Sports
Goodwill Sports Ambassador Ray Quarcoo @90…celebration of dedicated service to Ghana sports
TO say Ambassador Ray Quarcoo has played a pivotal role in the development of sports in Ghana is an understatement.
Apart from Ghana’s first world champion — David Kotei (DK) Poison, the Goodwill Sports Ambassador has had a hand in all the boxing greats Ghana and Africa have produced.
From the legendary Azamah Nelson, Ike Quartey, Ebo Danquah, Nana Yaw Konadu, Thunder Ayeh, Clottey brothers — Emmanuel and Joshua, Joseph Agbeko through to the recent past Isaac Dogboe, Joshua Buatsi, among others, his singular efforts in their respective careers and success stories has etched his (Ray Quarcoo) name in gold.
Ambassador’s passion for the pugilistic sport, sports as a whole, and to see its students excel in and outside the ring is unmatched.
Boxing under his stewardship as president of the Ghana Amateur Boxing Federation (GABF), now Ghana Boxing Federation (GBF), witnessed initiatives like boxing exchange programmes among countries such as Britain, USA and Azerbaijan.
And as an avid student of the sport, he could see a potential boxer from young ages.
The Goodwill Sports Ambassador’s love for boxing and sports knows no bound — he will travel on Sunday afternoons just to watch juvenile boxing on the streets of Accra (Wato Club), a practice which became a routine, where he ‘blesses’ the young boxers during his regular visits.
Many of Ghana’s national amateur boxing team members (Black Bombers) have not only benefitted from his vast experience in the sport, but his financial support as well.
Indeed, his supervision of the boxers’ preparation — camping, nutrition and training has endeared him to a lot of the pugilists.
His contribution as an executive member of the prestigious International Boxing Association (IBA), formerly Association of International Boxing Association (AIBA), and a dedicated management member of the Black Stars gave meaning to his title as Goodwill Sports Ambassador across the African continent.
Yesterday, he turned 90, as a businessman and a sports administrator extraordinaire, yet Ambassador Quarcoo believes modern day sports administrators must go the extra mile to rescue the country from her dwindling fortunes in sports.
Among the tall list of his contribution to Ghana sports, the Ambassador is credited for sponsoring Mr Mike Carney, an international Boxing coach from British Sports, UK, to assist in the preparation of the Black Bombers for the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
The Lifetime Patron of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) earned an honorary award from the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) for his contribution towards Ghana’s participation in the 1992 Olympic Games.
Widely known as Uncle Ray, he facilitated and bankrolled the establishment of boxing clubs at Bukom, Accra like the Black Panther, Panix gyms, among others.
By Spectator Reporter
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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
