Sports
Akonnor, don’t be overly desperate!
DESPERATION to succeed may be adorable, but sometimes, it could trigger a negative adrenaline for failure.
In the case of the coach, they dare not play the Russian roulette; they got to be wholly focused, calculated and strategic in their manoevres to clinching the desired result. For, desperation can ultimately lead to destruction.
So, what are we trying to say, at all?
Somewhere last week or so, we were boldly told that the ‘sweat merchant’ of the Black Stars – Coach Charles Kwablan Akonnor, had handed a call-up to Kelvin Yeboah – a 21-year-old Italian-Ghanaian forward who features for Austrian Bundesliga side SK Sturm Graz.
The prolific Yeboah, nephew of Ghana’s retired icon Anthony Yeboah, is reported to be in some swashbuckling, smashing form in Europe – banging in goals like nobody’s business.
So, Ghanaians were naturally elated with the supposed ‘big catch’ when Yeboah’s name thundered across the country – believing Ghana was steadily building a formidably winsome team for a famished African conquest (Cameroon 2021). Fiasco!
Sadly, barely 24 hours or so later, we were almost stunned into petrified silence to learn that the same player had reacted positively to a call-up into the Italian Under-21 team over Ghana’s senior national team – a former FIFA World Cup quarter finalist.
The Italian Under-21 team were to play against neophytes like Luxembourg and Montenegro during the international break.
Indeed, many thought it was a huge embarrassment to the nation to watch Yeboah choose an Under-21 outfit over a senior national team of his native people.
But do not blame Yeboah! He has committed no crime. There are 64,000-dollar questions that have to be answered.
Question number one: How was Yeboah invited? Who spoke to him, and did the young precocious striker agree to the invitation? Why would he opt for the Italian U-21 national team when very aware that Ghana had struck the first move? What did we not do right in this regard? Did Akonnor really have a personal interaction with him ahead of the call-up? Or, we were just interested in giving Yeboah an invitation in order to avert Italy from initiating any move?
Whatever the response may be, it is limpidly evident that the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Akonnor failed in snatching the talented finisher; and that is not good for the Black Stars brand.
Perhaps, we may not have lost Yeboah totally since he was not invited to Italy’s senior national side, but seriously, we ought to pick some harsh lessons in this regard.
The other day, too, we were told Ghana’s Southampton of England sturdy defender, Salifu Mohammed, was all-too ready to play for the Black Stars and was subsequently handed a call-up only for the player to turn his back on the nation.
Coach Akonnor himself had assured us of his availability, but we were later to dine with another disappointment.
It is true we need hordes of quality performers to build up the Black Stars into a fearsome unit. However, we must not out of desperation compel or cajole players into featuring for Ghana. No, it must not happen!
True, we may not have garnered home the African Cup ‘Holy Grail’ for nearly four decades – after the glories of 1963, ‘65, ‘78 and ‘82, but the senior national team is still freshly attractive.
No matter what the situation is or how it looks like, players – whether megastars or superstars, must not be kowtowed to in an attempt to woo them into playing for their own motherland.
They must play out of a supreme conviction to serve their country, and once they decline, we should respect their decision and leave them to their fate.
By so doing, we will succeed into erecting an aura of respect and reverence around the team whose members would now feel more nationalistic and be prepared to die a little more for a country that holds them in high esteem.
THE Ghana Premier League (GPL) enters another exciting weekend with Asante Kotoko and Medeama SC set for a crucial showdown while Accra Hearts of Oak seek to strengthen their title challenge and FC AshantiGold 04 begin life after the departure of Coach Abdul Karim Zito.
The Matchday 9 fixtures, scheduled for today and tomorrow, promise another round of compelling contests as clubs battle for early season supremacy, continental ambitions and stability.
The headline fixture is the meeting between the Porcupine Warriors and the Mauve and Yellow at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium tomorrow where both sides will be eager to make a statement.
Kotoko will have the advantage of home support but the Tarkwa-based side are expected to provide a stern test for the Porcupine Warriors.
