Last week, I watched in amazement as a Manchester United fan passionately cheered and prayed that Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus would score a hattrick. In my confusion, I asked why a United fan would so badly want a City player to succeed. “He’s in my fantasy team,” he said.

That’s the power of digitalization. Several thousands of miles away, and this fan is not only connected to his favorite club, but all of his other favorite players in the English Premier League through the Fantasy League app.

All around the world, digital media is changing the sports experience and transforming the sporting landscape. Sadly, the Ghana Premier League has failed spectacularly to take advantage of this new media to reach new audience.

According to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), there are nearly ten million internet users in Ghana as at June 2017. In other words, a whopping 34.7% of Ghana’s population uses the internet on a daily basis. Of this number, four million of them are on Facebook alone– representing 14%.

With attendance to Ghana premier league matches continuously on the decline, I don’t see the sense in the GPL’s failure to embrace and invest in reaching the digital audience. Globally, with the proliferation of HDTVs, smartphones and social media, attendance to stadia is on the decline. This has forced so many leagues across the world to evolve and embrace new forms of marketing their products to the public.

To lure fans to a game against the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, the Phoenix Suns offered a money-back guarantee on tickets, promising that fans could get a refund if they weren’t satisfied with the team’s performance.

The EPL is the most popular league in the world but that has not stopped them from actively involved in social media for example. Every day, the EPL’s twitter handle is flooded with tweets and short catchy videos – whether it’s celebrating an old hero of the league or merely reminding followers of a particular day in the history of the league – the premier league’s sixteen million followers on twitter are staying closer to their favorite league.

The GPL only created a twitter handle last year with just over 11,000 followers. But don’t get your hopes high because that twitter handle is as quiescent as an employees’ Whatsapp group with the CEO in it. The last tweet was over 6 days ago at the time of writing. With so many twists and turns heading to the final round of matches in the Ghana Premier League, followers of that handle were deserted and left in total darkness.

The Ghana Premier League’s Facebook account is largely inactive with their last post to their 13,000 followers coming way back in August. In comparison, their compatriots in Nigeria – League Management of Nigeria – managers of the Nigerian Professional League, has over 70,000 followers on twitter and a further 38,000 likes on Facebook.

The Nigeria premier league ended in September, just before the start of the WAFU 2017 tournament. But check their handle, and you’d find a tweet few hours ago on the Nigeria Professional League. Social Media is a full-time job for leagues the world over. The Ghana premier league hasn’t even taken it seriously enough to be considered a part time job to them.

Apart from the obvious benefits of reaching a much younger and vibrant audience with social media, building a huge following on that platform has the potential to increase the league’s commercial value.

In 2014 for example, FC Barcelona engaged sports marketing agency IMG to examine what value social media adds to its shirt sponsorship rights.

Over one weekend, there were 61 million web impressions of the Qatar Foundation’s sponsorship of the club’s shirts, causing Barcelona to renegotiate their deal with the Foundation.

During the WAFU 2017 tournament, the Ghana Football Association’s communications department was heavily involved in developing a social media strategy for the tournament. People were hired specifically for that purpose and they executed WAFU’s tournament coverage on social media excellently. So it’s not an issue of personnel; it’s one of a disinterest, and that’s destroying our league.

Another entity that has surprisingly not taken digital and social media seriously is the media sponsor of the GPL – StarTimes Ghana. All around the world, sponsors have played a massive role in the promotion of competitions they sponsor with short video previews, interviews, reactions posted on social media so fans can access on the go.

StarTimes Ghana has yet to embrace this. Their twitter handle has 951 followers, and they have only tweeted 925 times with their last tweet coming six days ago. And while they post short video previews to the entertainment content on their channels, same is not done for the GPL. With three million followers on Facebook, the potential reach of anything on Startimes’ Facebook is enormous. Unfortunately, they have not invested same energy into the promotion of the Ghana Premier League.

StarTimes should be running short quizzes, predictions, posting short interviews, conducting polls and asking fans to vote for favorite goals, plays etc. The winner of these short competitions could be taken along with the TV crew to experience how coverage of a game is done. It’s a small gesture that would stay with that fan forever. This is how to build loyalty.

