by Silas Boahene | Aug 27, 2024 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Empoli FC pulled off a significant 2-1 victory against AS Roma in their Serie A match, with Emmanuel Gyasi playing a crucial role at the Stadio Olimpico. The former Ghanaian forward opened the scoring just before halftime, finishing a well-placed tap-in after a flick from Colombo following a Giuseppe Pezzella cross.
Empoli extended their lead in the second half when Sebastiano Esposito won a penalty, which Colombo confidently converted, sending the ball into the roof of the net. Despite AS Roma’s late push, with Eldor Shomurodov scoring a header in the 80th minute, Empoli held on to secure the win.
Gyasi’s outstanding performance earned him the Man of the Match award, highlighting his importance to the team. This victory marks a strong start to the season for Empoli, who will aim to build on this momentum.
by Silas Boahene | Aug 27, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, Other Sports
Vincent Torgah emerged as the champion of the West Coast PGA Championship, held at the Celebrity Golf Club in Sakumono. Despite challenging weather conditions, including strong winds and persistent rain, Torgah displayed exceptional skill and resilience to secure the title.
The three-day tournament, which began on August 21, featured fifty golfers, including forty-two regular professionals, twelve seniors, and three ladies. Torgah’s consistent performance, with scores of 71, 69, and 71, ensured his victory against a field of seasoned competitors, including Alfred Kwame of Achimota Golf Club, E.K. Owusu, J. Klah, V. Coffie, Francis Torgah, and Kojo Barnini. This win marks Torgah’s third triumph in the series, setting the stage for the main tournament scheduled for November.
After receiving his winner’s cheque, Torgah acknowledged the tournament’s difficulty due to the challenging course and inclement weather. He expressed his determination to build on this success in the upcoming PGA playoffs.
Alfred Kwame finished in second place with scores of 71, 71, and 72, while E.K. Owusu secured third place with a total score of 216. J. Klah and V. Coffie completed the top five.
In the senior category, Emos Korblah claimed victory after two days of play, finishing with a score of 147. Robert Degbe and Teye Lartey of Center of the World Golf Club took second and third places, respectively.
In the ladies’ division, Jessica Tei of Achimota Golf Club emerged victorious, surpassing competitors Mercy Werner and Felicity Gyeabour over the two-day competition.
Following the event, past and present PGA competition directors, Rev. Akwasi Prempeh and Eric Henaku, expressed satisfaction with the tournament’s turnout and urged golfers to maintain discipline in their training ahead of the next qualifier at the Royal Golf Club in Kumasi. Celebrity Golf Club Captain, Alex Oppong Baffoe, praised the successful organization of the championship and reaffirmed the club’s commitment to supporting professional golf in Ghana.
by Silas Boahene | Aug 27, 2024 | Africa, Europe, Ghana, International, Soccer
Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey opened his account for the 2024-2025 season, scoring in Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park. Partey secured the win for the Gunners with a trademark strike in the 77th minute, curling the ball into the net from the edge of the box after receiving a pass from Bukayo Saka. Leandro Trossard, who came off the bench, had earlier given Arsenal the lead in the 67th minute. Partey, who played the full 90 minutes, completed 53 of 59 pass attempts, delivering a standout performance as Arsenal notched their second consecutive Premier League win. This goal marks Partey’s first of the season as he enters the final year of his contract with Arsenal, having joined the club four seasons ago from Atletico Madrid.
by Silas Boahene | Aug 27, 2024 | Africa, Athletics, Basketball, Boxing, Ghana, Other Sports, Soccer
Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, has called for investigations into the Sports Ministry over alleged financial mismanagement and corruption. Speaking during an interview with ChannelOne TV at the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Manifesto launch in Winneba, Afriyie Ankrah expressed surprise that current Sports Ministry officials have not faced scrutiny despite controversies surrounding Ghana’s recent participation in international competitions like the 2023 AFCON and the 2023 African Games.
Afriyie Ankrah drew a comparison to the intense investigation he faced following Ghana’s troubled campaign at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, questioning why similar investigations have not been conducted for recent issues under the current administration. He highlighted the purported $3.6 million payment to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation for coverage of the African Games as one of several concerns that warrant investigation.
by Silas Boahene | Aug 26, 2024 | Africa, Ghana, Soccer
Former Hearts of Oak defender Caleb Amankwah has urged Ghanaian football clubs to prioritize player welfare by offering better salaries to keep top talent in the local leagues and enhance competitiveness. Amankwah, who recently joined Ethiopian side Commercial Bank FC after leaving Hearts of Oak, highlighted the superior pay in Ethiopia compared to Ghana.
He emphasized that improving player salaries would help retain key players in the Ghana Premier League, ultimately attracting more fans to stadiums on matchdays. “If there is money in Ghana, we will stay and play in the Ghana Premier League,” Amankwah stated in an interview with Asempa FM, as reported by footballghana.com.
Amankwah also questioned the logic of allowing top players to leave, as it diminishes the appeal of the league to supporters. His departure from the Ghana Premier League is part of a broader trend, with many players leaving to join clubs in other African countries like Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, and South Africa.
