WISCONSIN UNIVERSITY TO HOST SPORTS FESTIVAL

By Ebenezer Zor (ezee)

 

The Student Representative Council of Wisconsin International University will launch their annual SRC week celebrations come this Thursday, March 28 2013.

 

Within such a session, there will be a launch of the Andrew Dede Ayew sports fun club on the premises of Wisconsin campus at 8:00 am before the commence of the tournament.

 

Dubbed;”Host and win, the era of sports development” intend to promote unity, networking, oneness, entertainment and peace among participants geared toward national development.

 

According to the organizers, the event will be a memorable one as several schools have been invited to come and grace the occasion with them.

 

There will be an inter schools sports festival tournament schedule to place on the 28^th March, 2013 at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission Park right after the launching.

 

This festival intends to concentrate in the areas of football and basketball which all the invited schools are required to provide team players with regards to that.

 

Pornographic films, should they be banned?

 By Farida Shiabu

As a kid, do you remember watching a movie with your parents where you had to close your eyes immediately there is a sex scene? Sometimes you may pretend doing something just to feel distracted or perhaps your parents may suddenly flip the channel to prevent you from watching right? Well, that was then. Not anymore in the 21st century or so called computer age.

Pornographic materials are out of control now and it’s either you watch or take your eyes off once its slapped right on your face. It is everywhere- in our movies, newspapers, dressing and even on the internet. We are exposed to it at least once in our everyday lives. But if indeed the Holy Book tells us that sins committed by watching provocative materials are just as much as engaging in them then maybe I can say that most of us are already porn stars. May God forgive us...Amen!  

A heated debate on the BBC radio a couple of weeks ago got me engrossed in the argument. “Pornographic films, should it be banned?” asked the host to his panelists in the studio. The focus of discussion was on the indiscriminate use of the internet by these sites and whether it is even legal to expose such obscene videos on the net. Could there be a solution to reduce it by way of censorship or ban it outrightly?

Don’t pretend you haven’t seen any of these “blue films” before. This is a topic worth discussing so let’s get talking. Many will agree that uploading of pornographic films on the internet dated way back into decades but the advancement of technology has made it possible for everyone to access it anywhere these days. Instead of using the internet as a learning centre, some children even go to the internet cafés just to pay monies and to log into these porno sites and feed their eyes. That is purely moral decadence if you ask me.

According to panelists on the debate platform, research has shown that there are over 1001 sites on the internet where some of these films can be accessed. So if technology has made the internet so accessible, imagine the number of people who will be exposed to any of these sites every day.

The first argument from the proposing side was that whereas more and more young people are getting access to view these contents, they are picking up some new tutorials and are applying them in their sex lives. That should be a good thing, some will say. However, research suggests that most relationships and marriages of today are failing so much because partners tend to prioritize sex more than anything else that will bond the union. The influence of porno films makes them view sex in a totally different way.

For some ladies, you either have to be familiar with the wheelbarrow, 69, doggie or be a diva in oral sex before you are fully considered a marriage material. Once you cannot satisfy your guy, he tends to look elsewhere for a better alternative. Same thing applies to ladies who feel their guys cannot rock their beds enough. Usually, the end result is cheating.

Whereas most of the scenes are set to amuse viewers, it was also argued that contents now relate to sexual abuses on women in these films. The brutality and the maltreatment are just too much for some to bear. Studies have therefore shown that men who are exposed to such scenes tend to regard women as sex idols. Some partners are sometimes inclined to take the same practice into the bedroom; all in the name of changing the status quo to make sex more exciting.

As for the aphrodisiacs and all the other performance boosters, they only tend to weaken the sex organs and make it less fertile.

On the contrary, views from the opposing panelist who happened to be a porn star was apparently directed at portraying sex as an everyday phenomenon and as such should not be viewed as a big deal. In her defense she argued that most of the sexual abuses were just acts to make the scene interesting. Therefore, actors are trained to act in a way that makes the whole scene look exciting and erotic. However, no lady is forced into the industry against her will. Also, none of their viewers are forced to practice whatever they watch at home. Therefore it is a matter of choice for viewers to decide on what happens between the sheets in their bedrooms.

But let’s try addressing the issue. Should pornographic films be censored on the internet, maybe children will have to log in with a credit card account before they can have access to it. This will probably instill some level of discipline and responsibility even in the industry and also prevent young ones from engaging in such illicit acts. 

