by Silas Boahene | Jun 26, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, Soccer
Former Asante Kotoko coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani has advised the club’s leadership to prioritize establishing solid structures and effectively communicating with fans about the club’s direction. His counsel comes in the wake of Kotoko’s extensive player overhaul after a disappointing Ghana Premier League season that saw them finish 6th.
Reflecting on the importance of building a sustainable team, Dramani, who led Kotoko to consecutive league titles in 2013 and 2014, emphasized the need for patience in player development within the club. “Leadership and communication are crucial. You establish structures, and then you must effectively communicate these structures to the ordinary person on the ground,” he stressed.
Regarding the ongoing changes at Kotoko, he added, “The fans who support the team every week need to understand that we are in a process of rebuilding.”
The club recently released 19 players, including Steven Mukwala, following their underwhelming season.
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by Silas Boahene | Jun 26, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, Soccer
Hearts of Oak are reportedly negotiating with former goalkeeper Eben Dida Armah to appoint him as their goalkeepers’ coach for the upcoming season. This decision comes in response to the club’s ongoing goalkeeping issues during the recently concluded Ghana Premier League campaign.
Throughout the season, Hearts of Oak struggled with significant goalkeeping problems, as various shot-stoppers made critical errors that impacted the team’s performance. To address this, the club is turning to their former goalkeeper, Eben Dida Armah, in hopes of utilizing his extensive experience and expertise.
Dida Armah, a legendary figure at Hearts of Oak during his playing days, was renowned for his exceptional reflexes and remarkable shot-stopping abilities. His return to the club is expected to bring a wealth of experience and rejuvenate the goalkeeping setup.
Since retiring from professional football, Dida Armah has transitioned into coaching, earning recognition for his ability to mentor and develop young goalkeepers. The club’s management views his potential appointment as a significant move that could lead to substantial improvements in their goalkeeping performances.
Hearts of Oak are being proactive in strengthening their squad ahead of the new season, prioritizing the reinforcement of their goalkeeping department.
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by Silas Boahene | Jun 26, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, International, Soccer
Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has named Claude Le Roy, the former Ghana head coach, as his favorite manager. Despite acknowledging the late Ghanaian manager Jones Attuquayefio, who discovered him, Gyan expressed a particular preference for Le Roy due to his exceptional man-management skills.
Speaking on YFM, the ex-Sunderland striker shared his thoughts on the managers who have impacted his career, highlighting Le Roy’s approach to player management. “Jones Attuquayefio took me from Liberty Professionals, gave me confidence, and I reached the highest level. But I’ve had a lot of great coaches. I had good coaches under whom I scored goals, and they also benefited from me. But the coach with whom I felt more comfortable because he gives you a role to play and guides you, I think it was Claude Le Roy,” Gyan said.
Reflecting further on his experience with the French manager, Gyan added, “He knows he is my favorite. He has my style. He will give you the confidence in the world to do anything you want to do.”
Le Roy, who coached the Black Stars for two years, handed Gyan his Africa Cup of Nations debut in 2008 and led Ghana to a third-place finish in the tournament.
Gyan is Ghana’s all-time top scorer, with 51 goals in 109 appearances for the Black Stars.
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by Silas Boahene | Jun 26, 2024 | AFCON, Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Former Ghana midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang Badu has expressed concerns about the timing of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The Confederation of African Football has announced that the tournament will take place from December 2025 to January 2026, a period when European clubs, particularly in England, will be in the midst of their busy season. This scheduling could complicate the release of African players for the championship.
“It’s a very difficult situation, but this is our job. This is the kind of job we want to do,” Badu told Joy Sports. “You need to be there and represent your country, you need to make yourself proud, your country proud. So whenever you get the call-up, whether it’s Christmas time, whether the European club will worry us, you just need to come and do the job for your country.
“It’s just unfortunate, but we need to abide by it and just go with it. I hope it will not repeat itself because it will bring a lot of chaos for the players,” he added.
Agyemang Badu, who represented Ghana at several Nations Cups and was a runner-up in 2010, emphasized the importance of balancing national duty with club commitments despite the challenges posed by the tournament’s timing.
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by Silas Boahene | Jun 26, 2024 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Ghanaian youngster Mathew Anim Cudjoe has revealed why he chose not to extend his contract with Dundee United. Despite a successful campaign with the Tangerines, the former Ghana U17 star decided to end his tenure with the Scottish club.
Cudjoe was offered three contract extensions by Dundee United but declined each one. Speaking to 3 Sports, he shared his perspective: “They gave me the first contract when we started the season, but I didn’t accept it. They gave me a second one, which I also didn’t take, and then a third. Dundee United has been good to me, and I really appreciate it, but in football, sometimes you have to move forward, go to another team, and experience how football is.”
He emphasized that the decision was made in consultation with his father, prioritizing his growth and enjoyment in the game. “For me, I talk to my father, and we make decisions together. The decision was not to accept the contract. I want to go somewhere to play games and enjoy football because I am young,” Cudjoe added.
At 20 years old, Cudjoe is expected to join a new club before the start of the next season.
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