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Setordji wins McDan Open Championship

He came, saw and conquered. Togolese topseed, Thomas Setordji has emerged winner of this year's McDan Open West Africa Championship which ended at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday.

PLB names shortlist for NASCO player and coach of the month for April

The Premier League Board (PLB) has named a six-man shortlist for the maiden NASCO Player and Coach of the Month for April.

In the Player of the Month category, WAFA's Daniel Lomotey Agbloe, Berekum Chelsea's Stephen Sarfo and Accra Hearts of Oak's Winful Kwaku Cobbina have been shortlisted.

WAFA's Klas Rasmussen has made the shortlist alongside Yusif Abubakar of Aduana Stars and Frank Elliot Nuttal of Accra Hearts of Oak are in the Coach of the Month category.

The winners will be announced by the PLB next week. They will be presented with prizes from Nasco Electronics, sponsors of the award.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) earlier this week announced a partnership agreement with Nasco Electronics as its electronic partner for the Premier League, sponsoring the innovative Man of the Match, Player of the Month and Coach of the Month awards for the Ghana Premier League

Source: Ghana Fa.org

Semi-Final games for McDan Open Championship set for Friday

The second McDan Tennis open championship currently underway in Accra, has reached the semi-final stage with some interesting games to look out for.

The Women’s semi-final pairing will be an all Nigerian affair as Angel Maclecod faces compatriot Lizzy Airhunmwunde in a game that promises to be a straight fight between the pair.

The second semi-final in the women’s division will see another Nigerian Sarah Adegoke face Ghanaian Emma Cudjoe as both strive to finals qualification.

In the men’s semi-final Felix Hounkpevi from Benin will play Jeff Bagerbaseh of Ghana , with Wisdom NA-Adjrago of Ghana also facing Thomas Setodji from Togo in the second semi-final .

Tennis lovers in the Country are hoping Ghana wins the championship. The men and the women’s trophy was won by Nigeria last year.

Executive Chairman of the McDan Group, Daniel McKorley,  says the objective is to create competition among West African Tennis players.

Former Gabon defender Moise Brou Apanga collapses and dies

Tributes have been paid to former Gabon international Moise Brou Apanga who died on Wednesday from a suspected heart attack.

The 35-year-old collapsed during a training session with his Gabonese club FC 105 Libreville.

He played for the Panthers at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2010 and 2012.

"We played together, we played against each other but it was always a pleasure to play alongside you," Gabon captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang posted.

"Rest in peace my brother."

The Gabon Football Federation (Fegafoot)  also paid tribute.

"The country has lost a brave son who has always given his best for the Gabonese flag,"
"All our condolences to his family and team-mates."

source:BBC

Liverpool unveil new home kit for 125th anniversary season

Liverpool have unveiled their new kit for next season when they will celebrate their 125th anniversary.

The kit pays homage to the Reds' 125th anniversary, revealing the commemorative crest for the first time.

The liver bird emblem flanked with '1892' and '2017' is embroidered onto the breast of the shirt, a unique feature for the 2017/18 season.

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson said: "There is a huge sense of pride that comes with wearing an LFC shirt and it is always an honour, but this kit is special.

"Our 125th anniversary is a great moment for us all to celebrate our heritage and this kit really reflects that, especially as it features the anniversary crest - we'll wear it with pride."

The design itself is rooted in the history and takes inspiration from previous kits, such as the famous 'Rome' 1984 home shirt.

Returning to a darker 'Shankly red', the shirt incorporates tonal pinstripes which acknowledge the Liverpool teams of the early 1980s.

To commemorate the tragic events of Hillsborough, the 96 emblem, encased by the eternal flames, sits at the nape of the neck.

Credit:Skysports

Manchester United star Pogba ruled out of derby against Manchester City

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has revealed French international midfielder, Paul Pogba has not recovered from a hamstring injury and will not face rivals City at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday.

United travel across town knowing  a win would take them above their neighbours for the first time since August and into prime position for a top four place in the Premier League.

But Mourinho will be without a host of players, including Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Juan Mata.

The United manager said 'Pogba? No. Only Valencia (can play), 'We go with what we have, we fight with what we have, I trust the boys, The boys are ready.'

United won in the league at Burnley at the weekend without key players and afterwards Mourinho challenged stars such as Smalling and Jones to try and push through the pain.

But neither defender has made it.

Meanwhile Mourinho has said he won't be able to talk about Ibrahimovic's future until the Swedish striker has recovered from knee surgery on his serious ligament injury.

He added: 'The immediate future is a big surgery and a long time out.
'He is a strong guy, mentally very strong.
'I have told him he has fought all his life since he was born and I don't see that will change.

