Gyan Wins most popular entertainer in Ghana

Ghanaian football star international Asamoah Gyan has been crowned the most popular entertainer in Ghana at the Most Popular Entertainer of Ghana (MPEG) Awards ceremony, held at the National Theatre.

The college, composed of professionals and observers of different disciplines in Ghana, has selected 10 winners for the first edition include:

 

The most entertaining personality footballer of the year: Asamoah Gyan

 

Personality boxing's most entertaining of the year: Joseph Agbeko

 

The most entertaining film acting personality of the year: Adu Kofi (Agya Koo)

 

Most of the personality of the stage acting of the Year: Andrew Adotey

 

The most exciting comedy personality of the year: Benson Funny Face

 

The most exciting musical personality of the year: Dede Amakye

 

Most Receive Broadcast Radio Personality of the Year: Banson Fife (Accra), Kwame Adinkra (Kumasi), Nana Otu Gyandoh (Takoradi)

 

Most receive television broadcast personality of the year: Nana Aba Anamoah

Asamoah Gyan

 

The ceremony honored accomplished individuals and institutions for their contribution to the entertainment of Ghana in the last year and over the years has been a night of honors, laughter and music industry legends came out to award prices to the stars of this! MPEG honored individuals who have excelled in their respective fields, and considered by the College individuals who distinguish themselves among their peers based on monitoring of entertainment in 2010.

The ceremony was hosted by singer / rapper / actor A-Plus got the crowd cracking their ribs in a certain mood. There were also performances by women Dela Hayes stripe, Kofi B, Okyeame Kwame, Bertha, and Dada Halfco.

Asamoah Gyan has emerged the most popular artist after the public vote among the 10 winners. There were also awards for the National Theatre of Ghana, for his contribution to arts and entertainment in Ghana, as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award for veteran actress, Dzifa Glikpo.

The only way Barcelona can survive.

The Wonders or soccer.
Welcome all our expectations were dashed a fourth night ago when Arsenal beat Barca. But the only way I see Barcelona coming back into the competition is as follows; Read on...

In truth, there's only one way Barca can defeat Arsenal, and that's because there's only one way Barca play: possession, attacking football. Pep Guardiola does not change his approach, playing system, formation, or tactics for any opponent. What he does change, though, is his specific instructions to his superstars during the game. More of a conductor than a coach, Guardiola will bark orders to his players from the touchline to accommodate Arsenal's minute-by-minute strategy

• Arsenal will be deprived of the ball, of that there is no doubt even before the two teams head for the tactical drawing board. But while Barca are sometimes too reluctant to play route-one football, Arsene Wenger's men have no problems adopting that approach, as evidenced by the fact that they scored two of their three goals against the Catalans over two legs last season through speedy counter-attacks.

Arsenal are not the most physical side in the Premier League, but almost any team in football today is more physical than Barcelona. The Gunners can get rough and mix it up with the "big boys" if they want to, and if Wenger decides to throw a curveball and deviate from his usual one-touch football and get physical, it could be the ace card that could stun the Blaugrana.

• With in-form Samir Nasri doubtful for the clash due to injury, Arsene Wenger will rely heavily on Cesc Fabregas to provide the attacking arsenal. The captain didn't have the best of games in last season's first leg clash, although he was undoubtedly the hero of the night for the home fans when he scored from the spot - with a broken leg - to level the tie and keep his side in the fight. Cesc will be eager to impress against a team who have been trying to lure him away from the Emirates, but it's the red-hot Van Persie that Barca should be worried about. The Dutchman has scored nine goals in his last five Premier League games and with defensive stalwart Carles Puyol struggling to recover in time after injury, Barcelona's backline could be easily exposed. 

•  Barca could've embarrassingly routed Arsenal at the Emirates last season. But having taken a two-goal lead, the Catalans proceeded to take their foot off the gas and grow complacent, allowing speed demon Theo Walcott to spark a comeback and salvage the first leg clash in a 2-2 draw. First, a sloppy pass by Sergio Busquets, then some slack defending which prompted Carles Puyol to clatter into Cesc Fabregas inside the box, gave the Gunners a free get-out-of-jail card, albeit only temporarily in the end.

