Avoid Watching Black Stars’ World Cup Live Matches–Ex-Mighty Rocks Manager Warns Heart Patients
Former Bolgatanga Mighty Rocks manager and development advocate Mr. Gabriel Agambila has issued a stark warning to Ghanaian football fans: temper your hopes for the upcoming World Cup in the United States, or face crushing disappointment that could endanger your health. With kickoff just days away, Agambila points to a chaotic and disjointed buildup, one he says is painfully familiar. Ghana still has no official roster. According to Mr. Agambila, across Europe, players are reporting to camp without any formal release or communication from a head coach who has never even seen them in person. “This is no time for blind hope,” Agambila told reporters. “Ghanaians should celebrate qualifying, but nothing more.” For die-hard supporters, his advice is grim: lower expectations now to avoid being overwhelmed by what’s coming. Those with weak hearts or high blood pressure, he suggested, should skip live matches entirely and wait for replays. “Almost four years, and we keep making the same mistakes while expecting different results,” Agambila lamented. Football, he explained, is an investment of time, a bond forged through proper preparation. “That preparation simply hasn’t happened.” His verdict was blunt: “We are coming to the USA as tourists. Nothing else.” On a more reassuring note, Agambila confirmed that members of the Alagumgube Association in the diaspora will, as always, welcome the supporters, the team, and the officials upon arrival. But he warned that the warmth of that reception cannot mask the chill awaiting Ghana on the pitch. Below are some critical concerns by Mr. Agambila 1. The Black Stars have arrived in Wales without the head coach yet. 2. With only a few days to the World Cup, the official squad list has still not been released. 3. Players based in Europe are already reporting to camp without an official release from the coach, who has yet to even see the players physically. 4. My advice to football-loving Ghanaians is to only rejoice in the fact that we qualified for the World Cup and to cease having any high hopes. This is especially important for die-hard soccer fans; we must psych ourselves up so we are not overwhelmed by the results that await us. 5. I would even advise those with blood pressure issues, if they are not strong-hearted, to only watch replays of the games. 6. For close to four years now, we have kept making the same old mistakes while expecting different results. 7. Football is an investment of time that requires bonding together and doing the right preparation, none of which we have done. 8. I will say we are coming to the USA merely as tourists and nothing else. 9. Alagumgube in the diaspora will, as usual, welcome the supporters, the team, and the officials to the USA when they arrive. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ghana’s Stadium Woes: A Blow to Football Pride– Gabriel Agambila
Renowned Ghanaian citizen, Gabriel Agambila, based in the United States, has expressed his disappointment and frustration over Ghana’s subpar stadium facilities. Despite winning the African Cup of Nations four times, Ghana lacks a suitable stadium to host international qualifiers. Apexnewsgh reports “It’s a disgrace that Ghana, with its rich football history, cannot boast of a decent field,” Agambila said. “How much does it cost to install sprinklers? I can easily do that and water the field three times a day.” Agambila criticized the Sports Council for failing to maintain the fields, despite employing grounds men. He compared Ghana’s facilities unfavorably to those in neighboring countries like Burkina Faso and Niger, which have standard fields despite harsher climates. “This is not just about football; it’s about national pride,” Agambila emphasized. “If we don’t get a suitable stadium, Ghana will never excel in international competitions. We’re not serious about sports.” Agambila urged the Sports Council to prioritize sports activities over renting facilities to political parties, musicians, funerals, and churches. “These facilities are meant for sports, not events,” he said. “Use the AstroTurf for non-sporting activities and keep our stadiums sacred for sports.” He cited Burkina Faso and other countries as examples, where stadiums are reserved exclusively for sports. “Let’s take our sports seriously and invest in our facilities,” Agambila concluded. “Ghana deserves better.” Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen/+233256336062
Breaking News: The first ever GFA Football Academy to be based in Talensi
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt E.S Okraku has announced that the first-ever football academy to be owned by the Football Association will be based in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region. The GFA President made the wonderful announcement on Friday, June 23, 2023, during the commissioning of the FIFA-sponsored standard Artificial Turf and Technical Center Phase One/ Sod Cutting Ceremony for Changing Rooms phase two in Winkongo. “The first ever Football Academy to be owned by the Football Association will be based here on your soil. It is the intention of the Ghana Football Association to make a big and proud statement that, it is possible for our children to have normal education and also pursue a carrier in football. We will combined education and football right on this soil” GFA President told the people of Talensi district. The GFA President, was very optimistic that the Upper East region has the potential to produce a lot more super talents and perhaps a lot more of Abedi Ayew Pelles if and only if we support our youth with first-class football infrastructure. “It is very true that there is a shortage of first-class football infrastructure in this part of our country. Just by way of statistics, we have seen one club qualify from Division 2 to Division 1 and what that means is that, in the Upper East Region, we have one first-Division club, and in the Upper East Region, we have 24-second Division club, in the Upper East Region we have 21 third Division clubs and in the Upper East Region, we have 7 women Division 1 league clubs and most importantly, in this part of our country, we have 84 juvenile clubs”. He stated that all the football clubs he mentioned above do deserve first-class football infrastructure. Stressing that, “it is the only way as a country we can develop a lot more sports talents to represent our country at various levels of football ecosystem”. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com
