Thanks to our Independence Day celebration, March has been touted as Ghana Month. As expected, the fourth Estate of the Realm has played its part in hyping virtually everything Ghanaian. As such, terms like "Wear Ghana", "Eat Ghana", "See Ghana", have suddenly sufficed. With recent happenings in the banking sector (Uni Bank, A.D.B, Bank of Ghana et al), not forgetting the brouhaha surrounding the Ghana-US Military Cooperation agreement (coincidentally in the same month), questions have been raised on the motive behind the initiative. Is it just a publicity stunt?   Or an allure to instill a sense of patriotism amongst Ghanaians?   Irrespective of your perspective, one thing is certain; the awareness generated by the creative arts industry via our music, fashion and art has been immense and awe-inspiring. Wistfully, same praise cannot be ascribed to our football league system. An industry with the perpetual capacity to unify a nation, create employment ...

In Shakespeare’s renowned play titled Macbeth, the theme “Fair is foul and foul is fair” resonates throughout one of his finest tragedies. The theme in a literal sense highlights the contradictory nature of situations; things that seem appealing can be deceptive in reality. Three witches vaguely prophesy to Macbeth (by telling him he would become King). He believes it and falls victim to his own ambition thus leading to his ultimate demise. The play manifests the true effects deception and gullibility can have on man. From politics to the corporate world, shades of both abounds. Football as a cultural institution is no exception; In fact it is the perfect litmus test in examining this human phenomenon. Deceptive Players, Gullible Supporters The average career of a professional footballer barring grave injuries lasts around 15 years. From badge-kissing during goal celebrations, to a cheerful phizog when partaking in charitable works on behalf of clubs, footballers sell a fal...

Football, like any other sport, has plenty of exciting moments. Just as free throws are crucial in basketball, penalty kicks play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of football games. However, a long-standing question still remains: Is the art of penalty conversion a matter of luck or actual precision? The former argument seems valid, considering the number of talented players who have missed penalties. Take a moment to remember Roberto Baggio's infamous penalty miss during the 1994 World Cup final, which handed Brazil their fourth trophy. Or, recall the most agonizing moment of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, when Asamoah Gyan's missed penalty kick against Uruguay in the quarter-finals still haunts a continent starved of semifinal success. Insofar as managerial feats in football go, few accomplishments are as distinguished as winning the treble or going invincible. Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger, two legendary managers of Manchester United and Arsenal, respec...

On 3rd August, 2017, the footballing world came to a standstill. Neymar’s purported move from Spanish giants Barcelona to mega rich French club PSG was finalized. By triggering His release clause worth a record shattering €222 million, Neymar became the most expensive player ever. The transfer represented a major coup for the Paris based club and French Football at large, generating a lot of ecstasy among its supporters. On the other hand,Spanish Football and Barcelona (Except Real Madrid of course 😪) could only watch in bewilderment and anguish that the next big thing after Messi and Ronaldo had departed. Paris, Home to the most successful French football club (Paris Saint Germain) and some of the finest players to have graced the world stage like George Weah, Jay Jay Okocha, and Ronaldinho. After years in football obscurity, the arrival of new owners, Oryx Qatar Sports Investments in 2011 ushered in a new era of attracting established stars like Zlatan Ibrahimović an...

We’ve been here before haven’t we? Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Robin Van Persie angling for moves away from the Emirates in pursuit of trophies and of course better wages. Winning The FA Cup and The Community Shield twice during his short spell at the club, Sanchez’s case is quite different. Arsenal's failure to finish in the top 4 last season means Europa League qualification but a far cry from playing in the Champions League. A competition the club has been accustomed to under Arsene Wenger since 1998. For most world class footballers, playing in the champions league is a must and has become a blueprint for engineering a move from one  football club to the other . With Alexis Sanchez entering the final year of his current contract, stating his desire to win the champions league and stalling on extending his current contract the club is once again faced with a familiar dilemma; to sell him now and find a replacement or keep him, bank their hopes on a contract extension e...