Warri (Nigeria) 11
December 2002 - Ben Koufie, Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA)
would visit injured Ghanaian international, Otto Addo at his German base this
Christmas.
Addo currently out of
action due to an injury he sustained in a national assignment had gone through
a successful surgery with the assistance of his German club, Borussia Dortmund.
Information indicated
that the GFA has decided to visit the player where he would be presented with $5,000
to continue his healing process. Koufie would visit the player after a planned
trip to Egypt in the course of the month.
So far, the player's
club have been responsible for all medical expenses, though he was on national
assignment. He is expected to stay out of action for six months.
GRi…/
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Warri (Nigeria) 11
December 2002 - Ghana's Black Queens on Tuesday forced a bitter pill down the
throat of the Super Falcons of Nigeria to concede their first defeat since the
inception of the biennial Women African Cup of Nations Championships.
The lone goal victory
was a sweet revenge for the Queens who have fallen prey to the Falcons since
the competition began. Skipper Alberta Sackey fetched the historic goal for the
Queens to silence a vociferous crowd at Warri.
It was one match that
the Falcons failed to live up to their pre-match hype and bluff, and could
hardly find their rhythm through out the 90 minutes of play.
Bookmakers who had
earlier tipped the defending champions to retain the trophy were in a fix after
the grueling encounter and could revise their notes by the close of Wednesday.
Angered fans nearly
vented their spleen on the poor Nigerian ladies but for the timely intervention
of security personnel who fired warning shots to scare off the fans. The
tension which engulfed the camps of the two teams during the build-up to the
match reflected in the game as both teams could hardly find their rhythm.
The match was scrappy
especially in the first 30 minutes as the teams resorted to the kick-and-run
style thereby depriving the fans of the free flowing African style of play.
The Falcons who were
fired up by their drum beating fans came into the picture after the half hour
mark and forced goalkeeper Memunata Sulemana to save two quick corner kicks.
Dribbling wizard Adjoa
Bayor, who constantly remained a victim of rough play initiated a solo move and
gave a neat pass to skipper Alberta Sackey who expertly lobbed the ball over
onrushing Opara Ogochi, a second choice goalkeeper for the Falcons in the 34th
minute.
Nigeria stepped up
their game and nearly pulled an equalizer but agile Sulemana thwarted their
effort. Sulemana whose excellent performance at the Women's World Cup four year
ago in the U.S. caught the eyes of the connoisseurs, pulled out some
superlative performances to deny the defending champions of the needed equaliser
especially in the second half.
Not even the biased
officiating from referee Akono Ondo of Cameroon could help the Falcons salvage
their image with a five minutes time added on. Among those who watched the
match were Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Women and Children Affairs and Nana
Bemah-Kumi, Ghana High Commissioner to Nigeria.
GRi…/
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Warri (Nigeria) 11
December 2002 - Ghana's Queens, who play their third game at the on going Women
Africa Cup of Nations in Warri in Nigeria on Saturday, have appeared without
the inscription of their names at the back of their jerseys in their first two
outings.
They have subsequently
received a sanction threat from the Local Organising Committee (LOC) should
they dare appear in the same form for the rest of their matches. The Queens who
won their first match 2-0 against Mali appeared to the surprise of the fans
without their names at the back of the jerseys.
Sysverter Mensah,
Leader of the Ghanaian delegation managed to save the image of the country and
the Ghana Football Association (GFA) when he swiftly organised a local printer
to print the names in the two "mingle-produced" jerseys the teams would
be using for the rest of the 14-days fiesta.
One prayer in the
Queens' camp at the moment is for God not to allow any downpour for the rest of
the days. This is sequel to the fact that the team traveled with only rubber
boots and therefore should there be any heavy rain the team would be without
hard studs to play with.
Meanwhile,
foreign-based Mimi Osei-Agymang, collapsed at training last Sunday after she
had shortly complained of stomach cramps. Team doctor Dr Juliana Derban revived
her. The doctor said the player was not in a serious situation and could play
in the next group match against Ethiopia on Friday.
