by Silas Boahene | Jul 1, 2024 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Ghanaian midfielder Mohammed Kudus, reflecting on his impressive debut season in the English Premier League with West Ham United, anticipates even tougher challenges in the future.
Speaking after receiving the Men’s Footballer of the Year Award for the second consecutive year at the Ghana Football Awards, Kudus expressed gratitude for the recognition and acknowledged the heightened expectations following his successful transition to the English top flight.
“I expect the upcoming season to be much more challenging. I’ve made my mark, and now everyone is familiar with my style, so they will come at me even harder. I am fully prepared for that,” Kudus remarked.
Having moved from Ajax Amsterdam, the 23-year-old midfielder delivered an impressive tally of 18 goals and seven assists in 48 appearances across all competitions last season. His standout performances also earned him the second position in the West Ham Player of the Season Award voting, just behind top scorer Jarrod Bowen.
Kudus recently featured prominently in Ghana’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Mali and the Central African Republic, showcasing his continued impact on the international stage.
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by Silas Boahene | Jul 1, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
Black Stars Assistant Coach John Painstil has provided insights into the challenges facing the Ghana Premier League due to financial constraints, particularly affecting player retention.
Reflecting on the 2023/24 Ghana Premier League season, Painstil highlighted the significant issue of clubs being forced to sell key players during the off-season.
Speaking to Channel ONE TV at the Ghana Football Awards ceremony, the former Berekum Arsenal and Liberty Professionals player emphasized the financial realities in football management, stating, “Running football is a business, so if a young player has the opportunity to move abroad, why not? That’s why you shouldn’t build a team around one or two players.”
Painstil stressed the importance of building a robust squad structure to sustain clubs economically. He explained, “You need to have a squad if you really want to do business, because a young player can attract interest from Europe for a long-term contract. Club owners need to see a return, so I don’t think there’s a problem with that.”
Drawing from his extensive playing career with Fulham, West Ham United, and South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs, where he participated in two FIFA World Cup tournaments with Ghana, Painstil now holds a CAF Licence B and serves as an assistant coach. He recently joined the backroom team under new coach Otto Addo, marking his continued involvement in the development of football both in Ghana and internationally.
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by Silas Boahene | Jul 1, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
FC Samartex 1996 captain, Emmanuel Keyekeh, is uncertain about his future with the club amid significant interest from teams both within Ghana and internationally.
In an interview after being named Home-Based Footballer of the Year at the 2024 Ghana Football Awards, Keyekeh reflected on his successful season, having won the 2023-2024 Ghana Premier League title with the Samreboi-based club.
Discussing his tenure with Kotoko, where he won the league title under Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum’s first stint as head coach, Keyekeh also addressed his future prospects.
“It depends on the offer that comes. If an offer comes with a million dollars, I don’t think Samartex will reject it, so it depends on the offer that comes,” said Keyekeh.
The 26-year-old midfielder scored five goals and provided two assists in 32 league games this past season, contributing significantly to Samartex’s league triumph in only their second season in the top flight.
The reigning league champions have already lost Keyekeh’s midfield partner, Seidu Dauda, to Rwandan side APR this offseason.
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by Silas Boahene | Jul 1, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
Black Stars goalkeeper trainer, Fatau Dauda, has praised head coach Otto Addo’s abilities beyond coaching.
In an interview after attending the 2024 Ghana Football Awards, Dauda, who serves under Addo during his second tenure as Black Stars head coach, spoke highly of Addo’s player management skills. The former Enyimba FC player highlighted the recent back-to-back wins over Mali and the Central African Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Ghana secured a 2-1 victory over Mali in Bamako and a 4-3 win against the Central African Republic at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, moving to second place in Group I standings.
“We are trying our best to make things happen because things should be better, but it takes time. The games we played are over; the games ahead are very important. Otto Addo always wants to share ideas with the technical team,” Dauda said.
“He always makes sure we align with each other. He’s a manager; he knows how to manage players, not just coach them.”
Dauda has transitioned into coaching after a playing career highlighted by competing in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
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by Silas Boahene | Jul 1, 2024 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Former Black Stars captain, John Mensah, believes that Ghana’s National Men’s Football Team is performing well under head coach Otto Addo.
Mensah praised his former teammate in an interview after attending the 2024 Ghana Football Awards, where West Ham United midfielder Mohammed Kudus was named Footballer of the Year for the second consecutive time.
In his first official games back in charge, Addo led Ghana to a 2-1 victory over Mali and a 4-3 win over the Central African Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Mensah, who played alongside Addo at the 2006 FIFA World Cup during Ghana’s first appearance in the tournament, is confident that Ghana is on the right path to qualify for the 2026 edition under Addo’s leadership.
“It’s not easy with the way the team was before he came, but now he is managing to bring the players back together as a unit. Looking at the games they played in the qualifiers, I think they did very well. We all have to put our trust in him and support him, and I think he will continue to do well,” Mensah stated.
Mensah also represented Ghana at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa during his tenure with the Black Stars.
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