Battle for Premier Division begins Jan 5
Accra (Greater Accra) 20 December 2001 - The National Under 21 and 23 Soccer teams are to be assembled for a four-nation tournament in South Africa from January 20 to 27.
In this regard the technical teams of the squads are expected to meet with the Management Committee on Thursday, December 20 at the Ghana Football Association (GFA) secretariat to work out the modalities for the tournament.
In a letter addressed to members of the two committees, the General Secretary of the GFA listed selection of players and planning of training programmes as matters high on the agenda.
The GNA Sports Desk speculations are rife that the team would consist of members of the national Under 17 side, the Black Starlets who failed to qualify for the last World Under 17 championship, staged in Trinidad and Tobago.
Isaac Paha, coach of Sekondi Eleven Wise, heads the technical team of the Satellites, which also includes Alhaji Maikano, Welfare Officer, Alhaji Dodoo Ankrah, goalkeeper's trainer and Dr. Adjapong, team doctor.
The management committee of the Satellites consists of Mr Emmanuel Owusu Ansah, vice chairman of the GFA, Mr Kwesi Acheampong of Obuasi Goldfields F/C and Alhaji Karim Grunsah, financier of King Faisal.
The rest are Mr Ernest Quarshie of Accra Hearts of Oak Management Committee and Mr Fred Pappoe, secretary to the Accra Great Olympics Management Board.
Most of the Satellites players who won silver medals at the World Youth Championship in Argentina early this year have graduated into the senior national team, the Back Stars and are vying for positions in the CAN 2002 squad.
Meanwhile, GNA Sports Desk investigations revealed that though the head coach of the silver winning team, Emmanuel Kwesi Afranie has been re-designated as the Technical Coordinator of the Northern Sector, he has not been officially appointed.
The coach told the GNA Sports that he is an employee of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and anybody who wants to re-assign him must seek clearance from his employers.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 20 December 2001 - With the conclusion of the sub-middle league of the problematic zone two, all is set for the commencement of the national middle league to decide which teams will gain promotion into the Premier League.
And the date for the commencement of this all important exercise has been fixed for January 5 next year. In all, six teams are expected to take part in the competition to vie for the limited places that have been left vacant by the relegation of some premiership sides into the first division.
But between now and the competition’s commencement day, the Division One League (DOL) Board will have to contend with a resolution of what to do with the vacuum created by the withdrawal of Tudu Mighty Jets from the competition.
Mighty Jets sent a note of withdrawal from the national middle league to the DOL board, stating financial constraints as the main reason for bowing out of the competition, despite threats of sanctions from the division’s ruling authority.
Mighty Jets qualified alongside Power F/C from zone three of the sub-middle league. This development has suddenly thrown further dark clouds over the already battered division one game as it has pushed the authorities to choose between replacing the team or allowing the national middle league to go ahead without a replacement.
With the competition having been depleted by Mighty Jets’ withdrawal, five teams remain prepared awaiting the green light to begin hostilities for qualification to the premiership.
The five include former premier division campaigners B.A. United and Yeji Stars from zone one, Mines Stars and Iron Fighters from zone two and Power F/C from zone three.
Whatever decision is taken on replacement or otherwise of Mighty Jets, the six or five clubs will battle for two slots for automatic qualification into the premiership. The third placed team will be involved in yet another play-off with premier side, Tema Ghapoha to decide which club savours premier division soccer next season.
Meanwhile, three venues have been designated to host the all-play-all tournament. These are the Accra Sports Stadium, Kumasi Sports Stadium and the Cape Coast Stadium or Sekondi Gyandu Park.
GRi…/
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