Herbert Addo unveiled as new Hearts coach

                                                               Coach Herbert Addo 

Executive board chairman of Accra Hearts of Oak Togbe Afede XIV says the key principles of

discipline, hard work and team work of Coach Herbert Addo made him a preferred candidate as coach of

the club.
“Since the board came into being two years ago, we have thrived on three key principles, discipline,

hard work and team work and after scouting for a coach that believes in these key principles, we

found coach Addo as the best man for the job.”
“We believe with only these three key principles we can achieve success upon success, but nonetheless

we believe that nothing can be achieved if we do not have the backing of a very strong technical

team,” he added.
Unveiling the newly-constituted technical team of the club headed by Addo yesterday, Togbe Afede said

he was confident that with rich experience, the club’s trophyless run will come to an end in the

coming season.
He congratulated the three-man committee that scouted for the new technical team headed by former

Chief Executive Officer of the club, Mr. E.M.Commodore Mensah as they aim to restore the Phobian

glory. 

                                                Coach Addo's men for next season

Other members of the technical team include Assistant Coach Stephen Abugri, Team Manager Sabahn Quaye

and Goalkeepers’ Trainer Edward Ansah as well as Coach Dauda Lutterodt who will take charge of the

club’s youth side, Auroras.
Coach Addo, who is making a return to the club after being dismissed at the end of the 2003 season,

said he is not making any promises at the moment.
“I have met the players and for now we have started working on their fitness, as the days turn into

weeks and months, all I can say is that we would be ready for the league.”

Second Greater Accra Regional Sports Authority Staff awards ends

                           Award winners in a pose with the acting Director-General of the NSA

The Greater Accra Regional Sports Authority (GARSA) has earned plaudits for the swift execution of the regional sports development agenda despite the non availability of funds last year.
Speaking at the second edition of the annual GARSA staff and stakeholders awards ceremony at the Media Center of the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday,
Mr. Julius Debrah, Out-going Greater Accra Regional minister urged the staff and stakeholders to continue with the good work and not to relent on their efforts to make the region the best when it comes to sports in the country.
He charged the authorities in the other regions to take a cue from his region and put in more efforts to help raise talents for the nation and stop complaining of the lack of funds.
Among the athletes adjudged overall best in their respective fields include  Juliana Arkoh (weightlifting), Isaac Nortey (tennis), Sulemana Tetteh  (amateur boxing), Augustine Agbozo (taekwondo), Martha Korroe Bavon (volleyball).
The overall Best Regional Paralympic Athlete award went to Maclean Atsu, a member of the disabled sports (wheelchair athletics and tennis).
Best Regional Coach accolade went to rugby coach Amuzuloh K.A Salim, the Most Innovative Regional Coach went to handball coach, Henry Quansah Afarku. Edmund Kwame Kpeglo the most disciplined regional coach. The Best Regional Sports Association chairperson awards went to Mr. Frank Awuku; hockey, Mr. Paul Atchoe; volleyball, Mr. Christopher Dark Amankrah; athletics, Mr. Patrick Nortey Dowuona; handball and Hajia Zenabu Akoto, tennis.
Special meritorious awards were given to the chairmen of Tema Youth football club, Wilfred Osei Palmer, Amidaus Professional FC's Ahmed Nkrumah and  Inter Allies FC’s Eric Delali Senaye for their immense contribution towards proper maintenance of the Tema Sports Stadium.
Mr. Norbert Amefu,taekwondo federation and Mr. Benjamin King Lekeytook home special meritorious awards for their dedication towards sports in the region.
Jeffrey Owusu Manzan of the Tema Metropolitan Assembly won the best metropolitan, municipal and district sports director while Edmund Appiah took home the overall best regional worker with the best grounds man award going to Fred Owusu.
Acting Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) madam Alice Attipoe praised the acting Regional Sports Director, Kwame Amponfi Jr. for the positive change he has brought to the region since assuming his position and tasked other regional sports directors under the NSA to emulate the excellent leadership role he has exhibited in making the region number one in terms of sports.

Sports Ministry receives support from SIC towards Ghana's World Cup participation

