Sports
Some sanity in DOL!
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The National Division One League (DOL) will roll out this weekend with matches across several centres nationwide.
Starting almost a month after the Ghana Premier League (GPL), it is expected to create a festival atmosphere which fans in every corner of the country would be part of.
The demotion of Accra Great Olympics among two others to the division last season is expected to heighten coverage and attention for the competition.
Apart from the Wonder Club, there are a number of former Premier League clubs that are campaigning for returns to the elite league.
The likes of Okwahu United, New Edubiase, Real Tamale United, Bofoakwa Tano and many others readily comes to mind.
Though they may be in different regions or zones, they would still make a number of high profile matches that would attract fans to their respective venues.
Despite the excitement it generates, the DOL has been branded as the ‘wilderness’ of Ghana football due to some negative factors associated with it.
Reports of vandalism, attacks on visiting teams, bad officiating leading to chaotic scenes, bad pitches and others have been usually associated.
With such issues, the DOL must be lucky to have courted Access Bank as headline sponsors for the competition.
This is because very few corporate institutions would want to be associated to product that attract such negative reports.
With a new season set to commence, the DOL Board and other stakeholders must be seen to be taking decisions to tackle some of these issues.
The Football Association seem to be doing well in this regard with the organisation of workshops for Venue Media Officers (VMOs), Match Commissioners (MCs) and others that play key roles in ensuring an incident-free season.
These workshops would refresh their memories on amendments to the Laws of the game, Integrity, the Competition Management System (CMS), Report Writing, the Role of the modern Match Commissioner and how to conduct successful technical meetings.
In all of these, officiating is very key. A poor performance from a referee can throw any preparation out of gear so the FA’s focus must be on the referees and their assistants.
They are usually the victims of the mayhem caused by their own actions on the field.
The FA must ensure that their needs are met on time for them to operate very independent while also dealing drastically with people that falls foul of the law.
In that way, there can be sanity in DOL.
By Andrew Nortey
Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club has announced that FIFA has closed the matter involving former coach Rene Hiddink following the full settlement of the amount owed to him.
In an official statement issued on August 18, 2026, the club indicated that FIFA had formally communicated the closure of the case after Hiddink confirmed receipt of the payment.
As a result, FIFA has lifted all registration restrictions that had previously been imposed on Hearts of Oak in connection with the matter.
The club expressed satisfaction with the resolution, stressing that it acted in good faith throughout the process and worked towards what it described as a responsible and amicable settlement.
Hearts of Oak has therefore urged its supporters, stakeholders and the general public to remain calm, noting that the relevant process has now been concluded.
The club thanked its supporters, popularly known as Phobians, for their patience, understanding and continued support throughout the matter.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Madam Lisa Antoinette McGee, a Philanthropist, has donated 30 desks and chairs to Street Academy, non-governmental sports and culture organisation in Accra.
The donation forms part of a broader commitment by Madam McGee and her family to support the welfare and education of vulnerable children including those around at the Art Centre, where the Street Academy was located.
Making the presentation, she said the gesture was to honour her late son, Jordan Allen, adding that Jordan was a sociable character, a 27-year-old teacher who loved children very much and believed that every child was made special.
“Jordan got sick and passed away in January. Myself and my husband, Nana Kwame Opoku Acheampong, want to do something special in memory of our beloved son for the children at the Street Academy,” Madam McGee indicated.
She said: “Prior to his passing, Jordan had already shown his dedication to Ghanaian youth by contributing $1,500 toward an orphanage project, a legacy of giving that his family now continues.”
Madam McGee added that she and her husband earlier visited the school and saw that the children sat on broken chairs, prompting their donation of 30 desks to have a nice and comfortable place to read and write.
Dr Ataa Lartey, Founder of the School, expressed their gratitude to the family, noting that the school would also name its big water tank after the late Jordan Allen.
“Lisa has promised the school that she will return to bring simple health items, such as bandages and other medical supplies to support the school nurse and help the children when they play,” he added.
