Sports

Sadio Mane Reportedly Secures Contract For Childhood Friend To Join Bayern Munich

Published

2 years ago

August 1, 2022

Did Sadio Mane get his childhood friend a Bayern Munich contract?

Sadio Mane joining Bayern is the talk of town but several reports in Munich indicate that Desire Segbe Azankpo has also joined Bayern Reserve team on a two year contract.

Who is Désiré Segbé?

Segbé is a Beninese international who was scouted at an early age and sent on trials to Generation Foot Academy in Senegal. That was the same period Sadio Mane had also been brought to the Academy from his village Banbali.The two quickly formed a bond and became good friends.

According several interviews conducted by Mane, he and Segbe shared the same room and shared everything including food and clothes.

Mane would sometimes wear Segbe’s boots and vice versa. Segbe was a highly-rated striker at the academy with Mane playing as a midfielder.

After some few months, Mane was the first to be flown to FC Metz in France. It didn’t take long for Segbe to join him in France.

In 2019, Segbe revealed that, Mane had told Metz officials about his friendship with Segbe so the club kept him and Mane in the same room again.

They finally separated when Mane moved to RB Salzburg. Segbe got a terrible injury which slowed his career. After his recovery, he moved out of Metz but things didn’t turn out quite well with his career as it did for Mane.

Segbe went to play in Luxembourg, Slovakia etc. Despite this, he and Mane continued to stay in touch and claims he and Mane get in touch on FaceTime everyday. In 2019, Segbe got a move to Oldham Athletic in England. It was just 45mins from Liverpool so Mane asked him to come stay with him in his house.

During the 2019 Afcon in Egypt, Mane and Segbe’s countries faced in the Quarter Final match. This was the first time they met in a game. Senegal won 1-0 vs Benin and advanced but Segbe stayed to wait for Mane until the tournament was over.

They moved back together to England. When Sadio Mane got the Bayern Munich deal, he moved to Germany with Segbe Azangkpo for his medicals, signing and unveiling ceremony. If you saw someone with Mane throughout the process, that was Segbe.

When Mane won the African Best two weeks ago, he dedicated the title to his friend Desire Segbe Azankpo who he said has been a pillar in his life and stood behind him when things were tough. Azankpo’s deal with Dunkerque had ended and without a club and now moving with Mane.

Today, it is widely reported that Bayern have signed him for the reserve side, after a trial facilitated by Sadio Mane. This is also to allow him stay closer and help Sadio adjust quickly.

Sports

Black Stars fitness coach Ricky Roy reportedly dead

Published

1 week ago

April 29, 2024

Majesty

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

2 weeks ago

April 27, 2024

Majesty

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

2 weeks ago

April 25, 2024

Majesty

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.