Bobo Dioulasso
(
The Ghanaians who were the crowd
favourites started well and dominated the early exchanges but erratic shooting
and over elaboration by the strikers kept the game barren.
Such was
Boateng who joined the team on Saturday
was the first to find space through the tight marking Moroccan defence when he
went through two defenders but his final delivery went wide of the mark in the
11th minute.
Patrick Villars
one of the four players who featured at the last World Under-20 Championships
in Argentina and arguable the best player on Sunday was the first to attract
the yellow card in the 21st minute when he brought down Omar Hamza who had just come on for injured Akadar
Jawad.
Later in the 24th and 26th
minutes Omar and Ahmed El Atlassi were also went
shown the yellow card also for reckless tackles. The second half was not much
different from the first as the Ghanaians did all the attacking and the Moroccans
played on the break.
The Moroccans nearly punished
the Ghanaians in one of their counter attacks in the 47th minute but
for the alertness of goalkeeper Alex Agyepong. The
technical handlers of the Satellites brought on sensational Kwadwo Poku of Kotoko fame for Ernest Papa Arko
in a bid to break through the tight defence of the Moroccans.
The Moroccans nearly scored in
the 83-minute when Razak mistakenly gave the ball
away to Aqqal Salaheddine
but goalkeeper Agyepong again pulled off some excellent
save to deny the North Africans of a goal.
Jonathan Quartey missed
The Satellites launched an
incessant last minute attack to get the opener but overlapping Villars goal-bound shoot was scooped off the goal line by goalkeeper
Echhaimi Youness.
Line up: Alex Agypong, Imoro Lukman/Daniel Coleman, Jonathan Quartey/Yusif
Chipsah, Thompson William, Michael Ocansey, Ernest Papa Arko/ Kwadwo
Poku, Patrick Villars and Rasak Ibrahim.
GRi.../
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Obuasi (Ashanti Region)
In a New Year message, which
touched on various aspects of soccer development in the country, Kessie said "there is the need to get a Black Stars of
local standing but if we happen to get the seasoned
professionals who can fit into the team within three days, then we count ourselves
lucky".
The Acting Managing Director
believes that in as much as football continues to be a team event, it is
necessary the GFA have access to the players to work together before a match is
played.
Touching on soccer violence, the
Goldfields boss expressed grave concern about the behaviour of some soccer fans
whose concern is to create confusion when the going gets tough for their idol
clubs. "Football should bring us together, football is not violence and we
all should do everything possible to ensure that this is achieved", he
said.
Kessie advised club executives and
other officials to be prepared to accept defeats, admit their weaknesses and be
prepared to make amends adding, "the supporters
listen to their leadership since the tail should not whack the head".
He suggested that soccer fans who have lived in particular localities should support clubs
in those areas and that, "I think we will be given Hearts and Kotoko a run
for their money and the best will come from
Touching on the vision of
Goldfields for the years ahead, the Acting Managing Director said the club's
objective is to win the premier league, go to
"We are putting our house
in order to give the Ghanaian soccer public the good football which they have
been starved for years. We are employing everybody, especially true soccer
fans, referees, match commissioners and observers to co-operate to ensure that
this dream is realized", the Goldfields boss said.
Kessie said Goldfields intends to get
its management structured not only to give support to the club's technical
bench, and get problems quickly solved, but also maintain the club's position
as the first premier club of professional status in
On his part, Alhaji Mohammed Sannie Issah, National Chairman
of Goldfields Supporters Union (SHAFT) called for good press-Goldfields relations
to enhance the achievements of the objectives of the club. "This year, I
want very good relations between the SHAFT and the media, both the print and
the electronic since without the press, soccer cannot develop".
The National Supporters'
Chairman emphasized that since Obuasi has a strong
press corps, there is the need for Goldfields management and the supporters to
relate well with them. He praised Sam Jonah and Gus Kessie
for their hard-work and vision to promote soccer in the country adding, "I
personally appreciate what they are doing in the sphere of soccer
development".
