Ghana FA

Tema Youth are in serious danger of being relegated from the Ghana top-flight after their protest against Ashantigold was thrown out by the Disciplinary Committee (DC) on Tuesday.

The DC dismissed Tema Youth’s protest that Ashantigold’s used an unqualified player MALIK AKOWUAH in their match on 17^th April 2013.

The case of Tema Youth is that the player was unqualified to play the match because he had received three yellow cards.

However, the claim was rejected by the Ghana FA’s adjudicating body citing various reasons for their rejection of Tema Youth’s case.

“Disciplinary Committee is of the opinion that on a true and proper interpretation of Articles 29 (i) (b) and 39 (5) the GFA is required to inform the clubs in writing upon the 1^st and 2^nd offences of the player,” a statement of the Ghana FA read.

“There is no evidence that this was done such that after the 3^rd offence he could be suspended.

“Furthermore in respect of the letter of the GFA dated 17^th April 2013 the player was suspended for a specific match (Match day 22) and he was therefore eligible to play in the match day 20 game with Tema Youth.

“In the circumstances, the Committee finds the protest as without merit and it is accordingly dismissed.”

The decision leave Tema Youth in 14th position in the 16-team league with 27 points, three adrift of Heart of Lions who are placed 13th

There are three matches remaining in the season.

Saban Quaye (middle) has confirmed his departure from Liberty Professionals

Nii Saban Quaye has confirmed his departure from Liberty Professionals as their team manager.

Quaye has quit his role at the scientific soccer lads on mutual grounds.

Reports have suggested the Black Stars team manager was unhappy with accusations he masterminded their 3-1 defeat against Hearts in a Premier League game.

“I have resigned from the club on mutual grounds. There is no bad-blood between the two parties,” Quaye said

“I am happy to have worked with Liberty and still remain part of the family.”

Quaye wants to concentrate on his duties with the Black Stars with reports linking him with a return to Hearts refusing to wash-away.

Essien will return to Chelsea

Incoming Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho has told the English Premier club not to listen to offers for Michael Essien after the Ghanaian emerged as a target for some clubs.

The midfielder has been a subject of interest from clubs in the Premier League and Italy, after it was speculated that he has no future at Stamford Bridge next season.

Essien, who is currently on loan at Real Madrid, will revert to Chelsea at the ned of his loan spell with the Spanish giants.

Previous Chelsea coach Roberto Di Matteo declared him surplus to requirements which resulted in Mourinho taking Essien on loan with Real Madrid which left the Ghanaian’s long-term future with the Blues in doubt.

This resulted in West Ham manager Sam Allardyce seeking the signature of the Ghanaian while Inter Milan were said to be interested in him.

But with the Portuguese manager returning to the English side at the start of next season after mutually ending his contract with Real Madrid, Mourinho has told Chelsea management not to listen to offers for the Ghanaian, according to reports in the Spanish media.

The 30-year-old was once a key player in Chelsea’s starting lineup, earning a reputation for his strong play from midfield, as well as an ability to score the occasional long-range wonder-goal.

Injuries have disrupted his career in recent years, and he has found himself down the pecking order at the club under their various different managers over the last two seasons.

However, Essien seems to be returning to his best form after his stint at Real Madrid especially by acting as a utility player at the Bernebeu.

Essien’s current contract expires in 2015, and he could move for around £5million, significantly less than the £24.4million the Blues paid to sign him from Lyon in 2005, which at the time made him the most expensive African player in the history of the game.

Ghana’s Black Stars have enjoyed tremendous support from Kumasi fans

By Patrick Akoto

Some Kumasi fans plan to boycott Ghana’s potential World Cup decider against Zambia in protest against a Ghana FA ban on Kumasi Asante Kotoko following recent violence at their home match.

The Porcupine Warriors have been in the news for all the wrong reasons after the Baba Yara stadium was temporarily shut down by the Ghanaian FA due to crowd violence.

Irate fans of the club attacked match officials and Medeama players during their bad-tempered clash in Kumasi two weeks ago.

Unhappy with the decision of the Executive Committee of the Ghana FA, the club have confirmed plans to boycott all competitions in the country with the exception of the Ghana Premier League.

They have withdrawn from this year’s President Cup which falls on July 1 in a move to drum home their unhappiness with the home ban.

Fans of Kumasi, whom many are Kotoko supporters, are determined to go a notch higher by boycotting the Black Stars World Cup qualifier against Zambia in September.

The Ghanaian national team have enjoyed tremendous support over the years with fans of Kumasi playing leading role in the team’s success in the qualifying campaign so far.

Kumasi fans have carved a niche for themselves for usually comporting themselves even in the face of defeat for their teams.

But recent crowd troubles has dented a rather fine image in the country.