Sports
Let’s end the joke with sports
Identifying and writing about the problems bedeviling Ghana sports has become one hell of a task for a number of industry workers.
Talking or writing about them creates a feeling of laziness because one sounds monotonous or repetitive; this is because the problems or concerns expressed for the past years are same as those hunting us now.
And it looks as if no one cares about addressing these concerns and because they are seasonal, it is assumed that the noise will stop with time.
With writers and commentators, theytend to give up at the risk of being labeled political dogs hunting officials or a government in power; forgetting that those problems transcends respective governments.
This season of the Olympic Games has exposed us once again, bringing to the fore teething problems that must be addressed once and for all, and since it is about athletics, it has generated all the debate.
It is true Ghana presented one of the smallest teams at the festival because of qualification struggles, affecting psyche and morale of Ghanaians ahead of the competition.
However, there is every reason to be disappointed about the way our campaign ended, knowing that with the right preparations, the team could have done better.
The two swimmers exited after their respective first heats but Benjamin Azamati and Abdul-Rasheed Saminu momentarily made Ghanaians happy after placing second and third respectively in their heats.
In the subsequent heats, Azamati placed last (ninth) with Saminu ending in seventh position to end their campaigns in the Men 100m event.
The biggest heartbreak was the performance of Rose Amoaniwaa Yeboah in female high jump.
Talking of an athlete who joined the University of Illinois for the 2023/24 collegiate season and won the American National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) outdoor high jump national title with a 1.97m jump, her poor performance at the meet beats the imagination of many.
No wonder, report from the team’s camp suggested she was left broken.
That raises question marks about the kind of preparation athletes gets before participating in such championships.
This is an athlete that can easily be compared to the current kid on the block, Julien Alfred, from St Lucia who silenced the supposed ‘owners’ of female sprints.
From a country without athletics tracks and other equipment, she travelled to Jamaica on scholarship and continued to the States under similar circumstances as Amoaniwaa got the same platform and showed their skills.
What separates the two is the support for Julien from the state of St. Lucia and the non-existent support from Ghana for Amoaniwaa.
Julien travels around with a diplomatic passport and enjoys regular budgetary support from the tiny Saint Lucia island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean.
With this support, Julien is able to participate in some of the major championships around the world that allows her to compete with top athletes.
With this exposure, she will not crumble under the pressure of performing in front of the mammoth crowd that watched the athletics event at the Olympics.
The problem of Azamati and others who have performed under the flag of Ghana is not so different from Amoaniwaa’sfunding.
One thing has become limpidly clear is that these Ghanaian athletes that travel on scholarships perform at their optimum best when they are in school because they get the chance to participate in the NCAA championships.
They also get the chance to train with the best facilities and under some of the finest coaches around.
But all those privileges would cease the moment they graduate and have to keep their careers going on their own. In such instances, these athletes would have to start work to fend for themselves and in so doing, it begins to affect their performances.
At this crucial stages, what they need to stay competitive is a kind of support from the government, if indeedit considers sports as one of its priorities.
Politicians have spoken on sports as a tool for unity and a job creation avenue but over the years, it has proven to be a mere gimmick because they are just not committed to it.
Otherwise why would such pertinent problems rear the head at every international competition but nothing is done about it.
It beats one’s imagination when athletes even wait for longer periods to receive per diems for competitions. They don’t also get support as training allowances and are left on their own regarding participation in major championships.
In spite of this, Sports Ministers and government officialsmuster the moral right to urge them to win medals to raise the flag of Ghana.
How can these athletes perform to raise Ghana’s flaghigh on the world stage when some have to drive Uber and train in the afternoon or sell Ice Cream and hit the gym in the afternoon? It is time to sit up as a country and seek a better understanding of sports administration if indeed we want to reap the full benefits of it.
By Andrew Nortey
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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