Sports
Battle for title, relegation takes centre stage
• Sampson Eduku – Tamale City
six more games left to climax the 2022/23 betPawa Premier League, this weekend promises another round of mouth-watering clashes as chase for the title remains competitively open.
Though leaders Aduana Stars occupy the apex with
50 points, it is not done and dusted for them yet as they are closely followed (as of Wednesday night) by Medeama SC (47), Bechem United (45) and Berekum Chelsea (43) heading into the weekend’s cagey games.
Badly bruised Hearts of Oak will host King Faisal on match-day 29 at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday after their 4-1 loss to Tamale City, while reigning champions Asante Kotoko welcome in-form Tamale City to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
The Phobians have been shot twice in their last two meetings, a 1-0 defeat to Bechem United before their recent 4-1 mauling by City in mid-week.
Though Hearts occupy the fifth spot on the league with 42 points, a win over the ‘Insha’ Allah boys will close the gap on Aduana with 50 points.
Also, the Phobians were held to a pulsating 0-0 stalemate with the Kumasi-based side in the first round, eager to return to winning ways.
With two wins and a draw in their last three encounters, Tamale City will be aiming to continue their fine form when they come up against Kotoko.
Both sides shared the spoils from a 1-1 draw in the first round when Isaah Nyaabila poked in an own goal before Ibrahim Babamu scored to level matters.
Having lost 2-1 to Aduana Stars prior to this game, the Porcupine Warriors will leave no stone unturned as they are charged to give the visitors a good run for their money.
At the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park tomorrow, Bechem United will lock horns with Samartex in a cracking encounter, while struggling Accra Great Olympics will make a trip to the Dun’s Park against Gold Stars same day.
In Dawu, Dreams FC will play as hosts of Legon Cities, while relegation-threatened Karela United square off with Berekum Chelsea at the Crosby Awuah Memorial Park.
Relegated Kotoku Royals will battle it out with Aduana Stars, while the Nana Kronmansah Park in Nsoatre will host Nsoatreman and Medeama SC.
As many as six clubs including RTU (36), King Faisal (36), Tamale City (35), Dreams FC (34), Nsoatreman (34), Olympics (32) and Karela United (32) find themselves in danger zone; reason this weekend’s ties would be brutally contested.
BY LINUS SIAW NARTEY
Ashantigold SC has terminated the contracts of three members of its technical team with immediate effect.
The affected officials are head coach and technical director Abdul Karim Zito, assistant coach Ernest Okyere, and goalkeepers’ trainer Robert Dabo.
The decision was announced in a statement signed by the club’s Chief Executive Officer, Edward Kwasi Akuoko.
According to the statement, the decision was taken following a consultative meeting by the Interim Management Committee on Monday, October 26, 2026.
The club says a caretaker coach has been appointed to steer the affairs of the team until a substantive coach/technical director is appointed.
Management expressed gratitude to the affected officials for their contribution and service to the team and wished them well in their future endeavours.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
England captain Harry Kane says it was extra special to be presented with the Ballon d’Or by one of his childhood idols.
Kane made the comment after receiving the prestigious award from former Brazilian striker Ronaldo Nazario.
“Ronaldo was one of my idols growing up,” Kane said.
The Bayern Munich striker described the moment as surreal, being honoured by a player he looked up to as a young footballer.
Kane was announced as the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner on Monday, October 26, at the London Palladium, marking the 70th anniversary of the award and the first time the ceremony was held outside France.
The 33-year-old beat stiff competition from second-placed Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal to win his first ever Ballon d’Or.
He becomes the first Englishman to win the coveted individual award in 25 years since Michael Owen in 2001, and only the fifth Englishman ever after Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen.
He is also the first Bayern Munich player to win the award since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981.
Kane won the award after a remarkable season in which he scored 61 goals in 51 club matches, the most a Bayern player has ever scored in one campaign.
Including England matches, it was 73 goals plus eight assists in 65 matches. His 73 goals is the second-highest single-season total ever behind Lionel Messi’s 82 in 2011-12.
Despite the goal haul, Kane did not win the Champions League or World Cup, with Bayern losing 6-5 on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals and England losing 2-1 to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final before finishing third.
The award was presented by Brazilian great Ronaldo Nazario, a two-time Ballon d’Or winner himself, adding what was described as a special dimension to Kane’s historic achievement.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
