After an incredible season which saw Iddrisu keep 18 cleansheets in 31 appearances in the 2021/2022 Ghana Premier League, the shot stopper has been given the ultimate award of the best goalkeeper of the year.
Iddrisu conceded only 18 goals throughout the season and had over 70% pass accuracy.
He reached the finals of the MTN FA Cup as well.
Below is a video of Iddrisu receiving the award which was presented to him by legendary Abubakari Damba.
He moved from STK Stars FC, a 2nd division side in the Savannah Region, to Bechem United FC last season and the rest is history.
Abdulai Iddrisu
Abdulai Iddrisu became the first choice goalkeeper for the Bechem side in his first season(2020/2021) and has taken this season(2021/2022) to a whole new level.
After 13 games played, Iddrisu has kept 9 clean sheets in this season’s Ghana Premier League(GPL). The last of which came against West African Football Academy(WAFA) in a home game yesterday the 24th of January 2022.
His impressive start to the season according to him is due to “hard work, prayers and support from my teammates and coaches”.
With his agility, reflexes and confidence, it can only get better.
Brilliant, Absolutely Brilliant. From STK to Bechem to Top Class Performances.
Iddrisu Abdulai of Bechem United FC has received a lot of praise for his performance against Kumasi Asante SC. The GPL(Ghana Premier League) game took place at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium yesterday.
Iddrisu Abdulai
Even though Bechem United lost by 2 goals to 0, Iddrisu had a standout performance. He was solid with his ball distribution and reflexes. His sweeper duty was on point and he commanded the back line pretty well.
Iddrisu Abdulai
This performance earned him at lot of praise on social media and the footballing world.
Below are a few of the comments.
Iddrisu is definitely one for the present and future 🔥🔥🔥
The “biggest” capacity building to ever happen in football in the Northern Region was organised by the Northern Regional Football Association (NRFA) at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale. The event that took place on Tuesday, January 26th, 2021, was put together to equip the executives of the various District Football Associations (DFA), with the necessary skills to run their associations.
The NRFA chairman, Alhaji Abu Hassan Rhyzo, was the chairman of the event. Some of the speakers were, Prosper Harrison, General Secretary, Ghana Football Association (GFA), Neil Amstrong, owner of Krypton Global and former National Chapters Committee (NCC) chairman of Accra Hearts of Oak, and Micheal Oti Adjei of TV3.
The facilitators.
Mr. Rhyzo gave his opening remarks and spoke on how he intends to build the region’s fooball through various capacity building events. He then said, “over the last ten years, this is the biggest event in terms of capacity building”.
He concluded his introductory remarks by saying “social media marketing is very important”, and urged the various executives to take advantage of it.
Mr. Ryzo on the microphone 🎤
The General Secretary of the GFA, Prosper Harrison, took his turn and said, “it is the desire of the GFA to bring such events to our base”. Mr. Afriyie went ahead and stressed on the fact that a strong base makes things easier.
He also made known the fact that the days of Peter Amewu, the late, which use to be paper work alone has now quickly changed to IT.
Mr. Prosper Harrison
Neil Amstrong Mortagbe, gave a lecture on how to manage the ‘little’ resources we have. He said, “everytime we are asked why we are struggling, we blame the FA, but a lot of the time it is us. We think too much about what we don’t have, rather than what we have”.
“You cannot fight nature, so package nature in a way you can enjoy it”.
Neil went ahead and gave a funny example about how he turned what was supposed to be bad to good. He said when he was teased about his bald head, he took it in good faith and turned it around. People no longer saw Neil the “bald boy”, but Neil the intelligent man. He then said we shouldn’t make noise about what we don’t have, rather we should make the most out of what we have.
Neil continued by saying, “your customers are your prospective donors and sponsors”. “What do I have?, is the first thing you must answer in markerting.”. “Treat your footballers like customers”. “Honouring” what we have is the way to go. Neil stressed on the fact that football was created as a vehicle for development.
He spoke about repecting structures and solving issues internally. “Together we can get football to be a profitable sport for all.”
How to know what you have is by thinking deep and asking yourself hard questions. The things you are not supposed to say in normal life, don’t say them on social media. The same liabilities are carried around both. Neil concluded.
Neil Amstrong
Michael Oti Agjei of TV3 spoke on, “SOCIAL MEDIA, A MUST FOR FOOTBALL CLUBS”. He said you need to know that social media is the place you get a significant number of your fans. “This is a place where the biggest conversation in the world is happening at the moment”. There are about 40 million phones in Ghana and 6 million of those phones are “hooked onto the internet”.
Michael Oti Adjei
Every major company in Ghana is diverting it’s attention to social media. Facebook has 5 million Ghanaians hooked on. With all these numbers, it means you have all your fans sitting there and ready to engage. Oti said, “Your market is sitting there already, so it’s up to you to design your message”.