What about our print and electronic media? Movies have always been rated PG18 but are shown in broad day light when kids are back from school. Maybe it’s about time the media fraternity address some of these issues to make the  system less polluted.

Too late for a solution some will say but whichever way- in fact whether a ban or censorship we can prevent the vulgarity and obscenity in our system. Perhaps children won’t be so eager to practice what they learn on the internet and we will save our young ones from becoming parents at age four and five. 

Let’s continue the debate. Do you agree or not? Share some views and solutions.

Joseph Agbeko has done well!

At last 56 years of independence from colonialism, Ghana has something to brag off in the field

Joseph 'King Kong' Agbeko

of boxing as a sport.

It was historic and a moment to ask for more when Ghana's finest boxer Joseph 'King Kong' Agbeko mounted the ring last Friday at the Accra Sports Stadium to clinch the vacant IBO Bantamweight title against Luis Melenez from Colombia. 

Both pugilist really lived up to expectation as they travelled the full distance of the 12 rounds to the admiration of the teeming fans.

But champion Agbeko with his accurate jabs, excellent foot works and every good approach one could ever sought for in a professional boxer eventually made him won the main bout of the evening with a unanimous decision.

At long last in 25 years, a world championship bout has been organized on home soil which at the end the flag of Ghana was lifted very high.

Agbeko and his able team have done well for securing a boxing world title for the nation and such feat achieved ca never be erased from the Ghana's history book.

By Ebenezer Zor (ezee)

Bravo to Ghanaian trio

It was great to see Ghanaian trio  in action for DR Congo giants TP Mazembe when their side beat Botswana’s Mochudi Centre Chiefs 1-0 in the CAF Champions League on Saturday.

Former Kotoko player Daniel Nii Adjie , Richard Kissi Boateng and Solomon Asante both ex-players of Brekum Chelsea gave all out fro their side to win the CAF Champions League last 32, first leg tie in Gaborone.

Their rich performance have proven to the continent how good Ghanaian players are especially those on the local front always ready for an opportunity to prove a point.

Ghanaians are proud of them and they keep on with good thing they have started and work assiduously to get a position in the senior national team.

By Ebenezer Zor (ezee)

Coach Sellas Tetteh should focus on Benin's game.

Coach Sellas Tetteh has to concentrate on his team even though they lost 1-0 to Egypt in the ongoing 19^th edition of the 2013 u-20 African Youth Championship in Algeria.            

The Black Satellites lost to the young Pharoahs of Egypt in the opening Group A played at Stade Omar Oucief, Aïn Témouchent sprouted several criticism base on the performance of the team.

It seems there is more work to done by the satellites if they really want to surpass the group stages then into the grand finale.

Coach Sellas Tetteh, a 2009 world U-20 cup winner, need to psychic his boys up and prepare them for the second group game against Benin than paying more attention to comments circulating on the entire team.

Ghana needs this trophy badly to make amends for Black Stars dismal showpiece at the South Africa 2013 Afcon tourney so therefore Coach Sellas Tetteh must strive hard to bring the best from his charges.

By so doing, he must allow the defeat to Egypt to be in the past rather focusing bringing back the glory the nation expects from these boys.

It will be an end of the road to satellites if they should loose or even draw in the next game against Benin.

 By Ebenezer Zor (ezee)

EMIT, CHAMPIONS 2013 NASSA SPORTS FESTIVAL

Emit Electronic Institute defiled all odds and became champions of the 2013 annual athletics Non – Assisted Schools Sports Association (NASSA) some weeks ago at the Elwak Sports Stadium in Accra.

The technical school unperturbed about the tight opposition by other schools accumulated a total of  152 points to top all with their intriguing and dazzling performances throughout the sports festival.

In the boys division, St Pauls’ had 69 points, followed closely by Dansis Senior High with 62 points then Mars came third with 61 points.

Elsewhere in the girls’ category, Jubilee Senior High topped with 108 points stretching second place St Pauls’ with 81 points and third place Action Progressive Institute with 51 Points.

The sports festival which was organized under the distinguished patronage of the national president of the Conference of Heads of Private Senior Schools (CHOPSS), Nana Oboedum V brought second cycle private and technical schools within Greater Accra to compete for glory.

Nana Oboedum V in his speech expressed his profound and lofty appreciation to the organizers, proprietors and proprietresses, teachers, media and the participating schools who together have made this year’s competition very entertaining, enjoyable, gigantic and unprecedented one.

