Sports

Former Ghanaian int’l Michael Essien on verge of losing choice properties

Published

6 months ago

June 19, 2024

Former Ghanaian international midfielder, Michael Essien, is on the verge of losing two of his choice properties worth millions of dollars following an order by an Accra High Court for the properties to be auctioned.

The order for the auction of the properties was given by the Deputy Sheriff of the High Court (Commercial Division) on June 12, 2024, following a recent court ruling against the former Chelsea midfielder.

The properties, according to reports in the Ghanaian media, are located at Stephen Quarshie Crescent, East Legon, House Number 9 and House Number 204/205, Trassaco (Phase 2), Adjiringano, all in Accra, with one of them said to be valued at between $20 million and $30 million.

Foremost Ghanaian sports journalist, Saddick Adams, who confirmed the court order in a video, said the genesis of Essien’s troubles began when he signed a mortgage for the aforementioned properties many years ago and was paying for them in installments.

In the video, Adams said Essien had put the mansion in the care of his wife, Akosua Puni, who was then supposed to take over the payment of the mortgage.

“When the payment for the mortgage ceased coming, the owner took the matter to court to try to retrieve the money,” Adams said on his show on Angel FM on Tuesday.

He explained further that Essien no longer had an interest in the property and so reached an agreement in court for the mansions to be sold, so that he could use his share of the proceeds to buy a new house at another location.

“Essien has not taken out a loan. He’s not broke. It is being reported that he is in debt due to several loans, but the truth is that it is a mortgage he signed while he was playing and was paying in bits.

“Then it got to a time when payment was not coming through as it was supposed to. So the property owner or the bank that financed it decided that they wanted to take it back, so it is not a loan.

“Essien also left the house in the care of his wife, Akosua Puni. He had no interest in it as his property, and so the control was left in someone else’s care who was expected to continue with the payment of the mortgage.

“According to a close friend of Essien who also had a property in the same area, the cost of the mortgage shot up while property prices in the area have also gone up,” Adams added.

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Sports

Coach of Mamelodi Sundowns female team suspended over sexual harassment allegations

Published

9 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns women’s team, Jerry Tshabalala, has been suspended indefinitely amid allegations of sexual harassment of players.

A statement by the management of the top South African team said the 44-year-old Tshabalala, who has been in charge of Sundowns’s women’s team for over a decade, has been accused of a number of allegations, including making inappropriate sexual comments to his players, as well as entering the dressing room and refusing to leave while players are completely naked.

In a statement released on Saturday, Sundowns said they had appointed a law firm to investigate the allegations against the coach with specific instructions to unravel allegations of improper conduct by the Tshabalala.

The club said it views the allegations in a very serious light and has relieved the coach of his appointment pending when the investigations are concluded.

“Sundowns has, in the interim, put Coach Jerry Tshabalala on special leave pending the outcome of the investigation,” the club statement said.

“This is not done to pre-empt the outcome of the investigation, but to ensure that the investigation can proceed expeditiously and protect the rights of all parties.

“In the event that the investigation establishes facts that warrant action, the Board will immediately take such steps as are appropriate.

“Mamelodi Sundowns will in due course make announcements on the findings of the investigation and the action to be taken,” the statement concluded.

The Sundowns female team have been a dominant force in women’s football in South Africa and on the continent since Tshabalala took over in 2012, winning seven domestic league titles, as well as two CAF Women’s Champions League crowns.

Sports

FIFA Ranking: Nigeria ends 2024 as fifth best team in Africa

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Nigeria’s men’s football national team, the Super Eagles, ended the year 2024 as the fifth best team in Africa in the latest FIFA world ranking for the month of December.

According to the rankings published by the world football governing body, Nigeria remains unchanged from its previous position, despite having a challenging international break.

The FIFA rankings also reveal that Nigeria suffered a significant decline this year, dropping eight places to end 2024 ranked 44th globally.

The decline follows disappointing performances during the final AFCON qualifiers for 2025, where the Super Eagles struggled against the Benin Republic and Rwanda, resulting in a lack of wins.

However, some of the Super Eagles bitter rivals like South Africa’s Bafana Bafana experienced a resurgence, climbing three positions to finish the year ranked 57th in the world, showing a marked improvement in their recent form and successful matches during the qualifiers.

It was a woeful year for West African rivals Ghana who ended the year in 77th position, which highlights the challenges the Black Stars have encountered in the outgoing year in its bid to maintain its positions among Africa’s elite teams.

Meanwhile, the Moroccan national football team, the Atlas Lion, retained its 14th position in the in the world while still maintaining its number one spot in Africa, holding the first position for the third year in a row.

In the world ranking, Morocco is followed by Senegal on 17th position, Egypt, 33rd, Algeria 37th, Nigeria, 44th, Côte d’Ivoire, 46th, Cameroon, 49th, Mali, 51st, and Tunisia in the 52nd position.

Top 10 African teams in 2024

1. Morocco – (14th)

2. Senegal – (17th)

3. Egypt – (33rd)

4. Algeria – (37th)

5. Nigeria – (44th)

6. Côte d’Ivoire – (46th)

7. Cameroon – (49th)

8. Mali – (51st )

9. Tunisia – (52nd)

10. South Africa – (57th)