Big boast for Women’s soccer gala
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 12 March 2002 - Kumasi Asante Kotoko beat Athletico Sonangol of Angola 2-0 in their delayed first leg of the Africa Cup Winners Cup preliminary clash at the Kumasi Sports Stadium on Monday. Kotoko, hungry for an African challenge after nine years drought were full of fight and fetched the leader on the 32nd minute through enterprising newfound Nana Arhin Duah.
Whiles Kotoko pushed to increase the lead, the Angolans ventured in the Kotoko vital area using fast breaks. Skipper Godwin Ablordey, Shilla Alhassan and Duah all missed scoring chances through erratic shooting and Magola Louis Malo of Angola failed to punish the Ghanaians after capitalising on a sloppy attack by Joe Hendricks in the 40th minute. The score remained solitary in the Ghanaians favour until half time.
Back from recess, Sonangol raised the tempo of their game further and earned two cornerkicks in the 48th and 49th minutes respectively but wasted them while Kotoko also earned a free-kick just outside the penalty box of the visitors in the 54th minute and wasted it.
Playing confidently in this half, the Angolans made a change in the 58th minute bringing on Nagunda Nguyilo for Mabaluka Yabatangu but it was Kotoko who nearly raised their tally but Joe Sam whittled away a good opportunity, crossing feebly into the hands of goalkeeper Sebestian.
However, Kotoko was not to be denied their second goal. In the 70th minute, skipper Godwin Ablordey initiated a two-man move from midfield and took a beautiful wall pass on the run, dummied the defence and shot into the right side of the goal after displacing goalkeeper Sebestian.
The Angolans after this goal pulled out Magola Louis Malo for David Pedro in a bid to strengthen their midfield to avoid more goals in the 73rd minute and again sent in Bengue Fernando for Kanhaga Miguel on the 80th minute mark while Kotoko also sent in Nana Frimpong for Shilla Alhassan in the 74th minute.
After his long lay-off, it became obvious that Joe Louis 's inclusion was a bad one as he could not cope with the trend of play and had to be substituted in the 81st minute with Dan Acquah. Kotoko made a last minute effort to score their third goal but goalkeeper Sebestian made a clean save of Nana Frimpong's header from a cornerkick during extra time.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 12 March - Dr Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, Acting Chief Executive of National Sports Council (NSC) has expressed the council’s gratitude to the management of Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club for their cooperation and understanding on all issues relating to the successful organisation of the match with Stade Malien of Mali at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday March 10.
A release signed by Dr Owusu-Ansah also commended the good behaviour of the teeming supporters of Hearts and expressed the hope that their comportment would be exhibited at all subsequent matches. "We wish you the best of luck in your continental exploits" Dr Owusu-Ansah stated in the release.
It would be recalled that before the Hearts/Stade Malien match, the management of Hearts ordered the removal of all billboards in the inner perimeter adding that any company, which wants to display such boards must pay one million cedis to the club.
According to the management all car owners must buy stickers from the club before they would be allowed to use the car park. These directives were issued out to help the club generate income in their African Cup Campaign. The NSC on the other hand prevented Hearts from carrying out their income-generating move since they do not own the stadium. This was after a meeting of the managements of both parties.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 12 March 2002 - The Management of Okwawu United has expressed shock about the outburst of goalkeeper Nkono in an interview he granted the Ghanaian Times Sports last Friday. Mr Oduro Nyarko, Board secretary of the club, told the GNA Sports that the entire management, supporters and sympathisers of the club find it difficult to comprehend Nkono's behaviour.
He said whatever the goalkeeper said had no element of truth. "Indeed, all that Nkono said is false and misleading." Mr Nyarko disclosed that the player approached the club two days before the publication to apologies and further signed an undertaking to be of good behaviour.
He said the goalkeeper even pleaded to be given back his captain's band, which he claimed would motivate him to give of his best. The club was still considering his plea even as at the time of the publication. For Nkonno to say the club owes him is unfounded. "We do not owe him a pesewa, not even in February when he stopped training. We paid him out of magnanimity."
Mr Nyarko stressed that to say Nkono is a truant was an understatement as the goalkeeper is indisciplined being fond of breaking camping rules. The secretary told the Ghana News Agency Sports of an incident when Nkonno left camp on the eve of a crucial match, thereby, forcing the team to depend on one goalkeeper.
He expressed the club's willingness to release him to any club adding that they would not put any impediment or price tag on him; "Perhaps, the change may do him good and in turn earn the club some respite". It will be recalled that the Ghanaian Times on Friday March 8, published an interview in which Nkono expressed some misgivings about his mother club.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 12 March 2002 - Kajumolo Roadup Sports, producer of Sports kits, has given a big boost to the Greater Accra Women Soccer Committee's (GAWSOC) gala which comes off on Saturday March 23 at the Accra Sports Stadium.
A sponsorship package, which amount to ˘20 million, will be in the form of two sets of jerseys, 18 footballs and a trophy. The gala, which would precede the GAWSOC league, would have 15 participating teams across the country. Each team would take home a ball whiles the champions would take additional two balls plus a trophy.
The runners up is expected to take an additional ball. The two set of jerseys would however be used by the two finalists. Mr Priestwick Sackeyfio the company's West African representative told the GNA Sports that the sponsorship was made with the intension to promote women soccer in the country.
He said he is an admirer of women soccer and therefore willing to promote the sport in the country. "Considering the fact that the women national team was once at the world cup while their male counterparts have not yet been there but have been getting all the sponsorship calls for attention to be given the women now," he said. He expressed support for women soccer saying his company would be willing to be part of the GAWSOC league depending on the success of the gala championship.
GRi…/
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