Sports

Raphael Dwamena dies after falling on the pitch in Albania

Published

6 months ago

November 12, 2023

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"The Partizani Club, President Demi, and the entire red family express their sincerest condolences to the family and the Egnatia Club for the death of striker Raphael Dwamena," said Partizani. We share your anguish at this awful time for Albanian football." The striker had a history of cardiac problems, having been diagnosed with one in 2017. Despite wearing an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), Dwamena encountered difficulties, falling many times during games. His suffering resulted in his dismissal from Austrian team Blau-Weiss Linz in 2021 after falling during a cup play.

Raphael Dwamena, a former Black Stars striker, died on Saturday at the age of 28 after suffering a heart attack during a league match in Albania.

The event occurred in the 23rd minute of KF Egnatia’s game versus Partizani, and efforts to resuscitate him were ineffective. He passed away on the way to the hospital.

Dwamena’s unexpected death has shocked the football world, particularly in his home country of Ghana.

“The Partizani Club, President Demi, and the entire red family express their sincerest condolences to the family and the Egnatia Club for the death of striker Raphael Dwamena,” said Partizani. We share your anguish at this awful time for Albanian football.”

The striker had a history of cardiac problems, having been diagnosed with one in 2017. Despite wearing an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), Dwamena encountered difficulties, falling many times during games.

His suffering resulted in his dismissal from Austrian team Blau-Weiss Linz in 2021 after falling during a cup play.

Dwamena’s career in football featured a significant period with FC Zürich when he made an early impression by scoring 12 goals in 18 appearances, assisting the team in achieving promotion to the Swiss Super League.

A prospective move to Premier League team Brighton & Hove Albion in 2017 fell through owing to a failed test due to his cardiac ailment. He later signed with La Liga club Levante UD in 2018.

Despite suggestions for urgent withdrawal and retirement from football in 2019 following further investigations of his cardiac condition, Dwamena persisted, having an ICD implanted in January 2020. He began his club career with Liefering and then went on to play for Vejle BK and Levante.

Dwamena made his international debut in 2017 against Ethiopia in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, scoring a brace. In nine appearances for the national team, he scored two goals.

Sports

Black Stars fitness coach Ricky Roy reportedly dead

Published

4 days ago

April 29, 2024

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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.

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

Published

6 days ago

April 27, 2024

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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 Cooperation (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.

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

Published

1 week ago

April 25, 2024

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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 was eliminated from the Champions League last week after losing to Paris St. Germain in the quarterfinals.

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.