Sports
Mohammed Kudus and Thomas Partey named in CAF Best XI for 2023
The CAF Best XI for 2023 includes Ghana’s Mohammed Kudus and Thomas Partey, as well as Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, who was awarded King of African Football at the awards event in Marrakech, Morocco.
Kudus, who currently plays for West Ham in the English Premier League, scored 18 goals in all competitions for Ajax last season and also scored twice for Ghana at the 2022 World Cup. His outstanding performance won him a transfer to the Premier League, with West Ham spending more than 40 million euros to obtain his services.
Partey, who plays for Arsenal, was crucial to the Gunners’ successful season last year, which helped them finish second in the Premier League table. He was picked to the CAF Best XI with Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, who was chosen ahead of Morocco’s Yassine Bounou, who was awarded the night’s best goalkeeper.
Achraf Hakimi, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, and Victor Osimhen are among the other players named to the CAF Best XI. This honour rounds off an outstanding year for both Kudus and Partey, who have continuously demonstrated their extraordinary talent on the world stage.
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 Football6 days ago
Samartex coach hints on readiness for Africa next season
-
Business5 days ago
Choosing the Right Path: A Comprehensive Comparison and Review of Forex Trading Platforms
-
Business6 days ago
Mastering the Market: Best Forex Trading Strategies for Beginners
-
Business6 days ago
Unlocking Profit Potential: Choosing the Right Forex Trading Signals Provider
-
Business5 days ago
Navigating the Markets: Expert Forex Trading Analysis and Forecasts
-
Business5 days ago
Mastering the Art: High-Probability Forex Trading Setups
-
General News3 days ago
Government to open the Kumasi International Airport on May 10
-
Politics5 days ago
Stephen Ntim vows to bring Adoumi back to NPP