Gunshots at Arsenals-Kotoko league duel
Berekum (Brong Ahafo) 04 June 2002 - The Berekum Park recorded some ugly scenes during last Sunday's premier soccer Arsenals and Asante recording their first ever victory over the former. Kotoko won 3-1.
According to reports from Berekum, a national sports bi-weekly, the incidents started at the gates when two Kotoko players, Nana Frimpong and Stephen Oduro received bruises on their body, and ended when he playing body of the Kumasi-based club were escorted off the pitch amidst firing of gunshots from military personnel to prevent the home fans from attacking their guests.
The soldiers drawn from the 3 battalion at Sunyani had to further escort the bus carrying the Kotoko team and their officials to Sunyani to enable them have a safe journey to Kumasi.
The home team's supporters prevented the Kotoko players from entering the field through a gate of their choice instead of the main gate. This resulted in a scuffle during which Frimpong and Oduro were injured. With the support of the security personnel on the field, Kotoko were able to have their way, albeit, at the expenses of the two players sustaining bruises.
Kotoko's Chief Executive, Mr Herbert Mensah, who led his club to enter the park through the unapproved route, had hot exchanges with some Arsenal fans, Mr Herbert Mensah, who watched the match sitting on top of his private car, could not control his temper. He angrily got hold of an Arsenal supporter and heckled him. In a reaction from some irate Arsenals soccer fans, Herbert’s Golf car was dented with a big stone. Sportswriters at the stadium to witness the high-tension match also had it tough and were only allowed entry after interventions by some military personnel who were around.
But for the heavy police cum military presence on and off the field, the beauty of the game would have been marred, as Arsenals supporters, who claimed to have been assaulted by Kotoko supporters during their return premier soccer league encounter with Kotoko in Kumasi last year, had wanted to retaliate. Those incidents delayed kick-off till 3:35 pm when Tema based class I referee C.M. Atsatsa signalled the two teams into action.
GRi…/
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Agona Swedru (Central Region) 04 June 2002 - Mr Obeng Agyei, an Accra based contractor, has been appointed as the new chairman for Swedru All Blacks Foot Ball Club for four year with Mr Isaac Baidoo, also an Accra based businessman as vice chairman.
Nana Efuah Eyipuah, Omankrado of Swedru and chief patron of All Blacks Football Club announced this on Monday at an emergency meeting to introduce the new chairman to the supporters of the club at Agona Swedru. The handing over of the club to a new chairman became necessary when the former chairman Mr George Aduse Poku (Geogido) officially tended his resignation letter to Nana Efuah Eyipuah.
Nana Eyipuah called on the players and the technical team to work tirelessly to bring the club from its present position to premier division. The chief patron of the club urged the supporters to refrain from rowdism, which was one of the main problems confronted by old management.
Mr Obeng- Agyei who is strong supporter of Kumasi Asante Kotoko assured the fans of All Blacks that he will bring the team from first division to premiership come next year. He said he has engaged coach J.E Sarpong as technical director to handle the club from this season to next season. He called on the supporters to give him the necessary assistance.
GRi…/
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Cape Coast (Central Region) 04 June 2002 - An 85th minute goal scored by centre forward, John Mensah, enabled Tema Interport F/C to settle for a 1-1 draw with Oguaa Ebusua Dwarfs, in a friendly football match played at the Cape Coast Sports stadium on Sunday.
Dwarfs who controlled affairs in the first half and forced their opponents to play a defensively, had to wait until the 32nd minute to score the opener through right full back Alhassan. The visitors, resumed the second half greater determination and matched their opponents boot for boot.
Both teams made some changes during the proceedings but it was the visitors who benefited as they forced Dwarfs to play in their own half for the entire duration, resulting in the equaliser fetched by Mensah five minutes to the end of the game.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 04 June 2002 - Ghana scored 531 gross to place 10th in the All Africa Ladies Challenge Golf championship, which ended in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire last week.
Sudan won the competition with 463 gross, Kenya was second with 476 gross, with the third position going to Zambia on 497 gross while Burkina Faso placed fourth with 503 gross. Nigeria was fifth with 506 gross, Zambia was sixth with 513 gross, Cote d'Ivoire was seventh with 519 gross, Botswana came eighth with 526 gross while Namibia placed ninth with 527 gross.
Swaziland, Tanzania and Gabon followed the 11th, 12th and 13th positions with 548, 549 and 575 gross respectively. The competition, which was sponsored by St. Andrew Golf Club of Scotland, the world's golf governing body, attracted 15 African countries.
Mrs Elizabeth Ezan, President of the Ghana Ladies Golf Union (GLGU) who led Ghana's delegation, told GNA in Accra on arrival on Saturday, that the Union would do everything possible to improve upon their performance in the next competition.
She appealed to corporate bodies and institutions to assist the Union in the form of sponsorships to enable the union realise its dream of winning the ultimate. The next competition would be held in Namibia in 2004.
GRi…/
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