Category: Local Sports

Hearts of Oak Head Coach, Aboubakar Ouattara, Expresses Satisfaction With Draw Against Vision FC

Hearts of Oak head coach, Aboubakar Ouattara, has expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of their 1-1 draw against Vision FC in the Matchday 27 fixture of the 2024/25 Ghana Premier League on Sunday.

The Phobians were hosted at the Nii Adjei Okraku II Sports Complex, where they took the lead through Kelvin Osei Asibey’s 40th-minute strike. However, a stunning goal from Adjetey Sowah equalized for Vision FC, ensuring the game ended in a draw.

“We played at this stadium, but it is not easy for us because of some things I don’t want to say, but I think the game is not bad. The two teams tried their best, and we got our points,” Ouattara said after the match.

He added, “We are impressed because every time I tell them we can score, we created some chances, but no problem because the opponent also did well in defense, and in midfield, everybody tried to win the match.”

The draw leaves Hearts of Oak in fifth place with 41 points, while Vision FC sits 14th with 29 points.

Looking ahead, Ouattara’s side will aim to return to winning ways when they travel to Aduana FC, while Vision FC will play away against Basake Hoy Stars.

Bechem United coach Kwaku Danso feels his team should have secured the maximum points against Asante Kotoko in their Matchday 27 encounter at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday.

Darlvin Yeboah gave Bechem United the lead in the 69th minute with a fine strike, but Kotoko fought back and equalized through Albert Amoah, who converted a penalty to end the game 1-1.

“It wasn’t bad. Before the game, I told you we are going to change the narrative, and you’ve seen it yourself. We should have won the game because my boys played to instructions,” Kwaku Danso said after the match.

When asked about the performance of the match officials, Danso declined to comment, stating, “I don’t want to comment about certain things, so let me reserve my comment on that.”

Despite the draw, Bechem United remain in 7th place on the league table with 40 points, while Kotoko hold the top spot with 47 points.

Danso will be hoping to steer his side back to winning ways when they host Bibiani GoldStars, while Kotoko will travel to face Accra Lions.

Asante Kotoko head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum has acknowledged his team’s struggles in finding their rhythm during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Bechem United at the Baba Yara Stadium in a Matchday 27 Ghana Premier League fixture.

The visitors took the lead in the 69th minute through Darlvin Yeboah, before Albert Amoah leveled the score for Kotoko with a penalty, ensuring both teams shared the points.

Speaking after the match, Ogum praised Bechem United’s tactical approach, noting how their compact defensive setup caused problems for Kotoko’s attacking play.

“It was a nice game. I think Bechem came defensively to stay low and then go on the counter,” Ogum said. “They tried to put a lot of men behind the ball, which made it very difficult for us to penetrate, but we tried a few times and we were able to unlock it, but we couldn’t score. It was a good game.”

Ogum also pointed out that a lack of cohesion hindered Kotoko’s performance.

“Bechem United is a very good side, but I think we didn’t find our rhythm, we didn’t find our flow, and I think that is the main reason,” he added.

Despite the draw, Asante Kotoko remain top of the league table with 47 points, while Bechem United stay in 7th place with 40 points.

Looking ahead, Bechem United will host Bibiani GoldStars, while Kotoko will travel to face Accra Lions in their next fixture.

Technical Director of Vision FC, Annor Walker, has clarified that his bold pre-match remarks about “finishing Hearts of Oak in 25 minutes” were purely for promotional purposes and not intended as disrespect.

Ahead of the Ghana Premier League clash at the Nii Adjei Kraku Park, Walker confidently claimed his side would dominate the Phobians, but the match ended in a hard-fought 1-1 draw.

Speaking to Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show after the game, Walker explained his comments.

“Hearts is a big club, I have a lot of respect for them,” he said. “My pre-match comments were for promotional purposes, not meant to disrespect them,” he added.

Hearts of Oak took the lead just before halftime when Kelvin Osei Asibey capitalized on a defensive error to score. Vision FC, however, drew level in the second half when Adjetey Sowah curled home a brilliant strike after Raphael Amponsah’s poor clearance.

The result leaves Hearts of Oak in sixth place on 41 points, while Vision FC remains in 14th position with 29 points.

Vision FC will seek to return to winning ways when they face Berekum Chelsea in their next fixture.

The National Football League and the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) hosted a flag football coach education and officiating clinic in Accra, Ghana from April 11-13 — as part of the strategy to accelerate the development and growth of the game across the continent.

The three-day flag football clinic welcomed coaches and officials from 10 African countries — Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia and Uganda — joined by leaders from the global flag community to support learning and education.

50 participants received both classroom and on-field learning, as the clinic looked to improve the skills of new and experienced coaches and officials — helping to promote and enable further long-term flag football engagement and participation across the continent.

Expert coaches delivering the sessions included:

• Chris Curd: founder and commissioner of the Pittsburgh flag football league, with more than 16 years of experience in league operations.
• Mike Daniels: accomplished football coach and NFL senior consultant for football development.
• Fouzia Madhouni: head coach of Morocco’s Women’s flag football team and NFL & IFAF Global Flag Ambassador.
• Max von Garnier: German coach, leader of NFL Flag schools’ program in Germany and former NFL Europe player.
• Cédric Castaing: international flag football referee and national coordinator for flag football officials in France.

