Referee Agbovi to handle Hearts/Goldfields
match
GFA appeals to FIFA referees to report
Power FC blocks registration of Francis Aggrey by Kotoko
Standings after the third week matches of the Kinapharma league
Accra Sports stadium playing field is
overuse
Ivy wins ladies Milo open championship
TMA to rebuild the Tema Stadium walls
Referee Agbovi to handle Hearts/Goldfields
match
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 May 2003 - Suhum based referee William Agbovi would be in the middle of the fourth week league match between Accra Hearts of Oak and Obuasi Goldfields at the Accra Sports Stadium tomorrow Wednesday.
J.K. Yeboah of Nsawam and Nicholas Dzomoah of Koforidua would assist him, while the match commissioner would be G.B. Awunye of Accra. In Kpando, S. Kwarteng of Koforidua would handle the match involving Hearts of Lions and Accra Great Olympics. He would be assisted by fellow Koforidua based referees Sarpong Okuampah and Tetteh Opai while the match commissioner would be W.S. Amengor of Ho.
Mampong based Alhassan Brobbey would be in the middle of action between Prestea Mine Stars and Okwawu United at Prestea and would be assisted by B. Takyiakwah and William Boateng all of Mampong while Fiifi Laing would be the match commissioner.
Liberty Professionals match against Real Tamale United at the Accra Sports Stadium on Thursday would be taken care of by Kumasi based referees Joe Debrah in the middle with Thomas Amoo and K.S. Asante as his assistants, while E.F. Asiedu of Koforidua would the match commissioner.
At Berekum, Kumasi based referees S. Oduro and assistants John Okrah and Edward Aidoo with M. Osei Tutu as the match commissioner would be in charge. Felix Ameh of Accra who would be assisted by two other Accra based referees; John Mensah and Francis Okwam are the officials for the match between Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Brong Ahafo United at the Kumasi Sports Stadium.
The match commissioner is T. K. Amoako of Tamale. Tamale based Roger Osabu would be in the middle of action in the match between Tano Bofoakwa and King Faisal at Sunyani Coronation Park. Haruna Ayuba and Mawusi Issaka all of Tamale would assist him with G.K. Tagborlo of Cape Coast as the match commissioner. Power FC and Sekondi Hasaacas would sort things out at the Koforidua Sports Stadium with Ho based Ebenezer Adega in the middle while Innocentia Agbavitor also of Ho and Yussif Jabril of Hohoe would be the assistants. Accra based W.P. Mills would be the match commissioner.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
GFA appeals to FIFA referees to report
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 May 2003 - The Ghana Football Association (GFA) on Saturday appealed to all FIFA referees in Ghana to report to their various Regional Football Association chairmen to be assigned to handle the 3rd week matches of the Kinapharma Premier League on 24 and 25 May 2003.
A statement issued in Accra and signed by Ampem-Darko, General Secretary (Technical), said those in Accra and Tema were to report at the Accra Sports Stadium by 1400 hours today.
The statement said they were to carry their officiating kits with them since some of them would be asked to handle the Okwahu United versus Power Football Club match.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
National Cycling team completes training
tour in Koforidua
Koforidua (Eastern Region) 27 May 2003 - The Trainer of the National Cyclist Team, Mohammed Shaban has appealed to Corporate Organisations, individuals and traditional sponsors of cycling in the country to also sponsor the training session of the national cycling team to enable them prepare adequately for the All African Games in Nigeria in October.
He observed that it was the traditional sponsors of cycling in the country who have assisted the sport to reach this level saying the present team just needed a little push to be able to win medals for the country.
Shaban was speaking to the GNA Sports at the end of a nine-day training tour of the Eastern Region by the National Cycling Team on Sunday. He said the team was able to register a marked improvement in their average speed from 40 kilometres per hour to 48 kilometres per hour.
The trainer said the last lap of their first training session would take them through a 160-kilometre race which would take the team from Koforidua through Adukrom, Aseseeso, Somany, Akuse Junction, Tema and end at The Point near the Nungua barrier.
He said the Eastern Regional Tour was the first session of the many training tours planned for the team made up 14 cyclists before they go to represent the country at the Games.
Shaban said the Eastern Regional Tour concentrated on mountainous riding and the team had the opportunity to train in the Akuapem Mountains by riding from Koforidua through Mamfi, Adukrom , Nkurakan and then back to Koforidua. He said the team also made trips from Koforidua through Mamfi, Adukrom, Trom, Ayikuma, Larteh, back to Mamfi, Adukrom, Nkurakan and back to Koforidua.
