Hockey can bring more glory than the bigger sports - Joe Aggrey
Accra (Greater Accra) 01 March 2002 - The Ghana Football Association has confirmed the Champion of Champions match between Accra Hearst of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko slated for Sunday, March 3 at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The Super Cup match, which is an annual event between the winners of the Premier League and the FA Cup, popularly called the Knockout, would commemorate the 45th Independence Anniversary of Ghana. A statement signed by Mr Kofi Nsiah, General Secretary of the GFA said the match would be under the auspices of the National Celebrations Planning Committee and the GFA "to spice up the Independence Anniversary programme."
The statement said the match would kick off at 4:00 pm instead of the previously advertised 5.30 pm as a security measure against last May disaster at the same venue. The tragic event occurred after a floodlighted league match involving the arch rivals.
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Sekondi (Western Region) 01 March 2002 - The management of Sekondi Hasaacas FC has reminded players loaned to various clubs last season to report at the club’s training grounds in Takoradi by Friday for further instructions.
A release signed by the club’s secretary, Mr James Otoo also reminded clubs of such players on loan to release the Card ‘A’s of the affected players to Sekondi Hasaacas FC or avail themselves for negotiations for the release of the players. The management named the players and clubs as Raymond Fenny, Olympiakos AC, Yaw Serbeh, Berekum Arsenals, Ben Offei, Iron Fighters FC, Pee Essel, Bafana Bafana FC and Bismark Mensah also of Bafana Bafana FC.
The management further urged all registered players of Hasaacas who have since not reported for training to do so by Monday March 4. Hasmal also congratulated Prestea Mine Stars for their qualification to the Premier League and wished them well in the division.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 01 March 2002 - Mr Joe Aggrey, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports said on Thursday that hockey has a pedigree in Ghana that could bring greater glory "than some of the bigger sports" if the game would be adequately supported.
Speaking at the launching of the 14th Africa Cup for Club Champions Hockey Competition, Mr Aggrey said the competition would be a great occasion for Ghanaians and urged those involved in its organisation to make the most of the opportunity and make Ghana a proud host.
While pledging the ministry's support for the organisers, the Deputy Minister commended the Ghana Hockey Association (GHA) for sourcing their own funds for most of their programme and tasked other sporting associations to emulate them. He thanked corporate bodies and organisations, which have supported the GHA and challenged companies which have the capability to assist in sports development to do so without any hesitation.
Mr Aggrey said he was optimistic that Ghanaian teams in the competition would do well enough to win at least a gold medal. The Deputy minister assured participating teams of a joyful stay in the country and asked Ghanaians to display the usual Ghanaian hospitality towards the guests.
Elaborating on preparations for the tournament Nii Koi Dzane, chairman of the GHA who doubles as chairman of the Organising Committee said the competition, which would start on April 23 and end on the April 30 would involve male and female teams from 10 countries including Ghana. He said Ghana and Nigeria would field four teams each, two male and two female, as representatives of the sub region, while the other countries would be limited to a maximum of two teams.
Other countries, which have confirmed their participation are Namibia, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Seychelles. Nii Dzane said Ghana would be represented by the Exchequers of the Bank of Ghana and Trustees of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust in the male category while Reformers of Prisons and the Fire Service would step in for the women.
The function was chaired by Dr Emmanuel Owusu Ansah, Acting Chief Executive of the National Sports Council. Other dignitaries present included Mr Joseph B. Alhassan, Director of Budget and Finance, Bank of Ghana, Mr Joachim Bebli,
Director of Prisons and Mr Valis Achianu, a former Director of the Ghana Fire Service who donated one million cedis to the GHA on behalf of retired fire officers.
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