So far this season, Barca have shown no signs of easing off during a game when they are in front, spanking opponents right, left and centre with goals galore. But Saturday's surprise 1-1 draw at Sporting Gijon demonstrated that a lackadaisical approach can be costly for the Blaugrana.

 Well I think Barcelona should get their acts right as I strongly  feel that Arsenal is ready ready for a showdown at Camp Nou. What is your take on these, post your comments below.

Asenal ready to dump Bacelona out.

The Wonders or soccer.
Welcome, you have seen how Arsenal beat Barcelona a fourth night ago. It was really a surprise to many but to me that is football. Here I analyze the chances in which  Arsenal use to  over power Barcelona.

Midfield action between Xavi and Jack Wilsere.

• After the match Wenger revealed his star man would be out for three weeks, which would have ruled him out of the Barca clash.

But Nasri has recovered quicker than expected and has been training since late last week. He came through a fitness test on Monday and will again be tested on Tuesday before Wenger makes a decision on Nasri's involvement.

Arshavin celebrate his winning goal.

 If the Frenchman is available for selection it would provide a huge boost to the club. The 23-year-old has been in sparkling form this season, scoring 14 goals already this campaign.





















His performances have lit up the Premier League and pushed him forward as a candidate for player of the year.

It would also give Pep Guardiola's side another thing to think about and his direct dribbling style and sharpness in front of goal could cause the Catalan club problems.

• Dutch striker Van Persie was absent for both ties last year after missing most of the season with an ankle injury sustained on international duty with the Netherlands.

But this year both players are fit and forming an excellent partnership for Wenger's side, which came to the fore again on Saturday against Wolves when Fabregas picked out Van Persie, and the Dutchman finished the cross with a sweetly struck volley.

It was Van Persie's 10th Premier League goal in his last seven matches and showed why Wenger thinks this year's match with the Catalan club could well take on a different script.

It was the Spain star's ninth Premier League assist this term and Van Persie's 12th goal of the season in all competitions. 

Barca players celebrate their goal.

• But this season, after the addition of Marouane Chamakh to the squad, Arsenal have been more inclined to send balls into the box than in past seasons.

While it is still not Arsenal's strength, it has been an aspect of their game which has improved and it could be a vital weapon against Barcelona.

Guardiola's side have conceded eight of the 14 goals they have let in during the whole season from crosses into the box.

So if Arsenal's full-backs and wingers can get into good crossing positions it will be important for them to get their delivery into the box right.

Four of the eight goals Barca have conceded have also come from headers, so set-piece play could be an unusually strong weapon for the Gunners. The likes of Van Persie and Fabregas will have to be on the money so Arsenal can take advantage.

• Alex Song will have a vital role to play against Barcelona if Arsenal are to have any chance of progressing to the next round.

The Cameroon international is the Gunners' primary shield in front of the back four and he will have a tough job on his hands with the likes of Messi, Pedro, Xavi and Iniesta roaming around the field.

While Song does his job effectively against most of the Premier League teams and some of the lesser Champions League sides, he can sometimes be overrun on the counter-attack as his team-mates bomb forward.

Against Barcelona, Song will need assistance from team-mates tracking back and harassing the Barca players when they have the ball.

The return leg will be intriguing what is your take on these, post your comments below. 
-curl from goal.com 

Nigerian star Uche Okafor is dead

Uche Okafor

Former Nigeria international, Uche Okafor, was found dead at his Dallas, Texas home in the United States of America (USA) early on Thursday.