Shaban said the next session of the training tour of the team would be at Bolgatanga where the team would concentrate on improving its average speed and condition to the climate in the North. He thanked the people of Koforidua , the Police , management of Kobs Hotel and the New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, Nana Agyei Boateng for the support and co-operation that they gave the team while it was in the Eastern Region.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 May 2003 - The Division One League (DOL) Board has fixed 28 June, for the kick off of this year's division one league. Douglass Djarbeng, Chairman of DOL who disclosed this to the GNA Sports in an exclusive interview at the weekend said the decision was taken after a consultative meeting with all stakeholders in the division one league.
According to him, they would revert to the 48-club league as previously decided at an emergency congress of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), saying the league would be run on weekly basis without mid-week matches. The DOL chairman said, the league is expected to end on October four to be followed by the Sub-Middle-League, which would start on 11-18 October.
He said the National Middle League would begin on November One and ends November 15. He said the play-off match between the third placed team in the division one league and the third from bottom in the premiership to determine the team, which qualifies for the elite league would be played on 28 November.
Djarbeng stated that six regions have declared their regional division two champions for the division one league adding that four regions namely Upper West, East, Northern and Ashanti Region are yet to declare their champions.
He said the three regions are expected to make their declaration within the next two weeks. Teams which have gained promotion from the division two league to the division one league are; Fauzan FC from the Central Region, Aston Villa from Brong Ahafo, St. Mirren from the Greater Accra Region and Ahafo Great Farisco Stars from the Western Region.
According to Djarbeng, Kpando House of Lions would represent the Volta Region, while CY Stars would be joining the league from the Eastern Region.
The DOL chairman expressed the hope that the league would run smoothly as expected and urged all participants to ensure its success.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 May 2003 - The attempt by Kumasi Asante Kotoko to register Francis Aggrey of Berekum Arsenals for the 2003 premier league has been put on hold by Power FC as a result of a petition before the Professional League Board (PLB).
A letter signed by Emmanuel Addotey, Acting Chairman of Power FC and made available to the GNA Sports, stated that the player was transferred from Power to Arsenals on 26 August 2001, but the later failed to abide by the terms of the deal.
According to Adottey, it was agreed that Arsenals should pay the transfer fee by the end of October 2001 and failure to do so would result in the withdrawal of the services of the player to Arsenals. The Acting Chairman however that Arsenal have not paid the money involved and are reported to be making moves to transfer the player to another club without their consent.
Adottey stated categorically that the player is not for sale and reiterated the stand of Power F/C that the PLB should put hold on the registration of the player by Kotoko.
It would be recalled that a section of the sporting media reported a transfer deal between Kotoko and Arsenals over striker Francis Aggrey who is popularly known as "Mboma".
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
A glance at the Kinapharma premier league
play-offs
Cape Coast (Greater Accra) 27 May 2003 - At Cape Coast, a goal scored by Ibrahim Iddrisu in the 14th minute enabled Kpando Hearts of Lions to beat Cape Coast based Stay Cool Professionals 1-0 in their encounter at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.
The victory now makes Lions a superior side over Stay Cool as matches involving both sides in the division one league ended in deadlocks.
Playing under the instructions of Cape Coast based class one referee Jeffery Amamoo, Lions dictated the pace right from the start of the game and kept the pressure on their opponents until the 14 minute when centre forward Iddrisu found the net for them when goalkeeper Agyepong failed to make a first time save of Lamptey Lawson's shot for Iddrisu to tap the ball into the net.
The goal ended the first half and made the second half very thrilling as both side were determined to carry the day. Stay Cool put in everything to pull even but found the Volta boys very strong at the rear and could not draw par till the final whistle which has brought the point haul of Hearts of Lions to six. Obuasi Goldfields gained a 1-0 win over visiting Tano Bofoakwa in their match played at the Len Clay stadium.
The lone goal came in the 74th minute through a powerful header by James Boateng after Goldfields had forced the visitors to concede two corner kicks on the trot.
After a scoreless first half, Goldfields brought on Shaibu Yakubu, Daniel Nortey and Owusu Sekyere to beef up their attack, while Boafoakwa substituted Halima Awudu and Kennedy Boadi with Kofi Mongae and Kofi Tewa Asidu.
