Kotoko
boss wants immunity from probe!
Queens
goalie steals show against Nigeria
Nigeria comes to terms the hard way
We would bounce back in style -
Falcons
Olympics vow to win premier league title
Kotoko
boss wants immunity from probe!
Kumasi (Ashanti
Region) 12 December 2002 - The flamboyant Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of
Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Herbert Mensah, who has run the club since 1998 is asking
for an indemnity when he leaves office.
After his Supreme
Court fiasco where he lost 0-5 early this month and the unacceptable failure to
wrestle Kotoko from the disgrace at the hands of WAC, he is trying to pull a
fast one on the dedicated members and supporters of the team.
Before last Sunday’s
match between Kotoko and WAC, Mensah had intimated to the Board during a
meeting on 3 December that should there be a decision to relieve him of his
post, he wants the club to sign a memorandum of non-disclosure. It means the
CEO wants to gag the Board and the entire following of the club from
questioning anything done or any discrepancy that would emerge from the
accounts he would later render.
The CEO is on record
as saying the club is indebted to him in billions which claim is being hotly
contested by knowledgeable persons and the Board who hold the opinion that it
is rather Mensah who has benefited immensely from the management of the team.
According to popular
opinion, there are all sorts of deals in respect of gate proceeds and other
financial related strategies which are likely to be exposed when he leaves
office hence his request for a rather amazing memo of non-disclosure, a kind of
indemnity which is so uncomfortably similar to the transitional provisions of
the 1992 Constitution.
The supporters of the
club are likely to be incensed by this development which might go to show the
true colours of the one in whom the rank and file had enormous trust and
confidence.
The Ghanaian Chronicle sources say the
Board has asked Herbert to submit what he describes as the terms and conditions
of the memo of non-disclosure. Indications are that apart from two well-known
sympathizers on the Board, each member would reject his request.
The Board, headed by
P.V. Obeng, actually intends to undertake an audit of Mensah’s stewardship.
Some of the supporters that the paper spoke to said there is no precedence for
Herbert Mensah’s ‘amazing’ request for indemnity. Herbert’s fate is actually
hanging in a balance because whichever way things go, the disclosures would be
made and the true picture made clear to the supporters of the team who are
entitled to know how ‘probity and accountability’ went into the running of the
team all these years. Another Board meeting within the week has deliberated on
the proposals for non-disclosure. - The Chronicle
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Warri (Nigeria) 12
December 2002 - Even though the Black Queens are already through to the semi
final of the ongoing African Women championship in Nigeria, they are yet to be
paid their bonuses.
The Queens who
defeated defending champions and host nation Nigeria by a lone goal on Tuesday
were supposed to have been given their bonuses last Saturday after they beat
Mali 2-0 as promised by the team officials. Yet, with that bonus unpaid, the
Queens proceeded with Tuesday's encounter with zeal, beating the dreaded
Nigerian Falcons.
Unlike the Queens,
the Super Falcons received 750 Naira each for winning their opening game
against Ethiopia and would have received higher bonuses if they had beaten
Ghana on Tuesday.
The non-payment of
bonuses to the Queens is creating anxiety among them as there were no
indications regarding when the monies would be paid. Sources close to the team
quoted the leader of the delegation, Sylvester Mansah, as telling the players
to expect the bonuses before their last group encounter against Ethiopia, which
is slated for the Oghara City Stadium on Friday. "At the moment, we do not
even know the amount of money we are entitled to as bonuses," the source
added.
Despite the anxiety
over the non-payment of bonuses, morale is still very high in the Queens' camp
with most of the players looking forward to winning the other matches and have
countered claims that their victory over the Falcons, the first in an
international encounter, was a flash in the pan. They express the belief that
the team has come of age and that the time has come them to dominate women
soccer on the continent.
GRi…/
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Queens
goalie steals show against Nigeria
Warri (Nigeria) 12
December 2002 - The third African Women Championship is still in the early
stages but already, the women are being separated from the girls. Goals are not
flowing as anticipated but the credit could also be attributed some fine
goalkeeping by some of the keepers on parade.
So far the most
valuable of them having watched all the eight teams in action is Ghana's
Mamunatu Sulemana. Sulemana who stood between the Falcons and goals in their
titanic clash last Tuesday was adjudged the most valuable player (MVP) at the
end of the game.
Even though Zimbabwe
could be heading for an exit after drawing in their two games, their
goalkeeper, Mukwara Daisy has grown to be the darling of the fans, winning the
MVP in their game against the Indomitable Lioness of Cameroon which ended
goalless after Daisy put up a superlative display of goalkeeping.
