Sports
Worst ‘clasico’ in decades
Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko are the biggest traditional clubs in Ghana, without doubt.
There is no argument about their status as far as Ghana football is concerned. Despite their struggles in recent times, the weight of these clubs weigh heavily on the others who seem to be doing well.
In Africa, they seem to have experienced a serious slump in terms of performance on the field but in the history books, they remain strong forces.
In the glory days of Hearts and Kotoko, they were used to gauge the success of football in Ghana.
It is the reason why even in their weakest moment, games against them by the smaller clubs are considered huge tasks.
Just like it is in other countries, they provide local soccer fans with Ghana’s version of the ‘El Clasico’ which usually pitches the top two clubs of every country.
Ghana’s version of this great meeting was honoured on Sunday at the Accra Sports Stadium and the least said about the performance from the two teams, the better.
It was the poorest in recent times as fans had very little to enjoy from the drab game. It should explain the levels to which Ghana football has dropped, especially the local league.
Under normal circumstances, a clash between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko would create a holiday atmosphere; with several roads around the stadium and ministries area closed to traffic.
Security is heavily felt with fans preferring to leave their vehicles at home and go with public transport to avoid the traffic congestion around the venue – both Accra and Kumasi.
That exciting and anxious atmosphere appear to have lost. Now fans have become apathetic to Ghana’s Clasico.
The scene at the Accra Sports Stadium last Sunday was nothing to write home about; it was sad. It was sad to an extent that a game that required fans to be around the stadium by 12noon and go in by 2pm is now played in a virtually empty stadium.
The current Ghana ‘Clasicos’ lack the players whose names alone were enough to quench the thirst of supporters. With few media houses and the absence of social media platforms to promote such games, the mere mention or knowledge of players to appear for both sides were enough tool to hype the game.
Hearts of Oak fans would flood the stadium in their numbers, confident of seeing players like Ablade Kumah, Shamo Quaye, Owusu Afriyie, Offei Ansah, Ezekiel Alamu, Nanabenyin Crenstil, Emmanuel Armah, Joe Addo, Thomas Hammond, Thomas Quaye and others.
And at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) end of the pitch, one would see fans of Asante Kotoko cladded in red chanting names like Mohammed Odoom, Anthony Osei Kwadwo, Kwesi Appiah, Frank Amankwa, Emmanluel Appiah, Frimpong Manso, Stanley Abora, Sarfo Gyamfi, Joe Debrah, Thomas Boakye, Olli Rahmen, Isaac Boakye and others.
Any team that faced Hearts of Oak or Kotoko with these players in their line up knows it would not end well with them.
So anytime they meet each other, everyone was aware it would rain fire and brimstone.
But what is seen nowadays is quite unfortunate. Player quality has become a major headache for fans. One even wonders how some were recruited into the teams.
Interestingly, police numbers at the stadium last Sunday was more than the fans that turned out to watch the game, a situation that greatly affected the game’s temperament.
Clearly, it shows the level to which Ghana football has sank; calling for urgent measures to rescue it.
The game is lacking the players whose performances would keep fans cheering for over one hour and 30 minutes. Where these players have gone to remains a mystery. We have blamed player exodus on the poor quality of the league but little has been done to halt the trend because of the love for the mighty dollar.
Secondly, the mode of recruitment or scouting have become another problem as very good and talented players are ignored for players with managers that can pay for the platforms to perform to earn a deal abroad.
The problems are numerous with solutions in sight very few but if what fans watched as Ghana’s clasico is anything to go by, then stakeholders must rise up to save Ghana football.
By Andrew Nortey
Sports
Sports Ministry, PGA Ghana to roll out ‘Golf-in-School’ programme
The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Mr Kofi Iddie Adams, says his sector is ready to leverage golf as a tool for sports development and environmental consciousness in the country.
In his view, a sport like golf must be given the needed attention because of its potential to enhance development and boost economic benefits to the youth.
Mr Adams gave the remark when he received a delegation from the Professional Golfers Association (PGA), Ghana.
The team was led by its president, Mr Hans De Beer and accompanied by other top officials.
At the heart of the meeting was a shared commitment to reposition golf, most importantly professional golf as a powerful tool not only for sporting excellence but also for promoting ecological awareness and social inclusion.
Mr Adams acknowledged the current collaboration between the ministry and the PGA and acknowledged PGA’s recognition of the Ministry’s support for both amateur and professional golf in Ghana.
He stated that sports development cannot thrive in isolation and requires strong partnerships, visionary planning, and collective action, emphasising the importance of golf in promoting discipline, strategy, and respect for nature.
