GRi Sports 28 - 04 - 2003
Hearts cut AS Douanes to seize
Kotoko are SWAG champs again
Comeback victory lights up jubilant Hearts supporters
Heart of Lions for premier football
Coach Osam Duodu for Ethiopia
Seven Volta clubs vie for promotion
Exchequers win APS Hockey gala
Hearts cut AS Douanes to seize
Lome (Greater Accra)
28 April 2003 - A resurrected Accra Hearts of Oak side, put up a gallant
performance in the last 45 minutes of their second leg CAF Champions League
preliminary match against AS Douane of Togo, beating them 3-1 at the Stade
Omnisport de Lome.
Hearts, who for the
past weeks had recorded some unpleasant results, entered the game with a one
nil unconvincing home win in Accra two weeks ago and had elimination staring at
them in the first half.
This was after the
Togolese drew the first blood in the 6th minute through a corner
kick, which Tossou Kodjo David connected to register a goal. After going
through some anxious moments in the first half through uncoordinated play
upfront and sloppy marking in the defence, the Phobians resumed the second half
with a positive spirit and played an improved game.
This yielded results
three minutes in the half when Antwi laid the ball on the path of Bortey, whose
cross Osei-Kuffour nodded home for the equaliser. The goal gingered them as
they piled pressure on the homesters in search of more goals.
Douane in response
pushed more men forward to get a goal but the defence of Hearts built around
experienced Dan Quaye, sensational new recruit Emmanuel Osei, Dan Oppong and
Kwame Antwi remained resolute.
Coach Addo's
introduction of Eddy Copson for struggling Adjah Tetteh in the 61st
minute changed the pattern of the game as the workaholic midfielder though half
fit provide a lot of balls for his men upfront and did a lot of tidying up in
midfield.
This paid off in the
73rd minute but Abbey, after beating the defence once again shot
wide. Hearts resumed pressure in the 81st minute with the Togolese looking
weary as Bortey raced deep into the defence, laid the ball on Abbey's path. He
made no mistake by placing it past Keeper Paul Agbavon in goal for the second
goal.
Don Bortey who seemed
to have rediscovered his speed, picked a ball on the right flank, ran past two
defenders before crossing it to Osei-Kuffour, who connected it with much ease
to seal the doom of the homesters.
Hearts after the
third goal reduced the game to a training session leaving the Togolese to chase
their shadows until referee Mve Msong Pierre of Gabon whistled for the end of
the match.
The first half of the
game was, however, not a pleasant one for Hearts and their vociferous fans who
flooded the stands. The large number of Hearts fans in the stands sat on thorns
throughout the half as the Phobians found it difficult to gather momentum.
Hearts fans came into confrontation with a Togolese photographer during the
recess as they pelted him with sachets of water.
Hearts, by the win
now qualify on a 4-1 aggregate for the next stage of the competition and are
likely to meet opponents from Uganda or Angola. Soccer fans in Lome had a bad
weekend as Douane became the third Togolese team to bow out a CAF competitions
after Maranatha and Dyto Club were given exits in the Cup Winners Cup and CAF
Cup competitions respectively on Friday and Saturday at the same venue.
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Kotoko are SWAG champs again
Accra (Greater Accra)
28 April 2003 - Kumasi Asante Kotoko on Sunday defeated Dansoman Liberty
Professional 2-1 to lift the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) trophy
dubbed H P Nyemetei Cup at the nations Wembley, Accra Sports Stadium.
The game which was a
real characteristics of Kotoko /Liberty encounter saw the Osei-Krom lads
drawing the first blood in the third minutes through enterprising Abedi Sarfo.
Sarfo had picked a pass from speed star Michael Osei outside the penalty box
and dribbled his way through the Liberty defence with ease before placing a low
grounder into the net with goalkeeper Cudjo Addo helpless to set the stadium
ablaze. The game saw balance dominance in the rest of the first half.
