Premier league matches to be honoured on Sunday
Herbert Mensah on collision course with Kotoko Board!
Over seventy-six apply for chief executive, other posts in Hearts
Coca-Cola launches World Cup promotional draw
Glico gives towards Commonwealth Games
Premier League latest scorers chart
Accra (Greater Accra) 03 May 2002 - The Premier League matches which were postponed this weekend in favour of the Hearts-Kotoko 9 May Stadium Disaster Anniversary match will now come off at all league centers on Sunday, a statement issued in Accra on Friday said.
The statement signed by Sam Ashie, Chairman of the 9 May Anniversary Planning Committee, said the decision was taken after Accra Hearts have pulled out of the match. The statement asked all players to wear black armbands on Sunday in memory of the 126 soccer fans who were killed during the epic match between the two clubs last year.
It said a minute silence should be observed before the kickoff at all league centres and further urged Christians and Muslims to remember the victims in their prayers. The statement said an inter-faith church service would be held on Thursday 9 May at the car park of the Accra Sports Stadium.
Supporters Unions of Hearts of Oak earlier in the week resolved that their team should not honour the match because the Okudzeto Commission failed to reprimand those who were destroying seats at the stadium on the day of the match, which prompted the police to fire teargas to stop them.
An earlier statement issued in Accra on Thursday and signed by Mr Ampim-Darko had postponed this weekend’s matches to Wednesday 8 May to pave way for the two most glamorous clubs in the country to engage in a commemorative friendly match for last year’s disaster which befell the nation when the two sides met in a Premier League encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 03 May 2002 - The uneasy relationship between the Asante Kotoko Board headed by Mr P.V. Obeng and the Herbert Mensah management has finally snapped in the aftermath of events of the last few days.
Bad blood was created following the outlining of the board’s policies by its chairman in an interview with the Graphic Sports last Friday. Mr Obeng announced that four committees- the Ticketing, Finance, Technical and External Relations Committees- had been formed with Board members as chairmen to provide policy direction for the club.
Mr Herbert Mensah, who is also a member of the Board, said he never attended any Board meeting at which the formation of the committees announced by the Board chairman was discussed. He accused some of the Board members of having a hidden agenda and said in the next few days he would make certain things about the Board known to the supporters.
Last Tuesday, some supporters of the club demonstrated against the board and called for its dissolution. They later presented a petition to the owner and spiritual head of the club, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace.
In response to the petition, the personal secretary to the Otumfuo, Mr Kofi Owusu Boateng, described the demonstration by the supporters as an act of hooliganism and said nobody should see himself as indispensable in Kotoko. He expressed the Otumfuo’s absolute confidence in the Board and made it clear that the demand for its dissolution is totally uncalled for.
Some high profile followers of Kotoko who talked to this paper on Thursday said the reaction of Manhyia is a vote of confidence in the board that augurs well for the future of the club. From signals being picked from the grapvine, Manhyia’s reaction was the least the Herbert Mensah management expected, resulting in it being thrown off balance.
The Chief Executive had served notice of his intention to quit the job at the end of this season, but observers believe his exit could be sooner rather than later, his ego having been bruised by Manhyia’s thumbs up for the board’s performance.
Unless the Kotoko Chief Executive leaves the scene, he is certain to find himself on a collision course with the Board over the replacement for German coach Ernst Middendorp who announced his resignation on Thursday evening prior to his departure to his home country Germany.
Middendorp was engaged long before the board was formed and this time around it is certain another foreign coach can’t be appointed without the approval by the Board.
In a related development, Kotoko’s CEO, Herbert Mensah has hinted that he would resign from his position before the year ends. According to him, in the next few weeks he would be writing to the owner of the club, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, on his decision.
Mr Mensah gave the hint in an interview with a Kumasi based radio station on Thursday. The CEO gave reasons for his decision to resign as personal. But observers, however, believe it might be linked to the recent confusion between the Board of the club on one hand and the management and some supporters on the other. Mr Mensah has been at the helm of affairs of Asante Kotoko for three years, during which he undertook a rebuilding exercise that seems to have begun bearing fruits.
