President Kufuor receives the Queen's Baton at the Castle
Ghana, Slovenia clash in World Cup warm-up
Hearts beat Maxbees 3-1in friendly
Dwarfs beat Liberian Professionals 2-0
Premier League now officially starts on 6 April
League thrills from Saturday 6 April as Liberty host Kotoko
President Kufuor receives the Queen's Baton
at the Castle
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 April 2002 - President J.A Kufuor on Sunday said that sports was a vital link to strengthen peace and unity in the world. He said the Queen's baton relay as a prelude to Commonwealth Games held every four years was also an important symbol of unity among Commonwealth member countries.
President Kufuor said this when he received the Baton at a brief ceremony at the Castle, Osu. He said, " I am proud to receive this Baton, a symbol of unity among the Commonwealth family. Today, Ghana is a full and equal member of the family which offers economic development, co-operation and technical assistance to democratisation of governments among members".
President Kufuor said it was good for Ghana to participate in the relay towards this year's Commonwealth Games to be held in Manchester in July and specially designed to mark the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II as the Head of the Commonwealth.
Mr Edward Osei Kwaku, who handed over the baton to President Kufuor said, "It is my greatest honour to present to you this baton which is in commemoration of the 27th Commonwealth Games in Manchester." Mr Neil Pugsley, leader of a three-man team, which accompanied the baton on the relay from Manchester presented a miniature of the baton to President Kufuor.
The first leg of the two-day baton relay in Ghana, began from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, where it had arrived from Trinidad and Tobago was handed over to a bulk of runners, mostly from Keep Fit Clubs in the Accra Metropolis and was then handed over to Mr Solomon Darko, Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive.
Mr Darko handed over the baton to Mr. Prince Oduro Mensah, MP for Techiman South and Vice Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Youth and Sports who gave it to Dr Rod Pullen, British High Commissioner in Ghana who
wore a black arm band following the death of Queen Elizabeth, the Queenmother on Saturday, at the entrance of the Castle, Osu.
Dr Pullen handed it over to Benson T. Baba, Director of Prisons and President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), then to Dr Emmanuel Owusu Ansah, Acting Chief Executive of the National Sports Council (NSC) and Mr Edward Osei Kwaku, who finally handed it over to President Kufuor.
After the ceremony, President Kufuor made a symbolic run with the baton and handed it over to Vice President Aliu Mahama, after a symbolic run handed it over to Mr. Joe Aggrey, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports then to Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, who returned it to Mr Edward Osei Kwaku, Minister of Youth and Sports.
Before the baton finally left the Castle, Mr. Osei Kwaku handed it back to President Kufuor who carried it and made another symbolic run for about 50 metres to the main entrance of the Castle and returned it to Mr Osei Kwaku to continue with the relay.
The second leg of the relay in Ghana would continue on Monday, April 1, before it continues to Sierra Leone to other Commonwealth countries and finally to Manchester on the opening day of the games on July 25.
GRi…/
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Ghana, Slovenia clash in World Cup warm-up
Ljubjana
(Slovenia) 02 April 2002 - Slovenia have planned two warm-up matches against
Ghana and Tunisia before they depart for Asia for the World cup. They have been
drawn in group B with Paraguay, South Africa and Spain in the first phase of
the World Cup finals.
Slovenia
coach Srecko Katanec was very pleased with his team's performance in
Wednesday's World Cup warm-up match against Croatia in Zagreb, which finished
goalless. "We've played an extraordinary good match ... the Croats, who
still are number three in the world, did not have a single good scoring
opportunity," Katanec told a news conference. "There is still enough
time to work on the players' condition and the forwards," he added.
The
coach admitted that some of his players, who are not regular first-choices in
their respective clubs, still have a lot of work to do to get in shape for
South Korea and Japan. Katanec also criticised the new ball that will be used
at the finals and said players from other country's were also still trying to
get used to them. "These balls are extremely bad, very hard to control and
their elasticity is still hard to cope with," said the former
international defender.
Slovenian
football association president Rudi Zavrl said the match in Zagreb had been
preceded by some unsavoury incidents, including the Slovenia team bus being hit
by a stone, which broke the wind-shield. Croatia police said on Thursday that
ten people- six Croats and four Slovenes- were detained during and after the
match for attacking policemen. Seven Slovenes and a US, citizens were given
medical assistance and nine cars and a bus with Slovenian plates were damaged,
the police added.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 02 April 2002 - Champion Club Accra Hearts of Oak on Sunday beat Suhum Maxbees 3-1 in a friendly match played at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The match, which was hurriedly arranged in place of the Sunday's league matches postponed due to the emergency situation created by the Yendi crisis and some unresolved issues between the National Sports Council (NSC) and the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA).
