Sports
John Mahama to the rescue of former Black Queens goalkeeper
Former President John Dramani Mahama has rescued former Black Queens goalkeeper Memunatu Sulemana after learning of her dire situation.
According to the Daily Post, on Monday, 28 August 2023, Mr Mahama handed Memunatu Sulemana a completely furnished one-bedroom flat in the Accra district of Dansoman.
Furthermore, he gave the player with a contribution from friends and colleagues to assist her in getting back on her feet and finding a new path to success.
Mr Mahama’s support comes after Sulemana disclosed in an interview with Accra-based Original FM that she has been living in a temporary house in Kaneshie, Accra.
Sulemana’s disclosure comes as a surprise to the football world, despite his amazing career.
In a career spanning more than a decade, the 45-year-old played for Ghana at the FIFA Women’s World Cup and over 30 matches for Ghana’s women’s national team.
Sulemana was a member of the national squad that made its debut at the FIFA World Cup in the United States in 1999.
She also competed in the FIFA Women’s World Cup competitions in the United States and China in 2003 and 2007, respectively.
Her club career included stints with Ghana’s Post Ladies and Nigeria’s Pelican Stars in the Women’s Premier League.
Sulemana stated that despite her distinguished career, she earned relatively little while playing football, which contributed to her present condition.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) asked her to help in the draw for the Women’s African Cup of Nations, which was held in Ghana in 2018.
She was also selected to the technical team of Ghana’s U17 female national team, the Black Maidens, two years later.
Sulemana was hired as the goalkeepers’ trainer for the club and afterwards for the Black Queens.
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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