UER: GFA President, Tongo-Raana commissioned FIFA Standard Artificial Turf and Technical Center, Cut Sod for Phase Two
A FIFA-sponsored standard Astroturf pitch has been commissioned in Winkongo of the Talensi District in the Upper East Region. A little over $1 million dollars project which was assessed from FIFA projects 1.0 and 2.0 was commissioned on Friday, June 23, 2023, by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt E.S Okraku, the Upper East Regional Minister Stephen Yakubu, Paramount Chief of the Talensi Traditional Area, Tongo-Raana Kolbilsong Namalteng, the Winkongo Chief and representative from the Ministry of sports Mr. Horen Kofi Quashigah, Upper East Regional Football Association Chairman Salifu Shaibu Zida and some other football people. Speaking at the commissioning of the standard Artificial Turf and Technical Center Phase One/ Sod Cutting Ceremony for Changing Rooms phase two, the GFA President said, “FA recognizes that there are a lot of talents in schools, it also recognizes the need for us to make a bold statement to our students that they can also learn and pursue their football dreams and therefore, the vision of the FA is to set up an Academies in the northern part of Ghana. The first one in the northern part of Ghana will be set up here in the Upper East”. According to him, what that means is that, the FA will scout talents in the JHS system and specifically JHS 3 that will be in the category of boys and girls who will be getting ready to go to SHS and the topmost talent from all the regions in the northern region will be brought here in BIGBOSS. “So, BIGBOSS will be their school, and they will study and learn football. We will do the same in the middle belt specifically the Ashanti region and we will also do the third one in the Great Accra region”. In the second phase, we are going to see the construction of the changing room and then, when that is done we will announce the third phase which will include the construction of the office space. GFA President stated Speaking about the benefits that await the people of the Upper East Region, the GFA President said, the Upper East has the potential to produce a lot more super talents and perhaps a lot more of Abedi Ayew Pelles if and only if we support our youth with first-class football infrastructure. “It is very true that there is a shortage of first-class football infrastructure in this part of our country. Just by way of statistics, we have seen one club qualify from Division 2 to Division 1 and what that means is that, in the Upper East Region, we have one first-Division club, in the Upper East Region, we have 24-second Division club, in the Upper East Region we have 21 third Division clubs and in the Upper East Region, we have 7 women Division 1 league clubs and most importantly, in this part of our country, we have 84 juvenile clubs”. He stated that all the football clubs he mentioned above do deserve first-class football infrastructure. Stressing that, “it is the only way as a country we can develop a lot more sports talents to represent our country at various levels of football ecosystem”. The GFA President further expressed his satisfaction, with the effort of the BIGBOSS Secondary School, which came through the effort of the Chief of Winkongo, through the effort of the paramount chief of the Talensi Traditional Area, for their role in the magnificent edifice been given out for public use and for the football community. He said, the decision to come to the Upper East was not too difficult for the hardworking executive committee of the Football Association. “Indeed, we have 16 political regions in this country, we have 10 football regions in this country and the question is why did we choose Upper East? What is so important is when we approached the Upper East, they opened their arm to welcome Ghana Football Association to bring this amazing investment to this part of our country”. “It took a hardworking staff of the Football Association led by the Secretary to work closely with FIFA governance to ensure that we take all the boxes and most importantly to ensure that FIFA would agree for this investment to take place here”. “The football pitch that we see in front of us cost Ghana Football Association a little over $1 million dollars. This money was assessed from what we call FIFA Project 1.0 and 2.0. The little over a million dollars includes all the taxes and demurrage taxes that were paid to ensure we deliver this project in quality and on time”. He said “What we are witnessing today, represents phase 1 of our project. The vision of the Football Association is to invest and continue to invest on this soil for us to establish what we call the Technical center of our Football Association”. However, the GFA President revealed that currently, the entire Football Association (FA) has only one center and it is situated in Accra in Prampram, the intention of your FA is to replicate it here on this soil. “So, for this phase of the project, we have a FIFA standard Astroturf full-size pitch, we have a standby generator that will power the light, and two goal posts the coaches will use but beyond these, we will cut the sod for the construction of changing rooms that will allow our boys and girls to change and offer themselves to their coaches to be trained”. He said View some pictures below: Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana For publication please kindly contact us on 0256336062 or Email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Ghana to play Portugal in the FIFA opening game