The hurried arrangement was evident in the lack of preparedness for the game as referees were hastily engaged and there were no corner flags and ball boys, delaying kick-off until about 4.00 pm. Hearts took the visitors by surprise by scoring the first goal in the 6th minute through Laryea Kingston who shot into the net after receiving a pass from George Eranio in the opponents' goalmouth.
Eranio himself made the tally two when he beat an offside trap in the 22nd minute to put the ball beyond the reach of the goalkeeper. While Hearts fought to increase the tally Maxbees also made some attempts to reduce it but none of them could have their dreams fulfilled till the whistle went for the end of first half.
On resumption, Maxbees' danger man Mumuni Massawudu reduced the tally as he capitalised on a defensive blunder by Eric Djangma to score for his team. Hearts mounted pressure but could not score any goal though Wisdom Abbey, Eranio, and Awuley Quaye missed a few chances.
Eranio's continuous dribbling in the opponents' vital area resulted in a penalty, which he himself converted to give Hearts the third goal in the 83rd minute. Hearts dominated the final minutes of the game but could not produce further goals.
Meanwhile,
Hearts of Oak are likely to lose most of their experienced players by June this
year as they join the exodus train to ply the professional career overseas.
Former captain Jacob Nettey, defender Amankwah Mireku and Emmanuel Adjogu are
all planning to join clubs in the Canadian league. Also Emmanuel Kuffour may
join them if plans to play in US does not materialise. The former Black Stars
captain hinted he could end up playing in Canada or the United States after
several unsuccessful attempts to land a deal in Europe.
GRi…/
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Cape Coast (Central Region) 02 April 2002 - Cape Coast Mysterious Ebusua Dwarfs on Sunday beat Liberian Professional F/C based at the Budumburam Camp 2-0 in a friendly football match played at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium. Dwarfs scored a goal each in each half.
It was the Liberians who created a false impression about themselves with some immaculate touches from kick-off. Dwarfs called off their bluff five minutes later and took the lead through a free kick taken by Stephen Owusu in the 15th minute.
On resumption, the visitors made some incursions into the vital area of Dwarfs but again, it was the Cape Coast boys who hit the back of the net in the 65th minute. Matthew Atiogbe scored the goal.
GRi…/
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 02 April 2002 - The league which should have kicked off at the
weekend failed to see action following an announcement by the Professional
League Board last Thursday calling off the matches. A statement signed by Mr K.
Ampim-Darko, Deputy General Secretary (Technical) of the Ghana Football
Association, said the postponement was necessitated by a number of factors
including a request from club chairmen.
It said
other reasons were the emergency situation in parts of the Northern Region and
a request from the Ghana League Clubs Association on some unresolved matters
with the National Sports Council. "The Professional League Board expresses
its regrets for any inconvenience caused to the general public," the
statement said.
But
barring any more hitches, the Premier League will kick off this weekend with
matches at all the centres with the Liberty Professionals do battle with Kumasi
Asante Kotoko at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday. According to the
fixtures, Accra Hearts of Oak will open the defence of the league championship
with a home match against Bofoakwa Tano while Goldfields take on Dawu
Youngsters at Obuasi.
Other
fixtures are: King Faisal versus Okwawu United in Kumasi, Hasaacas take on
Arsenals at the Sekondi Gyandu Park, B.A. United clash with Accra Great
Olympics at Sunyani, Maxbees versus Power FC at Koforidua and RTU versus Mine
Stars at Tamale.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 02 April 2002 - Finally we can get going in the Premier League and what a game to start with. At the Accra Stadium on Saturday, Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Liberty Professionals will kick off the thirty-week long league season designed to determine the best club in Ghana on the field of play.
Kotoko and Liberty have done enough in the days leading up to this game to prove their battle readiness and before an expectant full house at the Accra Stadium, they are likely to sell a game worthy of a season’s opener. For both sides, getting off to a good start will be the key to a successful season.
Kotoko, the once mighty all-conquering side that went through a self-declared rebuilding exercise appears to be at the roofing stage. In that sense, failure to impress again, which in this sense will be clinching the league title will be difficult to explain away. Here is why. After chopping off the team and adding in the last two season, Kotoko appear to have added some consistency to their team building effort.
