Sports
Is the Stars’ coach watching? Awako’s golden feet…
When he took the bold decision to return home from the United States to relaunch his career, many wondered whether it was a prudent move to make.
Endowed with a dazzling feet that draws tantalising patterns on the lush field, one would have thought the swash-buckling midfielder will rather continue to avail his talent to other clubs in Europe, Asia or the
Americas.
But for the 30-year-old Gladson Awako, there was the need to come home and ‘reboot’ a glittering football career that was steadily taking a slump.
“Sometimes, you miss domestic football and when things are not going as envisaged, there’s the need to come home, put things right and stage another adventure,” he says.
On hearing he had touched down, many clubs dashed fiercely for his signature, all wanting to have a good feel of Awako’s phenomenal midfield inventiveness where he sprays the field with a series of mesmerising runs, adroit dribbling and incisively intelligent passes.
Rather interestingly, Awako decided to seal the deal with Ghana’s Wonder Club – Great Olympics – an outfit whose stay in the domestic elite league has been wondrously inconsistent.
Never mind, Awako would say. “That’s where my heart belongs now.”
Indeed, since joining the Dade boys in the 2019/2020 season, the Voltarian has been shimmering and had inspired the Blue-and-White shirts to some incredibly difficult wins – most often scoring or serving as provider, before the season was truncated due to COVID-19 concerns.
But the player would sparkle again from where he left off as he has been in tremendous-fine-fettle form in the new season, picking up the Ghana Premier League (GPL) Player for December.
Indeed, his sterling form in the six matches under review (November-December) saw him bang home four goals with three assists. Within the period, he also clinched the NASCO Man-of-the-Match award four times.
Limpidly, Awako had shown more than enough that he is ready to don the colours of the senior national team again, having been called up into the Black Stars for a friendly against the Argentina national team in October 2009.
Ever since, the Olympics playmaker and skipper has been looking forward to lace up his boots again for the Stars, having now mushroomed into a player of the first water.
Years back, he had been criticised for overly hanging on the ball. Now, Awako is a huge departure from that style and distributes the ball with the aplomb of a veteran.
It is the belief of this column that the sweat merchant of the Black Stars, Charles Kwablah Akonnor, is watching Awako closely and should be willing to give him an opportunity to showcase that dexterity bottled up in his moderately-sized body.
For the records, the talented Awako was a member of the national Under-20 football team (Black Satellites) that dazzled the world to win the 2009 FIFA Youth World Cup held in Egypt. Ahead of that feat, he had played a crucial role to help Ghana annex the African Youth Championship in Rwanda, same year.
Awako was also a CAF Champions League winner with TP Mazembe in 2015, having won the domestic trophy with the DR Congo side three times – beginning from 2012. He was also part of the squad that clinched the CAF Confederation Cup and the CAF Super Cup – all in 2016. In 2013, Mazembe were runner-up in the Confederation Cup in which he played a significant role.
The ‘Nungua boy’ started his career at Ajax Academy, joined Heart of Lions, which later loaned him to Real Sportive (and back to Lions) before his move to Berekum Chelsea – and was a member of the Berekum side that reached the group stage of the CAF Champions League in 2012.
The high-flying Awako tasted the thrills of US football with Phoenix Rising FC in the 2017-2018 season, finishing as runner-up in the USA Soccer League (USL) Championship, before heading home.
With the experience under his sleeve, Coach Akonnor cannot afford to overlook this talent in the next Stars’ call-up. In any case, the Stars’ chief trainer had earlier asserted that local players who ‘shine’ would get a look-in, and the nimble-footed Awako must get the nod!
PlainTalk
With John Vigah
THE Ghana Premier League (GPL) enters another exciting weekend with Asante Kotoko and Medeama SC set for a crucial showdown while Accra Hearts of Oak seek to strengthen their title challenge and FC AshantiGold 04 begin life after the departure of Coach Abdul Karim Zito.
The Matchday 9 fixtures, scheduled for today and tomorrow, promise another round of compelling contests as clubs battle for early season supremacy, continental ambitions and stability.
The headline fixture is the meeting between the Porcupine Warriors and the Mauve and Yellow at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium tomorrow where both sides will be eager to make a statement.
