Sports News of Sunday, 16 September 2018

Source: thebftonline.com

Betway Talent Search: Eight players earn professional contracts with GPL clubs

The scouting team traveled to some major cities across the country The scouting team traveled to some major cities across the country

Ghana’s leading online sports betting firm, Betway Ghana has announced eight winners from this year’s Betway Talent Search initiative. The initiative aimed at unearthing rising talents across Ghana.

The Betway Talent Search which is in its second year was led by Betway Ghana brand ambassador, Stephen Appiah, to scout for young unsigned football talents between the ages of 18 to 25.

The scouting team traveled to some major cities across the country including Tamale, Sunyani, Kumasi, Cape Coast and Accra in search of the football talents.

Finally, the eight winners from this year’s edition have each earned for themselves a six-month contract with an option to extend with the four Betway sponsored clubs in Ghana. Officials from Liberty Professionals Football Club, Medeama Sporting Club, Ashanti Gold Sporting Club, and Aduana Stars were present at the closing ceremony held at the Lizzy Sports Complex to pick their preferred players. Each club had an opportunity to pick at least two players from the 24-man squad.

Liberty Professional Football Club picked Holyfield Djanie and Clement Boahen, Aduana Stars picked Richard Osei and Dodzi Mensah and Medeama Sporting Club picked Sylvester Simba and Stephen Dankwa.

Douglas Amaning, who placed second in the maiden edition of the Betway Talent Search will be joined at Ashanti Gold Sporting Club by John Amoah and Kwaku Duah.

Stephen Appiah, Betway Ghana brand ambassador wished the players well and expressed his excitement about the opportunity given to these young players.

“I am very excited because through Betway these young players will have an opportunity to feature in the Ghana Premier League. I wish them well and will continue to monitor their performance in their various teams.” The overall winner of this year’s Betway Talent Search, who is heading to Medeama Sporting Club, Sylvester Simba, in an interview said he was extremely excited and ready to work harder to earn a place in his new club. The attacking midfielder was also adjudged the best player for the game between the Betway Talent Search Team and Dansoman based Liberty Professionals Football Club.

“I am really amazed I was picked out of over a thousand players who came to participate in the tryouts. I have been picked to join Medeama and it’s going to be another difficult task but I am well prepared for it.”

The Betway Talent Search scouting team and coaches, made up of notable names like Eric Antwi Ofori, Godfred Aduobe, Mohammed Gargo, Sam Johnson, Maxwell Konadu, Seth Pearson, Godfrey Malambule and Kamaal Sait, will continue to monitor the progress of players selected. This is hoped to ensure that they are able to reach their maximum potential. The closing ceremony, which was held at the Lizzy Sports Complex, brought around club owners, coaches, former footballers and families of young footballers present to offer support to participants.

The Betway Group is a leading provider of first-class entertainment across sports betting, casino, bingo, and poker.

Launched in 2006, the company operates across a number of regulated online markets and holds licenses in the UK, Malta, Italy, Denmark, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, South Africa, and Nigeria. Based in Malta and Guernsey, with support from London, Isle of Man, Stockholm and Cape Town, the Betway team comprises over 1,000 people. Betway is also the official principal sponsor of Premier League football club West Ham United, the UK Premier League Darts and the UK Snooker Championships.