With both teams matching each other squarely, the battle became deadlocked till Boateng scored in the 74th after his side had succeeded in exerting a momentary pressure on the visitors. Kumasi Asante Kotoko beat their local rivals King Faisal 1-0 in their match played at the Kumasi Sports Stadium.
The goal was scored by substitute Isaac Boakye in the 56th minute through a header from a goalmouth melee. Half time score was goal-less. The two teams really played their hearts out under the supervision of referee C.M. Atsatsa from Tema. Faisal's Godwin Ablordey missed the first chance of his side in the sixth minute.
Faisal had another chance in the eighth minute but Ablordey's shot was parried to a corner by agile goalkeeper Louis Quainoo. The resultant corner kick went to waste. Kotoko also missed a chance in the 14th minute when Michael Osei shot wide after sneaking through an offside trap. The game from then on became balanced with both sides trying to find the leader. Faisal nearly had it but Ablordey, the former captain of Kotoko again failed to head home an aerial ball during a goal-mouth scramble.
Faisal had their first corner kick in the 24th minute it yielded no dividends. Skipper Hamza Mohammed of Faisal and Shilla Alhassan of Kotoko attracted yellow cards for indecent conduct in the 29th and 30th minutes respectively.
Both teams missed several scoring chances to keep the game barren at the interval. Kotoko came in strongly after the break and had their first corner-kick in the 46th minute, which was taken by Stephen Oduro but it yielded no results.
Kotoko brought on Isaac Boakye for Edmund Owusu-Ansah in the 54th minute to strengthen their attack and this enabled them to score the only goal of the match in the 56th minute. The goal generated wide jubilation from their teeming supporters of Kotoko.
Faisal accepted the challenge and brought in Joe Agyemang Senior for Ablordey and they piled pressure on Kotoko in search for the equaliser, but the defence of Kotoko made up of Joe Hendricks, Aziz Ansah, Micheal Ofosu-Appiah and Dan Yeboah stood gallantly and averted any danger.
Kotoko nearly made it two on the hour mark but Yusif Chibsah missed the post narrowly. In the 67th minute, Stephen Oduro picked Michael Osei with a great pass but his long lob sailed over the bar when goalkeeper Samuel Okyere of Faisal had moved out of the post.
Kotoko brought in Nana Arhin Duah for Shilla Alhassan in the 82nd minute and the striker announced his presence with a goal, which was disallowed by the referee.
Nana Arhin Duah combined well with Isaac Boakye and Michael Osei in the 85th minute and nearly increased the count but their efforts could not produce results as goalkeeper Okyere came off his line quickly to save the situation.
At Sunyani, Striker Daniel Bomfah's 26th minute picturesque goal separated his club, B.A. United, from Berekum Arsenals in their match played at the Sunyani Coronation Park.
United had a corner-kick and floated the ball into Arsenal's penalty box but this was punched by goalkeeper Isaac Zoogah before any attacker could put head to it but the ball unfortunately fell to striker Bomfah slammed the ball into the net.
Before the goal, the game handled by FIFA Referee Michael Amedior of Kumasi at the centre and ably supported by B.A. Ahmed and E.K. Asante, both of Kumasi, had been a ding-dong affair as both teams showed great caution.
Striker Charles Benson of Arsenals nearly opened the scoring for his side in the 15th minute but goalkeeper Ahmed Mohideen amid deafening cheers saved his perfect close-range shot.
Let off the hook the United boys came into the game and with Kwasi Boateng, Kwadwo Owusu, Bomfah, Usman Sakora and Kwame Andrew attacking from all angles, the defence of Arsenals was forced to make overtime and it was no surprise that homesters grabbed the goal in the 26th minute.
Arsenals, despite playing away, enjoyed a good afternoon with their teeming supporters who had travelled all the way from Berekum and undaunted by the goal pressed forward to equalise.
Charles Benson, Osei Kofi, Sam Yakubu and Soviet Yaw Serbeh did their best but the defence of United with goalkeeper Mohideen in top shape foiled all their attempts at goal. On resumption Arsenals replaced keeper Zoogah with Justice Quarcoo while United also brought in fresh limbs including Prince Adu Poku but neither side could find the net till the final whistle.
In Accra, the long suffering supporters of Accra Great Olympics finally had something to celebrate after their club went through a hard fought lone goal victory over Prestea Mine Stars in their match at the Accra Sports
Stadium.
