Sports
Beyond the FIFA badges
Twenty-two FIFA badges were presented to Ghanaian referees and assistants based on their performance from the previous year.
Historically, FIFA gives these Referees’ badges for the calendar year to the top ranked referees from the previous year who excel in both local and international matches.
And, owing to the importance of referees not only in sports but other spheres of life, it is important to congratulate them instead of attempting to denigrate the feat.
It is a major feat in every sense of the word. Selecting 22 from a field of hundreds of match officials across the country should tell us that these group of officials have done something good.
The recipients comprised 10 Centre Referees, 10 Assistant Referees, a Futsal Referee, Beach Soccer Referee, and Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Officiating has been one of the most challenging areas in sports in Ghana, especially football and it is a global phenomenon.
In fact, the recent rift between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Boxing Association (IBA) leading to the latter’s split is as a result of ills committed by referees.
Football has not been spared of the controversies associated with officiating with announcement of referees’ sanctions flying around most of the time.
In the Ghana Premier League (GPL), it is a major worry for clubs, especially when they are faced with away matches where some of their calls beats one’s imagination.
A lot of the incidents that have clouded the game’s integrity in controversy have come from referee’s decisions with the unfortunate May 9 Accra Sports Stadium incident.
At the presentation ceremony, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, and General Secretary, Prosper Harrison Addo, congratulated the officials and made statement I found very profound.
“This is not to say that there have not been challenges. Refereeing is an art that has to grow continuously. On that journey of growth, there will be mistakes. On that journey of growth, there will be challenges.
“But when you are very motivated and your eyes are fixed on excellence, you continue to invest in yourself and to challenge yourself towards being much better at every given opportunity. That’s why I’m so happy about the performances you guys have put up on the African continent, especially. We will continue to push and to ask for more opportunities for you. And I hope that when such opportunities come, you will not disappoint us.”
The duo were right in their statements but what they failed to add were the roles expected of them to play in order to ensure that the performances of these referees are improved and make those investment in themselves.
Referees themselves have complained about treatment meted out to them on several platforms. They go for months without being paid their allowances.
In a funny and jovial manner, some shared how they take loans from their wives/partners to enable them travel to match destinations and return on that same money source.
If such a debt hangs around the neck of the referee, how can he get the concentration to interpret the laws of the game on the field of play?
The only way out for such a referee would be to officiate to the gallery of the home team who as host would make every pleasantry available to the referee – accommodation, feeding, money and others.
This is the reason why the FA must put in place the needed measures to ensure that the referees gets the needed support to improve their standards.
In cases when they are found culpable of some of the incidents that mars a game, they must be quickly sanctioned to serve as a deterrent to others.
By Andrew Nortey
Title chasers Medeama SC will host Asante Kotoko in a top Ghana Premier League Matchday 29 fixture tomorrow at the TnA Stadium in Tarkwa.
A win will keep their title dreams alive while a draw or defeat will play into the hands of current leaders Bibiani Gold Stars.
But Medeama are determined to leverage their home advantage to secure all three points against the Kotoko side that is crestfallen after losing 2–1 to Samartex in their rescheduled fixture on Tuesday at home.
Both sides have engaged in cagey and high-stakes contests in recent times, with Kotoko holding a slight edge over the Mauve and Yellow. However, the current form of Medeama may prove to be a tall order for the visitors.
Today at the Nil Adjei Kraku II Sports Complex in Tema New Town, Hearts of Oak will hope to secure a second consecutive win when they face Vision FC.
Hearts are aiming to reignite their title charge after picking up all three points against Young Apostles last week, while Vision FC suffered a 2–0 defeat to Heart of Lions in Kpando.
Samartex FC will return to their fortress, the Nsenkyire Sports Arena, to welcome Berekum Chelsea.
At the Tuba Astro Turf, Dreams FC will hope to return to winning ways when they take on Eleven Wonders.
Elsewhere, Basake Holy Stars will travel to the Kwame Kyei Sports Complex to face 13th-placed Nations FC.
Sixth-placed Karela United will welcome Heart of Lions to the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale, with Bechem United FC set to have a rest day with their three points and three goals assured following the withdrawal of Hohoe United.
The year 2025 was one boxing stakeholders would look at with lots of regrets. Events in the sport within that period, to a large extent, eroded the gains chalked in recent times.
First, the death of a Nigerian boxer in a Ghanaian ring opened a canker of worms in the administration of the sport as officials in the corridors of power openly traded verbal tirades over competence and style of management. That left the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) broken and divided, leading to the resignation of its president, Mr Abraham Neequaye.
In his absence, a vice president, Roger Barnor, stepped into the saddle. With renewed energy and vigour, he managed to unite the rank and file of the sport as other stakeholders praised that effort.
But just when the GBA appeared to have seen some stability, it was hit by another thunderstorm – the death of another boxer, Ernest ‘Baubali’ Akushey. His death came 11 days after a fight. That marked the premature end to Barnor’s term as Vice President acting as the President.
In the view of the powers that be, the formation of an Interim Management Committee to govern the sport and lead reforms was the way to go. With the latest of about two extensions of their mandates, they are expected to complete their work in June, including an election of a new executive to run the sport.
Within this period, boxing ground to a halt. All pending events were put on hold, with a few promoters heavily affected due to investment made before the unexpected takeover.
But since the return of the sport, syndicates like Legacy Rise, Box Office Sports (BOS), Bishop Promotions, RBS and others have staged shows to keep the scene alive.
Two boxers have been at the forefront of this revival. Jonathan ‘Worldwide’ Tetteh and Seth ‘Freezy MacBones’ Gyimah led the revival with a historic clash that filled the University of Ghana Stadium.
Without doubt, they have filled the void created by Baubali’s departure. Though ‘Freezy MacBones,’ the overwhelming favourite, lost on the scorecards, the nature of the fight and ruling left doors open for a rematch to be staged at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
Last week, the two boxers again featured on a BOS, RBS promotion at the Laboma Beach, facing different opponents, and they all emerged victorious.
These two boxers are gradually becoming the new face of boxing in Ghana and that will bode well for the sport. In their last two appearances, they showed an ability to sell their fights and that was evident in the numbers in the stands on fight night. This is something that is lacking from other boxers and their management teams.
Globally, the sport has thrived with boxers of such charisma always featured on big bills. Others like Theophilus Allotey, aka Theo Lopez, Joseph ‘Jaguar’ Commey, Samuel Takyi and John Laryea are other boxers to hold the flag high for Ghana.
Boxing’s return has been stupendous, and the drivers of that success must be commended, not leaving out ‘Worldwide’ and Freezy MacBones for keeping the flames of the sport alive.
By Andrew Nortey
