Sports News of Thursday, 11 July 2019

Source: ghanasoccernet.com

Stephen Appiah, Maxwell Konadu headline Talent Search scouting team

Appiah is leading Betway Talent Search 2019 coaching team Appiah is leading Betway Talent Search 2019 coaching team

Leading online sports betting company, Betway recently announced the third edition of its football development project, the Betway Talent Search.

The 2019 search will be held on 20 July and 27 July 2019 in the Northern and Southern zones respectively.

On 3 August 2019, the top four participating teams from the various zones will converge in Accra for a one-day tourney where they get to showcase their skills and talents to the coaches and scouts.

Here is a look at the members of the Betway Talent Search Coaching Team:

Stephen Appiah

Former skipper of the Ghana national team, Stephen Appiah, will lead the Betway Talent Search 2019 coaching team.

Stephen, who currently serves as the Technical Coordinator of the Ghana national team, made 67 appearances for Ghana and captained the team in their first World Cup appearance. He also made over 255 professional appearances, which includes spells with Juventus and Fenerbahce.

These days Stephen serves as Technical Coordinator of the senior national team currently playing in the AFCON.

Maxwell Konadu

Maxwell Konadu is a retired Ghana International Player. He played for Ghana Premier League Club Asante Kotoko with brief spells playing in Tunisia and Germany. Maxwell is arguably one of the most recognized local coaches having served as the assistant coach of the national team as well as coaching several junior teams and clubs. He won the Ghana Premier League in 2011-12 season with Kumasi Asante Kotoko as Manager. He is the current coach of the Black Stars B Team.

Sam Johnson

Samuel Johnson is a former Ghanaian international player popularly known as Foyoo. He made 45 appearances for Ghana. With over 353 professional appearances, he had spells in Turkey, Belgium, Greece and Ghana. He was part of the Fenerbahce team that won the 2000-01 Turkish First Football League and was lauded for his ability to seamlessly switch from defense to attack.

Helman Nkosiyethu Mkhalele

Helman Nkosiyethu Mkhalele is a former South African football player better known as Midnight Express. He was the part of the Orlando Pirates squad that won the 1994 National Soccer League and 1995 African Cup of Champions Clubs. Mkhalele played for South Africa national football team, earning 66 caps and scoring eight goals in the process, and was part of the squad that travelled to France for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He was also part of the Bafana squad that lifted the 1996 African Cup of Nations.

He made his debut on 26 November 1994 against Ghana when he was 25 years old. He played his last international on 5 May 2001 against Zimbabwe when he was 31 years and 197 days.

Thabo Senong

Former head coach of the South African U-20 Men’s national team. He is the first South African coach to have qualified for back-to-back U20 FIFA World Cup tournaments in Korea and Poland.

He finished second in the 2018 AFCON with Amajita. Thabo is a specialist in Youth Development. Thabo worked at Orlando Pirates development and at Diambars academy, before joining Sundowns.

Eric Antwi Ofori

Eric Antwi Ofori is the former coach of Accra Great Olympics and Sekondi Eleven Wise. He is also the former captain of the Ghana national volleyball team. With vast experience in nurturing young talents, he trains young talented players that visit Lizzy’s Sports Complex in his capacity as the Technical Director.

Godfried Aduobe

Godfred Aduobe is a former international Ghana Football player. Popularly called “Poloo”, he is one of the few ex –internationals that played at every level of the Ghanaian national team and was one of the key pillars of Ghana’s quick and skillful style of play in the late 80’s and early 90’s. With over 286 professional appearances in Germany, he played for clubs like Karlsruher SC and Young Boys.

Augustine Arhinful

Augustine Arhinful was the top goal scorer of the Ghana Premier League in the 1992-93 season when he played for Ashgold SC. With over 400 professional experiences, he played with notable clubs like Borussia Dortmund in Germany and Grasshoppers in Switzerland.