GRi…/
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Nigeria
comes to terms the hard way
Warri (Nigeria) 12
December 2002 - At last, the Black Queens have managed to remind the Falcons
that football is a game in which the two combating teams are capable of wining.
After the 0-1 defeat
by the Queens, Sam Okpudu, coach of the Falcons for once, said though he was
expecting such a set back he is sure his team would make it to the final. The
same coach had early promised the nation a clean sweep in all their matches and
assured them to expect nothing but the cup.
The falcons have
already indicated that though the Queens performance shocked then and expected
nothing like defeat such early in the championship, at the hands of a team
whose best performance against them have been a draw.
At the moment both
the media and the fans are anticipating a Ghana/Nigeria finals where they hope
Falcons would be able to selvage their dented image and possibly compensate
their loyal fans. But before the two sides would clash again, then the Falcons
must win another tough encounter against Mali on Friday to book their ticket
for the semi-finals.
Whiles the Queens
take on Ethiopia on Friday in a match of little significance to the Ghanaians
having already qualified win perfect record of two matches two wins.
GRi…/
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We
would bounce back in style - Falcons
Warri (Nigeria) 12
December 2002 - Barely 48 hours after the Falcons first ever defeat since the
inception of the Africa Women Championship in the hands of Ghana's Black
Queens, the Falcons seemed to have recovered from their coma and have started
verbal war to set at ease the broken hearts of their teeming fans.
Nigeria's top striker,
US based Marcy Akide who was tight-lipped after their defeat because she had
told her nation hours before the titanic encounter that she would punish the
Queens with goals is now promising the fans that the Falcons would bounce back
in style.
"It’s unfortunate
that we lost, the Ghanaians surprised us all, but its not too late to bounce
back of which we are promising you.'
Florence Omagbeme,
skipper of the Falcons expressed similar sentiments and went on to apologies to
the nation. “We did not mean to break your hearts, but we would still make it
big for you. The Queens shocked all of us and we have learnt our lessons the
bitter way.”
Both fans and the
Falcons are anticipating a Ghana/Nigeria finals of which the Falcons are
optimistic to make amends. The Falcons are hopeful that they would win the cup
for keeps. Meanwhile, the Black Queens have remained the toast of the fans
after beating the Falcons last Tuesday.
GRi…/
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Olympics
vow to win premier league title
Accra (Greater Accra)
12 December 2002 - Accra Great Olympics have vowed to win the premier league in
the coming season to crown three years of planning, dedication and commitment
on the part of the management team, the playing body and the board of
directors.
Richard Oblitei
Solomon, chairman of the management committee said they have embarked on a
recruitment drive to beef up the team to prosecute the league and indeed all
competitions on the 2003 calendar and asked supporters of the club to launder
their blue and white flags because "the wonder days have arrived".
The chairman said
they have youthful and dedicated players in readiness for the incoming season
and with head coach David Duncan proving that he is worth his salt, nothing but
the ultimate would be their goal.
He said it is just
logical that Olympics win the league because in their first year in office they
struggled to pull the club out of the claws of relegation and finished the
league on the eighth spot while they improved by four places in the just
concluded season at the fourth position.
Solomon said though
he had announced last season that he would relinquish his position in the club
he has had a change of mind because of the volume of representations he has had
from within and outside the club.
"Many people
have contacted me to persuade me not to go, including members of the management
committee who would have succeeded me. I have also been prevailed upon by the
board of directors to remain and continue with the redemption crusade and all
stakeholders are satisfied with the level of transparency and accountability in
the running of the club."
The chairman said in
their determination to restore the club as a power house in Ghana football,
Olympics will play all their matches with total commitment and would never
compromise in any fixture "because the fans must have absolute confidence
in the ability of the team before they can come back and fill the stands when
we play."
He expressed optimism
that the club would soon become one of the biggest crowd pullers in Ghana
football when they start dictating the pace next season, adding that it would
be a fitting reward for the council of patrons who have spurred them on to
attain the level that they are at the moment.
Solomon advised the
patrons and board of directors not to relent in their efforts but to endeavour
to keep the "flame of the club burning" until they attain the
ultimate. He advised all stakeholders to cement their ranks and work in harmony
in order to see their wishes come to fruition adding that the supporters are a
significant part of the team and their support would be vital to the fortunes
of the club in the coming season.
GRi…/
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