Still in another development, two branches of a group calling itself the Asante Kotoko Concerned Supporters Union in Accra and Kumasi have commended Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for reaffirming his confidence in the board in the face of remote-controlled machinations to discredit the board members.
In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the two unions described as “disgraceful and petty” the demonstration last Tuesday by some alleged supporters of Kotoko against the Board. They had demonstrated in Kumasi, accusing the Board of not giving the Management Committee headed by Herbert Mensah, a freehand to run the club.
“We know those behind this shameful occurrence. They are those who have benefited from the unaccountable way of running Kotoko and have grown increasingly uncomfortable since the naming of the Board. We question the loyalty of these people to the cause of Kotoko because they have shown in deed that they only think of their personal interests and not that of Kotoko,” they said.
They urged the board to stand firm and not to give in to the blackmail of people who are deluding themselves that without them Kotoko would collapse. “Kotoko’s motto “Kum apem a, apem beba” means reslience and the club will survive till the end of time,” they said.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 03 May 2002 - The race for who will be Accra Hearts of Oak’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) enters the second phase with the expiry of the deadline for the submission of applications from prospective candidates for the top job.
Already, the curtain has been drawn for the submission of applications for the three advertised vacancies in the team’s administrative set-up. Inside sources revealed that over 76 candidates have applied for the three vacant positions namely, the chief executive, an accountant, and assistant administrative secretary.
The sources intimated that an independent body, which will be put in place by the Board of Directors will scrutinize the respective applications for shortlisting. Hearts Board Secretary, Ernest Thompson hinted that the full composition of the Board would soon meet to decide on an independent committee, comprised of members outside both management and the Board, to deal with the applications.
Giving details, Mr Ernest Thompson said the committee would be expected to vet the applicants, by mid-May, to ensure that selected candidates who meet the requirement stated in the advertisement get the offers. All applicants, according to the adverts that were placed in the state-owned Daily Graphic and the club’s mouthpiece Hearts News, are expected to be staunch members of the club. The CEO must not be above 50 years in age whiles those for the accountant and the assistant administrative secretary should be below 40.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that former Hearts celebrated coach, Cecil Jones Attuquayefio, has expressed interest in the CEO job. Attuquayefio, who returned on Tuesday from a two-month trip to the United Kingdom and the United States made known his intention for the top Hearts job soon on arrival from his tour. According to him he has known the Phobian structures well enough after more than half a decade stay with the club to be able to manage it well.
It will be recalled that under coach Attuquayefio’s tutelage, Hearts, through to last year, annexed the local league on five consecutive occasions and won in Africa the CAF Champions League in 2000 for the first time in the club’s history. He led Hearts to also win that year’s Africa Super Cup when they beat Egypt’s Zamalek 2-0 at the Kumasi Sports Stadium.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra)
03 May 2002 - Coca-Cola Company Limited, manufacturers of coca-cola and other
refreshing beverages, has launched a special programme which will provide
soccer fans an opportunity to win cash prizes and souvenirs during this year’s
World Cup.
To win, one has to collect three crown corks of either of their product brands
numbered one to three. Then, the competitors have to correctly predict the
three winners of the competition. That is, the final winners, the runners-up
and the bronze medallists. The winners of the competition hit the ¢500million
jackpot at stake. Competitors also have the chance to win instant prizes to be
found in the crown corks.
Mr Daniel Larbi-Tieku, the Finance Manager of the company, who announced this
at the launch in Accra on Thursday, said the promotion is a way of carrying out
Coca-Cola’s sports promotional responsibility. It is also to demonstrate
Coca-Cola’s unique association with the Ghanaian consumers’ passion for the
world’s most popular sport.
According to Mr Larbi-Tieku, as a major sponsor of soccer’s governing body,
FIFA, and its programmes including the World Cup, Coca-Cola also has the
responsibility of helping to build the sport as well as promoting it at every
level.
“It is in consonance with the already established relationship between
Coca-Cola and FIFA that we find it necessary to also reward the thousands of
fans, whose support has made the game grow from strength to strength during
such global events as world competitions,” the company’s finance manager said.
