Sports
Asamoah Gyan: I have enough experience to contribute to sports
Ghana football great Asamoah Gyan has expressed his desire to contribute to sports in a variety of positions, including a possible move into politics.
The former Black Stars captain, who resigned from football last year, has been chosen as sub-committee head for youth and sports in Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s (NPP) platform committee for the 2024 elections.
Dr Bawumia presented a list of individuals tasked with contributing to his manifesto, and Gyan’s surprising participation implies a new chapter for the legendary player off the pitch.
Gyan responded to the announcement on his official social media account, expressing his desire to promote sports beyond football and contribute to the industry’s growth.
Reflecting on his career, Gyan emphasized his plethora of knowledge and talents, which might be useful in advancing sports in Ghana. He remarked, “When I reflect on my career, my highs, lows, failures, and successes, I believe I have enough experience and techniques to contribute to sports.”
“I always ask myself, how do we create change if we don’t want to change? How do we spectate without being on the bench, and how do we score without being on the field?… All I know and will ever know, all I love and will ever love is SPORTS.”
Gyan’s nomination as the subcommittee chair for youth and sports is consistent with his recent appeal for sports icons to band together and use their influence, networks, and resources to lure investors to the country.
While Gyan is not typically associated with politics, his latest engagements show a rising desire to contribute to the nation’s overall growth. Previously, there were reports of his interest in running for parliamentary office, and he has been a notable guest at Dr. Bawumia’s initiatives, including the unveiling of the ‘Bold Solutions’ speech, which outlined the Vice President’s vision ahead of the general election.
In his previous stint as captain of the senior national team, Asamoah Gyan played a critical part in sustaining Ghana’s dominant power in African football, a legacy created by earlier skippers John Mensah and Stephen Appiah, among others.
Ghana routinely advanced to the final rounds of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) under his captaincy, demonstrating their ability on the continental scale, however they fell short of winning the title.
The former Legon Cities striker has already established a variety of athletic enterprises, like the Baby Jet Boxing promotion and the Baby Jet U-16 competition, targeted at discovering talents in Ghana.
Individually, Asamoah Gyan proved to be a powerful force up front, cementing his position as Ghana’s all-time leading scorer. He scored 51 goals in 109 national team appearances, an outstanding achievement. Gyan is also Africa’s best scorer at the FIFA World Cup, with six goals in three appearances.
Sports
Black Stars fitness coach Ricky Roy reportedly dead
Romeo Ricky Roy, the fitness coach for Ghana’s senior national team, has died.
According to Ghana Football Association president Kurt Edwin Simeon Okraku’s Facebook post, he died in Accra on Sunday, April 28, 2024.
Roy joined the Black Stars’ backroom staff in 2021, during Milovan Rajevac’s second spell as coach.
He remained with the national squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the current Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
Roy rose to prominence as a member of the coaching staff for Division One League club Vision FC in February 2020, before joining the national squad.
Sports
Veteran Sports Commentator Joe Lartey dies at 96
The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has reported the death of Joe Lartey, a veteran Ghanaian football pundit and sports writer.
He passed away on Friday, April 26, 2024, at the age of 96.
Joe Lartey was born on June 6, 1927, in Accra and attended Accra Academy. Lartey, often known as “Over to You,” was a well-known broadcaster and SWAG’s founding president.
Lartey began his media career as a football commentator with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) in 1961.
He grew to be a popular figure in Ghana’s sports community.
He subsequently spent a decade at Radio Nigeria before returning to GBC in 1990. During his stint, he presented shows including Sports Digest on GTV.
In appreciation of his achievements in sports journalism, Lartey received the coveted “A Life in Sport” award from the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) during the AIPS Sport Media Awards ceremony in Doha, Qatar, in June 2022.
Lartey’s impact stretched well beyond Ghana, with numerous Ghanaian football analysts praising him for moulding their careers.
Fans and colleagues alike will remember him warmly for his pioneering work in sports broadcasting.
Sports
Xavi to stay as Barcelona’s coach until at least June 2025
Barcelona coach Xavi will stay with the club until at least the end of his contract in June 2025, having changed his mind about this being his final season.
The 44-year-old stated in January that he will stand down as manager this summer.
However, with president Joan Laporta desperate for him to stay, the former Barcelona and Spain midfielder has made a U-turn.
Xavi took over as manager of Barcelona in November 2021, after leaving Qatari club Al Sadd, and led the team to the Spanish title in his first full season in charge in 2022–23.
However, they are 11 points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid with six games remaining in the current season.
Barcelona were eliminated from the Champions League last week after losing to PSG in the quarterfinals.
Xavi, who won 25 honours during his brilliant playing career at Barcelona, said he felt “liberated” with the revelation that he would leave the position at the conclusion of the season.
When he announced his departure following the defeat to Villarreal, he felt he was not being safeguarded by the club and there was no clear direction.
However, the team’s fortunes have improved since Xavi felt comfortable taking a more casual attitude.
They went ten games undefeated in the league before falling 3-2 to Real Madrid on Sunday.
On Wednesday, there was a meeting at Laporta’s residence, and the club’s desire for him to stay was clear.
If Xavi is unable to strengthen the squad before the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, Barcelona will attempt to persuade one of the high-profile managers out of contract, including Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique, and Mikel Arteta.
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