World boxing champions fail to show up
Though the premiership is over and Accra Hearts of Oak are the champions for a historic fifth consecutive time, the Phobians are to get busy with three friendly encounters to climax the season.
Among the clubs slated to play Hearts of Oak are city rivals, Accra Great Olympics and Liberty Professionals at the Accra Sports Stadium. Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio, technical director of Hearts, who hinted this on Tuesday said the third friendly will be against Tema Ghapoha.
He said an expected meeting with the players tomorrow is also to afford him and his colleagues to take an overview of the just ended season and plan for the subsequent programmes.
According to the African coach of the yar who masterminded the success of the Phobians in last year’s CAF Champions League, Olympics have proved unyielding to his side this season and believed this was the time to settle the scores.
The game against Olympics, which is to be dubbed “Shidaa Cupo” or “Thank You trophy”, is aimed at expressing appreciation to fans and all those who have contributed in diverse ways towards the success of the Phobians.
For Olympics, it is to thank God, their fans as well as all those who rallied behind the club during the turbulent times of the season.
Even though Hearts have managed to pull wins over Liberty Professionals, encounters between the two teams have always been full of thrillers, and coach Attuquayefio believes the Dansoman-based club is a formidable squad to meet once again.
Jones said that their match against Tema Ghapoha would be a good one for the Tema lads as they prepare for a play-off with the third-placed club in the division one middle league to determine which of the two would remain in the elite premier division.
Hearts at the weekend undertook a trip to Cote d’Ivoire where it placed second in a charity match that saw the Ghanaian champions losing 0-2 to Asec Mimosa, the Ivorian champions.
Coach Attuquayefio is expected to go on holidays in the United Kingdom and the United States and would exploit the opportunity to take up refresher courses to be abreast of the current changes in the game. “That however does not mean, I am quitting the club,” he was quick to say.
Meanwhile, coach Attuquayefio has named Dan Oppong as his most outstanding player among the tall list of new players recruited for the season. He said Hassan Mohammed who came in late has also been impressive.
At the appropriate time, the Hearts of Oak tactician hoped to unveil plans for next year’s CAF Champions league and the players targeted to augment the squad.
GRi…/
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Western Showboys, Sekondi Eleven Wise defeated Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs by a lone goal in a crucial decider at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday to book a place in the national division one sub-middle league.
Eleven Wise got the all important winner through Henry Baffoe who converted a spot-kick a few minutes into the second half. That was after Wise were reduced to ten men as a result of a red card to their skipper Eric Agbenygah in the 40th minute of the game.
However, Edusua Dwarfs had themselves to blame as their midfielder Rashid Iddi failed to convert a penalty in the 27th minute when Maxwell Kyei ws brought down in the Eleven Wise vital area. The Cape Coast lads also made their situation worse by squandering good scoring chances that came their way.
In another decisive game at the Sekondi Gyandu Park, troubled Bafana Bafana fought from two goals down in the first half to settle for a 2-2 draw with Mpohor Iron Fighters. By this outcome, Iron Fighters have qualified alongside Eleven Wise for the zone two sub-middle league.
They join Prestea Minestars and Amansie United for the competition, which is scheduled to take place at the Accra and Dawu Stadia from Wednesday, December 8.
GRi…/
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After months of wrangling, a new General-Secretary has been appointed to administer the operations of the Secretariat of the Ghana Football Association (GFA). The appointment of Mr Kofi Nsiah of the Physical Education Unit of the Ghana Education Service takes effect from December 1, 2001.
Nsiah turned up the second best applicant during the selection interview for the position at the Public Service Commission a couple of weeks ago.
Mr Obeng Busia, who emerged the tops at the interview, turned down the job offer because of certain adverse remarks made about his salary.
Following Mr Nsiah's appointment, Mr K Ampem-Darko, who had been acting as
GFA General Secretary reverts to his substantive position as the Deputy-General Secretary (technical) while Mr Julius Onyameama retains the Deputy-General Secretary (administration) post.
In concert with the restructuring programme of the GFA, Emmanuel Gyimah has also been appointed a deputy General-Secretary.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 05 December 2001 - Boxers and trainers around Bukom in Accra on Tuesday appealed to the minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Edward Osei - Kweku, to provide the area with modern gyms to help unearth more talents and groom them to be World Champions.
They made the appeal during a visit to the area by the minister to ascertain problems facing boxers and their trainers in Bukom, which is noted for producing world-class boxers.
The boxers and their trainers told the minister that they lacked modern training facilities such as gloves, punching bags, and good environment to train in.
They said though the area produced many World Champions like Azumah Nelson, Ike Quartey, Alfred Kotey and D.K. Poison among others it is neglected by the authorities. They added that if good facilities are available, the area would come up with more boxers who would bring laurels to the nation.
Reacting to the concerns of the boxers, the minister said the facilities he saw during the visit were deplorable having regard to Bukom where many outstanding boxers came from and pledged that every effort would be made to assist them with up- to-date training facilities in line with the governments policy to promote boxing in the country.
He urged them to visit the ministry when they are in need of any assistance adding that they should not hesitate to make their problems known to the National Sports Council. The Mayor of Accra, Mr Solomon Ofei Darko, who was also part of the Minister's entourage said every effort would be made to help potential boxes in the area to develop their talents.
He urged them to continue training saying, "it is through this that you can achieve your objectives and win recognition. The MP for Odododiodio, Nii Ayi Bontey, advised the boxers to emulate their predecessors and take their training serious in order to make their dreams and aspirations true.
The MP announced that plans are far advanced to acquire a plot of land for a modern gym befitting the area which has produced most of the country's World Boxing Champions.
The gyms the minister visited include the Bukom Boxing Club, Akotoku Boxing Academy and the Back Panthers Boxing Gym where he interacted with boxers like Braimah Kamoko, alias Bukom Banku, Bukom Fire, Bukom Tsatsu and others.
GRi…/
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What was expected to be a meeting of a cream of ex-Ghanaian world boxing champions and the Minister for Youth and Sports, Mr Edward Osei-Kwaku, in Accra on Tuesday nearly turned fiasco.
Out of the five invited, only David Kotei (D.K.) Poison, first Ghanaian world champion, at the featherweight division, showed up while Alfred Kotey emerged moments after the meeting.
Barima Azumah Nelson, the three-time world champion, Ike “Bazooka” Quartey and Nana Yaw Konadu failed to turn up even though they were duly notified, according to The Ghanaian Times Sports.
A reliable source told the paper that Azumah Nelson was out of the country, Ike Quartey was indisposed, while Nana Yaw Konadu, was with a group of architects surveying his burnt house.
However, according to the Minister the rationale behind the meeting was basically to find out how best the ex-champions could contribute their quota to the development of boxing in the country.
“We also would like to find out how the former champions are coping with life and not to wait until they are no more before thinking about what to do for them. It appears we are not honouring our past heroes and this will serve as a huge disincentive to the youth”, he lamented, adding, “a nation that fails to honour its heroes is not worth dying for.”
Mr Edward Osei Kwaku was grateful to D.K. Poison for his past exploits; the champion in turn expressed his appreciation for the invitation, pledging to contribute his widow’s mite to boxing promotion in the country.
Later, the Minister paid a familiarisation visit to some famous boxing gyms in Accra, which have produced world-beaters. Places visited included Bukom Square gym, Akotoku Academy, Black Panthers Club, Attoh Quarshie Club, and Napoleon Tagoe gym.
GRi…/
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