The Kumasi giants have endured an inconsistent opening to the campaign, with their recent results highlighting the need for greater consistency if they are to mount a serious title challenge.
Their 1-1 draw with FC AshantiGold 04 in the previous fixture underlined the difficulties they have faced in turning competitive performances into maximum points.
Against Medeama, the Reds must combine defensive discipline with greater attacking efficiency. Playing before their home supporters could provide the necessary lift, but they would need to avoid giving the visitors opportunities to exploit any defensive lapses.
Medeama, meanwhile, will travel to Kumasi determined to demonstrate why they are among the teams expected to challenge for the title.
For both clubs, victory would offer more than three points. It would provide an important psychological boost and strengthen their position in an increasingly competitive title race.
Hearts of Oak will also be among the teams attracting considerable attention as they travel to face Debibi United tomorrow.
The Phobians have made encouraging progress in recent weeks, with their defensive solidity and growing confidence giving supporters reasons to believe that a sustained title challenge is possible.
Their 1-0 victory over Basake Holy Stars, secured through Martin Karikari’s late strike, strengthened their position at the summit of the league after eight matches. The result also extended their winning run to three matches.
However, maintaining that momentum away from home will be another test of their credentials.
Debibi United will be determined to frustrate the visitors and use home advantage to their benefit.
Hearts must, therefore, approach the encounter with patience and discipline, particularly if their opponents adopt a compact defensive approach.
With the standings still capable of changing significantly at this early stage, maximum points could help Hearts consolidate their position at the top or reclaim it, depending on the results of their closest challengers.
Another major talking point is the decision by FC AshantiGold 04 to part ways with Head Coach and Technical Director, Abdul Karim Zito, Assistant Coach Ernest Okyere, and goalkeepers’ trainer, Robert Dabo.
The development comes as AshantiGold prepare to visit Swedru All Blacks tomorrow, presenting an immediate test for the club’s caretaker technical team.
The question is whether the coaching changes will produce the desired reaction or further unsettle a side still searching for consistency.
Swedru All Blacks, who will enjoy home advantage, will be keen to capitalise on any disruption within the visitors’ camp.
Elsewhere, Aduana FC would host Berekum Chelsea in a potentially tight contest, while Basake Holy Stars welcome Dreams FC.
Heart of Lions will face Bechem United, and Samartex take on Bibiani Gold Stars in another intriguing fixture. Vision FC will meet Port City today, while Young Apostles host Karela United tomorrow.
By Enoch Ntiamoah Siaw
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THE 24th edition of the Accra Seniors Tennis Open Championship, organised by the Accra Lawn Tennis Club, is scheduled to take place from Monday, November 23 to Saturday, December 5, 2026, organisers have announced.
Consequently, registration for the tournament has opened, offering professional and amateur players an opportunity to participate in the competition that assembles the best of the aged in the tennis fraternity.
Registration will close on Friday, November 20, 2026, with the draw and viewing for the competition scheduled for Saturday, November 21, 2026 and Sunday, November 22, 2026, respectively.
Entry fees have been pegged at GH¢150 for the singles event and GH¢200 for the doubles event.
Matches will be played on weekdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The competition will feature various categories, including ladies’ singles, men’s singles, ladies’ doubles, men’s doubles, advanced social singles and doubles, as well as mixed doubles.
In the ladies’ singles event, players will compete in different age categories, including those aged up to 39 years.
The men’s singles event will feature players in the 25–34, 35–44 and 55–64 age categories.
For the ladies’ doubles event, participants will compete in the under-40 and 40-and-above categories, while the men’s doubles event will feature players aged 35–44, 45–54, 55–64, 65–69 and 70 years and above.
The advanced social singles and doubles categories, for both men and women, are designed for high-level amateur players seeking competitive matches outside the demands of professional and semi-professional circuits.
The mixed doubles event will also provide an opportunity for players to compete in combined male and female pairings.
The tournament is expected to attract players of different ages and skill levels, with spectators anticipated to witness exciting displays of skill, technique and sportsmanship throughout the competition.
By Benjamin Arcton-Tettey
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