In these spaces there are big spenders. Social media gives you the power to determine what people say about you. You can set agenda’s on social media. As a club you should be talking to your fanbase almost always. Create the presence, no matter how “small you are.”
Michael went ahead and said, “Twitter is where I basically call a football paradise. As a club, you must have a Twitter account.” Social media can make you a bigger club. You must plan and prepare for everything depending on your capacity. The posts that get the most likes are the ones with pics. You have to strive to understand how each media (Facebook, Twitter, Intagram…) works.
Michael Oti Adjei
It’s easy to identify your top fans through likes and comments. “Amplify your posts by contacting people with more following to help share or pay to get it sent across”. “Follow the lead of some of the big clubs in the world and see how they use their social media”.
He stressed on using “emocations”, saying it helps “spice” the post. “A bit more images, less text.” Utilise what you have as much as you possible. With only your phone, you can make your club bigger.
Michael Oti Adjei
Mr. Hassan Ryzo gave his closing remarks and the conference ended.
It was an exciting encounter on Friday, 10th September 2021 when Zanwara FC took on Liberty FC in their first Sub-middle League game.
The game was played at the Tamale Technical University Park.
The aggressive game ended 0-0 in the first half. Zanwara FC however came into the second half stronger and won a penalty which was converted by Abdul Shakun in the 54th minute.
Abdul Shakun
The Zanwara FC playmaker, Abdul Shakun, went ahead and grabbed a brace in the 74th minute with a wonder solo goal.
The game ended 2-0 in favor of Zanwara FC. They take on Gangdu Stars FC in their next game on Sunday 12th of September 2021.
Zanwara FC are yet to taste defeat in this year’s Northern Regional Division 2 League. 🔥 🔥 🔥
After 8 years in the wilderness, Real Tamale United (RTU) were officially ushered into the Ghana Premier League, on the 1st of August, 2021. They played a Coronation Match against Steadfast FC to grace the occasion.
At exactly 15:05 GMT, Steadfast FC had already formed a guard of honour, waiting for the champions to walk in. The Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium was about 25% filled by that time. The players of RTU walked in and received a huge round of appluase from the fans. It was a cheerful scene as the fans kept on singing and enjoying the moment.
Both sides stood in a straight line and the Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Shani Alhassan Saibu, the Northern Regional Football Association (NRFA) chairman, Alhaji Abu Alhassan Rhyzo and a host of other dignitories walked in to give the players a thumps-up. The Regional Minister then kicked the ball for the game to start.
RTU (white) vs Steadfast FC (Orange)
The game started at exactly 15:21 GMT. Both sides played very well until the 18th minute where the higlight of the game had to come. Tawfiq Alolo officially retired from playing football after 18 illustrous years of service. He was given a standing ovasion and a guard of honour as he walked off the field in tears. Everything that has a beginning has an end. He received a citation from RTU and is set to join the club’s technical team ahead of next season.
Tawfiq Alolo. Photo Credit : sports24online
RTU broke the deadlock on the 44th minute of the game. Steadfast FC equalised in the second half and that was how the game ended. The trophy was brought in by the NRFA chairmam, Mr. Abu Rhyzo, in a grand style during the second half. He sat in an open-top car, held the trophy high and went round the field for the fans to have a good look at the trophy.
Mr. Abu Rhyzo with the trophy.
The dignitories decended onto the field from the VVIP stand. Mr. Abu Rhyzo opened the trophy presentation speech. A host of other speakers took their turn. Mr. Ibrahim Mahama, CEO of Engineers and Planners took his turn and auctioned some customised RTU T-Shirts for the club. He literally demanded for the money from the available dignitories as he gave out the T-Shirts and mentioned the price each person was supposed to pay. He raised 210,000 cedis in just 10 minutes. He personally crowned it with a whooping 90,000 cedis, which brought the raised money to 300,000 cedis. The medals were presented to the players, the cash price (50,000 cedis) given out and the trophy as well.
Reports reaching Matrix Sports says Black Stars and Arsenal star Thomas Partey has been sacked from camp over disciplinary issues. It’s said he reported to camp three days late. This is after he asked for two days to attend to some family issues. He was reportedly seen partying with Chlesea FC star, Callum Hudson OdoI, who is in the country for holidays. This is said to have angered head coach CK Akornor, which resulted in the player been sent home. Tariqe Fosu-Henry also suffered the same faith as he also reported late.
