Sports
Hasaacas Ladies, good one there!
The twin city of Sekondi-Takoradi had sat on anxious expense. They were on tenterhooks. They were extremely expectant as their brave ladies dashed for battle – a combat to conquer the continent at the club level. It was a remarkable moment of gold.
That grandiose occasion was the grand finale of the maiden edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League finale in Egypt where the Ghanaian ladies were facing South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns. The game had a lot at stake. For many Ghanaians, it was more than a mere final. You will know why.
A week or so earlier, Ghana’s senior men team – Black Stars had deflated the Qatar 2022 World Cup aspirations of their South African counterparts Bafana Bafana, beating them 1-0 at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium. That slender win was enough to send the Stars to the play-off stage of the campaign. Andre Dede Ayew, captain of Ghana, had poked home a spot-kick to put the Stars through.
Sadly, what was to follow was phlegmatically pathetic – the South Africans dragging the Stars to the ‘gutter’ – as they unleashed a litany of unwarranted attacks that suggested that Ghana had bribed the Senegalese Referee Maguette Ndiaye to award us what they claimed was a soft penalty, after Daniel Amartey had been ‘soiled’ in the area.
Among many others, SA President Danny Jordaan, had claimed a huge suspicion that the match was fixed – saying he had evidence of betting spikes before major refereeing decisions were made.
As expected, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) 24 hours later issued a stinging rebut of what was visibly a mammoth indictment to the Ghanaian game.
“It is shocking, irresponsible and outright disrespectful to note that our colleagues from SAFA (with whom we have good relationships with and mutual sporting respect) have chosen to spread falsehoods to the media rather than project the real picture of events before, during and after the game,” the statement partly read.
These were the antecedents leading to the Sundowns v Hasaacas finale.
Sadly, the unbeaten Mamelodi Sundowns girls – who never conceded a single goal in the tournament, on the day proved superior as they upstaged Hasaacas Ladies 2-0 to win the title in its inaugural edition.
But whatever be the case, Hasaacas Ladies had made a big statement. They were league and FA Cup champions at home before proceeding to Cote d’Ivoire to annex the WAFU Cup ahead of the campaign in Egypt.
That Hasaacas’ Evelyn Badu swaggered away with two awards on the night – Overall Best Player and Golden Boot Award winner showcased the quality of representation they possessed. They live to fight another day.
In a post-match interview, Hasaacas Ladies Coach Yussif Basigi said: “It’s unfortunate that we did not win. We came in with the intention of wining, but it was almost impossible. We will be ready to win the next edition of WCL.”
In all fairness, our ladies have made a gripping case for greater spotlight and investment in women’s football, beginning with respectable cushioning funds for each club before the season begins and decent prize money for the league winner.
Indeed, everyone associated with the team needs a special pat at the back – from club president Nanabanyin Eyison to the Board and the entire technical team. Matter-of-factly, Hasaacas Ladies have given women’s football in Ghana a incalculable boost-up, which all stakeholders and potential sponsors must pounce on to nirvana.
By John Vigah
Attention will be at the Golden City Park in Berekum tomorrow as Hearts of Oak lock horns with Berekum Chelsea FC in a Ghana Premier League Matchday 6 game that promises an electrifying atmosphere.
Lying sixth on the league table with two wins and three draws, the Phobians visit a ground that has been favourable to them in recent times. In their last three visits to the Golden City Park, Hearts have amassed seven out of nine points, putting them in strong contention to win.
Head Coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani says, “The team is making progress in its tactical identity despite the lack of goals, and this is something we are working on ahead of this game.”
Hearts will come face-to-face with former coach Samuel Boadu, whose side lies a distant 13th on the league table with a win and a draw from four games. Coach Boadu is yet to celebrate a victory over the Phobians since joining the Berekum lads and would hope this fixture marks a turnaround.
Ninth-placed Vision FC would trek to the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park in Bechem to play Bechem United, while new boys Hohoe United host Aduana FC at the Hohoe Sports Stadium.
Returnees Swedru All Blacks will welcome Basake Holy Stars to the Swedru Sports Stadium, with defending league champions Bibiani Gold Stars staying put at their backyard, the Dun’s Park, to welcome second-placed Heart of Lions FC on Monday.
Today at the TnA Stadium in Tarkwa, Medeama SC will clash with Samartex FC in a Western derby. Other games scheduled for today would see Eleven Wonders FC host Karela United at the Swedru Sports Stadium, while Dreams FC face Nations FC at the Tuba Astro Turf.
By Raymond Ackumey
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Ghana coach Otto Addo may not command the kind of fear and respect like Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Luis Enrique and others in the modern game, but in his small corner, he is gradually climbing the ladder to greatness in Ghana, Africa and the world at large.
The aforementioned coaches attained greatness with club sides and, therefore, open an argument over whether one is not comparing apples to oranges. But no matter how one looks at it, they are all coaches harbouring similar ambitions to attain greatness in their fields.
Otto Addo is one of the young and upcoming coaches holding a lot of promise and was getting experience with his association with Borussia Dortmund in Germany until his path was directed by a Ghana call.
Although he was born in Germany, Otto Addo’s association with Ghana football dates back to 1999, spanning a period of about seven years; commencing with a 5–0 rout of Eritrea on February 28. He gained international prominence when he joined the squad for the 2000 African Cup of Nations. He featured as a midfielder in the team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
But like it’s often said, a prophet is not recognised in his own home and his efforts partially went unnoticed. He’ll go into the annals as one of the Black Stars coaches to have been fairly or otherwise criticised not just by ‘football people’ but fans who doubted him.
His sack has been discussed at various platforms by people whose knowledge and tactical acumen about the game remains questionable. Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Mr Kofi Adams, at one point openly stated his doubts over Otto Addo’s ability to actually deliver.
No coach would feel secured in such turbulent times, but coach Otto Addo kept his calm and composure. On the corridors of his employers, however, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) president, Kurt Okraku, openly rallied support for him, though a few ‘doubting Thomases’ still questioned his credentials.
That painted a picture of a people that forget easily and are quick to crucify. In a brief moment of adversity, Ghanaians forgot how Otto Addo was brought in to pluck qualification for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup from the jaws of the Super Eagles of Nigeria with a solitary goal over two legs.
The upshot of that feat was not one any Nigerian would want to remember. The scenes after the match were awfully chaotic, as fans vented their anger on facilities at the stadium. Back in Ghana, it was partying all night and day.
Otto Addo was labeled the football magician. He achieved something no Ghanaian coach had ever accomplished; a feat which Ghana with her all-time best teams could not attain. That was the climax to which Otto Addo took Ghana football, generating calls to start believing in the Ghanaian coach.
Following that to the World Cup proper was another story altogether. It was, or may have been, our poorest show at any of the four World Cup appearances. And just as it was stipulated in his contract, he bowed out after the Qatar World Cup to mind his Borussia Dortmund business with peace.
But as fate would have it, nature found a way to renew his romance with Ghana football after an unconvincing start to the America, Canada and Mexico dream World Cup under special advisor turned coach, Chris Hughton.
Ghana started the qualifiers on a winning note but not a convincing performance. It was saved by an Inaki Williams goal scored on the sixth minute of additional time against Madagascar at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. The Black Stars then slumped to a 1-0 defeat at the Stade de Moroni to Comoros to heighten calls for a new technical direction.
Then stepped in Otto Addo when Ghana occupied the fourth position in Group I with three points but with the countries in the group evenly matched.
By Andrew Nortey
