GRi Sports 13 – 02 - 2003

A bill on sports development is in the offing

Okwawu Chairman gives bus to the club

Tema boss urges Stars to deliver the goals

Disciplinary Committee lists nine cases for hearing

Olympics coach sure to lift LG Top Four trophy

Mighty Jets, Olympiakos match result annulled

 

 

A bill on sports development is in the offing

 

Accra (Greater Accra) 13 February 2003 - Edward Osei-Kwaku, Minister of Youth and Sports, on Wednesday told Parliament that the ministry was considering a sports financing legal framework in the form of a bill for the development of sports in the country.

 

"It is our considered opinion that when the bill is passed, the ministry and for that matter, the GFA will be able to access sufficient funds to run the Black Stars to enable them to qualify for the world cup in 2006."

 

The Minister made the observation when he answered a question from Samuel Johnfiah (NPP-Ahanta West), who wanted to know the steps the ministry was taking to ensure that the national football team, the Black Stars qualified to participate in the next round of the world cup slated for 2006.

 

Osei-Kwaku said the most critical problem facing the development and promotion of sports and particularly football in the country was lack of sponsorship, resulting in over-reliance on central government for all requirements.

 

He said that had created the situation where funds could not be made available for regular training and preparation of the teams, culminating in poor performance.

 

Osei-Kwaku announced that Cabinet had given approval to the Ministry to bid to host the African Cup of Nations in 2008 and that Nigeria had also indicated its desire to invite Ghana and three other West African countries to join her to bid to host the World Cup in 2010.

 

He said those activities would psyche up the players to commit themselves and prepare adequately to qualify for the World Cup in 2006.

 

On discipline the Minister said management and technical personnel of the team had been further empowered to handle all disciplinary issues concerning the team to ensure that the playing body was imbued with the sense of commitment and dedication as well as the will to sacrifice for the country.

 

Osei-Kwaku said a screening process was in progress to find a coach that would "groom, nurse and nurture a dream team for the country.

 

"Apart from organising international training matches for them, the team will be used for the CAN 2004 in Tunisia, participate in the next Olympic Games in Athens in the same year and will also be used for the qualifier for the World Cup in Germany in the year 2006."

 

He said "the technical Directorate of the GFA will be provided the necessary equipment and the encouragement to monitor the performance of Ghanaian players both at home and abroad through the use of a first class website and form guide."

GRi…/

 

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

 

Return to top

 

Okwawu Chairman gives bus to the club

 

Accra (Greater Accra) 13 February 2003 - Supporters of Okwawu United Sporting Club have been called upon to rally behind the club to enable it t6o recapture its lost glories.

 

Nana Kwaku Asiedu Donkor, Chairman of the club made the call when he presented a 36-seater bus worth 600 million cedis to the club in Accra on Wednesday.

 

The bus, the cost of which would be borne by the club, would ease the transportation problems facing the club. Nana Asiedu Donkor called on the playing body to be dedicated and selfless as well as to be prepared to die a little for the club.

 

Meanwhile, Okwawu United will travel to Lome, Togo, for a four-club tournament which begins on Friday, February 14. The club would use the event to get the team psyched up for this year's Premier League.

GRi…/

 

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

 

Return to top

 

Tema boss urges Stars to deliver the goals

 

Accra (Greater Accra) 13 February 2003 - Evans Ashong Narh, Tema, Municipal Chief executive has called on the national team, the Black Stars, currently camping in the harbour city to give Ghanaians the goals as they play Benin on Sunday.

 

This was when the team and its handlers led by caretaker coach, Emmanuel Kwesi Afranie, called on him at the assembly on Wednesday.

 

Narh said the municipality was honoured to have the national team camping in Tema and said it would be their pleasure to host the team whenever necessary and called on the playing body to utilise the support of the people to bring laurels to the nation.

 

He conceded that football in the country has sank very low judging from the nations past glories and therefore appealed to the playing body to exercise greater discipline as they seek to bring back the lost glories. "You know what football means to Ghanaians and to be able to put the smiles back unto our faces, you would need to discipline yourselves."

 

The TMA boss said the time has come for Ghanaians to lift up the sinking fortunes of the nation's football.

 

On his part, coach Emmanuel Kwesi Afranie appealed to soccer fans not to expect too much from the current crop of players since the team was still going through a rebuilding process.