Sports Minister Mr. Afriyie-Ankrah receiving the dummy cheque from Mrs. Awo Nkani
Ghana’s preparation towards a successful participation at the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil received yet another major boost on Tuesday when SIC Insurance Company Limited and its sister company SIC Life Ghana Limited teamed up to donate GH¢250,000 to the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS) .
SIC Insurance Company, which deals in general insurance donated GH¢150,000 with SIC Life which focuses on life insurance donated GH¢100,000.
The donation, which is a seed money for Ghana’s Brazil 2014 World Cup Campaign Project, thus makes both companies official partner bank of the Campaign Project.
Presenting the amount to the Minister for Youth and Sports, Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, Managing Director of SIC, Doris Awo Nkani, said her outfit was aware of the magnitude of the task ahead of the Ministry as they prepare to take team Ghana and its supporters to the biggest sporting showpiece in the world, the FIFA World Cup, hence they extending their hand of support to lessen the burden.
For his part, Managing Director of SIC Life, Mr. Aaron Issa Anafure, added  that if there was one sport that breeds peace and unites people from different divides, tribes, political parties, it is nothing else than football and for them  supporting such a venture comes with no second thoughts.
Receiving the donations, Afriyie-Ankrah noted that government’s initiative for supporting Ghana’s participation in the World Cup was aimed at promoting sports, tourism, and the rich culture of the country – thereby driving foreign investment.
“Not every supporter would be able to travel to Brazil so there is the need to make them feel a part of the World Cup in Ghana, hence we deciding to set up Fan Parks to enable them follow the Black Stars’ campaign every step of the way.
“We will place giant screens across the country at the  ‘Azonto meets Samba mega fans parks’ that will be dotted across all the 10 regions of the country  to ensure that supporters who cannot make it to Brazil to be a part of Ghana Village in Natal stayed behind to support the Black Stars to victory,” he added.

Badminton coach optimistic

Coach Shamo- head coach of the badminton team

Head coach of the national senior badminton team, Frank Shamo, is optimistic his team’s performance at this year’s All Africa Seniors Badminton Championships in Mauritius will mark an improvement over their quarter finals showing at the 2011 championships held in Ethiopia.

Ghana joined the rest of Africa for the bi-annual championships from August 14-20 and coach Shamo who flew out of the country together with his assistant Jacob E. Wilson and a team of five players, made up of three males for tournament, believes they have what it takes to bring back medals from this year’s championships.

Daniel Sam, Emmanuel Donkor and Abraham Ayittey will be defending the flag of Ghana in the male division while the good old Stella Amasah and Evelyn Botwe battle for honours in the female division.

In a chat with the Times Sports before the team’s departure on Tuesday night, the celebrated coach said the experience gained from past championships will come in handy for his players in competition.
The team will compete in the men and women singles and doubles, as well as mixed doubles.

While in Mauritius the team will also have the opportunity to participate in the Yonex Mauritius International Badminton championship, a Badminton World Federation (BWF) sanctioned future series event from August 21-24.

Ghana’s participation in the championships would consolidate the implementation of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Schools project dubbed "Shuttle Time" in the country to develop the sport from grassroots with equipment assistance from the BWF.

Team Ghana was led by BAG President, Mr. Nestor Galley, who doubles as a Council Member of the BCA. The team is expected back in Ghana on Monday, August 26, 2013.

Gimtrac extend services to Ghana

                                                   M.D of Gimtrac, Gerhard Ferreira
Gimtrac, a South African sports equipment manufacturing firm, has introduced its products onto the Ghanaian market with the view of helping provide assistance in the areas of manufacturing and supply for the development of sports in the country.

Having been involved in the supply and manufacturing of sports equipment in South Africa for the past 30 years, Gimtrac believe it is time to venture onto the Ghana market and help with infrastructure here because among other things the country has a stable political environment with a dynamic private sector willing to collaborate with foreign partners.

Managing Director of the company, Gerhard Ferreira stated that all their sporting equipment which are hand crafted and fully tested are exported to Germany, Saudi Arabia, Japan, New Zealand, Canada, England & the USA as well as some Africa countries.

Gimtrac, produces equipment for table tennis, handball, netball, tennis, basketball, hockey, badminton, cricket, rugby and football among others. They were major suppliers for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2010 FIFA World Cup, supplying the main stadiums with all the soccer equipment, training venues and home base camps with soccer equipment.

They also supplied the 2011 All Africa Games in Maputo with all the athletics and ball sports equipment as well as the Timetronics Electronic Timing System for the games.

Welcoming them, deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Joseph Yammin, stated that their arrival is timely as government prepares to put up a modern gym at Bukom and their products and expertises will be greatly needed.

According to him, Ghana abounds in great talents but lack the needed equipment to harness and build such talents into world class one but with the coming in of such an established brand Ghana would soon be on the road to claiming its rightful place in the sporting domain.

Acting Director General of the National Sports Authority, madam Alice Attipoe, emphasized the importance of infrastructure to the development of sports in the country and disclosed that her outfit will liaise with Gimtrac in that light.

Allotey eyes world title

                                               Allotey with his manager Mr. Kwarteng (Tagor)

Newly crowned WBC International Silver welterweight champion Patrick Allotey on Tuesday presented his title belt he won recently to the Ghana Boxing Authority with the promise of going on to annex the WBC welterweight World Cup title in addition.

