Sports
GPL: Hearts, Kotoko eye comebacks
Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko will seek to bounce back from last weekโs defeats when they take on their respective opponents in week 18 of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) games this weekend.
Hearts will trek to the Hohoe Sports Stadium to play as guests of new boys, Hohoe United, today, while Asante Kotoko stay at the Baba Yara Stadium to welcome relegation-threatened Berekum Chelsea.
After a goalless game in their first-round fixture, the Hearts and Hohoe United clash presents a fine opportunity for either side to earn the bragging rights over the other.
For Kotoko, their game against Berekum Chelsea on paper looks relatively easier, with the latter struggling to find their feet in the league this season.
Fourth-placed Aduana FC will look to appease their fans with a win when they take on seventh-placed Karela United at the Nana Agyeman Badu I Park in Dormaa.
The Ogya boys suffered a shocking 1-0 home defeat to Vision FC last week, one that plunged the town of Dormaa in silence.
Romanian tactician, Cioaba Aristica, believes his Aduana side has no excuse not to secure the three points tomorrow, as any other result will jeopardise their title aspirations.
After brushing aside Asante Kotoko at home last Sunday, Swedru All Blacks will look to add visiting Nations FC to their growing list of casualties when they cross swords at the Swedru Stadium tomorrow.
In other games, defending league champions, Bibiani Gold Stars SC, will travel to the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park to face troubled Bechem United in a must-win game for the latter.
Fresh from their 1-0 victory over Hearts of Oak last week, league leaders, Medeama SC, will hope to keep the winning momentum when they welcome Young Apostles to the TnA Stadium.
Bechem sits a point above the relegation zone, having lost eight games, drawn four, and won five, while the visitors are coming into the game with 10 wins, two draws, and five losses.
The Nsenkyire Sports Arena in Samreboi will come alive when home side Samartex FC welcomes Vision FC while Kpando Heart of Lions engage Dreams FC at the Tuba Astro Turf.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
The four-day international tennis championship between the Accra Lawn Tennis Club of Ghana and Ikoyi Sports Club of Nigeria is set to reach its climax tomorrow at the Accra Lawn Tennis Courts (ALTC) in Accra.
According to the organisers, tomorrow would witness high profile matches with a lot at stake as both clubs aim to unsettle each other to enhance the rivalry between the two nations.
The event is an annual arrangement between the two clubs that sees the championship rotated among them.
The team representing Ghana includes Thomas Amoako Boafo, Issek Antwi-Agyei, Dr Abraham Oppong Adjei and Palm Nii Okine for the 40+ yearsโ division.
The trio of Dr Bankah, Abeiku Bentsi and Ekow Arthur will be in contention for the 50 years plus group while the pairs of Dr Maxwell Adjei and Edmund Nii Botchway, Frederick Van De Vyer and David Carreras and Nicholas Kumadey and Palm Nii Okine feature against the Nigerians in the Doubles championship.
In the Menโs division, the onus would be on Chris Hammond, Kweku Amakye, Nana Dr Kofi Boakye, Chris Tagoe, Dr Henry Holdbrook-Smith, Nick Akpebu, Brian Benneh and Michele Nemesi to make the ALTC proud.
The women for the Ladies competition are Kate Coleman, Fatiha Menzel, Naa Ofoli, Wendy Quartey, Wanda Quartey and Kuukua Bartels-Kodwo.
Veteran player, Peter Annan, will be the Acting Captain of Team Ghana and would be ably assisted by Lawrence Lartey.
Expected to lead the ALTC is Dr Maxwell Adjei, who is the newly elected Chairman of the club. He is also the Head of Dental at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge Hospital).
Mr Peter Annan, the Acting Captain of ALTC, told The Spectator that as part of the arrangement for the international friendly, a special tour was organised for members of Team Ikoyi.
He was confident that as the host club, ALTC will prevail as winners of this yearโs edition which ends tomorrow.
BY ANDREW NORTEY
The Street Academyโs annual health walk has been postponed.
The event, the 26th edition, was initially slated for today but was postponed due to the two-day cleaning exercise instituted by President John Dramani Mahama.
This yearโs edition is on the theme: โFeet on the Street, Hope in Motion.โ
According to the organisers, the event would be held on August 1 with all protocols intact.
Dr Ataa Lartey, the Founder and Executive Director of the Academy, told The Spectator that the walk which was expected to be joined by a few dignitaries will start at the Accra Art Centre.
From there, it would proceed through the principal streets of Accra to James Town and return to the starting point.
The event aims to raise awareness about the plight of needy and underprivileged children, promote healthy living, and advocate the importance of basic education.
According to Dr Lartey, the walk will feature a range of activities, including a brisk group walk, mass aerobics, free health screening, and entertainment for children.
By Spectator Sports Reporter
