It was one of those weekends where sport felt alive everywhere in Ghana’s noisy league grounds, under the floodlights of the Etihad and Turf Moor, on the fast tracks of Tokyo, and in the bright, unforgiving glare of Las Vegas.
Each arena produced its own tale, stitched together by rivalry, redemption, heartbreak and respect.
The Ghana Premier League returned with all the unpredictability that makes it addictive.
Defending champions Bibiani Gold Stars wasted no time reminding everyone of their pedigree, grinding out a 2-1 win over Bechem United to begin their title defence.
GPL Week 1 Wrap: Kotoko makes bright start, Gold Stars begin title defence with win
At the Golden City Park in Berekum, the story was history rewritten. Asante Kotoko, after fifteen long years of frustration against Berekum Chelsea, finally broke their jinx with a narrow but cathartic 1-0 victory.
The roar from the supporters of Asante Kotoko told its own story, this wasn’t just three points, it was a weight lifted.
In Accra, however, Hearts of Oak discovered that reputations mean little against hungry newcomers. Newly promoted Hohoe United stood tall, frustrating the Phobians to a goalless draw, a result that felt like a victory for the debutants and a wake-up call for their hosts.
Elsewhere, Heart of Lions sank Dreams FC, Eleven Wonders held their ground in a cagey stalemate with Basake Holy Stars, and Nations FC thrilled their fans in Abrankese by coming from behind to beat Swedru All Blacks 2-1.
While Ghana’s stadiums echoed with passion, England staged its own theatre. The Manchester derby was billed as a clash of city pride, but inside the Etihad it quickly became a one-sided procession.
Erling Haaland once again embodied inevitability, scoring twice, with Phil Foden also scoring in a 3-0 demolition of Manchester United.
For the blue half of Manchester, it was routine dominance; for the red, it was another grim chapter in a rivalry slipping further out of reach.
At Turf Moor, the drama came not in waves but in one final, piercing moment. Liverpool, chasing perfection, found themselves locked in a stalemate with Burnley until deep into stoppage time.
Then, in the 95th minute, Mohamed Salah stood over a penalty, the pressure of three points weighing on his shoulders. He delivered with trademark composure, slotting home to seal a 1-0 away victory.
Half a world away in Tokyo, speed wrote its own poetry. For years, Oblique Seville had been the Jamaican sprinter tipped to step out of the shadow of giants.
On Saturday night, under the bright lights of the National Stadium, he did exactly that, surging across the line in 9.77 seconds to claim the men’s 100m gold at the World Athletics Championships.
Behind him came compatriot Kishane Thompson and American Noah Lyles, but the night belonged to Seville, who finally fulfilled his dream.
The women’s final was no less dramatic. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of the United States exploded from the blocks and never looked back, crossing in 10.61s, a championship best.
For Ghana, the wait continues. Benjamin Azamati bowed out in the heats, and Abdul-Rasheed Saminu fought his way to the semifinals but finished fourth, missing a place in the final.
And then there was Las Vegas, where the MGM Grand played host to one of boxing’s most anticipated nights.
Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez, two icons of their era, met in a fight that promised violence but ended in a masterclass.
Crawford’s sharpness, his movement, his calm precision, carried him to a unanimous decision victory and the undisputed super-middleweight crown.
Yet the bout will be remembered not just for the result but for what came after. Crawford, arms full of championship belts, walked across to Alvarez, who stood flanked by his wife and daughter.
Instead of basking in triumph, Crawford placed the belts back in Canelo’s arms, a gesture of profound respect.
In the end, it was a weekend that saw Gold Stars begin their tittle defence with authority, Kotoko finally breaking their Berekum curse and Hearts stumbling against newcomers Hohoe United.
In England City’s ruthlessness deepened United’s woes while Salah’s late strike kept Liverpool’s perfect record in the new season.
Tokyo also crowned new world champions while Crawford took a big win against Alvarez.
FKA/JE
Meanwhile, watch as Ghanaians debate the performance of Black Stars coach Otto Addo