The Black stars of Ghana have been drawn together in the same world cup group with Cristiana Ronaldo Portugal, Uruguay and Korea. The Black Stars opening game will be against Portugal. The World Cup draw was held on, Friday, 1 April 2022 at the Doha Exhibition and Conference Centre. This will be the fourth time Ghana is participating on Fifa world cup competition. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your adverts and credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
World Cup 2022: Ghana held to goalless draw by visiting Nigeria
Intense West African rivals Ghana and Nigeria could not be separated as they played out a stalemate in the first leg of their 2022 World Cup play-off in Kumasi. Hyped up beforehand, the contest in front of a capacity crowd in the Ghanaian city featured few chances but was played at a rare pace in an electric atmosphere. Nigeria thought they had won a penalty fifteen minutes from time, only for Moroccan referee Redouane Jiyed to overturn his decision after consultation with the Video Assistant Referee, being used in an African World Cup play-off for the first time. Bidding to reach their seventh World Cup, Nigeria host three-time qualifiers Ghana in Abuja on Tuesday in another likely feverish affair. The Baba Yara Stadium was desperate for a home goal but instead saw both goalkeepers pull off fine stops in a closely-matched contest between two sides who exited this year’s Africa Cup of Nations early on. Visiting goalkeeper Francis Uzoho twice denied Ghana debutant Felix Afena Ohene-Gyan before thwarting lively duo Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and, with a stunning stop, Mohammed Kudus. At the other end, Nigeria forward Moses Simon was rebuffed twice by Ghana goalkeeper Jojo Wollacott as the teams met in a World Cup clash for the first time since 2001. Early on, the main threats were coming from Ghana coach Otto Addo’s side with Gideon Mensah missing the target before Kudus’ rasping shot was pushed away. Nigeria’s first effort came from Simon as he thumped in a low drive blocked by Wollacott, while Uzoho smothered Jordan Ayew’s effort after the forward’s pace had stretched the defence. With the game finely poised, Nigeria had two chances in quick succession as Joe Aribo spurned a fine opening before hotshot Napoli striker Victor Osimhen also fluffed his lines. In the 75th minute, Nigeria thought they had earned a penalty given after Idrissu Baba handled the ball in the box but the referee overturned his initial verdict. Asked to check his decision by VAR on the pitchside monitor, Jiyed instead ruled that Idrissu had been fouled in the build-up. Nigeria will be the happier of the two sides ahead of Tuesday’s second leg but with the away goals rule in place, Ghana know any score draw – at the Abuja Stadium where Nigeria have not played a home match in over a decade – will take them to their fourth finals. Another goalless draw would see the tie go to extra time and if there are still no goals after 120 minutes, a penalty shoot-out will decide which of the rivals goes to Qatar. Source: BBC
Ministry of Youth and Sport tasked GFA to reconstitute Black Stars Management Team
According to the statement by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, following the emergency meeting, the Ministry, in accordance with its mandate, asked the Ghana Football Association to reconstitute the Black Stars Management Committee. During the frank and forward-looking discussion, the Ministry emphasized strongly the disappointment of the Ghanaian people and their Government in the national team’s poor showing, ending in our group stage elimination at the AFCON 2021. Below is the full Statement Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Sports Minister summons GFA after AFCON abysmal performance
The Ministry of Youth and Sports has summoned the Ghana Football Association leadership to an emergency meeting scheduled for Friday, 21 January 2022, to urgently discuss and take decisions aimed at salvaging the poor performance of the Black Stars. The meeting has become necessary following the team’s sudden exit from the ongoing AFCON in Cameroon. Black Stars was booted out on Tuesday night, 18 January 2022, after a 3-2 defeat to AFCON debutants Comoros. Below, is the Ministry summon: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
JUST IN: CAF Banned Black Stars Player Who Turned a Fighter In The Ongoing AFCON Tournament
Ghana striker Benjamin Tetteh has reportedly been ban by the Disciplinary Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for punching Gabonese player after full time. This will rule Tetteh out of the knockout and quarter final stages of the tournament as the Black Stars take steps to qualify to the next stage of the tournament. Tetteh was shown a retrospective red card by Algerian official Lahlou Benbraham for swinging a punch at a Gabon player. The incident took place at the end of Ghana’s 1-1 draw with Gabon on Friday evening, a hugely damaging result for the Black Stars in their bid to reach the knockouts. There was visible frustration on the Ghana bench after Gabon’s Jim Allevinah scored an equaliser in the 88th minute. And that frustration spilled onto the pitch after Benbraham blew for full-time, with players arguing with each other and their opponents. Eventually 24-year-old Tetteh, who had come on as a substitute, swung a punch at Aaron Boupendza.
Salifu Zida appointed Chairman of Black Starlets c’ttee
Executive Council Member of the Ghana Football Association, Alhaji Shaibu Salifu Zida has been appointed as Chairman of the Black Starlets Management Committee. This decision was taken by the Executive Council on Thursday, April 8, 2021. The Upper East Regional Football Association Chairman replaces Vice President Mark Addo who has been in charge of the national male U-17 team since 2019. Vice Chairman of the Committee John Ansah has been retained. The two, are joined by Eric Delali Senaye, CEO of Inter Allies, Odeneho Appiah and Abubakar Nallah. Black Starlets Management Committee: Alhaji Shaibu Salifu Zida – Chairman John Ansah – Vice Chairman Odeneho Appiah – Member Eric Delali Senaye – Member Abubakar Nallah – Member Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093