GRi…/
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo)
11 December 2002 - Eight football teams in the Brong Ahafo Region would vie for
promotion to the Regional First Division in next year's soccer season at the
Sunyani Coronation Park from Tuesday 17 - 22 December.
The eight teams were
the winners and runners up of the four zones that took part in this year's
just-ended regional second division league.
A statement from the
Regional Football Association (RFA) signed by its Secretary, Kwabena Munufie,
named the eight teams for the six-day middle-league fiesta as Sunyani Soccer
"Disciples" and Sunyani Aston Villas who emerged as zone one
champions and runner-up respectively.
Zone two, champions
Dormaa Aduana Stars and runner-up Berekum Samereka qaulifed. In zone three,
Techiman Rudolf were winners and Tuobodom Red Lions, runner-up, whiles Atebubu
Afa Club and Kintampo Sharp Arrows would represent zone four as champions and
runner-up respectively.
Meanwhile, the R.F.A.
has appealed to supporters of the teams to comport themselves during and after
the matches. The statement cautioned that security personnel would effectively
ensure peace and would deal with anybody who might want to create confusion on
the field. The RFA would also not hesitate to sanction any club, Supporters or
official who would misbehave during the tournament, it added.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra)
11 December 2002 - The first African Netball Cup of Nations opens at the
University of Ghana, Legon, on Monday 16 December. The event is being organised
by the host Association, Netball Association of Ghana on behalf of the
Confederation of Africa Netball Association.
Ten countries
including Ghana, Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania, Lesotho, Kenya and Swaziland are
taking part in the 10-day competition. The Council Meetings of the CANA will be
held alongside the tournament. At the time of filing this report, three
countries, Botswana, Namibia and Tanzania have confirmed their participation.
Meanwhile the Netball
Association of Ghana has released the final list of players of the National
Netball team to battle for Ghana next week. They are: Goal Shooters:- Cynthia
Addy, Bernice Taylor Goal Attack:- Shafatu Karin, Florence Tetteh Wing Attack:-
Abena Nyantekyiwaa, Dorothy Bekoe Centre:- Ayishetu Osumanu, Abiba Issaka Wing
Defence:- Eunice Atakli, Akosua Dzegu Goal Keeper:- Veronica Obeng, Faustina
Teye
In a related
development the National Netball team - the Golden Maidens will play Cape Coast
Stars in the final trial match at the University of Ghana, Recreation grounds
on Saturday 14 December, at 10.00 am. The match will be used by the National
Team to fine tune the reflexes of the players for the opening match next
Monday.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra)
11 December 2002 - Obstacles seem to be appearing in the much heralded fight
between Raymond Narh and Malik Jabir for the National and West African
Super Featherweight
title fixed for Boxing Day 26 December as Al Hamilton, the London based manager
of Narh raising concerns about the promoters.
In a letter stumbled
upon by the GNA Sports which was addressed to the Chairman of the Ghana Boxing
Authority (GBA), Al Hamilton said it has been brought to his notice that his
boxer has been lured by a rival promoter into a fight which he has not
approved.
He said such
"actions are in breach of the signed contractual agreement between Narh
and myself and would leave me to resort to legal actions if the interferences
do not stop".
Al Hamilton said
under the terms of agreement with the boxer, he reserved the sole rights for
opponents and the promotion of Narh fights, both locally and internationally.
He said in keeping
with the program designed in partnership with Prince and Baseline Promotions to
enhance the career of Narh, the national and West African Super Featherweight
champion, they have invested "substantial sums of money into promoting
Narh and this is not the way to be treated".
Al Hamilton said he
has in conjunction with Prince and Baseline Promotion already set a date of
Friday 28 February 2003 for the two combatants with the National and West
African Super Featherweight titles at stake.
"It was just
only last week that I sent monies through Narh to the aforementioned promoter
to secure a venue for the fight"
With the present
development the much publicised, fight appears to be in doubt as the fight is
being put together by Jomo Promotions and not by Prince and Baseline who are
the preferred promoters of the manager.
Raymond Narh last
Thursday signed a $1500 agreement to fight Malik Jabir with the winner taking
$1300 and the loser taking $200.
GRi…/
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