Sports Journalist Appointed To Officiate Hearts of Oak vs Asante Kotoko Super Clash

Sports Journalist Appointed To Officiate Hearts of Oak vs Asante Kotoko Super Clash

Isaac Darko
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:56 PM
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  • Rustum Gameli Senorgbe has been selected by the referee's appointment committee to be at the centre of the game between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko
  • The 37-yer-old was a sports journalist and radio presenter at Ho Premier FM where he used to host their morning show
  • Senorgbe started officiating in lower-tier leagues in 2009 before rising through the ranks to become a Class One referee in 2014

For the first time in its history, a man journalist-turned-referee will officiate the biggest clash in the Ghana Premier League this weekend.

From microphone to the whistle: Journalist turned referee to officiate Hearts vs Kotoko game
Rustum Gameli Senorgbe, Journalist turned referee to officiate Hearts vs Kotoko game. Photo Credit: Pulse
Source: UGC

Rustum Gameli Senorgbe, who had excelled as journalist and radio anchor with Ho Premier, has been selected by the referee's appointment committee to be at the centre of the titanic encounter between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko on Sunday.

Senorgbe will be assisted by Gilbert Adom Mensah and Patrick Papala, while Bashiru Dauda will be the fourth official for the big game.

This is not the first time the Class One referee has officiated a Ghana Premier League game.

Last year, he officiated the tie between Karela United and Inter Allies. He was also the fourth referee in week 1 of the 2019/2020 season when Dreams FC faces King Faisal in December 2019.

Who is Rustum Gameli Senorgbe?

Entering into his refereeing career, the 37-year-old began officiating in lower tier leagues in 2009. He steadily rose through the ranks to become a Class One referee in 2014.

As graduate from the Ho Technical University with an HND certificate in marketing, Senorgbe officiated in Ghana's division one league a few years later, before he was finally promoted to officiate Ghana Premier League games in 2019.

Senorgbe holds a BSc. Integrated Development Studies (pending) from Evangelical Presbyterian University in Ho and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management and Administration – Chartered from Institute of Management and Leadership – USA.

The Super Clash

Defending champions Hearts of Oak will welcome current league leaders Asante Kotoko to the Accra sports stadium in the outstanding fixture of the Ghana Premier League.

Twelve points separate the two rivals, with the Porcupine Warriors sitting on top of the log on 36 points, while the Phobians languish at 8th position with 24 points.

Last season, a Daniel Afriyie Barnieh's late strike was enough to hand Hearts a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Kotoko on their way to winning the Ghana Premier League for the first time twelve years.

Elmina Sharks Shock Asante Kotoko

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that a resilient performance from Elmina Sharks on Monday afternoon saw the side cruising past Asante Kotoko with a vital 2-1 victory.

The team from Elmina since the start of the 2021/22 Ghana Premier League season has struggled to compete.

As a result, the club is one of the three teams at the bottom of the league table fighting to avoid relegation at the end of the campaign.

Authors
Isaac Darko photo
Isaac Darko
Isaac Darko is a La Liga, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga editor at Sports Brief with a Degree in Journalism and Communications from Ghana Institute of Journalism (2010)
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