The second group games of the Inter Tribes Football Gala recorded some interesting results throughout the week.
The Ghana's male national Under-20 team, the Black Satellites, have returned home after concluding a three-week training tour of Europe.
Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hearts of Oak, Harry Zakkour, has offered his perspective on the club's current struggles. He attributes part of the problem to the lack of attention from board members towards the players.
In an interview with Joy Sports, set to air on Prime Take on Friday, Zakkour suggested that footballers need significant attention to perform well. He compared the needs of players to those of women, stating that without proper care, achieving good results becomes challenging.
"You see what is happening now... during my time, we had a dedicated board of directors. Looking at the recent events, it's clear that Hearts of Oak needs youthful leadership rather than older individuals," Zakkour said.
He questioned whether the current board members have the time to adequately support the team, asking, "Would they have enough time to run Accra Hearts of Oak? Are the board members visiting the training grounds or the camp to look after the players? The players need attention."
Zakkour added, "Footballers are like women; if you don't give them attention, how can you expect to get results from them?"
Hearts of Oak faced a challenging season, narrowly avoiding relegation with a crucial final-day victory. The team's recent 2-1 loss to Asante Kotoko in the Democracy Cup has left fans concerned about potential struggles in the upcoming season.
Asante Kotoko defender Samba Oneil has expressed his excitement over being compared to his role model, Sergio Ramos. The Congolese defender played a key role in Kotoko's 2-1 victory over Hearts of Oak in the inaugural Democracy Cup at Accra Sports Stadium on Wednesday.
This victory marks Kotoko's third consecutive win over Hearts of Oak in the 2023-2024 season, following their earlier successes in the Ghana Premier League.
Oneil, who was named Man of the Match, shared his enthusiasm: “I feel happy. Asante Kotoko is a big club and I was playing against Hearts of Oak, which is also big. That’s why I wanted to show myself to Kotoko supporters that I’m here," he said.
He added, "I’m happy to hear people compare me to Sergio Ramos because Ramos is my model…so I want to play like him."
Justice Blay and Peter Amidu were the scorers for Kotoko in their Democracy Cup victory.
Looking ahead, Asante Kotoko are set to embark on a European tour in preparation for the 2024/25 Ghana Premier League season, which begins on September 6. Following their Democracy Cup success, Kotoko will also face DC United in Washington, USA.
Ghana's senior national team, the Black Stars, have retained their position in the latest FIFA Coca-Cola rankings.
The four-time African champions remain 64th globally and hold the 12th spot on the continent as of July.
After securing victories over Mali and the Central African Republic in June's World Cup qualifiers, Ghana experienced a brief rise in the rankings before stabilizing in the following weeks.
In July, the Black Stars were inactive, unlike their European and South American counterparts, who competed in the European Championship and Copa America, respectively.
Argentina continues to lead the global rankings after winning the Copa America, while Spain has climbed to third place worldwide following their Euro success.
In Africa, the top five positions are held by Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Cote d'Ivoire, and Nigeria.
Looking ahead, Ghana will return to action in September for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The Black Stars are set to play against Angola in Kumasi before traveling to Niger for their second Group F match.
The former African champions aim to secure qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to be hosted in Morocco next year.
Asante Kotoko star Emmanuel Antwi has reacted to his side's Democracy Cup win after lifting his first trophy with the Porcupines.
