Sports
“I would have turned to crime if it weren’t for sports,” says Tebogo
Olympic 200m champion, Letsile Tebogo has attributed athletics to keeping him on the right path, offering him both purpose and discipline during his younger years.
Tebogo, who made history by securing Botswana’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in Paris last year, shared his personal journey on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, as he discussed his new role as a global ambassador for the Kids Athletics programme.
Sport has helped me a lot because I think without it… probably I would be a criminal by now,” the 21-year-old told reporters via video conference,” he said.
“In the neighbourhood where I grew up, crime was the only way to survive. But with sport, I knew I had to go to school, and after training, you’re too tired to roam the streets or break into houses,” he explained.
Realising the positive impact of athletics, Tebogo encouraged his childhood friends to take up sports, with some now pursuing football.
The Kids Athletics programme, run by World Athletics, is designed for children aged four to 14. It promotes participation and enjoyment through adapted track and field events.
Tebogo joined a relay event with around 1,000 children in Botswana on the same grounds where he once trained as a boy.
Reflecting on his early years, he admitted he initially had no interest in athletics.
“I was more of a footballer, a left-winger. My primary school teachers forced me into athletics,” he recalled.
The turning point came after the 2018 Commonwealth Games when he began taking the sport more seriously. His decision paid off spectacularly when he stormed to Olympic gold in Paris, setting an African record of 19.46 seconds in the 200m final, ahead of the USA’s Kenny Bednarek and 100m champion Noah Lyles.
Following that victory, Tebogo controversially described Lyles as “arrogant,” suggesting that the American sprinter dominated media attention. However, he clarified his remarks on Wednesday.
“When you get onto the track, it’s all about business. When we finish, we can be friends—life goes on,” he said. “But Lyles’ ‘arrogance’… he is good at selling our sport. I prefer to avoid that because that’s just who I am.”
Tebogo recently tested himself in a rare 400m race in Melbourne, finishing second, and will compete in a 200m event in Botswana next week before heading to Diamond League meetings in Xiamen and Shanghai on April 26 and May 3.
Looking ahead to the World Championships in Tokyo this September, Tebogo acknowledged the stiff competition awaiting him.
“Everybody on the lineup is a rival. You can’t count someone out just because they didn’t perform well at the 2024 Olympics or the 2023 World Championships,” he said.
Source: Graphic Online
Sports
Coach Otto Addo announces Black Stars squad ahead of Austria, Germany International Friendlies
Otto Addo has named Ghana’s squad for this month’s international friendlies against Austria national football team and Germany national football team.
Ghana will be playing two friendlies as part of Preparations towards the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup in USA,Canada and Mexico.
Squad Breakdown
Goalkeepers:
Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St. Gallen)
Benjamin Asare (Accra Hearts of Oak)
Joseph Anang (St. Patrick’s Athletic)
Defenders:
Patrick Pfeiffer (SV Darmstadt)
Derrick Luckassen (Pafos FC)
Derrick Kohn (Union Berlin)
Jerome Opoku (Istanbul Basaksehir)
Caleb Yirenkyi (FC Nordsjaelland)
Kojo Oppoong Pepprah (OGC Nice)
Jonas Adjetey (VFL Wolfsburg)
Marvin Senaya (Auxerre)
Alexander Djiku (Spartak Moscow)
Gideon Mensah (Auxerre)
Midfielders:
Thomas Partey (Villarreal)
Elisha Owusu (Auxerre)
Ibrahim Sulemana (Cagliari)
Kwasi Sibo (Real Oviedo)
Forwards/Wingers:
Brandon Thomas Asante (Coventry City)
Jordan Ayew (Leicester City)
Prince Adu (Viktoria Plzen)
Christopher Bonsu Baah (Al Qadsiah)
Abdul Fatawu Issahaku (Leicester City)
Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao)
Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City)
Kamal Deen Sulemana (Atalanta)
Daniel Agyei (Kocalispor)
Exciting line-up with a mix of experienced stars like Thomas Partey and Jordan Ayew, plus young talents ready to make their mark.
Ghana found themselves in group L alongside Panama England and Croatia in the FIFA World Cup group.
Spanish giants Atlético Madrid are reportedly pushing to secure the services of Mohammed Kudus from Tottenham Hotspur, despite the midfielder joining the Premier League side only last summer.
According to British outlet TopSkills Sports UK, the 25-year-old attacking midfielder’s camp are already in advanced negotiations with the Spanish club on a four-and-a-half-year contract ahead of a potential summer move.
The report indicates that negotiations between the two clubs are ongoing, with Atlético Madrid keen to strengthen their attacking midfield options by bringing the Ghanaian international to the Metropolitano Stadium.
However, the Spanish side are reportedly hoping to secure the deal at a reduced transfer fee if Tottenham were to suffer relegation at the end of the season.
Kudus has made 26 appearances for Spurs in all competitions during the 2025/26 season, scoring three goals and providing six assists.
The mercurial playmaker is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury but is expected to return to action next month.
- With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, Ghana will be hoping their influential midfielder regains full fitness ahead of the global tournament set to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The Ghana national U-17 team has defeated Samartex in a friendly double-header at the Nsenkyire Sports Complex, as part of their preparations for the upcoming Africa U-17 Cup of Nations tournament.
In the first match played on Saturday, March 14, the Black Starlets delivered a commanding performance to thrash Samartex’s second team 6-0, showing their attacking strength and dominance throughout the encounter.
The national U-17 side returned to action again on Sunday, March 15, for the second fixture, this time facing the senior team of Samartex, where they secured a narrow 1-0 victory to complete the double over the 2024 Ghana Premier League champions.
Head coach Prosper Narteh Ogum and his assistant Nana Kweku Agyemang used the matches as part of their training programme to further assess the squad while working on areas that need improvement before the commencement of the highly-anticipated tournament.
The friendlies add to the team’s recent encouraging run in Accra, where the Black Starlets recorded victories over Attram De Visser Academy, Semper Fi FC, and Port City FC.
The Black Starlets has return to the Continental competition after almost nine-year absence, remain fully focused in camp as they aim to deliver a strong performance in Morocco and secure qualification for the next FIFA U-17 World Cup.
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