In the just ended season, a group of friends from GHPLLIVE created a Ghana Premier League fantasy league. It was a simple process of posting fixtures two days before every match day and asking people to predict scores of each match in the comment section, with 4 points allocated for a perfect score and 1 mark for correct prediction.

It started with just 10 people in the first week, and by week five, they had to cut the numbers. The interest this generated was beyond imagination. It forced people to pay attention to the league and the discussion that followed each match week in the comment section of this fantasy prediction was ridiculous.

With a great percentage of Ghanaians on social media between the ages of 15 and 45, developing a digital media strategy that goes beyond just sending out tweets and Facebook posts, could introduce the league to a new range of audience that has fast slipped away. And just then, maybe, we could get them to love our league again.
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By: Fentuo Tahiru/ [email protected]/ The writer is a Sports Journalist at Citi FM.

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Woods, 41, is recovering from a fourth back operation in the last three years and has not played since withdrawing from February’s Dubai Desert Classic.

On Sunday, the American posted a video on Twitter hitting a driver, with the caption “Making progress”.

“He can do as much as he needs to do,” said his agent Mark Steinberg.

Woods had back fusion surgery in April and last month admitted he may never return to competitive golf.

His long-time agent Steinberg said the former world number one is being careful not to rush his comeback.

“He got a nice report and is allowed to proceed,” Steinberg told ESPN. “Tiger is going to take this very, very slowly. This is good, but he plans to do it the right way.”

The three-time Open champion has not won a tournament since 2013, while his drought in the majors stretches back to 2008.

In August, Woods pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence after being found asleep at the wheel, but agreed to enter a rehabilitation programme that would see the charge dropped later this year.

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Source: BBC

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The decision was announced at a media conference after a one-day meeting headed by Caf’s president Ahmad.

Caf announced that the decision to move the tournament was made “in light of accumulated delays from reports of the various inspection missions conducted in the country.”

The 16-team tournament for locally-based players only, is scheduled to take place between 12 January and 4 February 2018.

A Caf inspection team visited Kenya from 11 to 17 September 2017 and found that only one of the four venues was ready to stage the event.

Some Caf officials in Accra also expressed concern about the political situation in Kenya, where recently annulled presidential elections are set to be re-run next month.

It is the second time Kenya has lost the right to stage an African football competition after being replaced by South Africa as 1996 Africa Cup of Nations hosts.

Kenya would have been the second successive east African country to stage the CHAN after Rwanda in 2016.

There has been media speculation that Morocco or South Africa may replace Kenya, though Caf say a bidding process for new hosts will be opened immediately.

In other Caf decisions on Saturday, they announced that for now, Cameroon remain as hosts of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, though the organising committee must organise for an audit firm to carry out an inspection mission of the country’s infrastructure.

Caf also announced that Egypt have replaced Zambia as hosts of the 2019 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations, which doubles as qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Zambia withdrew as hosts of the eight-nation competition on financial grounds.

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Source: BBC

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Tiger Woods had five different drugs in his system when he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) in May, according to a toxicology report.

A urine test revealed a mixture of strong painkillers, sleep and anxiety drugs and THC, which is a chemical component of marijuana.

The former world number one, 41, sought “professional help” after his arrest.

The 14-time major winner pleaded not guilty to the DUI charge last week.

Woods, who is recovering from a fourth back operation, is now expected to admit a lesser charge of reckless driving and enter a 12-month probation programme.

“As I previously said, I received professional help to manage my medications,” said Woods on Monday.

“Recently, I had been trying on my own to treat my back pain and a sleep disorder, including insomnia, but I realise now it was a mistake to do this without medical assistance.”

American Woods was arrested near his Florida home on 29 May, after police found him asleep in his car on the side of the road.

He denied alcohol was involved and said it was down to “an unexpected reaction to prescribed medication”.

The toxicology results, made public by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, showed the presence of:

• Hydrocodone (Vicodin)
• Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
• Alprazolam (Xanax)
• Zolpidem (Ambien)
• Delta-9 carboxy THC

Woods has not won a tournament since 2013, while his title drought in major championships dates back to 2008.

Last December, he returned to action after 15 months out injured but has not played since his back problems recurred in February.

