Connect with us

Sports

‘Not everything that glitters is gold’ – Nico Williams warned off Barcelona transfer

Published

on

Barcelona target Nico Williams has been warned against a high profile transfer to Camp Nou by Athletic Club teammate Oscar de Marcos, insisting that the Euro 2024 breakout star needs to make his own decision and not be led by pressure or expectation.

Williams has been a first-team player in Bilbao for three years, but his career leapt into overdrive at the recent European Championship with Spain, culminating with a goal and player of the match performance in the final against England.

Arsenal and Chelsea have been linked with the 22-year-old, whose availability is made possible by a €58m (£49m) release clause, but it is Barcelona who are overwhelming favourites, despite financial limitations restricting their ability to trigger that.

Barca president Joan Laporta has already teased an approach by telling fans “we will try” when asked if the club is going to sign Williams.

“It seems like there is a tide that when Barca wants you, you have to go, otherwise you make a mistake, but many times you have to keep in mind that not everything that glitters is gold,” De Marcos said, via Mundo Deportivo.

“You have to evaluate where we are. For Nico, it is a delicate situation. There is a lot of noise. It seems that this pressure can get to you, but each one has to make decisions for themselves. He is an Athletic player, he will have the last word, we trust that he will stay with us.”

De Marcos continued: “You have to make the decisions yourself. I have no idea what he is thinking. He must be going over things in his head a thousand times. My opinion is that the best thing for him is to continue.

“He is 22-years-old, he is in the right place to continue the ideal progression for a footballer. Every year he is getting better, he is with the coach who has gotten the most out of him and who will continue for another year.

“He has gone to the national team, he has been one of the best in the European Championship, he is in the right place, in an incredible dressing room, his brother [Inaki] is there, a dressing room that loves him.

“It is the ideal place to continue maturing and he has a sense of belonging to Athletic. I hope he puts everything in the balance, but the only thing we want is the best for him. What worries me most is that he makes the decision himself. I have a lot of affection for him, I want him to make the decision freely, that way he will make the right one.

“There is a lot of pressure, perhaps that will not allow him to make the decision freely. Let him make his own decision, nothing more.”

Sports

GFA and Ghana Health Service launch new ambulance for Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence

Published

on

The Ghana Football Association (GFA), in partnership with the Ghana Health Service, outdoored a brand new Ambulance for the GFA’s technical centre, Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence (GSCE), on Monday, August 26, 2024.

The fully equipped ambulance, which will be stationed at the technical centre, will provide emergency support to the facility’s users, players and officials, and staff, in general.

The new Ambulance is expected to boost emergency healthcare services at the facility and also help to augment other efforts at improving health delivery at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence, which serves as the camping base for the country’s various national teams.

General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association, Prosper Harrison Addo, said the new ambulance will be put to good use to serve its purpose as its adds to ongoing efforts to secure livelihoods, while praising the Ghana Health Services for their support in securing the ambulance.

“This has been achieved by the kind courtesy of a partnership between the GFA and the Ghana Health Service, which is an agency under the Ministry of Health. We are extremely grateful to them for the immense support. This ambulance will be put to good use and serve its purpose for football here in Prampram.” he concluded

President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku was accompanied by General Secretary, Prosper Harrison Addo, Vice-President Mark Addo, members of the Executive Council, Member of Parliament for South Tongu, Kobla Mensah Wisdom Woyome, former Vice-Chairman of the GFA, Fred Pappoe, former General Secretary, Emmanuel Gyimah, delegates to Congress, and the media to officially outdoor the brand new ambulance.

Continue Reading

Sports

Nsoatreman FC to face CS Constantine in CAF Confederation Cup after dominant first-round victory

Published

on

Ghanaian club Nsoatreman FC is gearing up for a crucial showdown against Algerian side CS Constantine in the second preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup.

Nsoatreman FC earned their place in the competition by clinching the MTN FA Cup title last season, and they are now representing Ghana with high hopes of advancing to the group stage. In the first preliminary round, Nsoatreman displayed exceptional form, cruising to a 5-0 aggregate victory over Chad’s Elect-Sport.

Buoyed by their recent success and a celebratory message honoring their executive board chair’s birthday, the team is determined to carry their momentum into the next round.

Their upcoming opponents, CS Constantine, secured their spot in this round by defeating Rwandan side Police FC with a 4-1 aggregate score.

The tie between Nsoatreman FC and CS Constantine is set for September, with both clubs vying for a coveted spot in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage.

Continue Reading

Sports

NDC pledges to revitalize Ghana’s sports sector with broader focus beyond football

Published

on

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has unveiled a comprehensive plan to transform Ghana’s sports landscape, promising a fair distribution of resources and a shift away from the long-standing emphasis on football.

Historically, Ghana’s national teams, apart from the Black Stars, have faced limited support, leading to stagnation in the growth of other sports disciplines.

The NDC aims to address this imbalance and enhance the overall development of the nation’s sporting sector, should they win the upcoming December elections.

Key highlights of the NDC’s sports policy include:

  • Financial Support for Footballers: The party plans to increase financial support for footballers at all levels, including Colts, Division One and Two, and the Ghana Premier League, by enhancing their salaries and providing additional allowances.
  • Facility Refurbishment: Immediate upgrades will be made to pitches, tracks, and other facilities at national stadia in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, Cape Coast, and Sekondi to meet FIFA standards.
  • International Standard Stadia: The NDC intends to continue its policy of establishing state-of-the-art stadia in all regions across the country.
  • Multi-purpose Sports Facilities: New multi-purpose sports facilities will be built to encourage regional sporting events and inter-school competitions, fostering talent development.
  • Equitable Investment in National Teams: There will be a focus on investing equally in various national teams, including women’s football, parasports, juvenile teams, and lesser-known sports.
  • Modern Sports University: The NDC plans to upgrade the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) Sports College into a modern sports university, offering training in sports science, sports medicine, and sports management/administration across multiple campuses in Ghana.
  • Sports Centres of Excellence: Establishment of Sports Centres of Excellence in the northern, middle, and southern zones, in collaboration with universities and the private sector, to enhance sports training and development.
  • Support for National Athletes: The party will provide consistent support for national athletes to compete internationally and develop post-competition careers, including pension schemes.
  • Scholarships and Sports Academies: Scholarships will be offered to promising sports talents, and sports academies will be established in partnership with the private sector.
  • Support for Retired Athletes: Retired sports personalities will receive assistance in pursuing sports-related careers after their active sporting life.

These were captured in their manifesto ahead of the 2024 elections, which the party is confident its leader former President John Mahama will secure victory.

Continue Reading

Trending