He further stated his association together with the organizers will do their best to select those who excelled in this year’s super zonal competition to the National Sports Team as soon as possible

Notwithstanding, he took the opportunity to congratulate all those who have won prizes and commended them for their efforts.

By Ebenezer Zor (Ezee)

WHY ASHITTEY OLLENU?

Very soon our national U-20 team, the Black Satellites will once again attempt to raise the flag of Ghana in the African Youth Championship in Algeria starting from March 16- 30 this year.

This will be an opportunity for them as they prepare for the onslaught to wrestle for the ultimate to delete the dismal and abysmal showpiece from the Black Stars at the 2013 South Africa AFCON tourney.

But it is worrying to note that the current team under the watchful eyes of Coach Sellas Tetteh and also chaired by George Afriyie have not  secured  visas’ for certain players that might contribute immensely to the teams’ glory at that platform.

Being a Ghanaian it is sad to hear that Accra Hearts of Oak’s young enterprising star, Ashittey Ollenu and others are till in the country as a result of the management inability to procure a VISA for them.

Does it mean that some players are favourite or the selection is based on who is in charge or knows?

By Ebenezer Zor (ezee)

BARCELONA MADE MY NIGHT.

I was on cloud nine from the comfort of a cinema in my area when my team Barcelona made history after dismantling AC Milan by 4-0 in their Ueaf Champions league round 16 second tie last Tuesday at Nou Camp.

As i watch closely amidst AC Milan fans that from the on set were certain of victory as they engaged their opponent in a lot of verbal salvo among other observers.

There were only few Barc fans among the lot whom before the game tried to daunt our spirits but ended digging their own grave as AC Milan could not rely on the Ghanaian duo(Sulley Muntari and Kelvin Prince Boateng) leaving El Stadio Nou Camp with a deficit of 4-2 on aggregate.

It was one of the best ever performance displayed by the Catalans as compare to other equal approaches to other games.

With this feat, Barcelona is the only club which has staged a come back from a 2-0 deficit to a 4-0 victory in the history of Ueaf Champions League.

In fact my night was pleasant as Barc made me forget the erratic power supply disturbing the country in recent times.

Frankly, am always proud supporting the best team across the globe thus Barcelona for their stylish and computerized artistry which caught AC Milan in the web of hallucination.

My piece will not be complete without giving thumps up for the reigning four times world footballer of the year Lionel Andre Mess, the magician who netted two goals, followed by veteran David Villa , then defender Jordi Alba, and the entire team for qualifying into the quarter-finals of the 2013 Ueaf Champions league.

By Ebenezer Zor (ezee)

THE AYEWS ARE NOT SUPERHUMANS

It is clear that the senior national team, Black Stars does not require the services of the Marseille duo, Dede and Jordan Ayews’ based on the recent comment made by their father Abedi Ayew Pele.

Abedi Pele, the Maestro having a bite on his children retirement from the stars fold has rather supported them to quit the national team

I find his comment as highly reasonable since Dede and his brother Jordan are old to take decisions on their own even though there is till fatherly-motherly advice.

In any case, did the maestro scribble the letter for both? It is high time Ghanaians stop creating the impression that the Ayews' are super humans.

Obviously blood is always thicker than water and for Abedi Pele to support his wards to quit the national team buttresses the fact is about time GFA and the technical team stop

pursuing the issue and cast their nets wide for other players who are equally good.

By Ebenezer Zor (Ezee)

KUDOS TO AMIDAUS AND UT BANK.

One of the challenges facing teams worldwide is sponsorship packages. The absences of such monetary package always fumble clubs into serious financial mess.

For this reason, I doff my heart out the giant step taken by Unique Trust Bank to sponsor premiership debutante Tema Amidaus Professionals to the tune of GH¢30,000 sponsorship deal subjected to renewal till the end of the season.

This step from Unique Trust Bank is worthy of emulation and I think is about time more corporate entities throw their weight behind the clubs and our league divisions across the country.

Amidaus who currently lies 5^th in the ongoing Glo Premiership with 27 points out of 17 match days has been fantastic and iconic in their maiden topflight competition.

The sponsorship deal will encourage, motivate the club to continue their fine form to ensure a better placement on the league log by the end of the season.

By Ebenezer Zor (ezee)

KOTOTO, MAKE GHANA PROUD

Ghana’s solely representative in the ongoing CAF Champions league preliminary rounds, Kumasi Asante Kotoko have a hurdle to jump over as they face JSM in the first leg this Friday.

