Promoter petitions union over boxer
Power F/C has come to stay – Michel
The Accra Sports Stadium will be the venue for this Friday’s eagerly awaited boxing bonanza, which will include two championship fights. Of the seven bouts scheduled for the evening’s entertainment is veteran Smith Odoom’s clash with Raymond Narh that really catches the eye, as champion Odoom aspires to maintain his hold on the National and West African Super-featherweight Championship.
Although it is the first time the two Bukom based fighters would meet inside the ring, the 12-round contest will ensure the culmination of a fierce rivalry which has seen a volley of verbal abuse with both claiming to be the superior fighter. As such the event has been aptly dubbed “Put up or shut up,” with the organisers, Prince & Baseline International Promotions Syndicate, in conjunction with Sportnet England, challenging the two to settle their differences in the ring or forever hold their peace.
Another ferocious encounter will see Ben Ankrah defend his National and West Africa Lightweight Championship against Ben Neequaye, with “Congo Soldier” Ankrah looking to build on his unanimous points victory over Kwabena Sarfo at “the Night of No Return” last month. On the same bill “Golden Boy” Osumanu Akaba’s 10 round featherweight contest with Benjamin Cutu promises more than its fair share of excitement, while in the international middleweight clash, ABU Champion James “Hot Ice” Tonney will be looking to keep his cool against Kumasi based Sechigbe Naturim.
Another prodigy of Ghana’s boxing Mecca, Bukom, who will be competing in the international Super-Middleweight class is Briamah Kamoko who looks set to dispose of Nigerian Boko George. In the Lightweight class the eccentric Alex Brew will hope to live up to his “Wild” tag as he confronts Mohammed Billal from the “Believer’s Club” stable in a contest to be fought over six rounds, with Abdulai Amidu and the “Falcon” Imurana Bozo concluding the night’s bill in their eight round featherweight showdown.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 20 February 2002 - Ambition Boxing Promotions Syndicate has petitioned the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) over the way and manner in which Laatekwei Hammond, a boxer contracted to his syndicate found his way to the USA to engage in a 10-round non title fight.
A release signed by Alhaji Toufik, Chief Executive of the syndicate on Tuesday said they have proof that Mr Yoofi Boham, a banned boxing promoter, masterminded the illegal trip of Hammond. He said he has evidence to show that Mr Boham e-mailed the promoters of Hammond's impending Commonwealth title bout, Frank Maloney and Richard Maynard, claiming he had the mandate of Mr Emmanuel Kotey Hammond, the boxer's trainer and father to engage him in an intercontinental light-welter weight 10-rounder prior to the commonwealth title fight.
Alhaji Toufik said Boham again informed the promoters that the boxer's father also accepted a purse of $10 000 and three air tickets to enable them to undertake the trip to the US. He said Mr Boham's conduct has caused not only an embarrassment to him but also, a financial loss to his company.
Alhaji Toufik tendered a copy of an e-mail allegedly sent by Mr Boham to Frank Malony and Richard Maynard in evidence and urged the GBA to institute an inquest and come out with a decision, early enough in order not to cheat promoters who invest their money and time in the management of professional boxers.
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Emmanuel Kuffour
blasts Koufie, Abedi
Accra (Greater Accra) 20 February 2002 - Black Stars captain at the Mali 2002 CAF Cup of Nations, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour has lashed out at FA chairman, Ben Koufie, and FA management member Abedi Ayew Pele, for playing various roles, which affected the entire playing body during the just ended African Cup of Nations in Mali.
In what appears to be his resolve to voice out whatever he had swallowed during the team’s participation and risk any future invitation to join the Black Stars, Emmanuel Kuffour accused Ben Koufie of openly criticising Coach Osam Duodo in front of the players on many occasions. The FA chairman also yelled at the players unnecessarily thus preventing them from voicing out their opinions.
For example, he accused Michael Essien of Bastia fame who missed Ghana’s game against Nigeria of feigning injury. Amankwah Mireku who wept because he was finding difficulty in eating the food was also accused of doing so to embarrass the nation.
Emmanuel Osei Kuffour told Ghana Television in an interview that FA member, Abedi Ayew Pele informed the junior players in the Black Stars that the G FA will do away with the senior member after the tournament. These remarks created disunity in the team since the junior players did not show any respect in camp.
The FA,
according to the captain, also allegedly threatened to drop him (Kuffour),
Ishmael Addo, Charles Taylor and Jacob Nettey from the Black Stars for
demanding $2,000 that was promised them as appearance fee before their
international friendly against the Basque country. He expressed surprise that
most of the decisions, which were the prerogative of the coach were taken by
the two FA officials. The captain, who is currently with a Chinese club, summed
up his accusations with a call for a foreign coach to handle the Black Stars. –
The Evening News.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 18 February 2002 - Mr Neil Armstrong Mortagbe, an Executive Member of the National Chapters Committee of Accra Hearts of Oak has described the move by the club's Board of Directors to instil some level of professionalism into the management of the club as a step in the right direction.
He told GNA Sports that the new direction of the board would infuse sound professional ethics into the club since a full time chief executive, administrative secretary and financial controller would have people with the right pedigree for the job to be recruited. "When the job is given out on full term basis, it would enable the chief executive to concentrate on the day to day administration of the club."
Mr Mortagbe said it is high time maximum professionalism is brought into the team so that it can be run as a professional entity.
On the resignation of Mr Harry Zakkour, the former Chief Executive, he said Harry he has done a good job and his name would forever remain in the books of Hearts as having won everything as a chief executive for three years running. "Under his term of office the club has won the league three consecutive years together with our most cherished dream, - the African Cup.
Mr Mortagbe said even though they won the African Cup, the team could not derive full benefits due to poor sponsorship package. He said if things are well organised and the appropriate structures are put in place, the team can perform well in the coming league and the African Cup.
The Board of Directors of Hearts of Oak last week decided that the position of the Chief Executive, Financial Controller and Administrative Secretary are going to be permanent jobs and would be advertised in the media. Mr Harry Zakkuor resigned his position after the announcement citing personal reasons for his resignation. The names of Kojo Twum Boafo and Neil Armstrong were being speculated as the possible candidates for the position.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 20 February 2002 - Mr Eric Michel, team manger of newly promoted Power
F/C has said that his team has come to stay in the premiership forever. "We have learnt from our past mistakes which led us to relegation in the 1999 soccer seasons and such mistakes are not going to be repeated anymore" Mr Michel told GNA Sports.
He blamed the former coach of the club for the relegation and said the management of the club is putting the appropriate structures in place to ensure their stay in the premiership. Mr Michel said as part of their preparations for the new season they are going to recruit quality players to beef up the team so that the club can make an impact in the premier league this season.
He said the management is doing everything possible to motivate the players to give of their best in the coming season adding that they are not leaving any stones unturned in their preparations. Mr. Michel said all clubs should look out for new Power F/C in the coming season.
Power who were relegated to division one in the 1999 football season, have gain entry into the premiership for the 2002 season after beating another premier league side Tema Ghapoha in a play-off at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Power qualified for the play-off after placing third on the 2002 national middle league competition.
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