Sports
Black Stars continue their preparations for the CAR encounter with 23 players
The majority of the Black Stars players invited to the team’s important 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against the Central African Republic (CAR) have arrived in camp as preparations for the game heat up.
Hughton presently has 23 players available, with just Jordan Ayew and Richard Ofori still to join the Black Stars in training ahead of their crucial encounter against CAR. However, the pair is expected to appear shortly as the vital game approaches.
They will face off against their opponents on Thursday at the Baba Yara Stadium in a bid to qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted by Ivory Coast in 2024.
On Monday morning, the players began to arrive, including captain Andre Ayew, Mohammed Kudus, Osman Bukari, and new invitee Jonathan Sowah, among others.
Hughton is expected to pick up efforts and design a clever plan to surpass their opponents in the absence of key players such as Thomas Partey and Daniel Amartey.
Ghana, with nine points from five qualifying matches, would glide through with a victory or draw, while CAR, third behind Angola with seven points, must win by all means possible to seal their tickets to the elite event.
Meanwhile, Angola, which has eight points, will compete with previously eliminated Madagascar for a place in the competition.
Ghana’s game will begin at 16:00GMT.
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.
-
Politics7 days ago
Akufo-Addo: Someone I defeated cannot succeed me in 2024 elections
-
Business7 days ago
Protecting Your Digital Frontier: The Vital Role of Cyber Liability Insurance for Small Businesses
-
Business7 days ago
Securing Peace of Mind: Exploring High-Risk Homeowners Insurance Coverage Options
-
General News7 days ago
We’ve not been paid GH¢1 billion; KPMG’s assertion is false – SML
-
Relationship4 days ago
13 indicators that your wife is about to leave you and you have no idea
-
Business7 days ago
Celebrating Safely: The Importance of Special Event Insurance for Weddings and Parties
-
Politics6 days ago
Opoku-Agyemang will be a superb complement in many ways—Mahama
-
Entertainment7 days ago
Celestine Donkor comments about reports of getting weight loss surgery