Referees threaten boycott of Premier League
Accra (Greater Accra) 15 April 2002 - ‘Soccer Mountaineers’ Okwawu United made a bright start to their adoption of the Accra Stadium as their home when they managed to collect the three maximum points at stake in their second week match against Brong Ahafo United who were left with a point after two matches. Okwawu posted the victory via an 84th minute goal and playing the entire second half with 10 men.
The homesters had made heavy whether of numerous scoring chances that fell their way in the first half as the strikers just failed to put the ball into the net. Frustrated by the resistance of B.A defence, Okwawu resorted to rough play, which resulted in the matching off order for Isaac Asante for second bookable offence after he had brought down B.A’s enterprising Emmanuel Nkrumah.
But a player down, Okwawu still managed to maintain their grip on the game as B.A were unperturbed as they sat back and only cleared their lines until the break. After resumption, B.A counting on their numerical advantage pushed more men forward and should have gone ahead in the 69th minute when Nasiru Gauni found himself unmarked in the 18-yard box but a moment of hesitation robbed him of the opportunity.
In the closing minutes of the game Okwawu again came into the picture and earned a penalty when striker Osei Bonsu was violently tackled for Eddy Acquah to beautifully convert home in the 84th minute.
GRi…/
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 15 April 2002 - A 77th minute goal scored by substitute Tahiru Abulai of Bofoakwa Tano enabled his side to draw 1-1 with Dansoman based Liberty Professionals in their Premier Soccer League match played at the Coronation Park, Sunyani on Sunday.
Abulai, popularly called "Fan Milk" by his admirers had come in for Kyeremanteng Emmanuel in the early part of the second half. The substitute who operated from he right flank gave the defence of Liberty a lot of problems. Utilising the fresh energy in him, "Fan Milk" moved threateningly up-front and it came as no surprise when he levelled matters for his side with a sizzling header during a goalmouth melee.
Liberty who played a better game in the first half led 1-0 from the 22nd minute through Ernest Papa Arko. Essuman Mustapha's long-range shot hit the post and with goalkeeper Damba Muhammed of Bofoakwa grounded, Papa Arko, ran like a hare and tapped the rebound a gently into the empty net.
The attacking machinery of Liberty Professionals, made up of Jonathan Quartey, Alfred Larbi, Papa Arko, John Paintsil, William Teiro, Lawrence Awuley Quaye and Dan Yeboah were a delight to watch with their accurate passes and good turnings. In the 26th minute Liberty missed a good chance by a shade.
Left off the hook, Captain Abeiku Aikins and his Bofoakwa side managed to push themselves into scoring range on many occasions but the defence of Liberty spearheaded by Captain Addoquaye Pappoe thwarted their efforts till the end of the first session of the match. Both sides made substitutions on resumption but it was the home team that had the full benefit of their technical variation as they scored in this half to bring the full time scores to 1-1.
Meanwhile, Bofoakwa’s Kwaku Adu is reported to have been attacked be a section of his club's supporters immediately after the match. Adu was however saved from the wrath of his attackers by another group of the club's supporters. The crime of the poor player was that he missed a last-minute goal chance, which could have enabled his side to win the day.
As soon as referee John Atikese of Koforidua whistled for the end of the match, the irate supporters rushed onto the playing field in an attempt to vent their anger on the player for missing that 'golden' chance. But a group of supporters who were sympathetic to the player felt there was no need for such an action and quickly intervened and escorted Adu into a parked
Mercedes Benz Bus, thus saving the player from any unpleasant development.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 15 April 2002 - An 80th minute goal by enterprising Amui Quaye gave a well-deserved 2-1 victory to ‘Wonder Club’ Accra Olympics over Suhum Maxbees and moved them to second spot on the league table after Week 2 matches. The first half ended at a goal apiece.
Surprisingly, it was the visitors who scored an early goal in the fifth minute as their forward, Masawudu Mumuni took advantage of a defensive blunder by Olympics skipper Kobla Dodzi to slam the ball home. The homesters however quickly reorganised and made a quick cancellation through Amui Quaye’s header in the 7th minute.
