation.

    ‘It was bang, bang, bang’ – Eyewitness

    Muhamad Dipo Maulana, 21, who was at the match, told BBC Indonesian that after the game had ended a few Arema fans went on the pitch to remonstrate with the home team players but were immediately intercepted by police and “beaten”.

    Muhamad Dipo Maulana
    IMAGE SOURCE,BBC INDONESIAN Image caption, Muhamad Dipo Maulana said he saw people suffocating while trying to get out of the stadium

    More spectators then took to the pitch in protest, the supporter said, adding that the situation became “tense”.

    “Police with dogs, shields, and soldiers came forward,” Mr Dipo told the BBC.

    He said he had heard more than 20 tear gas shots toward spectators at the stadium.

    “There was a lot, like bang, bang, bang! The sound was continuous and fast. The sound was really loud and directed to all the stands,” he added.

    Mr Dipo said he saw people in disarray, panicking and suffocating while trying to get out of the stadium. There were many children and old people who were affected by the tear gas, the eyewitness added.

    One of the worst football disasters

    The stampede is one of the worst of a tragically long line of stadium disasters.

    In 1964, a total of 320 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured during a stampede at a Peru-Argentina Olympic qualifier in Lima.

    In 1985, 39 people died and 600 were hurt at the Heysel stadium in Brussels, Belgium, when fans were crushed against a wall that then collapsed during the European Cup final between Liverpool (England) and Juventus (Italy).

    In the UK, a crush developed at the Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield, resulting in the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans attending the club’s FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

  • Isaac Asiamah to cut the sod for reconstruction on Nkawkaw Sports Stadium

    The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Isaac Kwame Asiamah, will cut sod today, for reconstruction work to begin at the Nkawkaw Stadium, in the Eastern Region.

    The Nkawkaw Stadium was once a leading football field venue and home ground for Division 2 side, Okwawu United, but had been left in ruins for close to three decades.

    The project forms part of the government’s broad agenda on sports infrastructure development across the country. Already, 10 of other multi-purpose Youth and Sports Centres of Excellence across the nation were nearing completion.

    The Minister would be supported at the ceremony by the Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Professor Peter Twumasi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Middle Belt Development Authority, Hon. Joe Danquah and his Deputy, Madam Joyce Opoku Boateng, Eastern Regional Minister who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Nkawkaw, Hon Eric Kwakye Darfour, Municipal Chief Executive of Nkawkaw, Hon. Yaw Owusu Addo and traditional rulers.

    The Minister would announce when the renovation works on the Stadium is expected to complete.

    Source: GNA

  • Koforidua Sports Stadium nears completion

    The Koforidua Sports Stadium one of the 10-multi-purpose Sports Centres being constructed by the government is nearing its completion.

    The facility when completed will be have a standard FIFA pitch which can be used by Premier and Divisional teams in the region.

    The Multipurpose Center at Koforidua is nearing completion pending installation of seats and rolling of tartan track.

    The remaining nine (9) – at Wa, Novrongo, Yendi, Nyinahin, Dormaa Ahenkro, Dunkwa-On-Offin, Axim, Ho and Keneshie – are all close to completion.

    These centres boasts of FIFA standard Pitches, 8-lane athletic oval, a 40-metre long jump runway with a take off board , multipurpose Courts (tennis, volley, handball, etc), spectator stands-popular and VIP, hotel units, IT hubs, shops and restaurants.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • France to allow up to 5,000 fans to watch sport in stadiums

    Stadiums will re-open to fans in France from 11 July as the country continues to lift coronavirus restrictions.

    Up to 5,000 fans will be allowed in arenas to watch live sport – a figure that may increase later in the summer.

    It means football’s French Cup and League Cup finals could be played in front of supporters after both were postponed to a date yet to be decided because of the pandemic.

    The Ligue 1 and 2 seasons were cancelled in April.

    The French government said: “A further review of the national epidemiological situation will be carried out in mid-July to decide whether a loosening is possible for the second half of August.”

    In April, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe put a blanket ban on all sport until September but collective sports can now resume from Monday.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Flashback: Kufour built the Tamale Stadium nicer than Wembley – Ex-Kumasi Mayor

    Six years ago, former Mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly(KMA) Maxwell Kofi Jumah claimed that former President John Agyekum Kufour built the Tamale Sports stadium now called the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium better than London’s Wembley.

    According to the former Member of Parliament for the Asokwa Constituency in the Ashanti region, he was shocked to see the gallant structure when he joined his colleagues at Tamale to elect new executives for the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    Kofi Jumah added that he has been to some of the biggest sporting edifices such as the Wembley Sports Stadium, Madison Square Gardens, home for the New York Yankees and official stadium for Barcelona, but could say that the Tamale stadium rocks shoulders with some of them.
    There is one monument in Ghana which is way nicer than the Wembley Sports stadium in London, Mr. Kofi Jumah has said. The Tamale Sports Stadium which was built during the tenure of ex-president Kufuor has been touted by Mr. Jumah as one of the nicest edifice the nation is blessed with.

    According to him, the beauty of the structure mesmerized him when he joined his colleagues at Tamale to elect new executives for the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    In an interview with OKAY FM, he said he has been to the Wembley Sports Stadium, Madison Square Gardens, home for the New York Yankees and official stadium for Barcelona, but could confidentially say that the Tamale stadium rocks shoulders with some.

    Tamale Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium. It is used mostly for football matches and serves as the home stadium of Real Tamale United.