Mourinho will attempt to beat his old rival Pep Guardiola for only the fifth time in 19 attempts tomorrow night and only the second time away from home.

But the Portuguese dismissed suggestions that supremacy in Manchester is all that matters.
'It means nothing,' he said.

'If we finish fifth and they are sixth then we are above them but it means nothing.
'If they finish third and we are fourth then it means a lot.'

Credit:Daily Mail

Kwesi Appiah’s presence at local games good for League-PLB Chairman

Premier League Board Chairman Ashford Tetteh-Oku has lauded Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah for showing a keen interest in the Ghana premier league.

Appiah, recently re-appointed head coach of the senior national team has been present at four local games so far. He was at Sogakope yesterday to watch the game between WAFA and Liberty Professionals.

Mr Tetteh-Oku says “It is very important to have a national team coach who has an interest in the domestic league".

Citing how a second division player was some years back called up to black stars, he noted apart from the presence of Akwasi Appiah enhancing the value of the league, it brings healthy competition among the players as they would want to give off their best to attract a call up to the Black Stars.”

Kwesi Appiah is hoping to draft some local talent into the senior national team, following complaints from many Ghanaians the team is dominated by foreign based professionals, some of whom do even not even have regular play times at their clubs.

Sharapova returns to tennis with a win after 15 month doping suspension

The controversy over wildcards may run and run, but Maria Sharapova insists she is not getting anything for free.
‘I’m coming here with no ranking. I’m not getting a wildcard to receive a trophy or a golden platter,’ said the 30-year-old Russian after her victorious comeback from a 15-month doping ban.

The champagne corks will not be popping within the women’s locker room, but those inhabiting the inner sanctum will have to get used to having her back.

On the exact day that her suspension expired, the five-times Grand Slam champion served notice that she will once again be a force to reckon with by beating world No 36 Roberta Vinci 7-5, 6-3 in an hour and 43 minutes.

Sharapova took advantage of her controversial entry into the Stuttgart Grand Prix with sufficient aplomb to suggest that she might even make the French Open and Wimbledon under her own steam, without the need for any further charity.

‘It was the best feeling in the world, I have been waiting for this moment for a long time,’ said Sharapova, who was more the ice queen later when faced with less gushing questions.

Asked what she is now using as a substitute for the Mildronate that earned her the ban, and which she has insisted was so important for her general health, she replied: ‘That information is between myself, the WTA and the orthopaedic doctor I’m working with.’

As Eugenie Bouchard became the latest of her peers to verbally assail her, she reasoned: ‘I can’t control what people say.’

For Sharapova Wednesday night was a promising start to her campaign to gain enough points to play at the French Open and Wimbledon, by qualifying if necessary. ‘I think I would be prepared to play in the juniors if I had to,’ she said.

'Everyone knows what a competitor I am and I won’t take anything for granted.'

The nearest she strayed from guarded diplomacy was when she made no attempt to distance herself from the remarks of her agent, Max Eisenbud, about Caroline Wozniacki and Agnieszka Radwanska, in which he described them as ‘journeyman players.'

She almost seemed to endorse them. ‘I don’t control my manager’s words,’ she said. ‘He has been watching everyone’s comments in the last 15 months and he is entitled to his own opinion.'

Even Wozniacki and Radwanska have not gone as far as Bouchard did on Wednesday night.

Describing Sharapova as a ‘cheater’, she said: ‘I think from the WTA it sends the wrong message to young kids — 'Cheat and we’ll welcome you back with open arms'

Beaten Vinci was reasonably generous: ‘She played a high level,’ she said. ‘But then she hasn’t been out with an injury, she’s been practising a lot at home. She was very focused.’

Sharapova’s serve was especially strong. While she pressed too hard on her forehand at times, it also delivered a welter of winners and her ear-splitting shriek filled the venue.

Understandably tight in the first set, and missing a lot at the start, she only converted two of eight break points in the opener. But she wreaked havoc with her aggressive returning and always looked the likely winner after recovering from a 0-2 deficit.

At the end she stood on the baseline, bent over in delight and signalling at her support team. She had made her point, and may do so many more times. Next up is Ekaterina Makarova.

Earlier, Jo Konta had overcome Japan’s Naomi Osaka 7-6, 3-6, 6-1. It was a decent result, having only arrived on Monday afternoon from a fairly traumatic Fed Cup match outdoors in Romania.

The world No 7 now meets Latvian Anastasija Sevastova on Thursday afternoon for a place in the quarter-finals.

In the Barcelona ATP Tour event, Andy Murray received an unexpected day of rest when his second-round opponent, Bernard Tomic, withdrew due to a bad back. The Scot faces Spain’s Feliciano Lopez on Thursday.