With both teams at par, the game became very tough as each team struggled to out-play the other, with Olympics slightly dominating. Olympics who were bent on taking the maximum three points struggled in their bid to score. Poor finishing and lack of concentration however robbed them of some goals in the 39th and 43rd minutes when John Cudjoe, who was in the right position to score wasted a chance after receiving delivery from Nana Eshun while Apetor Kofi squandered a similar opportunity in the 42nd minute.
The visitors who were also determined to win proved a tough nut for Olympics, thwarting all their efforts but they also failed to utilise the chances that came their way, especially in the 27th minute when Emmanuel Osei's powerful shot was parried by Mauzu Nkono in post for Olympics.
The trend changed on resumption as both teams brought some urgency into the game. However it was Maxbees who took total control of the game, reducing Olympics who appeared exhausted to nothing, but could not penetrate the defence of the "wonder boys".
Luck however smiled on Olympics in the dying minutes when Amui Quaye connected home a freekick taken by Francis Mantey to ease their frustration, giving them a 2-1 lead. While Maxbees fought to bring themselves back into the game, Olympics attempted to increase the score but try as either side did neither could score until Kumasi-based referee Ali Musa Plato brought proceedings to an end.
GRi…/
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Koforidua (Eastern Region) 15 April 2002 - Defending Champions Accra Hearts of Oak chalked double success when they defeated Koforidua Power F/C by a lone goal. While the victory ensured that the Phobians broke a long-standing jinx of chain of losses or draws at the Koforidua Stadium, Hearts also zoomed to the top of the table with a maximum six points from two matches as leaders King Faisal went tumbling at Berekum.
Hearts should have taken a first half lead but winger Bernard Don Bortey’s final chip before a yawning net sailed above the upright after outwitting three defenders and displacing Power’s goalie Sannie Mohammed in the 39th minute.
Don Bortey was however back to score the historic goal from a spot kick on the stroke of full time when a Power defender handballed in the 18-yard box in an attempt to clear a float from Hearts substitute Wisdom Abbey. The victory led to a spontaneous jubilation in the Koforidua township by loyal Hearts' fans.
GRi…/
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Dawu (Eastern Region) 15 April 2002 - And at the Dawu Stadium, Eric Mbroh and Kamara Dini Duada netted for Dawu Youngsters who annexed the three maximum points at stake against Sekondi Hasaacas. Mbroh completed a beautiful corner kick in the 29th minute while Kamara scored an opportunistic goal when he tapped in a loose ball in the 37th minute.
Mbroh clashed with goalkeeper Mensah Teo in an aerial tussle and the ball fell on the path of Kamara to finished-off. The goalkeeper failed to recover from the clash and was substituted. Earlier, Dawu's 36th minute goal by Seth Tabiri was disallowed for off-side positioning.
The match between Prestea Mine Stars and Goldfields was rained off and has been rescheduled for Monday 15 April. The match between Kumasi Asante Kotoko and RTU has also been rescheduled for the Kumasi Sports Stadium on Thursday, April 18. Kotoko travelled to South Africa for an African Cup Winners Cup match against Santos of Cape Town.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 15 April 2002 - The Referees Association of Ghana (RAG) said it would boycott all subsequent Premier League matches if the Ghana Football Association (GFA) fail to pay monies owe to them.
RAG prior to the commencement of the league gave the Professional League Board (PLB) a 14-day ultimatum to collaborate with the GFA to make part payment else it would resort to a boycott action. However that threat never materialised. A source close to RAG told the GNA Sports in Accra that the money which runs into millions of cedis is made up of officiating fees from last season's first division middle league and the Premier league.
The GFA has been hit by financial difficulties in recent times following the withdrawal of sponsorship of the Premier League by the Ghana Breweries Limited. The company said it could not continue with 800 million cedis renewable contract due to dwindling profit margins. The GFA has not been able to secure any sponsorship package for the league but said many companies have shown interest.
The source told the GNA that RAG couldn't continue pre-financing officiating fees if nothing "positive" is heard from either the GFA or the PLB. He said the two bodies have been shifting responsibility as to who is to pay the money and added that the boycott is a sure way of ending feud.
GRi…/
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