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Source: BBC

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The player endured a particularly testing season in the last campaign, questioned for repeated defensive mishaps and poor decisions.

Despite the anticipation that he would be shipped out this summer, Smalling joined the squad for pre-season in the United States.

However, any hopes that he would prove naysayers wrong went out of the window in the 2-0 win against Manchester City on Friday morning.

A long ball over the top from Man City appeared comfortable for Smalling who was running back towards his goal but with Sergio Aguero chasing him down a little nonchalantly, the defender contrived to miss his header, resulting in a comical fall on the edge of the box.

With Aguero sensing an opportunity to run onto the mistake, it took a cool-headed, David De Gea to get the ball clear and save Smalling’s blushes.

It was all a bit too much for Citi Sports editor Nathan Quao, who took to Twitter to espouse his views about the defender.

I see that Chris Smalling was up to his old tricks again.

— Nathan Quao (@nathan_quao) July 21, 2017

His tweet was picked up by the Daily Mail after it sparked a discussion about whether Smalling deserved to be at the club.

It wasn’t all bad for Smalling as he made a decent double block to help maintain United’s clean sheet.

However, his propensity for errors in games could be a worry for Man United fans who expect their side to provide a stronger title challenge next season.

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EdKwakofi

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The Colombia international’s future at the Bernabeu had been in doubt after he was left out of Real’s squad for the Champions League final win over Juventus last month.

Manchester United had been linked with a move for the 25-year-old and his agent is also believed to have offered him to Chelsea, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and Juventus.

But Rodriguez, who joined Real in 2014 for around £71m from Monaco, has opted for a move to German champions Bayern to play under former boss Carlo Ancelotti, who brought him to the Spanish capital.

Rodriguez scored 36 goals in 111 appearances for Real

“We’re delighted we’ve been able to complete this transfer,” said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

“Signing James Rodríguez was our coach Carlo Ancelotti’s biggest wish, following their successful spell working together in Madrid.

“James is a very versatile player. He’s a goalscorer himself, he sets up a lot of goals and on top of that he’s great from set-pieces. There’s no question that this transfer further increases the quality in our team.”

We look at James Rodriguez’s La Liga goals last season

Rodriguez moves to Bayern on a loan deal until June 30, 2019. He will sign his contract in Munich after successfully completing a medical.

A statement on Bayern’s website says the attacking midfielder will join his new team-mates on Sunday for Bayern’s 12-day Audi Summer Tour to China and Singapore.

Rodriguez rose to prominence after finishing top goal scorer at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with six goals.

Rodriguez was left out of the Real Madrid’s squad for last season’s Champions League final

Those performances caught the eye of Real Madrid and since moving to the Bernabeu he has won the Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup twice as well as the La Liga title.

He made 111 appearances for Real, scoring 36 goals and producing 41 assists.

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Source: Sky Sports

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Lukaku has signed a five-year contract, with the option of a further 12 months, after completing a medical in Los Angeles over the weekend.

Sky sources say the fee could eventually rise to £90m, and United held off late competition from Chelsea for the Belgium striker’s signature.

Lukaku will join up with his new team-mates in Los Angeles ahead of their pre-season schedule in the United States.

Jose Mourinho, who managed the 24-year-old at Chelsea, told the United website: “Romelu is a natural fit for Manchester United. He is a big personality and a big player. It is only natural that he wants to develop his career at the biggest club.

“He will be a great addition to the group and I know they will make him very welcome. I am really looking forward to working with him again.”

Lukaku said: “I would like to start by thanking Everton and the fans for the last four wonderful seasons, I have made some special friends and we have shared some amazing moments.

“However, when Manchester United and Jose Mourinho come knocking at the door it is an opportunity of a lifetime and one that I could not turn down.

“You could see the fight, determination and the spirit in this team during the Europa League final and I want to become a part of that.

“I cannot wait to run out at Old Trafford in front of 75,000 fans but before that pre-season is where the hard work starts and I am looking forward to that first training session.”

Confirmation of the Lukaku deal came hours after Wayne Rooney’s first press conference back at Everton

Confirmation of Lukaku’s transfer came hours after Wayne Rooney faced the press for the first time since moving in the other direction.

