Boxing-Knights Promotions back with another thriller
Accra (Greater Accra) 10 April 2002 - There is every indication that the Ghana Football Association will have a host of coaches from which to make a ‘best choice’ to select who would carry the nation to the World Cup in 2006.
By last Friday the list of applicants for the job was known to be six but two
well known faces in Ghana soccer Burkhard Ziese and Giuseppe Dossena have
swelled the number to eight, according to sports bi-weekly Graphic Sports.
Ziese in a phone call to the paper intoned that his application has been lying
on the GFA’s table since last October.
If appointed it would be a popular decision amongst the fans for Ziese as the man, with affinity for physically strong sides, has already had a successful two-year stint managing the Stars from 1989 and, in fact, managing to qualify the country to its first nations cup in 1992 after 10 years in wilderness. But before the ’92 tournament Burkhard had been shown the exit for differences between him and the powers that be.
Also revealed to have applied is Guiseppe Dossena. The Italian's two-year
contract was not renewed in 2000 much to the dismay of some admirers who
believed he had made considerable progress with the team. As such few would
begrudge him a second chance to establish once and for all his capability of
leading the Black Stars to their first World Cup.
However, if fresh blood is the answer to the dismal showing of the national
side in recent years, then the GFA is certainly not short of choices as the
remaining six candidates have had no previous business with the Black Stars
side. One name to feature on this list is Ian Porterfield, an Englishman born
on 11 February 1946. Although he has had no dealings with the Black Stars his
experience on the African scene speaks for itself.
He took the reins of Zambia FC between 1993 and 1994 before briefly moving back
to Britain as a consultant to Premier League side, Bolton Wanderers, in 1995.
He then returned as head coach of Zimbabwe for a year between 1996 and 1997.
Also serving to increase his knowledge of the international game was his time
with Oman in the Emirates. However, his most impressive achievement to date
came while he was in charge of Trinidad and Tobago between 1999 and 2001,
during which time he steered the side to an impressive COPA Caribbean success.
Argentine Carlos Percini has also stepped forward as a potential successor to the throne left vacant by stand-in coach Osam Duodo. Previously his field of expertise had been confined to his homeland where he assisted the Argentine national team coach. Working with such a prestigious side could well stand him in good stead if he is entrusted with the job.
Also to throw his name into the hat is Alan Jeffers from the
school of Soccer Excellence in the USA. Unlike Percini, he is familiar with
West African football and even held a course for coaches here in Ghana, which
could give him an edge when the appointment is made. Impressively, Jeffers also
possesses 'A' licences with the USA federation, the English FA and UEFA.
Outside the sport his other accolades include graduating with B.E.D Honours
from London University and an M.E.D at Manchester University, the equivalent of
an American PHD.
The sixth name on the list is a Croation, Marljan Vlak. Born in October 1955, he managed much acclaimed club side FC Dynamo, and since then he has maintained a position as Top Expert Board member of the triumphant Croation national team, which has qualified for the upcoming World Cup in Japan and Korea. If Vlak is selected he will be the first Croat to lead a Black Stars side, whilst if Ziadinovic Millan is chosen he will be the first Yugoslav.
The veteran coach managed the under-21 Olympic team between 1995 and 1998 before taking charge of the national side between 1998 and 1999. Outside Yugoslavia, he was also appointed Head coach of Saudi Arabia in 1999. Millan also speaks English and German, ensuring there will be few problems with communication if he is eventually handed the position.
Completing the octet is Polish-born Antoni Tiechniczek who managed the Polish
side between 1980 and 1986. Of uppermost significance is the fact that he is
familiar with African football, having had two spells as coach of Tunisian club
side Esperance; and he too has fine linguistic skills, speaking English and
French.