The win Olympics second in the three-week-old league, leaves them on top of the table, a point clear their closest rivals. The game kicked off under the direction of Referee Joseph Wallington, who also handled Saturday's match between Okwawu and Power F/C at the same venue as a result of a late resolution of the impasse between the Professional League Board and the Referees Association.
Olympics showed their intentions of wining the match when by the second minute they have created two decent chances, which Andrew Pomayie and Paa Joe Kumah failed to convert.
The early dominance of Olympics continued as in the seventh minute Joseph Tagoe again put through Pomayie but the striker again shot wide. Mine Stars who were forced to play on the back foot due to Olympics early pressure gradually warmed themselves into the game and almost surprised Olympics when a snap shot from Kwame Adjei caught Theodore Atsu unawares but a timely intervention by Numo Mohammed cleared the ball off the goal line.
Mine Stars were again close in the 29th when a loose ball from a goalmouth melee broke to Osei Tutu who shot wide.
Olympics at the start of the second half brought on Amui Quaye and Roger Odamteng in for Pomayie and Togoe to strengthened their attack but Mine Stars defence proved tough and unyielding to keep the game goalless.
In the 59th minute Odamteng came close but again defenders of Mine stars were on hand to scoop his shot to touch. Mine Stars goalkeeper, Patrick Antwi who had a good game denied Olympics Amui when he dived to tip a goal bound header to corner in the 66th minute.
As the game wore on, Olympics poured forward to get the opening goal but were not well composed in front of post as they fired wide on many occasions.
In the 77th minute Referee Wallington threw Olympics a lifeline when he whistled for a spot kick after a handball in the box but surprisingly Antwi saved Paa Joe Jumah’s kick.
The miss did not deter Olympics as they continued to probe in search for the winner, which came in the 83rd minute when Odamteng connected beautifully to a flick from Michael Ocansey for the game's only goal.
Sekondi Hasaacas drew 2-2 with Liberty Professionals in a third week Kinapharma Premier League match played at the
Gyandu Park, Sekondi on Sunday. Liberty dominated the early exchanges but woefully failed to score as they were either hesitant in front of goal or lacked the imagination to take their chances.
On seven minutes, Liberty could have gone up but Felix Baffoe who found himself unmarked in front of an empty goal, failed to punish goalkeeper Michael Ewusie who had vacated his duty post.
Hasaacas rose to the challenge on 18 minutes and scored the first goal through Messey Ephraim who capitalised on a defensive error by the visitors. Hasaacas enjoyed better possession from then on but ironically, it was Liberty who recorded a success when William Tiero levelled up scores in the 69th minute.
Kingsley Kwateng restored the lead of the homers with nine minutes remaining, but Liberty fought gallantly and picked a point when rising star George Yamoah scored on 87 minutes to end the match at two goals apiece.
Okwawu United suffered their second successive home defeat when they were beaten by a lone goal by visiting Power F/C in their Kinapharma Premier League match played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday.
The defeat leaves Okwawu at the bottom of the 16-team table having taken a single point from a possible nine in the first three games. The match kicked off almost an hour behind scheduled because of the impasse between the Referees Association of Ghana (RAG) and the Professional League Board (PLB) over arrears, which was settled late this afternoon.
When the two sides finally kicked off under the guidance of FIFA Referee Joseph Wellington, it was the visitors, Power F/C who took the game to Okwawu and nearly had the opening goal as early as the fourth minute but Alex Awuah's effort was intercepted by George Tutu.
Power continued the dominance especially in the midfield and again exposed the Okwawu defence in the 10th minute when a combination by Eric Sefa Boateng and Denis Odoom created a chance, which was wasted.
Okwawu's first chance of the game came in the 31st minute when Shaibu Issah failed to properly connect to a cross from Ofori Frank to send the ball to touch.
The visitors again nearly scored in the 34th minute after Odoom had worked hard on the flank to centre for Ofori who shot wide off the mark. In the second half, the soccer mountaineers staged a strong fight back as they controlled the early stages of the match restricting Power to their half of the field but failed to translate this early pressure into goals as the visitors remained resolute at the back.
Power came into the game in the 52nd minute and nearly took the lead but the timely intervention by Okwawu's goalkeeper Fatau Dauda robbed Odoom of his effort. The game them settled down with the visitors slightly on top, as they were more aggressive than the home team.
Power's effort was rewarded in the 80th minute when Ben Adu Yeboah connected home a shot from the edge of the box after Mohammed Bello's cross from the left was deflected unto his path. Okwawu put in a late revival but it was too little too late, as Power remained resolute to earn their first win in the league.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 May 2003 - The results of the third week league matches of the Kinapharma Premier League.