Send your comments to
viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra)
03 May 2002 - Gemini Life Insurance Company (GLICO) has presented a ¢500
million insurance cover for Ghana’s contingent for the Manchester Commonwealth
Games in July to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Edward Osei Kwaku.
Making the presentation at a ceremony in Accra on Thursday, the Managing
Director of Glico, Mr Akyampong Kyei, also announced five special awards for
the contingent as encouragement for it to excel at the Games. Each award carries
a cash prize, a certificate and a personal accident policy.
The awards are Glico’s Gold Award for Excellence which has a cash prize of ¢2
million for any member who wins a gold medal; Glico’s Platinum Award which
carries a ¢1million cash prize for a silver medal and Augustina Cudjoe’s Silver
Award which has ¢500,000 cash prize for an athlete who enters the medal zone.
The others are Amankwaa’s Awards for Valour and Commitment for the most
consistent athlete. It has ¢500,000 cash prize, and Award for Discipline. Mr
Osei Kwaku, who received the presentation, thanked Glico for its wonderful
assistance to Ghana Sports.
Send your comments to
viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 03 May 2002 - Scorers after Kotoko/Mine Stars outstanding leagues match played on Wednesday.
5 - Ernest Papa Arko (liberty)
3 - Abubakar Yahuza (Faisal)
2 - Amui Quaye (Olympics), Frank Turkson (Hearts) Bawa Mohammed (BA United) Kwasi Mensah (Mines Stars) Godwin
Ablordey (Kotoko)
1 - Charles Taylor, Laryea Kingston, Don Bortey, Awudu Adama (Hearts) Micheal Osei, Nana Arhin Duah, Joe Louis, Joe
Sam, Nana Frimpong (Kotoko) Kenneth Ababio, Issah Rahman, Ofosu Amoah, Frank Awuah, Dauda Siedu (Goldfields)
James Amartey (Olympics) Andrew Antwi, Osman Sakora (BA United) Joe Agyman SNR, Kwabina Opoku, Joe
Agyman (Faisal) Osei Bonsu, Eddy Acquah (Okwawu) Issah Shaibu, Masawudu Mumuni (Maxbees) Samuel Owusu,
Dennis Odum (Power) Mutalib Abdul, Mohammed Inusah (Hasaacas) Albert Ayikade, Mohammed Baker, Joseph Adjei
(RTU) Kennedy Ayew (Mines Stars) Tahiru Abulai, Kwaku Duah, Kofi Asiedu (Bofoakwa) Eric Mbroah, Kamara
Dauda, Paul Otu, Issah Ahmed (Dawu), Eric Adu Poku (Arsenals) Alfred Nii Larbi(liberty)
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 03 May 2002 - Allen Trent scored 44 points to win this year's Achimota Golf Club May Day Price competition played at Achimota in Accra on Wednesday. Paul List took the second position with 39 points, Gregg Ram was third with 38 points, beating E.M. Kwame on count back while Augustine Irabor was fifth with 36 points.
Mary Asafu-Adjaye won the Ladies event with 36 points, Esther Amedzro was second with 35 points, Suzie Abaloo was third with 32 points while Comfort Amuzu was fourth with 31 points. The one-day 18-hole stableford competition opened to amateur members of Achimota and Tema Golf clubs and was sponsored by Mrs Clara Price, a member of the Achimota Golf Club.
Mr Jeoff Fisher, Captain of the Achimota Golf Club, praised Mrs Price for sponsoring the competition since 1995. He said the Club would do everything possible this year to ensure that Holes are improved. Mrs Price on her part praised the members for their participation but announced that her sponsorship for the competition would end this year.
Mr Mike Ezan, President of the Ghana Golf Association praised Mrs Price for sponsoring the May Day competition since 1995. He said the Club would try as much as possible to get sponsorship for the May Day event next year. Mr Ezan called for the re-introduction of the annual competition between Tema and Achimota Golf Clubs. At Winneba on Saturday, Mary Asafu-Adjaye scored 38 points to win the Ladies category of the Aboakyer Golf Competition.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com