From recess, both
teams lifted up their game with midfield gem Stephen Oduro's free kick just
outside the vital area missing the post narrowly. Kotoko who had he best of the
exchanges during the third quarter of the game, pinned the Attuquayefio lads to
their own half creating anxious moment for them.
At a stage when the
fabulous boys seemed to be walking home with a lone goal victory, the Sly
Tetteh lads suddenly lifted their game and threatened the Kotoko defence
marshal around Joe Hendricks with much ease. Liberty who needed to win the game
at all cost after having bowed thrice to Kotoko this year played more
aggressively like wounded lions.
It however came as no
surprise when William Tierro who had a splendid afternoon equalised for Liberty
in the 74th minutes. Louis Quanioo pushed home Tierro’s 25- metre
harmless shot obviously because he had underrated the shot. The goal gave
liberty the confidence to attack their opponent but to no avail.
The much winner by
Kotoko was not anticipated by fans because Liberty was on top, came seven
minutes to the end of the game through Osei who lobbed home after Goalkeeper
Cudjo had failed to make a first time save. The trophy was presented to Kotoko
by the deputy minister of Youth and Sports Joe Aggrey. Kotoko has thus won the
Cup on a 3-1 aggregate having won the first encounter 1-0 in Kumasi last week.
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Comeback victory lights up jubilant Hearts supporters
Accra (Greater Accra)
28 April 2003 - Accra Hearts of Oaks 3 -1 comeback victory over AS Douanes of
Togo in far away Lome sent supporters of the Phobian club in Accra into wild
celebration as they least expected such an outcome.
Hearts supporters who
were at the Accra Sports Stadium to watch the SWAG Cup match between Kumasi
Asante Kotoko and Liberty Professional endured some agonising moments in the
first half as Kotoko supporters in the stadium erupted into celebration when
news filtered in that Hearts were down by a lone goal.
The Hearts supporters
with transistor radios endured the taunts till the second half when Osei
Kuffour equalised when they found their voices again. The few supporters
present went into ecstatic mood when news came in that Hearts had taken the
lead. After the match Hearts supporters leaving the stadium tooted their car
horns whiles others in Hearts colours received cheers from colleague fans.
Emmanuel Yeboah, an
ardent supporter of Hearts told the GNA that he felt vindicated as he was the
only one who had faith in the team that they were going to win the return
encounter in Togo. "All my friends lost hope after the first leg but I
still had the inner conviction that Hearts were going to win at all cost and I
have been proven right"
Another Hearts
supporter, Joseph Mensah told the GNA that he least expected such a performance
from the team judging by the way the first leg went. "In fact I wrote them
off because I could not imagine Hearts going to Togo to win considering the
teams playing away from home are frustrated whenever they play away."
Hearts by this feat
have moved to the next stage of the competition after stumbling at the first
hurdles on two previous occasions losing to teams from Congo and Mali.
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Heart of Lions for premier football
Accra (Greater Accra)
28 April 2003 - Kpando Heart of Lions qualified for next year's premier league
in grand style when they trashed Yeji Stars 5-1 in their last middle league
match played at the Accra sports Stadium on Saturday.
The match, which
kicked off half an hour behind schedule after the Yeji lads reported late saw
Lions who needed to win at all cost dominating right from the start. Lions'
early pressure nearly yielded benefits but Eric Atikpe blew away two chances in
the 12th and 13th minutes with wide shots.
Against the run of
play Yeji's Hamidu Dramani who troubled the Kpando lads through out the match
created an opening in the Lions vital area but a timely intervention by Yusif
Issah blocked his shot to touch.
Yeji Stars then
capitulated under Lions intense pressure as they let in two quick goals in the
17th and 18th minutes from Samuel Yaboah's header and a
low drive by Atikpe to atone for his earlier miss.
Lions who came into
the match on top of the League Table on superior goal difference but with the
same point with three other teams poured forward in droves to score more goals,
which they had in the 22nd minute through their Togolese import,
Lawson Nibueke who curled in a shot from the edge of the box.