    It hosted some matches during the 2008 African Cup of Nations. The stadium’s capacity is 21,017 people and was completed in 2008 by the Shanghai Construction Group of China.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Brazil using soccer stadiums in fight against coronavirus

    With 40,581 confirmed cases and 2,575 deaths, Brazil is facing the coronavirus crisis with a health system on the brink of collapse.

    For this reason, the construction of field hospitals has been stepped up.

    Even in a country that is a five-time world champion, sacred soccer temples are becoming large-capacity medical complexes to exclusively receive the COVID-19 infected.

    On April 1, when the pandemic was already part of the daily lives of Brazilians, a 200-bed field hospital was opened in Paulo Machado de Carvalho Stadium, better known as Pacaembu, located in the central region of Sao Paulo.

    The Pacaembu, inaugurated on April 27, 1940, served as the setting for the best days of Pelé. “El Rey” is, until today, the top scorer that has played in this field, with a record of 115 goals in 119 games.

    In addition, it has already hosted five World Cup games in 1950 and three Copa Libertadores finals among various definitions of national and state championships.

    “I am from Guapiara, in the interior of Sao Paulo, and I came to this city last year to work. I always dreamed of knowing this stadium, although I never imagined that it would be under these conditions,” said Edivaldo Lopes dos Santos, who was provisionally hired by the logistics team that operates Pacaembu during the emergency.

    “I love football, I’m a fan of Palmeiras, and here my team played a lot. But today, we are talking about another situation, something more serious,” said the 37-year-old employee, who currently performs electrical maintenance and other tasks.

    Beyond the precautions taken, contact is inevitable between the people who work as managers of health and maintenance of the place.

    “The fear of the contagion is always there, although we all work with masks and try to be apart. But you have to keep going because many sick people are helped here.”

    In the Pacaembu, which was privatized a little over a year ago, two large tents of 6,000 square meters were installed on the lawn.

    “The people who arrive at the Pacaembu are cases of low complexity. They stay there for about 10 days and, once stabilized, they return home,” explained Bruno Covas, the mayor of Sao Paulo.

    Those patients whose cases worsen will be referred to hospitals. Albert Einstein Hospital, one of the most prestigious institutions in Sao Paulo, is in charge of the tasks in the Pacaembu.

    In Sao Paulo, there are 14,580 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 1,037 deaths so far, making it the state with the highest number of infections in Brazil.

    Maracana, a mythical scenario

    The Maracana is the most famous stadium in Brazil and one of the mythical stages of world football where Uruguay was consecrated after the famous “Maracanazo” and Germany beat Messi’s Argentina in World Cup Finals in 1950 and 2014 respectively.

    Work at the Maracana began on March 31, and according to the state government, the field hospital with 400 beds available will be inaugurated on April 30.

    The difference with Pacaembu is that the field hospital will not be built on the Maracana grass, where Flamengo and Fluminense, the local clubs, played their matches every weekend. The provisional structure is being assembled where the Celio De Barros athletics track used to be.

    In addition to the Maracana headquarters, another eight field hospitals are being built in the state of Rio de Janeiro, the second most affected region in Brazil behind Sao Paulo, with 4,899 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 422 deaths.

    One of these provisional units will be settled at the abandoned facilities of the 2016 Olympic Games, exactly in Riocentro, Barra da Tijuca, where the table tennis matches were played.

    In total, these nine campaign structures will offer 2,300 beds in mid-May.

    Not only large stadiums in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro were transformed into emergency venues. In Salvador de Bahia, the renovated Arena Fonte Nova, which hosted World Cup games in 2014, is almost ready to house 240 beds dedicated to patients with the coronavirus.

    “The structural renovation of the Fonte Nova Arena is almost ready. The state of Bahia has been innovative because here we have a better-planned architecture. We do not use the grass, but the stadium facilities,” said Tereza Paim, undersecretary of Health in Salvador de Bahia, located in the Brazilian northeast.

    The Arena Fonte Nova, used by the Esporte Clube Bahia team, also ceded its facilities in Lauro de Freitas in the metropolitan region of the city of Salvador. There, the Fazendao hospital was built with 44 beds available.

    Last Saturday, the Presidente Vargas Stadium in Fortaleza received the first 50 patients of low and medium complexity.

    Around 336 beds, including a block for the treatment of patients in intensive care, will be put in this stadium.

    In Boavista, the capital of the state of Roraima, northern Brazil, the Flamarion Vasconcelos Stadium received 120 beds from the General Hospital. There, however, only suspicious cases of COVID-19 will be handled.

    Sao Paulo, Santos, Corintios, Palmeiras (in the state of Sao Paulo), Botafogo (in Rio de Janeiro), Atletico Mineiro (Minas Gerais), Goias (Goiania) and Athletico Paranaense (Parana) have already offered their facilities to fight the pandemic

    Source: www.aa.com.tr

  • Wendy Shay to rock Accra Sports Stadium in Legon Cities clash with Great Olympics

    Ghana’s hottest female musician Wendy Shay has been billed to perform at the Ghana Premier League match between Legon Cities FC and Great Olympics at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday, February 14.

    The ‘Uber Driver’ hitmaker is expected to thrill fans at half time of the game between at the Accra based rivals.

    She joins a list of top stars to perform for Legon Cities in their home games, including Dancehall King Shatta Wale, Kwesi Arthur and AMG Medikal.

    Being a valentines day night, Legon Cities have announced there will be free chocolates for every fan that comes to the stadium on Friday.

    Gates will be opened for free for all female fans who make it to the stadium.

    Legon Cities have lost only a game in their last four matches and come up against Great Olympics who are yet to win a game since beating King Faisal.

    Source: GHANAsoccernet.com