Significantly, the team likely to take to the field on Saturday will have one change from the regular side that played second fiddle to Hearts of Oak and that is Nana Arhin Duah. It’s easy to put the labels on in football but the ex-Goldfields man has done enough to get the Porcupine faithful waxing confidently about him and what he can bring to bear on the fabulous team.
They will hope that he will start the local campaign the way he has started the African Cup campaign for Kotoko, with two goals in two games so far. More important for Kotoko’s future will be how Stephen Oduro works the midfild and on the form of hardworking attacking midfielder Michael Osei.
Liberty will themselves fancy their chances of starting their season well too. They were brilliant in pre-season well too. They were brilliant in pre-season and will relish the chance to claim their first big scalp of the season. Much of that will be dependent on their famed teamwork but they have individual talents enough to swing a game in their favour.
John Paintsil is capable of dribbling an entire pack and when he gets it right in the day, he is more tan difficult to handle. Then they have Papa Arko who so much terrorised Hearts in their GHALCA Top Four Challenge game at the same venue. Hearts themselves will be back at the Accra Stadium this Sunday, one week after they were bundled out of the CAF Champions League in the first round for the second straight year.
This time, the Rainbows will be up against Bofoakwa eager to put the disappointment of that failure behind them. New man Herbert Addo has been reportedly given the mandate to ring the changes and rid the Phobians of “indisciplined and old players.” Likely to stay however is the talented Charles Taylor and Don Bortey whose form will be vital for success for the Phobians.
They will however, need to get their acts back quickly and win back the confidence of their faithful for whom defeat on the first day of the league will be difficult to stomach. It looks like they will not go through that pain on Sunday at the Accra Stadium.
Accra Great Olympics who endured a difficult start to last year’s campaign will be hoping for a smoother take off this time round. That is mainly due to the fact that they travel to Sunyani on day one where the opponents will be B.A. United. The Apostles of Soccer are still basking in the seasonal gala triumph and if they are to be believed, that is the sign of good things to come.
There is another potential thrilling clash at the Len Clay Stadium where Goldfields will have to deal with last season’s surprise package Dawu Youngsters to get off to a good start. Granted Goldfields don’t suffer the breakdown that wrecked their African Championship ambitions two weeks ago, they should win.
Hasaacas, without their potent striker Issa Mohammed, now in Sweden, should still have enough firepower to overcome Berekum Arsenals at Sekondi. New entrants Prestea Mines Stars had off to Bolgatanga, now home base of RTU due to the renovation works at Tamale Kaladan to face them. It is a difficult opening game for the newcomers and looks set to be a losing start for them.
The other match involving the new entrants will be a Koforidua derby where Suhum Maxbees and Koforidua Power F/C who both use the Eastern regional capital for their games, clash.
Home v Away Venue Home v Away Venue
Hasaacas v Arsenal Sekondi Arsenals v K.
Faisal Berekum
K.
Faisal v Okwawu Kumasi Mine
Stars v Goldfields Prestea
B.A.
United v Gt. Olympics Sunyani Kotoko v RTU Kumasi
Maxbees v Power F/C Koforidua Bofoakwa v Liberty Sunyani
Hearts v Bofoakwa Accra Power F/C v Hearts Koforidua
Liberty v Kotoko *Accra Gt. Olympics v Maxbees Accra
RTU v Mine Stars Tamale Okwawu v B.A. United *Accra
Goldfields v Dawu Obuasi Dawu v Hasaacas Dawu
K.
Faisal v Hasaacas Kumasi Arsenals v Maxbees Berekum
B.A.
United v Arsenals Sunyani Hasaacas v B.A.
United Sekondi
Maxbees v Okwawu Koforidua Kotoko v Mine Stars Kumasi
Hearts v Olympics Accra Bofoakwa v Goldfields Sunyani
Liberty v Power F/C
*Accra Power
F/C v RTU Koforidua
RTU v Bofoakwa Tamale Gt. Olympics v Liberty Accra
Goldfields v Kotoko Obuasi Okwawu v Hearts *Accra
Mine
Stars v Dawu Prestea Dawu v K. Faisal Dawu
Week
5 Week
6
B.A.