According to the Sports Minister, every golfer becomes an advocate for the environment, adding that “it is time to introduce golf in schools. This initiative would nurture young minds to value green spaces while embracing a sport that has enormous potential for tourism, health, and character development.”
He assured the PGA team that their collaboration would move beyond dialogue into action, with plans to develop golf-in-schools programmes, roll out climate-awareness campaigns, and engage communities across regions in growing the game.
That vision, he said aligns with the country’s efforts to promote sustainable development and environmental conservation.
“By introducing golf-in-schools, it would instill values of discipline, hard work, and respect for nature in young people. The planned golf-in-schools programmes would not only promote the sport but also provide opportunities for young people to develop important life skills,” Mr Adams who doubles as a Member of Parliament for the Buem Constituency stated.
Responding, Mr De Beer, expressed their gratitude for the sports Minister’s support and commitment to developing golf in Ghana and also welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with the Ministry and contribute to the growth of the sport in the country.
The meeting marked the beginning of a long-term partnership between the Ministry and the PGA to strengthen golf in Ghana and build a legacy that connects sport with sustainability.
Other PGA executive members who were present at the meeting include: Alhaji Ahmed Padori, Vice President, Tournament Director, Eric Henaku, Assistant Tournament Director, Francis Torgah, Emos Kwablah a senior member and Secretary of the Ladies’ Professional Golfers of Ghana Mercy Werner
By Spectator Reporter
Sports
Neequaye’s GBA exit …What might have caused it?
AN announcement from the communication team of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) informing stakeholders about the resignation of its president, Mr Abraham Kotei Neequaye has got fans thinking.
The resignation in itself is not a big issue.
Fact is, under the current circumstances, it may seem the best decision by Mr Neequaye who has supervised the most tumultuous boxing era in Ghana.
That is not to suggest that previous leaders of the association were saints; however, the level of acrimony under this administration is unprecedented.
Lucky to have witnessed the era of Mr Nii Quaye Mensah, Mr Moses Foh-Amoaning, Mr Samir Captan, Mr Peter Zwennes; one can confidently say the scene has never been that electric.
But what exists now is nothing short of a life in the boxing ring.
Wednesday’s announcement of an indication to resign yesterday (Friday, June 27) also got a few tongues wiggling with the timing.
Seeming to have brave the odds to such a crucial time that the association was preparing for its Elective Congress to put in place a new executive team; and Neequaye himself sounding confident of retaining his seat for another term, only to drop his guard last minute clearly suggests that there is more beyond what the eye can see.
Evidently, there is fire on the GBA’s corridors of power.
He has cited personal reasons for the decision but that has also sent journalists on a wild goose chase, finding anything available that is related to boxing to connect.
It has also left the Pandora’s Box opened with all manner of reasons flying around the media space.
A section of the media have tried to link the decision to findings and recommendation by a ministerial committee formed to probe the circumstances under which a Nigerian boxer died in Ghana during a fight sanctioned by the GBA.
Others are of the opinion that the embattled GBA boss was only trying to face the realities of the time.
This has come from a school of thought that he has realised he stands no chance in the impending election due to the bad blood between him and a huge number of stakeholders of the sport.
A few have managed to introduce some political theatrics into the Neequaye resignation drama, citing tensions between him and some party big wigs including the Minister of Sports and Recreation.
These are interesting times for the boxing fraternity.
But it’s amazing how time flies and how a lot of things can change with time.
Four or so years ago when Mr Peter Zwennes decided to step down as GBA boss, Neequaye was deemed the Messiah to take the sport to a new level.
He gained the support of these stakeholders who have become sworn enemies and was able to win against some heavyweights including a former promoter, Mr Henry Manly Spain.
The coaches, promoters, boxers, referees and other identifiable groups sang his praise but how all of these changed in less than a year remains a mystery.
Just after a year, key members of his executives confided in friends about contesting their president who they claimed to be going ‘out of order.’
Aside the verbal exchanges, other issues have gone to court for interpretation but all these moves are yet to restore peace and sanity in the GBA.
Stakeholders planning to shock Neequaye at the polls may be left stunned by the decision to bow out at the 11th round.
It is the hope of all that the next elected president can restore the peace and unity the GBA enjoyed and bring the stakeholders together.
But, however one looks at it, the history of the GBA would be incomplete without the strides of Neequaye whose tenure replicated the Foh-Amoaning’s Mortein Boxing League with what came to be known as the Imax Boxing League which also came with its own stories and challenges to promoters.
By Andrew Nortey
