Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 28 February 2002 - Kumasi Asante Kotoko on Wednesday beat arch-rivals King
Faisal 2-1 to retain the Kofi Annan trophy they won last year in the maiden competition instituted in honour of Mr Kofi Annan, the Ghanaian Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN).
But they won the match not without incidents as King Faisal played 47 minutes with 10 men, their dependable defender, Kwabena Poku having been sent off in the 43rd minute for rough play. The most serious incident was when Kotoko threatened to discontinue play after recess when coach Ernst Midendorf refusing to allow the players to come out of the dressing room.
His reason was that Faisal were being too physical and could therefore not risk sending his players to the field since Kotoko had a crucial champions of champions match against age-old rivals Hearts of Oak on Sunday. For 10 minutes, spectators were kept anxiously waiting and it took the intervention of Kotoko management led by the Chief Executive, Herbert Mensah to persuade the coach to rescind his decision.
The coach was proved right, for in the 72nd minute, Kotoko's new found striker Nana Arhin Duah was stretched off the field after being felled by a Faisal defender and could not continue play. Kotoko raced into a 16th minute lead through Arhin Duah who connected home Stephen Oduro's intelligent cross after a swift counter attack from the right.
Faisal accepted the challenge and launched a series of forays into the Kotoko area and earned a corner-kick in the 26th minute, which was taken by Ishaq Debrah. This created confusion in the Kotoko goal area and Dada Kwadwo blasted home the equaliser. From then on it became a ding-dong affair until the 43rd minute when Faisal's Kwabena Poku was sent off for a second bookable offence when he mowed down Godfred Yeboah.
However, Nana Arhin Duah restored Kotoko's lead in the 48th minute. He received a pass from Shilla Alhassan unmarked and he intelligently tapped the ball into the net. Mr Joe Aggrey, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports presented the cup to skipper Godwin Ablordey of Kotoko.
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Obuasi (Ashanti Region) 28 February 2002 - Liberty Professionals on Wednesday shocked Obuasi Goldfields when they fought from a goal deficit in each half to beat Goldfields 3-2 in their Ghana League Clubs Association’s ‘GHALCA Top Four’ competition final match at the Len Clay Stadium.
Goldfields shot into the lead in the 12th minute when enterprising Frank Awuah planted the ball at the blind side of goalkeeper Addo Cudjoe after collecting a pass from Dauda Siedu. Goldfields nearly raised the tally in the 24th minute but Dauda's shot was expertly parried to safety fetching Goldfields a cornerkick, which was wasted.
Liberty, playing with understanding snatched the equaliser in the 37th minute when Alfred Nee Larbi drove home a powerful shot after keeper Samuel Quansah had failed to collect Jonathan Quartey's strike. The miners added bite into their game and nearly restored their lead but Dauda's grounder was saved by keeper Cudjoe.
In the 44th minute, defender Kenneth Ababio brought life into the stadium when his power-laden drive mid-way in the visitors half zoomed into the net for Goldfield second goal. The miners were awarded a penalty in the 45th minute when Issifu Ansah
whacked down Dauda in the vital area but James Boateng who opted for the kick sent the ball flying off target.
Liberty revived their attack when they substituted Dan Yeboah and Albert Neequaye with Robert Akosah and Papa Arko Ernest respectively. In the 62nd minute, William Teiro scored the equaliser from a free-kick taken on the '18' line. With the scores deadlocked, Teiro later again shocked the miners five minutes when his harmless connection to Addoquaye Pappoe's inswinger beat Quansah for the match winner.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 28 February 2002 - Champion club Accra Hearts of Oak whitewashed visiting Tano Bofoakwa 6-1 in the last match of the league stage in the maiden GHALCA Top Four league, setting a stage for the grand finale with Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals on March 6, at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Wednesday's win by Hearts on a soggy pitch after a brief but heavy down pour minutes before kick-off, helped them to maintain the top spot on seven points, same as Liberty who won 3-2 away against Obuasi Goldfields but conceded the leadership to Hearts with an inferior goal aggregate, while Bofoakwa was stuck to the bottom with no point. Goldfields placed third with three points.
Within 14 minutes, Hearts had registered two goals, courtesy winger Don Bortey and last season's Most Valuable Player, Charles Taylor. Bortey fired through a host of legs in a melee after goalkeeper James Dabuo had failed to make a first time save in the eighth minute while Taylor capitalised on a poor back header by defender Kennedy Akorli, side stepped the goalie and shot into an empty net.
But for Hearts' goalie, James Nanor's who pulled two dramatic saves in the 18th and 24th minutes from Kojo Poku and Baffour Gyimah, Bofoakwa would have drawn level and even go ahead. Taylor however hit his personal second and Hearts’ third in the 40th minute. He finished off a free kick after he had been brought down on the edge of the "18" by defender Abeiku Aikins who was eventually sent off by Koforidua-based class one referee J.M. Atikesse for an off the ball incident.
Just as Hearts were pressing to increase the tally, substitute Kofi Aseidu pulled one back for Bofoakwa with a beautiful low grounder in the 56th minute. Ironically, that goal brought out the best in Hearts who banged in three more before the final whistle. Laryea Kingston in the 75th, substitute Awuley Quaye Jnr. (80) and Bortey four minutes later ensured the annihilation of Bofoakwa.
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Ben Koufie appeals to Journalist
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 February 2002 - Mr Benjamin Koufie, chairman of the Ghana Football Association, (GFA) has appealed to sports journalist to work hand in hand with soccer administrators in their quest to revive Ghana football.
Speaking at a GFA annual congress in Accra on Wednesday, Mr Koufie said he is aware of the crucial role the media could play in terms of education hence, his plea. "We need each other to thrive on," he added. He said criticism is welcomed but it should be constructive and should not be aimed at insulting the intelligence of those at the helm of Ghana Football.
On hooliganism, Mr Koufie said it would take a collective responsibility of all to uproot it from Ghana Football but expressed optimism that the role of the media in this direction could go a long way. "By your utterances and write-ups, the incidence of hooliganism can be curbed from our football." he added.
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