We contacted Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo, head of sports, City FM. He referred us to this link, https://footy-ghana.com/2021/06/black-stars-ghasting-tariqe-fosu-sacked-and-the-partey-absence-what-we-know/ . The link says Tariqe was supposed to report with Baba and Djiku on wednesday, but failed to do so. He later appeared in camp two days late. This show of “gross disrespect” got him sacked from the camp. Same link went ahead and said Thomas Partey wasn’t sacked as it’s made to believe. It says Partey reported on Thursday and had a meeting with CK Akonnor to excuse him from the upcoming “friendlies with Morocco and Cote d’lvoire”. His reasons were he wasn’t fit enough for the games. He left camp on Friday after dinner with the team.
As we were making our investigations, the Ghana Football Association issued a statement on Monday evening about the issue. Is says, “Thomas travelled to Cape Coast on Thursday to meet Coach Charles Akonnor over some personal issues. After the meeting which lasted for about an hour, the Coach excused him from the trip to Morocco – and asked him to report to camp for the second game against Ivory Coast. As the 1st Deputy Captain of the Black Stars, Thomas later joined his colleagues in training to show solidarity and support before leaving for Accra. The Arsenal midfielder will therefore team up with the rest of the squad on Thursday when the team returns from Morocco.”
Thomas Partey
On Tariqe, the GFA said, “Tariqe reported to camp Friday evening, after the sides training session in Cape Coast. Coach Akonnor engaged him briefly and told him that reporting late has scuppered his chances of travelling with the team to Morocco. The Brentford winger will also join the team on Thursday for the game against Ivory Coast.”
Tariqe Fosu-Henry
Matrix Sports can conclude that the rumors about Thomas been sacked are untrue. It was a cordial agreement between him and the manager to leave camp. He will join the team later. Tariqe was given punishment for reporting late and will only join his teammates for the game against Ivory Coast.
From Junior Soccer Academy to Feyenoord Academy and later to Redbull Academy, Ibrahim Iddrisu is a proper definition of what talent is. The current Young Wise FC player hails from Tuna in the Savannah Region of Ghana. He started his playing career at the age of 9 in the Central Region at Junior Soccer Academy.
Ibrahim drinking some water during a league game.
Coming from a humble background, Ibrahim is gunning for the top and “nothing will stop” him from realizing his “dreams of becoming a professional footballer”. His senior brother, Yussif Iddrisu inspired him to play football as he is also a footballer. This 20-year-old sensation left us amazed when we watched him in a division 1 league game against Accra Great Olympics. He is a central midfielder with an amazing footwork. His team mates call him ‘assist king’, which is self-explanatory.
Ibrahim, after a match for Accra Young Wise.
Ibrahim is so much aware of his surrounding and almost always dictates the pace of the game. It’s no wonder he looks up to Toni Kroos of Real Madrid. He said, “I like the way he (Toni Kroos) plays”. Ibrahim has been playing the Division 1 League for four seasons, he had an opportunity to travel to France for a trial last year, it went very well and he is preparing to go back. He has also played for the national under 17 side.
Ibrahim (left) walking back for the second half of a league match.
When we asked him what he would like to tell people oy there who discourage young footballers, he said, “nobody knows what the future holds so instead of discouraging them, why not encourage them to push and realize their dreams”. “And to the young players out there, I would like to say the should keep on fighting for what they believe in”. Ibrahim’s last words to his family, fans and team mates were, “I would like to tell my family to keep on supporting me in all forms, and to my team mates too, thank you guys, you are amazing.” He added, “I love and appreciate my fans for their love, prayer and supports”
In spite of the brutal and hostile environment he came up from, Niibi Tagoe has become one of the hottest prospects in Ghana. Tagoe was born in Accra-Ghana. He lived with his mom alone. She didn’t want him to play football because she thought it distracted his studies. Things were pretty tough for him and his mom. This made him drop out of school at the senior high level to pursue his dreams.
Tagoe cruse controlling. 💯
He was inspired by his cousin, Robert Nartey, who is a former footballer. The 18-year-old versatile midfielder started playing at age of six with Gafafi FC and later moved to Blessed Assurance FC. He played for Kotoku Royals and Accra Lions as well.
Tagoe looks up to players like Arturo Vidal, Fernandinho, Xabi Alonso, Fabinho and Kevin De Bruyne. This has helped shaped his game and polished him to become a very good passer of the ball, and has the vision to pick out players in tight spots. His ability to tackle and combative nature makes him stand out
.
Niibi Tagoe🔥
He has gone through a lot of managers which has helped shaped him to be able to adapt to various systems of play. “Coach Momoo”, turned him into the player he is today. He pushed him to the limits.
Tagoe “dreams of playing one of the biggest teams in the world, win trophies and awards”. He also wishes to “make a good family, support the needy, friends and family as well”.
His last words were, “I want to tell my friends, family and team mates that they should keep on praying for me. So long as we are alive and have strength we shouldn’t give up on our dreams and aspirations, we will surely get there by God’s grace”.
Matrix 