Kotoko has been tremendous in their last three games both locally and continental. The Porcupine Warriors code name in the football circuit some wells ago defeated El Sony Nguema 7-0 at the Baya Yara Stadium, went away to secure a painful 1-0 victory on 8-0 aggregate.

Coach Didi Dramani and his charge have done well to start the campaign on the good note by putting the fear of God in other teams.

Asante Kotoko ought to leave no stone unturned, strive hard to go beyond the indelible prints of Berekum Chelsea last year as they themselves have seen it all.

As a Ghanaian i will be proud and joyful if Kumasi Asante Kokoto repeats the same performance against Sony Nguema this Friday.

 I wish the team all the best as they attempt to make the nation proud.

By Ebenezer Zor (ezee)

WHAT THE SPORTS BUDGET SHOULD BE USED FOR?

Indeed, the sports budget have come at a right time to provide a shelter for the various sports associations in the country if distributed equally without any parochial interest and greed.

The Ministry of Sports headed by Hon. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah should focus on infrastructure developmental expansions and also ensure a proper account and documentation of the distribution of the money to the heads of the sporting disciplines so that others would not used such yardstick to amass wealth all in the name of “do you know me”.

Before that, I think it will be very prudent for the ministry to bring out what they intend to do with the budget in the public domain for easily understanding and proper debate.

In doing this, ministry must take into account that the sports budget is not meant for only football rather all disciplines even to the least sport.

Away from that, the sports budget must be utilized judiciously in urgent projects aimed at unearthing, grooming and preparing athletes in all the 36 sporting disciplines that intend to sell nation in any competition worldwide.

In my view, when there is a multipurpose sports stadium it will not do the nation no harm than living a legacy for current athletes to repeat chalking important success compared to their predecessors for other future generations to follow suit since acquiring it will harbor and prepare players within the disciplines to have access to quality training facilities than imploring obsolete ways of training.

Aside the multipurpose, there should a concession on building a national gym center in all regions to keep the players fit,  accrue revenue for the nation likewise putting an end to transporting players to the nations capital since such facility is unavailable to them in their respective regions.

Another eminent area of importance is the development of athletics.  Gone were those when athletics used to be a very hot  sporting commodity as people in those days were poised to see Leo Mills, Grunt just to mention a few down to Aziz Zakari, Ignatius Gaziah, Vida Anim, Margaret Simpson and others.

But today, the association is in shambles to the point of being faced with financial crisis making it even cumbersome for them to organize or attend programmes to expose the players for developmental sake.

This is related to all sporting disciplines; boxing, tae kwando, swimming, handball, volley, hockey, tennis, golf, badminton, chess, wrestling and not for getting horse racing.

The sports budget will be useless if it does look down upon the youth across the length and breadth of the country related to our local league. As a way of empowering the youth with jobs, there should be target to build another world standard stadium in another region apart from the ones present. When this idea is conceived, worked on and implemented it will offer jobs to the youth and in the long or short run reduce the high ratio of employment.

Again when there is a perfect stadium in another region it will expose clubs to modern usage of pitches to enhance their style of play hence pulling spectators to fill the stadium to its capacity anytime there is a match at hand.

Beside this point, the budget should factor in developing talents in our schools especially the grass root by empowering and encouraging sport masters or physical education teachers to dedicate their time in the scouting and discovering of talents through continuous and efficient organization of sporting programmes.

Notwithstanding that, there should an allocation of funds to ex- gallant Black Stars players who did their best to raise the flag of Ghana some years back.

Of course our football national teams made of both male and female teams must not be left out since football has always been the passion of the nation.

When this is proportionally distributed it will do the country more good than before.

 By Ebenezer Zor (ezee)

Fix more local players into the senior national team

Within some few days, Ghana in its bid to qualify for the Brazil 2014 World Cup a will host Sudan on March 24 at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

For this reason, I believe Ghanians will be interested in Coach James Coach Appiah’s call-ups for this particular duel and beyond.

Ghanians as usual would prefer the services of more professionals to locally based players which I totally disagree.

Do you know there are some quality players on the local terrain who have proven over the years to be better than some of the professionals and deserve to be in the national team? For the sake of space I don’t want list names.

How on earth must we expect the best from the locally based players if they don’t get the exposure?

To this point, I suggest that Coach James Akwasi Appiah with his able technical team should  incorporate more locally based players into the senior national not only for the Sudan game but any competition ahead.

By Ebenezer Zor (ezee)