The game after the
third goal turned into a one sided match as Yeji found it difficult getting
away from their own area. On the stroke of half time, Lions other Togolese
import Koblah Amewu made it four when he caught Jomoro Akwasi unawares with a
snap shot from deep inside the midfield.
The second half was
more balanced as Lions decided to rest on their oars having done the work in
the first half. Yeji pushed forward in a bid to reduce the tally and were
awarded a penalty in the 50th minute when Abass Caesar in post for
Lions brought down Kwame Sarfo in the box for Dramani to convert.
Yeji goal brought
Lions into the game as they scored their fifth goal in the 55th
minute through Amewu curling free kick.
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Coach Osam Duodu for Ethiopia
Accra (Greater Accra)
28 April 2003 - Osam Duodu, the Technical Director of the Ghana Football
Association (GFA) and former Black Stars coach, would leave the shores of the
country to Ethiopia on Sunday 28 April for a one week coaching course.
The course dubbed the
high level coaching course and a programme by the Confederation of African
Football (CAF) would see the former coach being one of the instructors.
Information gathered
by the GNA Sports indicated that the former national coach is expected to
impact his knowledge and experience to a group of coaches drawn from Eastern Africa. Osam Duodo who is a CAF
instructor is expected back in the country on Monday May 5.
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Seven Volta clubs vie for promotion
Akatsi (Greater
Accra) 28 April 2003 - Seven Volta Region 2nd Division clubs on
Thursday began competing in this year's Middle League tournament at Akatsi to
win qualification into the National First Division League.
They include Kpando
House of Lions, Denu Ketu United, Aflao Golden Eyes, Aflao United, Dabala Tongu
Fruits, Juapong Oke Stars and Jasikan Buem United. The eighth team, Worawora
Evergreens failed to make it to the fiesta due to financial constraints.
In the first encounter, Ketu United, played
all the eye pleasing football except how to put the ball into the net of Kpando
House of Lions who showed them how to do it when they carried the day with a
lone goal scored in the dying minutes to silence the vociferous fans and
supporters of Ketu United. House of Lions wasted a penalty in the first half.
In the second match,
Aflao Golden Eyes scored three goals; one through a penalty in the last 15
minutes of the game to beat Dabala Tongu Fruits, who led by a goal in the first
half. ongu Fruits mesmerised Golden Eyes with superb football skills but failed
to keep the tempo in the second half and allowed Golden Boys to carry the day.
Juapong Oke stars exhibited superb skills in beating Jasikan Buem United 3-1 in
the last match of the four-day tourney.
According to the
rules, a team automatically crashes out of the competition after two straight defeats
and this made the matches very competitive and thrilling. Geraldo de-Lima,
Volta Region Sports Development Officer told the GNA Sports that everything is
in place for a successful tournament.
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Exchequers win APS Hockey gala
Accra (Greater Accra)
28 April 2003 - Exchequers of Bank of Ghana defeated Customs, Excise and
Preventive Service (CEPS) 4-3 on penalties in the final match, to win this
year's Atlantic Port Services (APS) Hockey Gala competition played at the
National Hockey Pitch in Accra on Saturday.
Ben Tarley, Samuel
Kwaw, Samuel Okine and Solomon Okine scored from the penalty for Exchequers
while James Mason, Victor Sowah and Desmond Ofori netted for CEPS. On their way
to the finals, Exchequers had a walk-over over Extinguishers, and walloped
Veterans 5-0 while CEPS eliminated Trustees 1-0 and beat Golden Sticks 2-1.
Extinguishers beat CEPS 3-1 to win the Ladies trophy. The game was played to
usher in the 2003 Hockey Season.
Frank Awuku, Vice
Chairman of the Greater Accra Hockey Association praised the company for their
sponsorship and called on other corporate bodies and institutions to help
develop the sport.
Victoria Hajar,
Managing Director of APS in an address read for her, said the company considers
its sponsorship of the event as its corporate responsibility to improve the
quality of sports in the country. She called on the government to create an
enabling environment for Ghanaian sportsmen to enable them deliver.
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