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Ben Iroha, a former Nigerian team-mate of Uche between 1990 and 1994, told SuperSport.com that he received the shock news via a telephone conversation from the United States that the 43-year-old has died. “Seriously I still find it hard to believe when I got the call from the US yesterday (Thursday) evening. This is a really sad way to begin the year,” said Iroha.
Iroha added that he is yet to know what really transpired up to the death of his former teammate.
“I am yet to know what happened. But I feel so sad to hear this because he was a very marvelous friend and brother,” said the former Heartland assistant coach.
However, there are still no details concerning surrounding the death of the former winner of the Africa Cup of Nations. The former Nigerian footballer was said to have taken his daughter to school early Thursday and was later found dead in his US home.
The police in the United States are said to have cordoned off the home of Okafor, as a coroner is carrying out an inquest into circumstance surrounding his death.
Okafor’s professional career began at defunct ACB of Lagos before he moved to KRC Mechelen.
The late Nigerian player has also played for Hannover 96 before ending his career at Sporting Kansas City, formerly known as Kansas City Wizards.
Late Okafor also featured in one of the four matches of Nigeria’s Super Eagles at the 1994 Fifa World Cup in the USA. He was also a football pundit on African football for ESPN until his death.
The Wonders or soccer.

Mourinho wins Coach of the Year award

Jose Mourinho was named world coach of the year on Monday for securing the treble of Champions League, Serie A title and Italian Cup with Inter Milan last season.
The 47-year-old Portuguese - known as the 'Special One' - edged out Spain's World Cup winning coach Vicente Del Bosque and Barcelona's Pep Guardiola, who he is now crossing swords with as Real Madrid boss.
In landing the Champions League with Inter - when they beat Bayern Munich in the final last season - he became only the third coach to win European club football's most prestigious trophy with two different clubs having first landed it with Porto in 2004.
The others were Ernst Happel, with Feyenoord in 1970 and Hamburg in 1983, and Ottmar Hitzfeld, who guided Borussia Dortmund to the 1997 trophy and then Bayern Munich in 2001.
Mourinho, never one to hide his high opinion of himself had in typically punchy fashion insisted last month that he and not Del Bosque was truly deserving of the honour.

Jose Mourinho © Gallo Images

"Me, I've made my choice. 11 months work, 57 matches played, three titles including the most important of all, 'THE' tournament, the Champions League. I have won everything, I could not do any more than that, equally so for the players."
The Wonders or soccer.

.:Barclays Premier League: Beckham arrives at Tottenham

Beckham in a practice session

David Beckham arrived at Tottenham's training ground on Monday, with the Premier League club still hoping they can take the former England captain on loan.

The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder turned up at Spurs' facility in Chigwell, northeast London for a medical but did not speak to reporters. Tottenham, who have reached the knockout phase of the Champions League, have said Beckham will only be training with them but manager Harry Redknapp is still hopeful of signing the player on loan during the rest of the US off-season.
Beckham, after his initial visit, returned to Chigwell later Monday wearing Spurs training kit, fuelling speculation the loan deal could yet go ahead. The 35-year-old has not played for an English club since he turned out for Manchester United on the final day of the 2002-03 season.
He is set to return to Chigwell on Tuesday to train with the Spurs first team squad ahead of their match against league leaders United at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

The Wonders or soccer.

Afellay Makes Dream Barcelona Move

Ibrahim Afellay © Action Images

Netherlands midfielder Ibrahim Afellay completed his transfer to Barcelona from PSV Eindhoven when he signed a four and a half year contract on Friday..
Barca sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta told a news conference the 24-year-old would be the only player brought in during the January transfer window and the Spanish champions' squad was now complete.
PSV received three million euros for Afellay and the attacking midfielder's new contract includes a buyout clause worth €100 million, Barcelona said on their website (www.fcbarcelona.cat).
The Dutch club would also get an unidentified percentage of any future transfer fee if Afellay was sold on, the statement added.
Afellay, who is the latest in a long line of Dutch players at the Catalan club, will wear the number 20 shirt.
He will be eligible to make his first appearance for Barca in the La Liga match at home to Levante on Januar 2.
"He is a player who has the characteristics of FC Barcelona," Zubizarreta said.
"He can play in every position in the centre of the pitch, is in superb physical condition and of an age that mixes youth with experience."