Black Bombers beat Benin 7-3 in trial match
Accra (Greater Accra)
29 May 2002 - The new Black Stars coach, Millan Zivadinovic, is expected to
arrive from his Yugoslav base on Sunday 2 June to finalise contractual agreement
with officials of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and possibly assume full
responsibility as helmsman of the team.
Officials of the GFA have sent copies of his contract document to him for
study, a source at the GFA Secretariat told the GNA Sports in Accra at the
weekend. The source said the GFA boss, Ben Koufie, delivered the contractual
documents to the coach himself during the Ghana-Slovenia match where Mr Koufie
was able to reach a compromise with him over certain issues pertaining to his
condition of service.
The GFA is offering 8,000 dollars a month and a signing on fee of 10,000
dollars, which many connoisseurs believe is rather low on the
"market." The coach is also entitled to other unnamed benefits, which
have been incorporated in the two-year renewable contract.
Zivadinovic's arrival is likely to coincide with that of the GFA boss, Ben
Koufie, and his General Secretary, Kofi Nsiah, who are scheduled to arrive from
the FIFA congress in Japan on 2 June. Coach Zivadinovic was chosen after three
foreign coaches were short-listed, including current Kotoko Scotish coach Ian
Porterfield. He is the second expatriate coach in two years after the reigns of
Italian Giussepe Dossena. Zivadinovic has had stints with the national teams of
Qatar, Saudi Arabia and his home country, Yugoslavia.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 29 May 2002 - Shocked by not being offered the job of chief executive of Accra Hearts of Oak, coach Cecil Jones Attuquayefio said he has not yet given up on the game but would soon bounce back after some rest period when he would pondered over his next move.
Speaking to the GNA Sports, the coach said his recent visit to the Great Britain and the United States gave him enough insight into modern trend in football administration and he would soon put this at the disposal of Ghana football in any capacity. Coach Attuquayefio said he has wonderful plans, which would within a short time transform the club into a self financing club instead of the present system where individuals are always called in to bail it out.
"Hearts have a wonderful group of supporters who, when well organised in a very professional manner can rake in millions into its coffers without much difficulty. "The club can also be turn into a commercial entity that can sell itself when properly marketed with the help of professional marketing firms who would be given a percentage of any amount they would bring in."
Jones had a brief stint with the senior national team, Black Stars, before coming to Hearts where he won the league for four consecutive times, the F.A Cup, African Champions League and African Super Cup during his four year romance with Hearts. He said during his visit to the United States he was attached to Rochester Rhinos, four times champions of the "A" league where he understudied its technical and administrative structures.
Coach Attuquayefio said the United States has soccer structures that could be compared to the best in the world and Ghana stands to benefit greatly if her administrators are sent to learn from them. Coach Attuquayefio said even though he plans returning to football, he would not stay for long before calling it a quit to enable him to have more time with his family
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Accra (Greater Accra) 29 May 2002 - Three-time goalking and former Hearts of Oak’s goal poacher, Ishmael Addo, has returned from France after a his six-month loan contract with French side, Bastia with a likelihood that he would remain with his former Ghanaian club for sometime. This was due to an agreement between Hearts and Bastia officials to the effect that the player should be on a six-month loan before taking a decision to sign him on by 15 May 2002.
A source close to the club’s secretariat told Ghana Review International Sports early this week that Bastia officials had telephoned Hearts to reveal that they have no interest in renewing the player’s loan contract, without giving reasons. The Hearts source said however, that the club is in touch with the French club for detail information on the matter.
The contract between Hearts and Bastia makes Ishmael legible to feature for the Ghanaian club without any hitch and inside sources say the goalking for 1999, 2000 and 2001 Ghana league would start lacing his boots any moment from now for the Phobians until he secures another contract.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 29 May 2002 - The Black Bombers, Ghana's national amateur boxing team defeated their counterparts from the Republic of Benin by seven bouts to three in an international contest at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday night.
The tournament, which was sponsored by Nestle Ghana Limited and tagged Nescafe International Amateur Boxing Competition, was to test the preparedness of the Bombers who are in camp for the Commonwealth Games slated for the City of Manchester in July.
Mr Eddy Duplan, chairman of the Ghana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) told the GNA Sports after the competition that he was satisfied with the performance of the team because the Beninois boxers offered good opposition, which tested the ability of the Ghanaian team.
He said the competition, however, exposed a few flaws in some of the bombers and the technical team will tackle them in time for the Games, adding that such competitions would give the boys the necessary exposure and put them in top form for Manchester. "Our chances are very bright, we hope to do well at the Commonwealth Games," Mr Duplan said.
When hostilities began, Joseph Martey sparked the victory machine when he beat Ahorsu Marcel 4-1 in the light flyweight category. Adjaho Roberto evened scores for the visitors when he pummelled Moses Afum to earn a 4-1 decision in the flyweight class.
Jonathan Yartey put Ghana back into the lead with a 4-1 verdict against Savy Justin in the bantamweight duel and Thomas Aryeetey maintained the rhythm with a second round technical knockout win over Sodessi Antoine. The referee stopped the featherweight bout to save Antoine from further punishment.
In the lightweight division, King Abbey widened Ghana lead with a 5-0 decision against Scholy Comlan and Emmanuel Lartei Lartey was declared the winner against Amoussou Franck by a 4-1 decision in light welterweight class. Boco Jules stopped the one-way traffic when he gave Benin a victory in the welterweight division as he won on the cards of the five judges against Ahmed Akrong.
Thomas Awinbono restored Ghana's pride with a 5-0 score against Sossou Coffi Martin in the light middleweight division and Ernst Amuzu anchored Ghana's victory run with a similar margin against Fiakpe Brice who stood in for Hounsa Toussaint in the middleweight category.
Boco Alexis gave Benin their third win when he won on the cards of all five judges against Issah Akrong in the light heavyweight division. Michael Bannor and Fassinou Fatou engaged in a non-scoring bantamweight contest to make the evening an 11-bout thriller for fans.
Nestle Ghana Limited donated prizes to all the boxers from both sides while the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and the GABA rewarded winners with 100,000 cedis each while each loser got 50,000 cedis. In addition Mr. Benson T. Baba, President of the GOC donated 100,000 cedis to Jonathan Yartey for his wonderful performance. Among the dignitaries who graced the occasion was, Mr Joe Aggrey, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports.
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