United v K. Faisal Sunyani Arsenals v Liberty Berekum
Maxbees v Hasaacas Koforidua Hasaacas v Hearts Sekondi
Hearts v Arsenals Accra K. Faisal v Maxbees Kumasi
Liberty v Okwawu *Accra Bofoakwa v Kotoko Sunyani
RTU v Olympics Tamale Power F/C v Mine
Stars Koforidua
Goldfields
v Power Obuasi Gt. Olympics v Goldfields Accra
Mine Stars v Bofoakwa Prestea Okwawu v RTU *Accra
Kotoko v Dawu Kumasi Dawu v B.A. United Dawu
Week 7 Week 8
Maxbees v B.A. United Koforidua Arsenals v Goldfields Berekum
Hearts v K. Faisal Accra Hasaacas v RTU Sekondi
Liberty v Hasaacas
*Accra K.
Faisal v Liberty Kumasi
RTU v Arsenals Tamale B.A. United v Hearts Sunyani
Goldfields v Okwawu Obuasi Power F/C v Bofoakwa Koforidua
Mine
Stars v Gt. Olympics Prestea Gt. Olympics v Kotoko Accra
Kotoko v Power F/C Kumasi Okwawu v Mine Stars *Accra
Bofoakwa v Dawu Sunyani Dawu v Maxbees Dawu
Week 9 Week 10
Hearts v Maxbees Accra Arsenals v Kotoko Berekum
Liberty
v B.A. United
*Accra Hasaacas v Mine
Stars Sekondi
RTU v K. Faisal Tamale K. Faisal v Goldfields Kumasi
Goldfields v Hasaacas Obuasi B.A. United v RTU Sunyani
Mine
Stars v Arsenals Prestea Maxbees v Liberty Koforidua
Kotoko v Okwawu Kumasi Gt. Olympics v Power
F/C Accra
Bofoakwa v Gt.
Olympics Sunyani Okwawu v Bofoakwa *Accra
Power v Dawu Koforidua Dawu v Hearts Dawu
Week 11 Week 12
Liberty v Hearts Accra Arsenals v Power F/C Berekum
RTU v Maxbees Tamale Hasaacas v Bofoakwa Sekondi
Goldfields v B.A.
United Obuasi K. Faisal v Kotoko Kumasi
Mine
Stars v K. Faisal Prestea B.A. United v Mine
Stars Sunyani
Kotoko v Hasaacas Kumasi Maxbees v Goldfields Koforidua
Bofoakwa v Arsenals Sunyani Hearts v RTU Accra
Power
F/C v Okwawu Koforidua Okwawu v Gt. Olympics *Accra
Olympics v Dawu Accra Dawu v Liberty Dawu
Week 13 Week 14
RTU v Liberty Tamale Arsenals v Okwawu Berekum
Goldfields
v Hearts Obuasi Hasaacas v Olympics Sekondi
Mine
Stars v Maxbees Prestea K. Faisal v Power F/C Kumasi
Kotoko v B.A. United Kumasi B.A. United v Bofoakwa Sunyani
Bofoakwa v K.
Faisal Sunyani Maxbees v Kotoko Koforidua
Power
F/C v Hasaacas Koforidua Hearts v Mine Stars Accra
Gt.
Olympics v Arsenals Accra Liberty v Goldfields *Accra
Okwawu v Dawu *Accra Dawu v RTU Dawu
Week 15 Week 16 Goldfields v RTU Obuasi Arsenals v Dawu Berekum
Mine
Stars v Liberty Prestea Hasaacas v Okwawu Sekondi
Kotoko v Hearts Kumasi K. Faisal v Gt. Olympics Kumasi
Bofoakwa v Maxbees Sunyani B.A. United v Power
F/C Sunyani
Power
F/C v B.A. United Koforidua Maxbees v Bofoakwa Koforidua
Gt.
Olympics v K. Faisal Accra Hearts v Kotoko Accra
Okwawu v Hasaacas
*Accra Liberty v Mine Stars *Accra
Dawu v Arsenals Dawu RTU v Goldfields Tamale
Week 17 Week 18
Arsenals v Hasaacas Berekum Hasaacas v Dawu Sekondi
Mine
Stars v RTU Prestea K. Faisal v Arsenals Kumasi
Kotoko v Liberty Kumasi B.A. United v Okwawu Sunyani
Bofoakwa v Hearts Sunyani Maxbees v Gt. Olympics Koforidua
Power
F/C v Maxbees Koforidua Hearts v Power F/C Accra
Gt.
