Sports
GBF President says Freezy Macbones has made Ghana’s Olympic boxing team competitive
Bernard Quartey, President of the Ghana Boxing Federation, has stated that the arrival of UK-based Ghanaian fighter Seth Gyimah aka Freezy Macbones has increased the competitiveness of the national amateur boxing squad.
Freezy Macbones is one of 13 amateur boxers from Ghana known as the Black Bombers who will compete in the 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal.
Despite turning professional, Freezy Macbones was allowed to make Ghana’s squad owing to new sports restrictions.
In an exclusive interview with GhanaWeb, the GBF President stated that Freezy Macbones has swiftly adapted to Ghana’s unique style of boxing. According to him, the light-heavyweight boxer has increased the squad’s competitiveness because no fighter wants to lose their spot on the team.
“He has brought competition to the team. You the local boxer now know that it is not on the silver platter, because if you say you are the local champion someone from outside will come and unseat you,” Bernard Quartey told GhanaWeb.
The GBF president stated that his organisation has been following the fighter’s growth for some time and was pleased to learn that Freezy Macbones want to go down in history as an Olympic boxer.
“If you can recall in his last fight he made it clear to the world that he has a dream to become an Olympic medalist. So as a leader, we’ve been monitoring him. The Olympics allows professional boxers with minute fights to participate,” he stated.
Adding, “So we spoke to him and did a lot of work to convince him and his management and we have him here to train with our local boxers. He has been in the UK for very long and our style of boxing is different.
“Every local boxer wants to associate himself with the local boxers because we need to share ideas to uplift and grow in knowledge,” he said.
The qualifications for the 2024 Olympic Games are scheduled to begin on September 9, 2023.
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.
-
Ghana Football5 days ago
Samartex coach hints on readiness for Africa next season
-
Politics7 days ago
Akufo-Addo chides Ejisu independent candidate over by-election rigging charges
-
Business4 days ago
Choosing the Right Path: A Comprehensive Comparison and Review of Forex Trading Platforms
-
Business7 days ago
Urban Loft Apartments in Downtown Areas: The Ultimate in City Living
-
Business5 days ago
Mastering the Market: Best Forex Trading Strategies for Beginners
-
Sports7 days ago
Black Stars fitness coach Ricky Roy reportedly dead
-
Business4 days ago
Navigating the Markets: Expert Forex Trading Analysis and Forecasts
-
Politics7 days ago
Election 2024: Bawumia begins nationwide campaign today