Latex Foam and officials of Ghana FA

Latex Foam has signed a sponsorship deal, subject to annual renewal for five years, with the Ghana Football Association for the national team.

The package, US$ 100,000 per year for five years, was intended to cushion the senior national male soccer team, the Black Stars, and the FA in its operations.

Rolling out at its Switch Back Road office yesterday, Jamil Mouganie, Deputy General Manager of Latex Foam said it was an honour and a privilege to support the team.

“In our business, we believe for every individual to give his best shot by way of productivity, the mind and the body will require good rest. We at Latex Foam believe if you sleep well, you dream well, hence this support.

“We want to make sure that our players and the technical team sleep well, so they can dream well, and realize their dream of making their third successive World Cup appearance and winning many more trophies for the country.

“We consider this package a dream one simply because we believe it will cushion them to realize their dreams. Anytime they represent us, they do it (dream), and winning the World Cup has been a dream, but we hope this support will them realize that dream,” Mouganie said.

He pledged his outfit’s continued support as the years roll by.

GFA chief Mr Kwesi Nyantakyi indicated that the financial boost will go a long way to support the FA in the smooth running of its day-to-day activities.

According to him, the package had come at an opportune time as the team prepare in their forthcoming World Cup qualifiers and ultimately make it to Brazil 2014.

“This package will certainly go a long way to alleviate our financial burden. We need such support to take care of our administrative expenses. Government alone can’t support us all the time. I want to assure you that you wouldn’t regret associating with us,” said Mr Nyantakyi.

He appealed to West Africa’s biggest foam manufacturers to consider throwing their weight behind the various Supporters Unions by way of sponsorship in future.

Public Relations Officer of Latex Foam Gifty Asare Ekeocha, revealed that the team will benefit from their products by way of rewards.

Black Stars

Ghana’s national team, the Black Stars, will play Japan in an international friendly in September.

The match will be played in Japan on Tuesday 8th September.

The warm-up match has been lined up to prepare the Black Stars for their future matches.

The Blue Samurai, who reached the round of 16 of the 2010 World Cup, are expected to give Ghana a good test.

“We have arranged a friendly against Japan as part of our plan of keeping the Black Stars engaged in matches on international friendly match dates,” Ghana Football Association President Kwesi Nyantaky told www.ghanafa.org.

“Japan are one of the tough football nations in the world today and going by their performance at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa they will give us a good test.

“We want to leave no stone unturned with adequate preparation for the future competitions we play in. Playing in matches like this will keep the squad in shape.”

The Black Stars are playing in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers where they are second in Group D.

Kwadwo Asamoah will be fully owned by Juventus in the summer.

Italian champions are ready to secure full ownership of versatile Ghana midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah this summer.

The Biaconneri paid 9 million euros for his services in a co-ownership deal with Udinese last June.

But Asamoah sterling performances for the Old Ladys will surely keep him at the Juventus Stadium after playing a key role in their title winning campaign.

He managed to score two Serie A goals in a makeshift left-back role.

Asamoah made 27 appearances in the Italian Serie A and also featured in the UEFA Champions League.

The 24-year-old could have played more matches for Juventus but for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations where he was away for one month.

Richmond Boakye-Yiadom and his Ghanaian agent Oliver Arthur

Ghana Richmond Boakye-Yiadom saw his reputation soar after helping Sassuolo win the Italian Serie B and eventually qualify to Serie A.

The 19-year-old scored 11 goals in the regular season as well as averaging 1.3 assists a game.

Boakye-Yiadom has the attributes of a creator and a clinical finisher.

He is co-owned by Italian champions Juventus and Genoa and been key for Sassuolo alongside compatriot Yussif Raman Chibsah.

Boakye spoke to the BBC’s Seth Bennett after etching his name in the club’s history books.

What was winning (the Serie B title with Sassuolo) like? It can’t have been expected .

It was something crazy, wonderful, I was so happy because I think this is one of the greatest moments in my life. Having this experience as a player is great and something very important for me. I’m very excited.

You, as a Juventus player, when you heard they were interested in you, what did you think?

Well, I was very happy. First of all I just thanked the almighty God. Whatever I do, I always do my best so immediately when I heard Juventus wanted to buy me, I realised that what I’ve been doing or the potential I have has brought (Juventus) to my life.

So it wasn’t shocking but I was very happy and very excited that Juventus were coming out to buy me.

When they said they are going to send you out on loan to Sassuolo, what did you think?

Look, for me, I didn’t think it was a bad idea. The (Juventus) players, they had won (Serie A) last year and their strikers stayed. I felt like coming back to Sassuolo, the team I played for the year before Juventus saw and bought me; it was a good idea to come back and just have another experience. So I wasn’t all that . . .well, I was a little bit. OK. . . it’s the wish of every player to play at a big club but I thought it a wise move, more playing time was important for me in my career.

Richmond Boakye (R) of Sassuolo celebrates after scoring his opening goal during the Serie B match between US Sassuolo and Ascoli Calcio at Alberto Braglia Stadium on September 29, 2012 in Modena, Italy.

How did you do at Sassuolo this season?

It went so well, it went so very well, we were able to win the league title so this shows that whatever I came to do here at Sassuolo, it went well. I’m very excited.

On a personal level, it was a very good season for you.

Yes, it was a very good season because, looking at the players we had and the attackers and midfielders we had, I realised I could do so a lot to help the team. I was very excited to be part of that team.

Richmond Boakye-Yiadom celebrating a goal for Sassuolo.

What do you think is going to happen to you next season?

I finished the league and now I’ll be going home for the holidays. After that, I have to concentrate on the national team as we due to play (World Cup) qualifiers. (Ghana play Sudan and Lesotho in June.)

What will happen next? I know that my agent and the team that holds my contract will talk about my future and they will decide the best option for me. Right now I have no intentions, I just want to go on holiday and relax my mind.

Do you think your performances this season could see you return to Juventus and get more playing time?

I’ve always said this, I’m ready so give me the opportunity and I’m ready to show what I have. Whether it is Manchester United, Real Madrid or Juventus, if any team is ready to give me the opportunity to play, I can demonstrate what I have to show to the world.

Would you consider going back to Sassuolo?

Well it all depends on how the talks will go. I don’t think it’s a bad idea to go back to a team that qualified to Serie A and you get more playing time. I don’t think it’s a bad idea but as I said, I don’t know what will happen.

Has Kwadwo Asamoah helped you integrate into Italian life?

He’s one of my best friends and we used to talk a lot. Looking at the way he plays, and out of the top five players in Ghana, I can say he’s the best or near to the best. Based on the qualities he has, I think he’s one of the greatest players now in Ghana.