Olympics v B.A. United Accra Liberty v Bofoakwa *Accra
Okwawu v K. Faisal *Accra RTU v Kotoko Tamale
Dawu v Goldfields Dawu Goldfields v Mine
Stars Obuasi
Week 19 Week 20
Arsenals v B.A. United Berekum K. Faisal v Dawu Kumasi
Hasaacas v K.
Faisal Sekondi B.A. United v Hasaacas Sunyani
Kotoko v Goldfields Kumasi Maxbees v Arsenals Sekondi
Bofoakwa v RTU Sunyani Hearts v Okwawu Accra
Power
F/C v Liberty Koforidua Liberty v Gt. Olympics *Accra
Olympics v Hearts Accra RTU v Power
F/C Tamale
Okwawu v Maxbees
*Accra Goldfields v Bofoakwa Obuasi
Dawu v Mine Stars Dawu Mine Stars v Kotoko Prestea
Week 21 Week 22
Arsenals v Hearts Berekum B.A. united v Dawu Sunyani
Hasaacas v Maxbees Sekondi Maxbees v K.
Faisal Koforidua
K.
Faisal v B.A. United Kumasi Hearts v Hasaacas Accra
Bofoakwa v Mine
Stars Sunyani Liberty v Arsenals *Accra
Power
F/C v Goldfields Koforidua RTU v Okwawu Tamale
Gt.
Olympics v RTU Accra Goldfields v Gt.
Olympics Obuasi
Okwawu v Liberty *Accra Mine Stars v Power
F/C Prestea
Dawu v Kotoko Dawu Kotoko v Bofoakwa Kumasi
Week 23 Week 24
Arsenals v RTU Berekum Maxbees v Dawu Koforidua
Hasaacas v Liberty Sekondi Hearts v B.A. United Accra
K.
Faisal v Hearts Kumasi Liberty v K. Faisal *Accra
B.A.
united v Maxbees Sunyani RTU v Hasaacas Tamale
Power
F/C v Kotoko Koforidua Goldfields v Arsenals Obuasi
Gt.
Olympics v Mine Stars Accra Mine Stars v Okwawu Prestea
Okwawu v Goldfields
*Accra Kotoko v Olympics Kumasi
Dawu v Bofoakwa Dawu Bofoakwa v Power
F/C Sunyani
Week 25 Week 26
Arsenals v Mine Stars Berekum Hearts v Dawu Accra
Hasaacas
v Goldfields Sekondi Liberty v Maxbees *Accra
K.
Faisal v RTU Kumasi RTU v B.A. United Tamale
B.A.
United v Liberty Sunyani Goldfields v K.
Faisal Obuasi
Maxbees v Hearts Koforidua Mine Stars v Hasaacas Prestea
Gt.
Olympics v Bofoakwa Accra Kotoko v Arsenals Kumasi
Okwawu v Kotoko *Accra Bofoakwa v Okwawu Sunyani
Dawu v Power Dawu Power v Gt. Olympics Koforidua
Week 27 Week 28
Arsenals v Bofoakwa Berekum Liberty v Dawu *Accra
Hasaacas v Kotoko Sekondi RTU v Hearts Tamale
K.
Faisal v Mine Stars Kumasi Goldfields v Maxbees Obuasi
B.A.
United v Goldfields Sunyani Mine Stars v B.A.
United Prestea
Maxbees v RTU Koforidua Kotoko v K. Faisal Kumasi
Hearts v Liberty Accra Bofoakwa v Hasaacas Sunyani
Okwawu v Power F/C *Accra Power F/C v Arsenals Koforidua
Dawu v Olympics Gt.
Olympics Gt.
Olympics v Okwawu Accra
Week 29 Week 30
Arsenals v Gt. Olympics Berekum RTU v Dawu Tamale
Hasaacas v Power
F/C Sekondi Goldfields v Liberty Obuasi
K.
Faisal v Bofoakwa Kumasi Mine
Stars v Hearts Prestea
B.A.
United v Kotoko Sunyani Kotoko v Maxbees Kumasi
Maxbees v Mine Stars Koforidua Bofoakwa v B.A.
United Sunyani
Hearts
v Goldfields Accra Power
F/C v K. Faisal Koforidua
Liberty v RTU *Accra Gt. Olympics v Hasaacas Accra
Dawu v Okwawu Dawu Okwawu v Arsenals *Accra
* Matches in Accra with asterisk to be honoured on Saturdays.
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