Controversial: Frank Lampard’s ‘goal’ against Germany at the 2010 World Cup, which wasn’t awarded

Ghana won’t be able to install goal-line technology in its stadiums any time soon as it won’t be able to afford the US$2m needed by FIFA to install the technology in the country’s four key stadiums. Worldwide plans are underway for the technology to be deployed in stadiums across the globe to ensure that referees are able to detect where the balls has crossed the line. This is to prevent the controversies that surrounds decision of referee during matches when it is not clear whether the ball has crossed the line. But Ghana should not be counting itself among the countries to implement the technology as the country has to fork out huge amounts of money be able to install it for key stadiums in Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi and Tamale alone. That is because Ghana sports authorities will have to pay Sepp Blatter’s organisation $30,000 to install, test and receive the ‘FIFA quality seal’ for Hawk-Eye’s camera-based system, which is expected to cost around $500,000 per ground in total. The amount will swell to about $8m if it is to be installed in all Premier League stadiums across the country. VIDEO: The GoalControl software that could be used in the Premier League Frank Lampard’s ‘goal’ which was not given for England against Germany in the 2010 World Cup is widely credited with sparking  FIFA chief Blatter and the International Football Association Board’s sudden turnaround in their approach to goal-line technology. But some of football’s shareholders believe the realisation FIFA could profit financially may also have been a factor. UEFA president Michel Platini has long been a staunch opponent of goal-line technology, favouring two additional referees instead.   He said this week that the cost of installing the technology remains prohibitive. ‘The price for the goal-line technology for UEFA is €53million for five years, so for us it’s very expensive,’ he said. ‘We need to equip all the stadiums and the price is too important for us.’ America’s Major League Soccer has also decided the cost of installing goal-line technology — whether through Hawk-Eye or one of FIFA’s three other licensed providers — is too high. MLS commissioner Don Garber said: ‘It’s very, very expensive. It had us take a step back and pause and try to figure out “is the value of having goal-line technology worth investing millions and millions of dollars for the handful of moments where it’s relevant?” Our view has been that we’re going to wait and see how it  works out.’ The technology is much needed in Ghana where referees have consistently been accused of corruption in some of the decisions they have taken. But financials problems that bedevils the game in the country won’t allow the authorities to deploy such cash into the goal-line technology while key developmental issues remain key on the country’s football agenda.

Lee Addy during his unveiling at Dinamo Zagreb.

By Ameenu Shardow

Dinamo Zagreb have opened talks to sign Ghana defender Lee Addy on a permanent deal, GHANAsoccernet.com can exclusively reveal.

The ex Berekum Chelsea player joined the Croatian giants on a six-month loan deal in January from Chinese club Dalian Aerbin.

Addy has managed to prove himself to Zagreb’s coach Krunoslav Jurcic by excelling whenever given the chance to play.

He has made just four first team appearances for the Blues since his January arrival but Jurcic wants the left-back who can also play as a center half to be part of his squad on a permanent basis.

Addy has won the Croatian top flight with Zagreb – he will thus be attracted by the prospect of playing in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

The Ghana international played for Red Star Belgrade before moving to China in 2012.

Ghana will play Kenya in a friendly in Nairobi

Kenya will field a strong side against Ghana when the two sides clash next month in a World Cup friendly warm-up as the Harambee Stars have called two suspended players for the clash in Nairobi.

Coach Adel Amrouche will use the 1 June friendly to prepare for their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Nigeria but has invited captain Dennis Oliech and number one goalkeeper Arnold Origi who are both suspended for the June 5 match with the Super Eagles.

The Black Stars will set up camp in Nairobi ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Sudan and will use the Kenyan friendly as part of their build-up.

Harambee Stars assistant coach James Nandwa confirmed  Monday that the two will be part of the team to take on Ghana since they are eligible to play in the June 14 World Cup qualifier against Malawi.

“We are taking the friendly seriously thus we want all our top players ready for it,” said Nandwa.

He added the team is facing a striking crisis missing Oliech will affect them but he said they are working on identifying those who can fill in the gap.

“We are looking at Kepha Aswani and George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo because they are currently enjoying top form,” he added.

Nandwa also revealed that they are also pursuing Dujovic Origi who is based in France and turns out for Lille in the French ligue one.

“He has just turned 18 and this is the right time for make a decision regarding his future. We are hoping he can play for Kenya instead of Belgium,” he added.

The presence of the two senior players is expected to play a pivotal in the dressing room.

Ivory Coast celebrating their first African U17 Championship.

Ivory Coast clinched a first-ever CAF U17 Championship Sunday when they defeated Nigeria 5-4 on penalties after full-time scores were 1-1. 

Chidiebere Nwakali failed to convert Nigeria’s second penalty during the shootout to deny the Eaglets a third continental trophy after triumphs in 2001 and 2007.

The Malian referee, Keita Mahamadou,  made several questionable calls against Nigeria in this West African derby.