 

He gave the assurance that the team would work hard to lift up the flag of Ghana in their quest to reclaim the lost past glories.

GRi…/

 

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

 

Return to top

 

Disciplinary Committee lists nine cases for hearing

 

Accra (Greater Accra) 13 February 2003 - Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has outlined nine cases to be heard on Friday 14 February at the Secretariat of the GFA.

 

A statement signed by Julius Onyameama, Deputy General Secretary of the GFA, said the committee would hear the case involving Sekondi Eleven Wise and Bafana Bafana FC on Emmanuel Quinoo.

 

According to the statement, other cases such as the fight between Prampram Mighty Royals and Freedom Stars over Akwesi Appiah, FC Midtjyland and AC Olympiakos over Aboagye Owusu Ansah and the case involving Feyenood Salgado and Ebuasua Dwarfs on Mustapha Douglass.

 

The rest of the cases are, Real Sportive FC and Tudu Mighty Jets on Aziz Zakari and Eric Boakye, Swedru All Blacks and Eleven Wise over Eric Asante and Real Sportive and FC Midtjyland over William Hammond.

 

The Statement said Referee Samuel Ammor of Sunyani is requested to attend the case involving Kumasi Conerstone and Obuasi Adansiman, while the case of AFA FC and Tano Bofoakwa over Kwame Antwi's transfer to Hearts of Oak would also be heard.

GRi…/

 

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

 

Return to top

 

Olympics coach sure to lift LG Top Four trophy

 

Accra (Greater Accra) 13 February 2003 - David Duncan, coach of Accra Great Olympics has said that his side is set to win the ultimate prize in the impending LG Top Four Soccer Tournament, which is schedule to kick off on Sunday 23 February.

 

"Just like any of the other three coaches, I am also going in for the ultimate and I am sure of winning the trophy for Olympics", he said in interview with the GNA Sports on Wednesday.

 

Coach Duncan said his players are going through the needed preparation just like the other participating teams and they would give fans the best of soccer during the tournament.

 

"I am not worried about the statement from the camp of other teams since my boys are ready to face any challenge from any opponent", he emphasised.

 

The Olympics coach said they have played a number of friendly matches in preparation for the tourney and the results have been encouraging hence he is hoping to make a greater impact. Coach Duncan also stated that he would use the tourney to try some new players the club has recruited for the 2003 soccer season and to test the strength of the team.

 

He denied reports that one of his key players Michael Asante would be playing for Kotoko in the 2003 soccer season saying that the player has been training with Olympics any time the stars are on break.

 

Commenting on the fitness of his boys, Coach Duncan said all his players are physically fit even though there are a few suffering from minor injuries. The coach expressed the optimism that all these players would be fit for the tourney.

 

Olympics would play their first match of the tourney against Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Kumasi Sports Stadium on February 23.

GRi…/

 

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

 

Return to top

 

Mighty Jets, Olympiakos match result annulled

 

Accra (Greater Accra) 13 February 2003 - The Disciplinary Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has annulled the results of the first week division one league match between Tudu Mighty Jets and A.C. Olympiakos after both teams were found guilty of fielding unqualified players.

 

A statement signed by Kofi Nsaih, General Secretary of the GFA, said the decision was taken because Mighty Jets' Mutalib Saeed and Olympiakos' Najeed Sinare were both not properly registered.

 

Both clubs have lost the points in the match and would subsequently lose three points from their points build up. In addition, Jets' have been fined of ¢500,000. Olympiakos won the said match 3-1.

 

Olympiakos were first to be declared losers after Jets' lodge a protest in respect of Sinare but after hearing of an appeal filed by Olympiakos, the disciplinary committee found both parties guilty of the same offence.

 

According to the statement, evidence has it that Mighty Jets in a letter dated 21 January this year, communicated to the GFA that they were promoting their player from their nursery club Kindogo Babies, a colts club to the senior team.

 

It said the date of the letter declaring their intent to register the player was 12 days after the player had featured in the match against Olympiakos, which was played on 12 January.

 

The statement said Mighty Jets in an attempt to regularise the registration card of the player altered the registration card and had Mawuli Dzamefe of the GFA approve it to suggest that they had earlier communicated the promotion of the player since 30 December 2002.

 

It said Dzamefe had no authority to vary the contents of the player's license without prior approval of his superiors.

GRi…/

 

Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com

 

Return to top