GRi.../
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo Region)
The chief has however, given the
current Chairman of the Club, Kingsley Osei-Bonsu
(Lord Zico) and his management team two more years in
office. "At the appropriate time, a new Board of Directors may be
appointed to support the current management", the statement said.
Nana Bosoma
described as unconstitutional the Board's recent decision to dissolve the
management of the club without reference to him as the Life Patron. "The
Board was formed to source and monitor funds and advise
the Management and cannot, therefore, dissolve the management without reference
to the Life Patron who appoints members of Board of Directors of a Football Club",
the statement added.
Nana Bosoma
asked the Board to give reasons for the dissolving the Management team if any. The
Chief said the Board never informed him of their decision to dissolve the
Management of the Club.
Investigations revealed that
only few members of the Board of 18 took the decision to dissolve the current
Management, he added, stressing that the number did not constitute a quorum to
take such an important and decisive decision for the club.
The Life Patron noted that the
Board refused to invite Osei-Bonsu who is an
automatic member of the Board to their meetings that culminated in the alleged
dismissal of the current management.
The Chief expressed
dissatisfaction about the fact that some of those appointed to form the Interim
Management Committee (IMC) to replace the current management were part of the
same Board and the so-called Concerned Supporters Union who were calling or
agitating for the removal of the Executive Chairman.
What the former Board did, Nana said,
constitutes a conflict of interests and brings to the fore the hidden motive,
which should not be tolerated. The Statement added that following the decision
taken by the Life Patron; "no member(s) of the Board can conduct business
on behalf of the Club until a new Board is appointed to support Osei-Bonsu's management team".
GRi.../
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Both teams lost their opening
matches on Friday at the Stade D’Omonisport
in
The Ghanaian girls had total
dominance of the game right from the onset and made the partisan home crowd
stood on their feet through the 30-minute of action with Gloria Badu Nad
Barikisu Musah securing the
first four points for CYO in the first quarter.
The host team lifted up their
game and managed to level up within the next three minutes with a perfect free
throw and an immaculate go-ahead tip-in. FABA trailed by three (8-11) ending
the first quarter but made a dramatic comeback taking advantage of their numerical
strength after two Ghanaian players were disqualified due to four personal
fouls with 10 minutes remaining to carry the day with 15-14 victory.
Kpadenou Afi
became the hero of the day as she stormed the two-pointer zone and bounced the
ball past her Ghanaian opponents before slamming it for the winner after the
two sides were levelled at 14-14. In spite of the loss, the Ghanaians were
given a thunderous applause for their bravery and brilliance.
In the second match, University
of Ghana failed to live up to expectation, as they were whipped 35-22 by the
Sport Athletique Marmerx
(SAM) of France in a group B encounter. The "Legonites"
looked dull and a bit rusty and were no match for the French as they could
hardly make any threatening attack into their opponents’ area.
The French relied mainly on free
throws as they took a commanding lead from start till finishing. Surprisingly,
the two sides were of equal heights but the Ghanaians woefully failed to use
theirs to their own advantage.
With these defeats, the two
Ghanaian teams are stuck at the bottom of the table with no points. In the
other matches, Female Dolphins of Nigeria defeated Renaissance Club of Benin
27-20 in a group A match while First Bank of
GRi.../
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Sam Bannerman-Wood took the
second position with 40 points; F.A. Sorgbodjor was
third with 38 points, beating F.A. Asogba on countback while Ian Greenstreet
placed fifth with 37 points.
Valentina Manteaw
won the Ladies event with 42 points; Francisca Vandyck
came second with 41 points, while Florence Etwi-Barimah
placed third with 39 points.
Club Beer cup holder, Victor
Brave-Mensah continued his dominance in the Professionals event with another
victory, scoring 147 gross. J.N. Quarshie came second
with 149 gross, beating J.J. Harvey on countback
while
The two-day event opened to
golfers from Achimota, Tema,
Albert Essien,
Managing Director and E.P.L. Gyampoh, Chairman of the
Board of Directors assisted Dr Aka to present the
prizes to the winners.
GRi.../
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