Accra Okwawu... Zero (0) Power ... One (1)
Kumasi King Faisal... Zero (0) Kotoko... One (1)
Accra Olympics... One (1)... Mine Stars...Zero (0)
Bolgatanga RTU... Zero (0) Hearts.... One (1)
Obuasi Goldfields... One (1) Bofoakwa.. .Zero (0)
Sekondi Hasaacas... Two (2) Liberty.... Two (2)
Sunyani BA United... One (1) Arsenals... Zero (0)
Cape Coast Stay Cool... Zero (0) Heart of Lions...One (1)
Leading goal scorers in the Kinapharma Premier League after the third week matches played on Sunday.
2 - Komla Amewu (Lions) Asamoah Gyan (Liberty) Abdul Mutalib, Messey Ephraim (Hasaacas)
1 - Don Bortey, Amankwa Mireku (Hearts) George Yamoah, William Tierro, Michael Helegbe (Liberty) Isaac Boakye, Frank Osei (Kotoko) Eric Boakye, James Boateng (Goldfields) Kwabina Poku, Ben Wilson, Eric Gawu, Eliasu Alhassan, Wasiu Mohammed (King Fiasal) Roger Odamteng, Paa Joe Kuma, Andrew Pomayie, Amuni Quaye (Olympics) Osei Bonsu (Okwawu) Gilbert Akiyede (RTU) Abieku Aikins, Akwasi Mathew, Tahiru Adbulai (Bofoakwa) Yaovi Atikpe, Ibrahim Iddrisu (Lions) Kojo Owusu, Daniel Bomfah (BA United) Eric Sefa Boateng, Ben Adu Yeboah (Power) Kingsley Kwateng (Hasaacas) Yaw Serbeh, Charles Benson (Arsenals) Willaim Opuje (Mine Stars)
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 May 2003 - Standings of the 16-club Kinapharma Premier League after the third week matches played on Sunday.
HOME AWAY
P W L D F A ... P W L D F A GD.. pts
Olympics 2 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 3 1 3 7
Kotoko - - - - - - 2 2 0 0 2 0 2 6
Goldfields 2 2 0 0 2 0 - - - - - - 2 6
Lions 1 1 0 0 2 1 2 1 1 0 2 4 -1 6
Liberty 1 0 0 1 1 1 2 1 0 1 4 3 1 5
Hearts - - - - - - 2 1 0 1 2 1 1 4
Hasaacas 2 1 0 1 5 4 - - - - - - 1 4
Mines Stars 1 1 0 0 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 1 1 4
Power 1 0 1 0 1 2 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 4
B A United 2 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 2 0 4
King Faisal 2 1 1 0 4 2 1 0 1 0 1 2 1 3
Arsenals 1 1 0 0 2 1 2 0 2 0 0 2 -1 3
Bofoakwa 1 0 0 1 1 1 2 0 2 0 2 4 -2 1
R T U 2 0 2 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 1 1 -2 1
Stay Cool 2 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 2 -3 1
Okwawu 2 0 2 0 1 4 1 0 0 1 0 0 -3 1
NB: The matches between Hearts/Hassacas and Kotoko/Goldfields have been declared outstanding.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra Sports stadium playing field is
overuse
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 May 2003 - Dr Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, Acting Chief Executive of the National Sports Council (NSC) has described the playing field of the Accra Sports Stadium as over-used and needs urgent care to put it in shape to meet international standards.
Speaking with the GNA Sports, Dr Owusu-Ansah said men of the Parks and Gardens department who are in-charge of the field do not get enough time to properly groom the grass since it is always in use.
He said four teams use the facility for premier league matches, which means that at least not less than six matches are played every week if there are midweek matches.
Dr Owusu-Ansah said apart from league matches, schools, the national teams and the national rugby team all use the same field regularly. Recently bare patches have appeared around the centre circle and inside the goals post.
He said, until urgent attention is given to the field and the pressure on the field reduced the country would soon return to the days when the Accra Sports Stadium field would virtually be grassless.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Ivy wins ladies Milo open championship
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 May 2003 - Ivy Aryetey on Friday won the Ladies event of this year's Milo Open Championship with a straight sets 6-3, 6-4 victory over Abigail Opoku-Mensah at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Ivy for her price took home a trophy, ˘1.2m, a carton of Milo, Milo sports bag, tennis racket and four tennis balls while the runner-up received ˘800, 000, a carton of Milo, a sports bag and two tennis balls.
