Sports
Ease, but with caution
The easing of restrictions over the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may be coming to many as pleasant news, especially for the 15 non-contact sports disciplines but obviously not for the others; football, chiefly.
Tension and anxiety preceded Sunday’s announcement of the restriction review by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as individuals and organizations waited for the next move as people get fed up with days, weeks and months of inactivity.
Of the ‘hottest’ breed of athletes yearning to know their fate was footballers and their ‘football people’ who are the worse hit by the pandemic as far as the diseases’ impact on sports was concerned.
But football, an epitome of a team event, was ‘swerved’ and has to wait until June 31 when the current restriction expires.
Sadly or otherwise, a few, branded as non-contact sports, notably athletics, badminton, golf, table tennis, tennis, power lifting, weight lifting, cycling, draughts, para sports (individual non contact para sport), rowing and canoeing, baseball and soft ball, horse racing, squash as well as swimming, got the nod.
A few concerns have, however, been expressed over some of the disciplines labeled as non-contact sports because of their nature, especially with golf and tennis but with a strict adherence of the safety protocols, those concerns can be addressed.
But can the ‘football people’ make any case for themselves considering the challenges and logistical issues they are likely to face?
The response will surely be unenthusiastic and very unconstructive considering their financial plight and would prefer to wait.
Obviously, a typical football game to be played behind closed-doors but aired on television could require close to 100 or more people in the stadium made up of players, technical and management team members of both teams, a few media persons, ball boys, television crew, match officials and other match day staff.
These persons must have undergone mandatory testing to ensure that no infected person gets to the arena while also ensuring that every protocol was observed to the latter.
Sometimes, it seem very simple but figures from the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) as well as the National Sports Authority (NSA) bring to the fore the heavy toll it will have on the clubs financially.
Clearly, it explains why Alhaji Karim Gruzah and his King Faisal side plus a few of the bottom clubs will be the first to commend government for the decision not to restart football now and ultimately call for the cancellation of the season.
Obviously, an annulment can save their season as they are threatened by relegation.
Yet, the reality of recording almost nothing from the gates but have to spend so much on protocols for a single game makes their claims very indisputable.
Heartily, the call to restart now or not has been a debate among the ‘football people’, sending a clear signal that the decision was for the good of all.
Of course the German Bundesliga has started and within a fortnight, about four games have been cleared.
In another two weeks, the La Liga and English Premier League (EPL) will also be restarted.
Instead of waiting for the June 31 deadline, the FA and stakeholders could be finding ways on how to go about their season when the restriction was partially eased for them.
A fine idea will be to liaise with health authorities to begin mass testing for Premier League and by extension Division One League (DOL) players, referees and their assistants, technical and management team members etc from the second or third week of the month.
In this case, teams can start training few days after the restrictions have been eased for football, otherwise the FA must listen to Aduana Stars skipper Yahaya Mohammed’s call to cancel the season and start afresh in August to synchronise with the European calendar.
By Andrew Nortey
Black Stars midfielder Kwasi Sibo says the team is determined to begin its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with victory against Panama despite the absence of key midfielder Thomas Partey.
Partey will miss Ghana’s Group L opener in Toronto after Canadian authorities denied him entry into the country.
A Canadian court on Tuesday also rejected an emergency appeal seeking to overturn the decision. Canadian authorities ruled that he was inadmissible under the country’s immigration laws.
Reports indicate that the decision was linked to ongoing criminal charges he faces in the United Kingdom, which he denies.
Canadian officials also cited issues relating to information provided in his visa application.
His absence is a major blow for Ghana, with the experienced midfielder widely regarded as one of the country’s strongest players in the middle of the park and a key figure in the Black Stars setup.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s World Cup clash, Sibo said the players are united behind their teammate and want to deliver a positive result for him.
“Our coach always says whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Our brother has been through a lot these days, and we are always with him. He is one of our biggest stars” he said.
The midfielder noted that Partey has been part of Ghana’s journey from the beginning of the World Cup campaign, making his absence particularly difficult for the squad.
“We have to make sure we win the game for him as a family and make him happy,” Sibo said.
He admitted that it would be painful to play Ghana’s first match on football’s biggest stage without the former Arsenal midfielder but insisted the players are motivated to make him proud.
“It hurts that we are playing our first game at this big stage and he’s not with us. We are giving him our word that at the end of the 90 minutes, he will be happy,” he added.
Ghana will face Panama in its opening Group L match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the Black Stars seek a strong start to a group that also includes England and Croatia.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, together with the Government and people of Ghana, has sent a strong message of support to the Black Stars ahead of their opening match against Panama in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Toronto, Canada.
In an official statement released by Presidency Communications on June 17, 2026, the President said the entire nation is behind the team as they begin their fifth World Cup appearance, describing it as a symbol of Ghana’s resilience and unity.
“Our gallant Black Stars, as you stand on the threshold of your first match against Panama in Toronto, the Government and the over thirty million people of Ghana stand firmly behind you,” the statement said.
It added that the players are carrying the hopes and dreams of Ghanaians everywhere, from Chorkor to Bole and across the entire country.
The statement also called on Ghanaians living in Canada and across North America to fully support the team in the stadium, describing them as the “12th Man.”
It encouraged them to fill the stands with national colours and support the players throughout the tournament.
At home, the Government said arrangements had been made to ensure nationwide television coverage of the tournament so that all citizens can follow the matches live.
According to the statement, this move is to ensure that every Ghanaian, regardless of location, can watch and support the Black Stars.
The message urged the players to compete not only for the national flag but also for young Ghanaians who dream of following in their footsteps.
“The world is watching, and we are confident that the Black Star will shine brighter than ever before on this global stage,” the statement added.
Ghana will begin its World Cup campaign against Panama as part of Group L in Toronto.
By: Jacob Aggrey
