Kuffour in line for top European prize
Accra (Greater Accra) 14 November 2001 - Tema Ghapoha has lashed out at “corrupt officials who have connived to ensure we lose most of our away matches” saying the league table as it now stands is not a true reflection of the capability of the club. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Captain (Rtd) Anthony Cudjoe, Chief Executive Officer of the Club, said their present predicament should be partly blamed on match officials who connived to rob the club of victories.
There are good ones among them like referee Alhassan Brobbey and referee F.K. Mensah from Takoradi whose officiating have been exemplary. “The same cannot be said of some of the referees who are a disgrace to the game.” “Dubious offering of penalties to home teams and a total disregard and criminal persecution of the rules of the game have been their hallmark”, Capt. Cudjoe said.
He urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to put its acts together at this critical stage of the league, to do something about the degenerating standards of officiating otherwise “our football and its development would be destroyed.” He asked for a video recording of all matches to provide additional information to corroborate reports of match officials whiles independent observers from the Referees Association of Ghana and the GFA be appointed to monitor matches.
Capt Cudjoe asked the general public and all those already involved in the game to maintain high levels of responsibility and discipline.
GRi…/
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A week
after being enlisted for this year’s African best player award, Ghanaian
defender Samuel Osei Kuffour was again nominated for the prestigious European
version yesterday. He is the only African
player listed, and also becomes only the second Ghanaian after soccer legend
Abedi Ayew Pele, who became a regular feature in the nomination of Europe’s
elite stars, during his successful career with French side Olympique Marseille.
Kuffour is competing with 49 other top stars and is not ranked favourites for the ‘Ballon D’Or’ or Golden Ball, as released by France Football magazine yesterday.
His nomination for both the African and European best player awards follows a successful season with Bayern Munich, who won the UEFA Champions League and the Bundesliga title and German Cup.
Among favourites for the top prize are English stars Micheal Owen, David Beckham, Argentines Gabriel Batistuta and Hernan Crespo, Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and France captain Marcel Desailly.
Others include Bayern Munich Stars Stefan Effenberg, Giovane Elber and Oliver Kahn, Portugal and Real Madrid striker Luis Figo. The winner will be announced in France on December 18, with the selections to be made by European football journalists.
GRi…/
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