The weekend’s activities were also supported by NFL Flag and IFAF coaches.

Fast-paced and accessible for all, flag football is spearheading extraordinary participation growth worldwide with more than 20 million players in 100 countries and women and girls driving some of the sports’ largest growth. Since 2023 participation in flag football in Africa has surged, with Egypt and Nigeria seeing increases of 149% and 85% respectively. In Nigeria, the national federation’s outreach program has already engaged more than 13,000 young people highlighting the sport’s expanding reach and appeal.

“The NFL and IFAF are committed to continuing to develop and grow the game of flag football in Africa,” said Vice President, Flag Football at the NFL Stephanie Kwok. “Creating meaningful educational pathways for coaches and officials delivering flag across Africa, is a critical part of the game at every level on the continent. The coach education and officiating clinic will create a powerful legacy for both the elite and grassroots levels of the game, as we build to the Los Angeles Olympics 2028 and beyond.”

“This clinic marks another crucial step in promoting the growth of flag football across Africa,” said IFAF Sport Manager Lars Carlsen. “By investing in the education and development of coaches and officials, we’re focused on developing strong local foundations that will support the game’s continued expansion. Working hand in hand with our partners at the NFL, IFAF is committed to empowering the next generation of coaches, officials and athletes, building a sustainable future for flag football across the region.”

Flag football will officially be included in the LA 2028 Olympic Games program, led by efforts of IFAF and supported by the NFL.

As part of the NFL Africa program, the NFL has undertaken NFL Flag development, talent identification camps and fan events across Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria since 2022.

Karela United head coach, Nurudeen Amadu, has expressed confidence that his team will avoid relegation by the end of the 2024/25 Ghana Premier League season.

Despite a challenging season with only 6 wins, 7 draws, and 12 losses from 25 matches, leaving them in 15th place with 25 points, Amadu is determined to ensure Karela stays in the top division.

Amadu, who took over the team ahead of the second round, stressed that his primary goal was to keep Karela in the league, a task he is committed to fulfilling.

“There’s no way I’ll lead this team to relegation,” Amadu told Graphic Sports. “I’ve done it before with King Faisal, and I’m ready to do it again with Karela United.”

Acknowledging that Karela’s squad is not as strong as some of the other teams, Amadu highlighted that the club plans to strengthen the team with experienced players for the upcoming season.

“The team is not very strong compared to others in the Premier League, but I am here and determined to help Karela escape relegation — which was why I was brought in,” he explained.

Amadu remains optimistic, especially with Nsoatreman FC already relegated. He pointed out that only two teams will drop, and he is confident Karela will not be among them.

“It is possible we can escape relegation because now that Nsoatreman is gone, there are only two teams to join them and we will not be among the two teams,” he said.

Karela United will look to keep their survival hopes alive when they face Aduana FC in their Matchday 27 fixture at the Aliu Mahama Stadium on Sunday.

Former Black Stars assistant coach Maxwell Konadu is urging Ghanaian football fans to exercise patience with head coach Otto Addo following the team’s struggles.

Addo, 49, faced intense criticism after Ghana failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), marking the first time in two decades that the nation missed the prestigious tournament.

However, recent back-to-back victories against Chad and Madagascar in the Matchday 5 and 6 fixtures of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers have eased some of the pressure.

Speaking to Akoma FM, Konadu emphasized the need for calm and support from fans.

“Ghanaians adore football; when things go well, they lavish praise on you; when things go wrong, the country becomes split, and that is how the game has sadly become,” he said.

“We simply need to be patient occasionally with Otto Addo, but how many individuals can be patient? Today’s generation will not be patient with you.”

Konadu acknowledged that patience is a challenge not only in Ghana but also globally, where professionalism often dictates a different approach. However, he believes that once the Black Stars continue to win, the pressure on the coach will subside.

“It’s not only in Ghana, but elsewhere, where professionalism comes in and things are regarded a little differently than here, but once the team has started winning, I don’t think there will be any problems again for the coach,” he added.

The Black Stars are set to return to action in June for a four-nation tournament before resuming their World Cup qualifying campaign in September with matches against Chad and Mali. They will wrap up the qualifiers with fixtures against Comoros and the Central African Republic.

Technical Director of Vision FC, Annor Walker, has boldly predicted a thrilling performance from his team as they prepare to face Hearts of Oak in their upcoming Ghana Premier League encounter.

The league debutants will host the Phobians on Matchday 27 at the Nii Adjei Kraku II Sports Complex, and Walker is confident that his side will leave a lasting impression.

In a pre-match interview, the veteran coach stated that Vision FC would finish the game within the first 25 minutes.

“The message to the fans is that they should come early. If you don’t come early, you won’t witness the beautiful goals we will score to beat Hearts of Oak,” Walker said confidently. “We will finish the game in the first 25 minutes before we control the game with our ‘tiki taka’ style of play.”

With both sides looking to climb higher in the league standings, fans are eagerly anticipating what promises to be an exciting match.

The stage is set for a thrilling battle between the two teams, with Vision FC determined to make a statement.