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2022 World Cup: Some deserving Black Stars players were ignored because of ‘Pay to Play’ – Stonebwoy

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Source: Paa Kwasi Schandorf

Celebrated dancehall artiste, Livingstone Etse Satekla, popularly known as ‘Stonebwoy’, has expressed misgivings about the final Black Stars squad for the 2022 World Cup competition.

In a tweet by the singer, he said some deserving players did not make the final selection due to their inability to pay their way through.

In what he described as ‘Pay to Play’, the decorated musician questioned the Ghana Football Association about the monetary inducements, which he believes influenced the Black Stars’ final squad for Qatar.

“There are players who are supposed to be in the squad who are not here because of #PayToPlay @ghanafaofficial why?”, Stonebwoy queried.

The comments by the musician add to the basket of criticisms which have so far greeted the national team’s final squad for the upcoming competition in Qatar this month.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, the coach of the Black Stars, Otto Addo, named his final 26-squad for the Mundial.

n the heavily anticipated announcement, the trainer mentioned the list of athletes whom he believes can help Ghana’s quest to excel in the global sports competition.

Anticipating the likely criticisms from the public, he stated that his selection was based on good judgement, and therefore called on all Ghanaians to rally behind the team as they face their opponents in Qatar.

But hours after this exercise, scores of aggrieved football fans took to social media to berate Otto Addo’s selection.While some questioned the inclusion of certain players, others wondered why prominent names like Jeffrey Schlupp were excluded from the final list to shoppingmode FIFA

Meanwhile, the Ghana Football Association has urged all Ghanaians to throw their weight behind the team, as they prepare for their first round of matches in the group stages of the competition.

Ghana is in Group H and will be locking horns with Portugal, Uruguay and South Korea.

The team has featured in the competition on three previous occasions in 2006, 2010 and 2014 respectively.

Making their fourth entry into the competition, the Black Stars are looking forward to giving a good account of themselves as they meet other world powerhouses in football.

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Dani Alves released after paying €1 million bail for rape conviction

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Sources had informed ESPN last week that Alves was considering alternative options to raise the €1m, including freeing up some of his assets and asking money due to him by the Spanish tax office. Alves paid the payment on Friday, according to Spanish news agency EFE, citing judicial sources. On Monday, the court verified receipt of Alves' bail money and indicated he would be released within hours. To be released, Alves must surrender his Brazilian and Spanish passports, pay bond, and not leave the country. He still has a home near Barcelona.

Former Brazil player Dani Alves was freed from prison on Monday after paying the €1 million ($1.08 million) bail necessary while awaiting the outcome of an appeal to his rape conviction, according to Reuters and Spanish court records.

On February 22, Catalonia’s top court convicted Alves of sexually assaulting a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in 2022 and sentenced him to 4½ years in jail. He was granted bail on Wednesday but stayed in prison for the rest of the week after failing to come up with the funds on time.

Alves, accompanied by his lawyer, left the Brians 2 jail northwest of Barcelona soon before 4:30 p.m. local time, wearing a grey jacket over a white turtleneck, according to a Reuters videographer.

Sources informed ESPN last week that Alves was considering alternative options to raise the €1m, including freeing up some of his assets and asking for money due to him by the Spanish tax office.

Alves paid the payment on Friday, according to Spanish news agency EFE, citing judicial sources. On Monday, the court verified receipt of Alves’ bail money and indicated he would be released within hours.

To be released, Alves must surrender his Brazilian and Spanish passports, pay bond, and not leave the country. He still has a home near Barcelona.

Alves is also prohibited from approaching or communicating with the victim within 1,000 metres (3,280 feet), and he is required to visit the courts once a week.

Ester García, the victim’s lawyer, criticised the decision to give Alves bail until his appeal, calling it “scandalous”.

“It is justice for the rich,” she stated.

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Ghana’s Evans Yamoah wins gold in men’s high jump at the African Games

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Despite facing great opposition from competitors like as South Africa's Mpho Benjamin and Hammouda Saad, Yamoah's outstanding performance catapulted him to victory, attracting viewers' attention and solidifying his image as a rising star in the world of athletics. Notably, this historic victory marks the first time Ghana has won gold in both the Men's and Women's High Jump events at the African Games, with Rose Yeboah successfully defending her Women's title. Ghana's athletics delegation has considerably contributed to the country's total medal tally in the Games, with Yamoah winning the gold medal and Joseph Paul Amoah winning the Men's 200m final.

Evans Yamoah Cadman created history in the 2023 African Games by winning the gold medal in the Men’s High Jump for Ghana, demonstrating his exceptional leaping abilities and culminating in an excellent performance in the continental arena.

Yamoah, along with fellow Ghanaians Ebenezer Gyimah and Kennedy Ocansey, exhibited exceptional talent, outperforming countless opponents to cement his place in Ghanaian and African sports history.

Throughout the competition, Yamoah had exceptional consistency, clearing nearly every height on his first try. Even at the difficult height of 2.16 metres, he persevered, finally succeeding on his second attempt. Surprisingly, he was the only participant to surpass the height of 2.23 metres, earning his well-deserved gold medal.

Despite facing great opposition from competitors like South Africa’s Mpho Benjamin and Hammouda Saad, Yamoah’s outstanding performance catapulted him to victory, attracting viewers’ attention and solidifying his image as a rising star in the world of athletics.

Notably, this historic victory marks the first time Ghana has won gold in both the Men’s and Women’s High Jump events at the African Games, with Rose Yeboah successfully defending her Women’s title.

Ghana’s athletics delegation has considerably contributed to the country’s total medal tally in the Games, with Yamoah winning the gold medal and Joseph Paul Amoah winning the Men’s 200m final.

Ghana’s excellent athletic performance has increased its medal count to 54, including 14 gold, 24 silver, and 17 bronze.

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2023 African Games: Joseph Paul Amoah wins gold in 200m

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Consider Emmanuel of Nigeria finished third, clocking 20.80 seconds. Amoah's compatriot, Ibrahim Fuseini, also displayed his abilities by finishing fourth in the extremely tough race.

Ghanaian sprinter Joseph Paul Amoah electrified the track after winning the gold medal in the men’s 200m final on Friday at the University of Ghana Stadium.

Amoah, who had previously won bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, showed impressive form in both the heats and the semifinals, establishing himself as a strong contender for the final. With drive and skill, he executed a magnificent performance to win the coveted gold medal.

Amoah crossed the finish line in 20.70 seconds, securing first place on the podium. Following closely after was Cameroon’s Claude Emmanuel Itoungue Bogognie, who won silver in 20.74 seconds.

Consider Emmanuel of Nigeria finished third, clocking 20.80 seconds.

Amoah’s compatriot, Ibrahim Fuseini, also displayed his abilities by finishing fourth in the extremely tough race.

The victory in the men’s 200m follows Ghana’s earlier success in the day, when the women’s hockey team defeated Nigeria in the final. William Amponsah also added to Ghana’s medal count, winning a silver medal in the marathon event.

Joseph Paul Amoah’s amazing performance not only earned him a well-deserved gold medal, but it also cemented his reputation as one of Ghana’s top athletes on the world scene.

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