In a tough final encounter, young Abigail playing for the first time in the ladies event after being promoted from the Under-16 category gave the eventual champion a good run for her money as she fought till the very end.
Ivy, the number one seed was surprised in the very first game as her serve was broken but surprisingly Abigail could not hold unto the advantage as she gave it back in the next game.
The set then went with serve until the eighth game when Ivy broke her opponent and held unto the lead to win 6-3. The second set was a bizarre one as both players were not able to hold unto their servings but rather won on their opponent's serve till the seventh game.
Ivy then took control of proceedings in the ninth game when she broken Abigail's serve with some powerful ground-strokes which her tired opponents had difficulties dealing with. After the break advantaged, Ivy held unto her serve to win the second set 6-4.
In the men semi finals, Akwasi Ahinkrah, the event's top seed made it into the finals with straight sets victory over Eric Atobaba who is seeded third. The first set ended 6-1 in Ahinkrah's favour and was leading the second 3-0 when his opponent retired.
In the other semi finals, Patrick Nortey seeded seventh caused an upset when he beat number two seed Fred Egyir in three sets, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 setting up a date with Ahinkrah in the men's finals on Saturday.
Emmanuel Mensah won the boy's under 16 event with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Owusu Manford whiles Jenet Ampofo won the ladies under 16 event when she beat Patience Kudolo 7-6 (5), 6-2.
Winners of the under 16 events in the boys and girls divisions took home a trophy, 300,000 cedis, a carton of Milo, sports bag and four tennis balls. Runner-up in the Under-16 events received a pair of canvass, a carton of Milo, sports bag and two tennis balls.
Emma Cudjoe emerge winner of the girls under 13 event with an easy 6-2, 6-1 victory over Antoinette Cruckshank. The Under 13 winner received a trophy, 300,000 cedis, a carton of Milo, sports bag and four tennis balls the runner-up took home a pair of canvass, a carton of Milo, sports bag and two tennis balls.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
TMA to rebuild the Tema Stadium walls
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 May 2003 - The Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) has decided to rebuild the walls of the Tema Sports Stadium to ensure its quick reopening for premier league football and for use by Power F/C and Stay Cool Professionals football clubs.
To this effect the assembly within the next two weeks would open tender to herald the start of the repair work. In an interview with GNA Sports, Dr Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, Acting Chief Executive of the National Sports Council (NSC) said the decision for TMA to finance the project came after deliberations by the two organisations, which guaranteed the full cost recovery by the assembly.
Dr Owusu-Ansah said the assembly would recover whatever it sunk into the project through deductions of 10 percent of gate proceeds of matches played at the venue. He said the project when completed would enlarge the facility, as the new wall would encompass the space behind the stadium in order for it to accommodate more fans.
"For now this is what we have agreed upon in the short term but in the long run there is a plan to transfer all such facilities under the NSC to the assemblies to operate it as community park for the benefit of all"
The Tema Sports Stadium was recently closed down following dangerous cracks in the walls fencing it, which posed danger to fans. Dr Owusu-Ansah said even though his outfit would have loved to run such facilities as it has done over the years, it has to face the reality that its resources cannot adequately take care of the facility.
"Our funding was severely affected by a directive by Edward Osei-Kwaku, former Minister of the Youth and Sports, to keep the 10 percent gate proceeds from Kumasi Sports Stadium in Kumasi instead of bringing it down to Accra thence denying us of our biggest source of income."
"Gate proceeds from Accra alone cannot be used to cater for the five other stadiums under our care since we only gross something substantial when Hearts of Oak plays and that alone cannot take care of the Sunyani, Cape Coast, Tema, Gyandu and Accra stadiums".
He said it costs the NSC ˘2.5m a month to maintain each of the fields and pays 200 million each year to maintain the floodlights and electronic scoreboards at the Kumasi and Accra Stadiums. Dr Owusu-Ansah said with his out fit saddled with all these mounting expenditures it should be understood why a facility like the Tema stadium is left in the state that it is presently.
He pleaded to his sector ministry to make available funds from the Sports Development Funds currently locked up at the ministry to be used to develop and maintain such facilities. Dr Owusu-Ansah asked Ghanaians to develop the culture of paying even if a token fee even when they watch the lesser sporting disciplines since "we are getting to a point where funds from soccer alone cannot be used to maintain other facilities".
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com