Sports
Worst ‘clasico’ in decades
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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
In a resolve to build clearer pathway for athletes, the President of the Ghana Taekwondo Federation (GTF), Mr Frederick Lartey Otu, has indicated the new executive’s commitment to strengthen collaboration with major stakeholders in the development and promotion of the sport.
According to him, it would be difficult to achieve its set targets set for the new elected term without a good working relations with such collaborators.
Mr Otu said this when he addressed participants at the closing ceremony of the 16th edition of the Korean Ambassador’s Cup Taekwondo Championship held last Saturday at the Borteyman Sports Complex.
The event saw the Greater Accra Region’s dominance as they amassed a total of 26 medals consisting of 10 gold, eight silver and eight bronze medals.
The Upper East Region followed in second position with a gold, silver and six bronze medals and Western Region in third after annexing a gold and silver medals.
According to him, the new executive will continue to strengthen collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and Recreation (MoSR), National Sports Authority (NSA), Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), the Korean Embassy in Accra, corporate organisations as well as educational institutions and Regional Associations.
“Our recent engagements with key stakeholders have reinforced our belief that there is a willingness to support Ghana Taekwondo when we present clear programmes, demonstrate accountability and work collaboratively,” he stated.
Consequently, he assured of the executive board’s commitment to good governance, transparency, accountability, teamwork and respect for all stakeholders.
“We’ll listen to our regions, clubs, coaches, athletes, officials and members of the Taekwondo family. We’ll continue to improve our administrative systems, documentation, communication, financial planning and programme coordination,” he added.
Mr Otu noted that the board was committed to building a sustainable Taekwondo development system that produces athletes, coaches, referees and administrators capable of representing Ghana with pride.
He said starting this month, the GTF will roll out its first major initiative – the Regional Taekwondo Awareness Campaign, to be launched in the Ashanti Region.
The campaign is designed to take Taekwondo directly to the schools and communities, particularly areas where sporting opportunities are limited.
“Our immediate target is to begin with at least five deprived regions — Northern Region, Upper West Region, Bono Region, Central Region and Ashanti Region — and identify young people with the potential to become future Taekwondo athletes,” he emphasised.
Mr Otu expressed gratitude to the Korean embassy for its continuous support for the championship which he said had given Ghanaian athletes the opportunity to compete, gain valuable experience, test themselves against quality opposition and develop the confidence necessary to progress to higher levels of competition.
At the end of the competition, the embassy presented a number of Taekwondo attires to the GTF to boost the sport’s promotion in Ghana.
By Andrew Nortey
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CAF 2nd Vice President and President of the Ghana Football Association, Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, has visited the Black Princesses in Poland ahead of their opening game at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
The GFA President, who watched the team’s training session, assured the players of the Association’s full support and backed them to make history by qualifying from the group stage for the first time.
“A few days ago, I was in a chat with the head coach and I promised that I was going to join him for what I think is the most important game for us, which is the first game,” President Simeon-Okraku told the team.
“For me, the first game is the most important, because if we start well, chances are that we will do well. History tells us that this team has always been here. We’ve always been at this tournament for seven consecutive times. My inner faith is telling me that we have enough quality here to qualify from this group.”
He praised the players for their sacrifice and patience throughout preparations, saying their investment would be repaid on the pitch.
“You have been patient and gone through the troubles and the hassles. And you are here today. I believe that these sacrifices you have made, these investments you have made, will be repaid,” he said.
The GFA President stressed that Ghana has the quality to overcome their group opponents.
“We are faced by three opponents — Ecuador, Korea Republic and France. These three nations, believe me, are no better than us. We have enough quality in this team to win games in this group and to make it to the second round of the competition.”
“This tournament is played every two years, so after 14 years, this is the 16th year now — this group must be the one that makes it out of the group to the knockout stage. And this must happen.”
“I think the team is ready. The technical team have done a good job. The players have conducted themselves well. We will continue to support you to ensure you get the best to be able to compete at this level.”
He also charged the final squad to make those who missed out proud.
“A few of you were here but didn’t make the squad and had to leave. This is that moment that you have to make them proud.”
President Simeon-Okraku was accompanied to the training ground by Chief of Staff at the GFA, Michael Osekre, and President of Dreams FC, Jiji Alifoe.
Ghana will open their campaign against Ecuador on September 6, 2026, before facing Korea Republic and France in their other group matches.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
