EXCLUSIVE: GFA TO ORGANIZE NATIONAL UNDER 17 FOOTBALL LEAGUE

The Ghana Football Association will soon organize a national U-17 league.SPORTS LOUNGE has revealed.

The novelty which is being initiated by the football governing body of the country will therefore see colts clubs across the country get involved in a professional league system.

The main idea of the innovation is to encourage and educate young footballers to combine both football and academics to the highest level, and also aimed at improving youth football development in the country.

Ghana who is famed for its youth football development cannot boast of many football Academies, with the Right to Dream Academy and the Fayenood Academy being the only effective football Academies in the country.

The system however is also designed to feed the junior national teams [Black Starlets and Black Satellites] with players.

By Frank Darkwah

Follow Frank Darkwah on twitter.@Blaqqkoffi

FLORENCE OKOE STILL OPTIMISTIC OF BLACK QUEENS RETURN DESPITE BEING DROPPED FROM 25-“MAN” LIST

Despite being dropped from the 25-“man” list named by head coach Yusif Basigi due to injury, Black Queens captain Florence Okoe  believes she is still an integral member of the team.

The 29-year-old who is a member of the Ghana Police service was excluded from the 25 players invited to begin preparation ahead of the 2014 African Women’s Championships in Namibia.

The Police ladies midfielder who was expected to undergo a surgery last week have been battling with a knee injury since coming off the bench in the Black Queens qualifier against Burkina Faso at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Many have attributed the former TeBe Berlin and Madonna Ladies midfielder’s injury to old-age after she underwent a surgery few months ago.

But the experience midfielder who is nicknamed “Lampard” by her peers remains optimistic and believes she is still an essential member of the Black Queens team.

“If you have an injury there are a lot of things that goes through your mind. I can see that new names are coming into the team and old names are leaving the system”

“Is a matter of time. Am a woman and I cannot play football all my life. So when my time is up I think I will pave way”.

“But I still have the strength to play because I remember the last match we played at the Accra Sports Stadium against Burkina Faso. Although I started from the bench because of injury, I really made an impact when I came on, and even the President of the FA told me after the game “yes this is the type of game Ghanaians want to see”. All is about what Florence Okoe is doing. So I still believe I can play”.

The hard-working midfielder who is famed by her swift and constructive distribution of passes has represented Ghana at four African Women’s Championships competitions. Thus in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010.

 She also has two World Cup tournaments two her credit. 2003 and 2007 respectively.

Okoe has been described as an assiduous leader ever since taking the mantle from former Black Queens captain Grace Adwoa Bayor.

By Frank Darkwah

Follow Frank Darkwah on twitter.@Blaqqkoffi

BREAKING NEWS: FATAU DAUDA SIGNS SIX MONTHS LOAN MOVE CHIPPA UNITED

Ghana goalkeeper Fatua Dauda has signed a six month loan move to South African outfit Chippa United from Orlando Pirates. SPORTS LOUNGE can confirm.

The 27-year-old who failed to earn himself the number one spot at his Club Orlando Pirates after a stiff competition from South African shot-stopper Senzo Miyawa in an exclusive interview with Happy FM confirmed his moved to the Chilli Boys.

“Yes is true. They told me is six month. That means from now to January. From what they [Orlando Pirates] told me, they are not ready to let me go because they believe anything can happen. 

“So they only made me sign a six months loan to the club. So for me is important I go there and get enough playing time there”.

“Former Hearts coach Kosta Papic is the coach for Chippa United and he asked me to come and play for him”.

Dauda will be hoping to earn himself more playing time in other to maintain his form for both Club and Country.

By Frank Darkwah

Follow Frank Darkwah on twitter.@Blaqqkoffi

NEWLY APPOINTED HEARTS COACH HERBERT ADDO NOT IN A HASTE TO BRING IN NEW PLAYERS

Newly appointed Hearts of Oak coach, Herbert Addo has revealed his plans for the Phobians saying he will need to assess the current crop of players in the team before procuring any new player into his set up.

The former Inter Allies trainer who signed a two year deal with the Rainbow Club is yet to make any signings after being confirmed as the new head coach for the former Ghana Champions last Thursday.

 Several reports indicate that the ex-Aduana Stars and Asante Kotoko coach has tabled down a list of players to the Hearts of Oak management team since he was signed on by the club.

But the astute Ghanaian tactician in an interview with Oman FM refuting those reports saying he will need to assess the current players before making any signing.

“I will need to assess the players in the team first before trying to make any signing. I am sure the players there are all good in their own way”.

“I don’t have any player in mind at the moment. If I go and Hearts need a striker or a goal scorer we will look for one or I will try and convert a player who can score”.

“If you have a team you need to look around and make use of what you have as a coach. I didn’t have any player in mind when I went to Inter Allies but at the end we placed sixth, I just studied and monitored the players’ available and made use of them. For me, maybe I might use the current players at the moment, or we will go to the higher level by getting in one or two players”.

The 63-year-old will be making a second-coming to the Club after coaching them in the 2003/04 season where he led Hearts of oak to unbeaten run in the league.

The former Black Stars coach also helped Inter Allies escape relegation and guided them to the MTN FA Cup finals in the 2013/14 season.

By Frank Darkwah

Follow Frank Darkwah on twitter.@Blaqqkoffi

OFFICIAL: JORDAN AYEW SIGNS 4-YEAR DEAL WITH LIGUE 1 SIDE LORIENT

Ghana striker Jordan Ayew has signed a 4 year deal with Ligue 1 outfit Lorient for an undisclosed fee after completing a successful medical on Monday.

The deal thus keeps the 22-year-old at the Stade du Moustoir till 2018. The youngest son of Ghanaian football legend Abedi Pele was considered surplus by Olympique Marseille head coach Marcelo Bielsa after returning from his loan spell at relegated side Sochaux.

“The Style and quality of players talked about here suit me perfectly. I am equally impressed with the infrastructures at Lorient,” Ayew told the Clubs official website. 

“They will help us to work well and thus, well improved over time. I will try to bring my experience to the group so that we can reach the collective goals set by the Club”.

The former Ghana U-20 attacker will therefore be eager to regain his form under his new manger Sylvain Ripoll. 

Ayew was a member of the Black Stars team the participated at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

By Frank Darkwah

Follow Frank Darkwah on twitter.@Blaqqkoffii