Kotoko will have the advantage of home support but the Tarkwa-based side are expected to provide a stern test for the Porcupine Warriors.
The Kumasi giants have endured an inconsistent opening to the campaign, with their recent results highlighting the need for greater consistency if they are to mount a serious title challenge.
Their 1-1 draw with FC AshantiGold 04 in the previous fixture underlined the difficulties they have faced in turning competitive performances into maximum points.
Against Medeama, the Reds must combine defensive discipline with greater attacking efficiency. Playing before their home supporters could provide the necessary lift, but they would need to avoid giving the visitors opportunities to exploit any defensive lapses.
Medeama, meanwhile, will travel to Kumasi determined to demonstrate why they are among the teams expected to challenge for the title.
For both clubs, victory would offer more than three points. It would provide an important psychological boost and strengthen their position in an increasingly competitive title race.
Hearts of Oak will also be among the teams attracting considerable attention as they travel to face Debibi United tomorrow.
The Phobians have made encouraging progress in recent weeks, with their defensive solidity and growing confidence giving supporters reasons to believe that a sustained title challenge is possible.
Their 1-0 victory over Basake Holy Stars, secured through Martin Karikari’s late strike, strengthened their position at the summit of the league after eight matches. The result also extended their winning run to three matches.
However, maintaining that momentum away from home will be another test of their credentials.
Debibi United will be determined to frustrate the visitors and use home advantage to their benefit.
Hearts must, therefore, approach the encounter with patience and discipline, particularly if their opponents adopt a compact defensive approach.
With the standings still capable of changing significantly at this early stage, maximum points could help Hearts consolidate their position at the top or reclaim it, depending on the results of their closest challengers.
Another major talking point is the decision by FC AshantiGold 04 to part ways with Head Coach and Technical Director, Abdul Karim Zito, Assistant Coach Ernest Okyere, and goalkeepers’ trainer, Robert Dabo.
The development comes as AshantiGold prepare to visit Swedru All Blacks tomorrow, presenting an immediate test for the club’s caretaker technical team.
The question is whether the coaching changes will produce the desired reaction or further unsettle a side still searching for consistency.
Swedru All Blacks, who will enjoy home advantage, will be keen to capitalise on any disruption within the visitors’ camp.
Elsewhere, Aduana FC would host Berekum Chelsea in a potentially tight contest, while Basake Holy Stars welcome Dreams FC.
Heart of Lions will face Bechem United, and Samartex take on Bibiani Gold Stars in another intriguing fixture. Vision FC will meet Port City today, while Young Apostles host Karela United tomorrow.
By Enoch Ntiamoah Siaw
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THE 24th edition of the Accra Seniors Tennis Open Championship, organised by the Accra Lawn Tennis Club, is scheduled to take place from Monday, November 23 to Saturday, December 5, 2026, organisers have announced.
Consequently, registration for the tournament has opened, offering professional and amateur players an opportunity to participate in the competition that assembles the best of the aged in the tennis fraternity.
Registration will close on Friday, November 20, 2026, with the draw and viewing for the competition scheduled for Saturday, November 21, 2026 and Sunday, November 22, 2026, respectively.
Entry fees have been pegged at GH¢150 for the singles event and GH¢200 for the doubles event.
Matches will be played on weekdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The competition will feature various categories, including ladies’ singles, men’s singles, ladies’ doubles, men’s doubles, advanced social singles and doubles, as well as mixed doubles.
In the ladies’ singles event, players will compete in different age categories, including those aged up to 39 years.
The men’s singles event will feature players in the 25–34, 35–44 and 55–64 age categories.
For the ladies’ doubles event, participants will compete in the under-40 and 40-and-above categories, while the men’s doubles event will feature players aged 35–44, 45–54, 55–64, 65–69 and 70 years and above.
The advanced social singles and doubles categories, for both men and women, are designed for high-level amateur players seeking competitive matches outside the demands of professional and semi-professional circuits.
The mixed doubles event will also provide an opportunity for players to compete in combined male and female pairings.
The tournament is expected to attract players of different ages and skill levels, with spectators anticipated to witness exciting displays of skill, technique and sportsmanship throughout the competition.
By Benjamin Arcton-Tettey
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