Credit:Daily Mail

GPL Review- Hearts drop points, Kotoko fail to win again

Week 13 of the Ghana Premier matches were played at all league centres with some intriguing displays.

At the Baba Yara Sports Stadium Kumasi Asante Kotoko drew 1-1 with Aduana Stars and this meant the Porcupines have not picked up 3 points in their last six outings.

A 49th minute equalizer from Mohammed Abass canceled out Sam Adams goal for Aduana and the game ended with both teams taking a point each. This draw sees Kotoko lying 5th on the league table with 20 points and Aduana are 2nd with 26 points.

WAFA continued their impressive starts to the season as two goals from Togolese striker Komlan Agbeniadan meant that WAFA beat Liberty Professional 2-1 at the Sogakope Park.

This win has further extended their lead at the top of the league table as they currently sit 1st with 29 points.

At the Tamale Stadium Hearts of Oak dropped two vital points as they drew 3-3 with Bolga All-stars, defender Vincent Atinga put Hearts ahead in the game as early as the 1st minute  but Alhassan Rahim restored parity for All-stars in the 30th minute.

Their joy was cut short when Hearts captain Thomas Abbey gave them the lead again a minute after All-stars had equalized. All-stars fought hard and got their second goal in the 57th minute through Ibrahim Giyasu and went ahead for the first time in the game when Alhassan Rahim scored his second of the game in the 64th minute to put them ahead 3-2.

The game seemed to be heading in favour of the newly promoted side until Hearts Ivorian Striker Alexander Kouami scored in the 75th minute to earn them a point. Hearts are currently 4th on the league table with 20 points.

At the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium bottom place side Ashanti Gold failed to make their home advantage count as they drew 1-1 with Tarkwa based side Medeama SC, coach C.K Akunnor is hoping to turn the fortunes of Ash Gold round as quickly as possible to enable them avoid relegation to the lower division.

In other matches goals from Malik Aggrey and James Akaminko ensured that Tema Youth pick up all 3 points against  Great Olympics at the Tema Park, Olympics head Coach Tom Strand is yet to win a game after taking charge of the club last week.

At the Berekum Golden City Park, Berekum Chelsea defeated WA All-stars 1-0, Elmina Sharks drew 0-0 with Inter Allies and Bechem United against Ebusua Dwarfs also ended 0-0.


Full results

Bolga All-stars 3-3 Hearts of Oak

Kotoko  1-1 Aduana Stars

WAFA 2-1 Liberty Professionals

Berekum Chelsea 1-0 WA All-stars

Tema Youth 2-1 Great Olympics

Elmina Sharks 0-0 Inter Allies

Bechem United 0-0 Ebusua Dwarfs

Ashanti Gold 1-1 Medeama SC

Cristiano Ronaldo rested for Real Madrid's trip to Deportivo La Coruna

Cristiano Ronaldo has been rested for Real Madrid's match with Deportivo La Coruna on Wednesday evening.

It is the third consecutive La Liga away game Ronaldo has not featured in, as manager Zinedine Zidane continues his rotation policy in spite of the recent Clasico defeat to Barcelona.

The European champions seem not to be affected much by the absence of the world number one. They have recorded victories at Leganes and Sporting Gijon without him.

Real Madrid will also be missing Gareth Bale and captain Sergio Ramos as a result of  injury and suspension respectively. Toni Kroos has also been rested.

Raphael Varane returns after nearly a month out due to a hamstring, to ease the blow of Ramos' absence at the heart of the defence.

Real and Barca are locked on 75 points at the top of the table but Zidane's side hold a game in hand over their rivals.

Credit :sky sports

Ghana’s fastest human project launched by President Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has launched the 2017 edition of Ghana’s Fastest Human at the Adidas House in Accra.

The yearly sprint competition is headlined and sponsored by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).

The president, speaking at the ceremony, promised to offer eight autographed trophies for the finals of the competition.

He urged organizers to include other track-and-field disciplines to the sprint event. This he said will go a long way to improve sports in Ghana as there is so much concentration on football.

The Ghana’s Fastest Human project is aimed at unearthing and developing well-trained 100m athletes to participate and win medals at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

The competition is also expected to revive interest and drive mass participation of Ghanaian athletes at the district, regional, and national levels.

The best athletes from the competition will be selected into the GNPC Speedsters Club in association with Adidas, which pays for their training and upkeep for a year..

Arsenal take on Leicester on Wednesday

After a brilliant performance to 'conquer' Manchester City in the FA Cup and cruising into the final with Chelsea, Arsenal will be hoping to continue with their impressive form as they come against Leicester City in their outstanding English Premier League game on Wednesday night.