Known in boxing circles as “Poisonous Arrow”, Allotey stopped his Uganda born Swedish boxer Patrick Bogere in the 6^th round of their scheduled 10 round bout at the Water Front Congress SAS Radisson boxing arena in Stockholm, Sweden last Friday.

Flanked by his manager Mr.  Kwabena Amaning Kwarteng, an elated Allotey whose fight record now stands at 28 fights 22 knockout with no loss or draw stated that his victory has broken the spell of Ghanaian boxers who always fail to win bouts outside the country in recent times, “I believe this victory will inspire up and coming boxers to go out and bring honour to the country like I have done.”

Allotey addressing the media 

 

“Now my focus is on the WBC welterweight World Cup title, it is a tough tournament but I will do my best possible to win that title and possibly face multiple world champion Floyd Mayweather Jnr and help him suffer his first ever boxing defeat.”

 President of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) Mr. Peter Zwennes congratulated the boxer for his sterling performance adding that victory is a great source of pride for the present GBA and a further testimony that the future of the sport in the country looks bright.

“With this performance Allotey together with the likes of George Ashie, Emmanuel Tagoe, Albert Mensah, Richard Commey, Frederick Lante Lawson as well as the Samir Brothers, Bastie and Issah among other hold the key to the future success of Ghana boxing.

He urged him to keep focus and never rest on his oars because he is now the target for all the boxers in his division.

Head trainer of Allotey, Coach Ofori Asare revealed that it was his first ever fight outside the shore of the country and expressed happiness at his mental fortitude and the way he handled himself against the hostile crowd who he event won over to his side during the bout.

Allotey’s manager Mr. Kwarteng thanked his boxer for repaying the investment put in him and promised to do his best and get him a shot at the world title which he tasked him not to disappoint himself and Ghanaians when the time comes.

Allotey (middle) flanked by GBA boss Mr. Zwennes (left) & his manager on the right

 

Ghana Boxing Authority suspense referee Banor

 Referee Barnor-Suspended

 

The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) has suspended boxing referee-judge Roger Banor as a licensee of the Authority for four consecutive international/domestic boxing tournaments effective June 17^th for his abysmal showing during the Emmanuel Tagoe and Roland Pontillas fight at the Accra Sports Stadium on April 26….

Referee Barnor who officiated the said controversial bout came under serious condemnation from all quarters of the sport for what many described as open bias officiating during the WBA international fight between the two boxers which Tagoe won on points after recovering from a fourth round knockdown.

The thongs of condemnations which came his way were further cemented by former WBC Super featherweight champion Professor Azumah Nelson, boxing promoter Henry Manly-Spain as well as Ambassador Ray Quarcoo president of the Ghana Amateur Boxing Federation (GABF)

According to a letter dated June 17^th and signed by the Secretary-General of the GBA Mr. Patrick Johnson and addressed to referee Barnor noted that at a meeting held on June 4 the GBA Board unanimously decided that “your poor performance on the fight night constituted amongst other acts of misconduct and failure in your official duties for which the appropriate sanctions should be applied.”

The letter  copied to the World Boxing Council (WBC), World Boxing Federation (WBF), World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Organisation (WBO), World Boxing Union (WBU), Commonwealth Boxing Council (CBC), African Boxing Union (ABU), Azumah Nelson and Henry Manly-Spain, continued  “You are therefore suspended as a licensee of the GBA for four consecutive international and domestic boxing tournaments effective June 17^th to which all boxing sanctioning bodies have been informed accordingly of this decision.”

The letter further stated that the board also took a very serious view of the interview granted unethically by him to various media and press houses after the fight in which referee Barnor unfairly castigated certain prominent fellow licensees of the GBA and renowned boxing personalities including former World Boxing champion Azumah Nelson and the promoter/manager Mr. Henry Manly Spain of GoldenMike Promotion Syndicate for their post fight observations.

Referee Barnor who announced his premature retirement from the sport only to rescind his decision following what he described as unfair criticism after the bout has been tasked by the board to render unqualified and appropriate apologies to Messrs Azumah Nelson and Henry Manly Spain which must be carried with equal prominence in the media as was the case in the various interview he granted.

Commenting on the decision president of the GBA Mr. Peter Zwennes said they adopted the report of the committee put up to investigate the issues to serve as a deterrent to him as well as others budding young referees  who might want to bring the sport to shame.

He disclosed that the GBA is also lodging a complaint with the Benin boxing federation over the behavior of judge Adohn Bertin who according to the GBA boss scored a lopsided score 118-111 during the fight. His scoring in recent times when he comes to Ghana have been questionable, he added    

“The Rules and regulations are there to guide every referee-judge, they should not distort or dissuade them but keep to them and do their best to interpret rules for the good of the sport.” He advised up and coming referee-judges.