The GFA has cited May as the deadline to find a suitable candidate for the
position, and it is widely held amongst the football fraternity that many more
potential coaches will put their names forward before that time. As such the
Black Stars appear to be in an enviable position, with a host of proven coaches
bidding to arrest the dreary performances that have plagued the national side
in recent years.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 10 April 2002 - Fabulous Kumasi Asante
Kotoko face another daunting task in their bid to reclaim their glory when they
take on Santos of South Africa this Saturday the next stage of the Cup Winners
Cup competition. Kotoko scored full marks in their first continental assignment
under coach Enrst Middendorp when they eliminated Angola’s Athletico Sonangol
on a 4-2 aggregate at the one-sixteenth stage. The German now believes his side
is poised to clear the second hurdle against Santos at the 1/8th stage of the
competition.
Middendorp told Graphic Sports last Saturday, after his sides snatched a 2-2 draw with Liberty Professionals that he was satisfied with Kotoko’s present form and hoped it would reflect in a good result in Cape Town. “I have high expectations of our match against Santos because the team has shown tremendous form,” he said. “We just have to remain focused and if we do that, the minimum result would be a draw.”
Focus could be the key factor for the Porcupine Warriors who held Athletico
Sonangol 2-2 in Namibie last month. But when they face ‘The People’s Team’ on
Saturday Kotoko who left Accra on Monday night would have had at least four
days to adjust to conditions in Cape Town.
Unlike the difficult conditions they were subjected to in Angola, Kotoko can be assured of a warm reception and first class facilities in South Africa’s “white city.” But on the field they must brace for a tough battle against the runaway leaders of the Rainbow Nation’s Premier Soccer League PSL. Santos, handled by Gordon Iyesund and parading experienced players such as ex-Bafana Bafana goalie, Andre Arendse, and Bradley August, are currently close to winning their first league title. They top the PSL with 61 points from 31 games.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 10 April 2002 - Six Club Chairmen under the Greater Accra Cycling Association (GACA) have expressed unhappiness about the way the national association is being run. Enumerating some of the problems they encounter as chairmen, Mr Nii Ayi Oku, General Secretary of GACA and spokesperson for the chairmen saidlack of transparency at the national level, nepotism and dictatorship are some of their major concerns.
They accused the chairman of the national association, Mr Peter Affort, of being unreliable and called for his immediate removal. Mr Oku said the "Tour du Togo" which ended in Togo recently should have been held in Ghana but this was shifted to Togo for mo tangible reasons.
He added that only cyclists of one particular club were chosen to represent the country instead of national selection. He regretted that the club chairmen spent so much on their cyclists out which nothing is gained in return saying the cost of one bicycle is between 5,000 and 7,000 dollars each.
Mr Kofi Ohene-Osae, chairman of Tema-based Nippon Cycling club re-countered that he spent 500,0000 cedis daily on his cyclists each time he brought them to
Accra during Cowbell sponsorship programme but was given only 500,000 cedis at the end of the programme.
Mr Francis Kpesenu, Secretary General of the Ghana Cycling Association denied all the accusations describing them as baseless. He said the selection of venues for their programmes was not chronological in that any country could be chosen for a tour. There was no favouritism in the selection of cyclists for their programmes adding that selection for national assignments were based on merit.
Mr Kpesenu said six out of the eight cyclists selected for Tour du Togo were from the GACA. He said in all 10 cyclists represented Ghana so the chairmen have no rpt no basis for their criticism, he said. A meeting for the two sides has been scheduled for Tuesday.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 10 April 2002 - After successfully staging their maiden boxing tournament, dubbed "Night of no return" Knights Promotions, the new name on the boxing scene has scheduled another thriller at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Mr Justice Agbeko, General Secretary of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) and spokesperson for Knights Promotions told GNA Sports on Wednesday that the main bout for the night would feature Anyetei Laryea, the National Bantamweight champion with an opponent yet to be named for the vacant African Boxing Union (ABU) Bantamweight title.
He said approval for the fight had already given by the ABU for the title that has been lying vacant. Mr Agbeko said other fights on the bill would see Ousmanu Adama, ABU Super-weight champion, taking on a yet-to-be-named opponent in a challenge contest.
GRi…/
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