GRi Sports 30 - 07 - 2003

Hearts get busy with friendly matches
Accra Hearts of Oak file writ on Taylor

Hearts get busy with friendly matches

Accra (Greater Accra) 30 July 2003 - Accra Hearts of Oak will be involved in two separate friendly matches at the Accra Stadium tomorrow as a measure to toughen up as the Kinapharma Premier League gains momentum.

The champions will engage Division Two side River Boys of Weija in the first match and then play Asamankese Soccer Millionaires in the other game. The first match starts at 2 p.m.

Hearts whose title defence has come under the biggest threat in five years, are using the match to condition themselves for the rest of the first round, which will feature midweek matches on regular basis.
GRi…/

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Accra Hearts of Oak file writ on Taylor

Accra (Greater Accra) 30 July 2003 - Accra Hearts of Oak have filed a writ at the court asking that the GFA be restrained from effecting the registration of Charles Taylor to any other club.

The writ is also asking for interpretations of article 31 (2) (ii) under the GFA regulations, which stipulates that "If a non-amateur player concludes a contract with a new club, his former club is entitled to compensation for his training and development.

It is thus asking the court to determine whether Hearts are entitled to any form of compensation for training and development of Taylor in the event of his transfer to another club. The writ was filed upon the expiry of the agreed time between the GFA and Hearts for an amicable settlement of some knotty points in the application of relevant rules of the GFA.

Hearts took the action moments after the GFA had informed them that the case of whether Hearts are entitled to compensation for training and development in the event of a transfer of Taylor to another club has been referred to the legal committee of the national association.

Ashford Tettey Oku, Administrative Manager of Hearts, told the Graphic that Hearts took the action in view of what they perceive as double standard by the GFA.

He said the GFA on Monday evening invited Hearts to a meeting where they were informed that there was the need for negotiations between Hearts and Kotoko for the transfer of Taylor.

He said the representatives of Hearts asked at that meeting for a formal correspondence to that effect and the GFA agreed to comply with the request by 10 a.m. yesterday.

"Then in a sudden turn of events, we received a letter from the GFA that the issue has been referred to the legal committee of the GFA for advice," he said.

He said the latter development contradicted the compromise reached between Hearts and the GFA at Monday's meeting, hence the decision to follow their own way of seeking justice.

Meanwhile, Hearts are also petitioning the Chief Justice, asking that Mrs Justice Agyemang Bempa is not allowed to sit on the matter due to what they have described as inappropriate conduct by Emmanuel Owusu Ansah, Vice Chairman of the GFA and Judicial Secretary in choosing the judge for the case instead of allowing the Registrar of the Judiciary to play that role.
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