Ghana Football
Jerome’s Take: Sorry but goodbye Ashgold

We’ve to strengthen the hands of the Ghana Football Association (GFA)’s Disciplinary Committee and the other judicial bodies of the GFA if we’re to cleanse our league football of things that have the tendency to hamper its growth.
Strengthening their hands means supporting them to ensure discipline, fairness and equality before the laws governing the game. That’s not to say we wouldn’t disagree with the rulings of the GFA’s judiciary bodies. It also doesn’t mean we wouldn’t criticise the FA itself. What it means is that, where there’s reason to back the GFA, we’ll do it.
Discipline is important in every human endeavour and particularly in football and sports in the larger context, we can’t develop if we won’t commit to doing and insist on the right things. No football association, no football league, no group of clubs anywhere have thrived in this business with misconduct, unethical behaviour or crime.
It’s why we must back the GFA when it treads on paths that lead to ridding our game of activities that would ruin it. It’s why the officers of the GFA must themselves be fair and professional in the discharge of their duties. It’s why I’ve backed the sanctions against Ashantigold and others although I didn’t like the fact that the Obuasi club stayed well beyond the announcement of their demotion to the Division Two League.
I’ve applauded the ruling of the Appeals Committee which upheld the Disciplinary Committee’s view that the miners’ punishment of demotion for match-fixing is fair. I also liked the timing of the ruling. It keeps the FA on track relative to its programme for the 2022/23 season. Ghana football has since 2018 suffered too much over corruption allegations and we must be interested in purging our game’s soiled image.
GFA President, Kurt Okraku and his team must not look back on enhancing our game’s reputation. It’s natural for us to feel bad that a club of Ashantigold’s stature have been thrown out of the Ghana Premier League to the third tier of our league football. The bitter truth, however, is that we didn’t wish this fate for them.
Rulings of the Disciplinary and Appeals Committees of the FA both underscored the irresponsibility of Ashantigold’s managers. You can’t trade the name and image of your club and that of Ghana football for a pittance, fail to own up to your grave carelessness and expect to be left off the hook in the face of evidence you couldn’t contradict.
The misjudgment of Ashantigold’s leadership brought them this shameful fate. You would only understand the magnitude of the disgrace Ashantigold’s present leaders have caused the club and its people if you saw the then Goldfields of the 1990s. Now that the GFA has the roadmap to replacing Ashantigold, I say sorry but goodbye.
Club admins must know what awaits them should they take the misguided leadership route those at Ashantigold took. Let’s always be mindful that despite our unwavering interest in Ghana football, if our conduct is that which dirties the sanctity of the game, we will suffer for it.
Source: Jeromeotchere.com
Ghana Football
Asante Kotoko to travel on a European training tour in Germany, Switzerland, and Italy ahead of the 2024/25 season

Asante Kotoko has announced ambitious plans for a training tour of Europe beginning on July 15, 2024, in preparation for the 2024/25 season.
During the club’s training tour in Italy, the Porcupines will work with famed Italian sides Genoa and Atalanta to fine-tune their abilities and plans.
Following the Italian leg, Asante Kotoko will take their training journey to Germany and Switzerland, presenting the squad with a variety of challenges and exposures as they prepare for the forthcoming season. The extensive training programme is intended to improve team performance and create team togetherness.
The official announcement of this exciting initiative was held on Friday, December 8, 2023, at the Lancaster Hotel in Kumasi, showcasing the club’s dedication to quality and worldwide competitiveness.
Meanwhile, Asante Kotoko faces an early challenge as they prepare for the season’s first Super Clash against arch-rivals Hearts of Oak. On Sunday, the highly anticipated match will take place at the Baba Yara Stadium.
Ghana Football
Frimpong Manso named new head coach of Bibiani Gold Stars

Bibiani Gold Stars of the Ghana Premier League have announced the hiring of Frimpong Manso as their new head coach.
The Asante Kotoko legend succeeds Michael Osei, who was given the door following a bad run of performances in the current 2023/24 season.
The Miners confirmed Manso’s employment via a social media post for the remainder of the season, with an option to extend.
Following the club’s dismal start to the season, the seasoned manager will attempt to turn things around.
After 13 games in the Ghana Premier League this season, the team has 12 points, putting them in the relegation zone.
Frimpong Manso’s first matchday 13 game is this weekend against FC Samartex 1996.
Manso recently parted ways with newly promoted team Bofoakwa Tano, after joining them at the start of the season.
Following an exciting start to the 2023-24 season, the former Ghana international defender was named coach of the month for September.
Ghana Football
Hearts of Oak Board explains why Martin Koopman was hired

Hearts of Oak board members have spoken out over Martin Koopman’s appointment.
The Dutch manager was named head coach of the Ghana Premier League team before the start of the current 2023/24 season.
However, following a rocky start, the club severed ways with the 67-year-old after only four months in command.
Koopman won two games and scored six goals in ten Ghana Premier League appearances.
Fans have criticised the club’s leadership, with some asking for their dismissal.
However, Dr Nyaho-Nyaho Tamakloe, Alhaji Akanbi, and Vincent Sowah-Odotei explained why Koopman was selected at a news conference on Monday.
“We went in for Martin Koopman because we were looking for a coach with maturity and a coach with experience. He came up on top of the list of coaches before he was hired” they said.
Hearts of Oak lost 1-0 against Aduana FC in the Ghana Premier League on matchday 12 after being eliminated from the MTN FA Cup.
The Phobians will want to get back on track when they meet Asante Kotoko in the matchday 13 games on Sunday, December 10.
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