Ronald Koeman sat alongside Rooney at the press conference and said Lukaku had made “the right decision”, adding: “Lets’ hope everything goes well for him because I like him. I like the player.”

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Source: Sky Sports

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Media reports had said US firm Iconiq Capital was preparing an offer.

Spurs are currently in the process of building a new stadium, and will play games at Wembley Stadium next season.

The club agreed stadium funding with a trio of banks in May. It says other proposals emerged then, “including bank debt and equity investment”.

The banks involved in the stadium financing were Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Ltd, Goldman Sachs Bank USA and HSBC bank.

The club said in a statement: “The board believes this [stadium financing agreement] was the optimum solution in the interests of fans, employees and shareholders and for the continued development of the club.”

But it added: “The board is not in any discussions relating to a takeover offer for the club.”

Demolition of the club’s historic White Hart Lane home started at the end of the 2016-17 season.

They plan to have a new 61,000-seater stadium, built on the same site, ready for the 2018-19 season.

In the meantime, the club will play home games at Wembley, which they used in the Champions League and Europa League last season.

The new stadium is expected to cost £750m but will create about 3,500 jobs in the area when it is finished, according to the club.

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Source: BBC

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The agents involved in the deal arrived in the English capital on Saturday to finalise the transfer, after the two clubs agreed a fee that could rise to £34m for the 24-year-old Germany international.

Personal terms have now been completed and Rudiger has become the Blues’ second major signing of the summer after the arrival Manchester City goalkeeper Willy Caballero.

Rudiger will wear the No.2 shirt, previously owned by Branislav Ivanovic.

The defender said: ‘It’s a great feeling because not every player has the opportunity to join a huge club like this.

‘I am looking forward to meeting up with my new team-mates and I’m very proud to officially become a Chelsea player.’

Technical Director Michael Emenalo added: ‘We are pleased to be able to bring in a player of proven quality who adds to our defensive options.

‘Antonio is still young but is experienced at club and international level and possesses all the requisite attributes to thrive in the Premier League. We have been aware of him for some time and we are confident he will fit in well with the squad.’

Chelsea completed the deal as they miss out on their main striker target this summer, Romelu Lukaku, who is set to join Manchester United in a deal understood to have frustrated Antonio Conte.

His new defender Rudiger has spent the last two seasons in Serie A, joining Roma on loan at the start of the 2015-16 season and then joining the club on a permanent basis last summer for £7.6m.

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Source: Sky Sports

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The 31-year-old England striker has signed a two-year deal to return to his boyhood club, for whom he made his debut as a 16-year-old and burst onto the Premier League scene.

Rooney said: “It is some time since I said that the only Premier League club I would play for other than Manchester United was Everton, so I am delighted that the move has happened.

#FarewellToALegend@WayneRooney is leaving #MUFC to return to Everton: https://t.co/QQrxKB2wo4

Thank you, Wayne, from all of us. pic.twitter.com/34NErAvscX

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 9, 2017

“Thirteen years ago I went to United with the intention of winning trophies and I have been fortunate to be a part of one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.

“I have come back to Everton because I believe Ronald Koeman is building a team that can win something and I look forward to playing my part in making that a reality for the club I have supported since a boy.”

Rooney is close with Duncan Ferguson (Pic from Twitter: @Everton)

Everton manager Ronald Koeman said: “Wayne has shown me that ambition that we need and that winning mentality – he knows how to win titles and I’m really happy he’s decided to come home.

“He loves Everton and he was desperate to come back. He is still only 31 and I don’t have any doubts about his qualities. It’s fantastic he’s here.”

Rooney donned an Everton shirt in Duncan Ferguson’s testimonial in 2015

Rooney switches back to Merseyside as part of a deal that will see United sign striker Romelu Lukaku for up to £90m.

After an illustrious time under Sir Alex Ferguson in which he won five Premier League titles and the Champions League, he struggled to nail down a place in Jose Mourinho’s first-team last season after a difficult previous campaign under Louis van Gaal.

He picked up a Europa League winners medal last season and also won the FA Cup under Van Gaal, and leaves Old Trafford having scored 251 goals in over 500 games.

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Source: Sky Sports

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