Ghanaians not impressing in West
Africa Money Circuit
Accra (Greater Accra) 15 November 2001-
Mysterious Ebusua Dwarfs put up an impressive performance when they surprised
Accra Great Olympics with a 1-0 painful defeat to enter the next stage of the
FA Cup competition at the Accra Sports Stadium on Wednesday.
Playing a determined game, Dwarfs took full
control of the defense and the mid -field making incursions into the half of
their opponents. They came close to scoring in the fourth, seventh and the
ninth minutes, but poor shooting on the part of heir strikers denied them of
the goals.
Olympics on the other hand, failed to
capitalize on the few chances that came their way with James Zogho and David
Sakordie, their strikers failing to capitalize on defensive blunders committed
by Dwarfs.
In the 40th and 45th minutes, David Amoako had
opportunities to put Olympics ahead but missed narrowly on both occasions to
end the half. In the second half, Dwarfs maintained their pressure on Olympics
and this enabled Maxwell Kyei to head home the only goal of the match in the 47th
minute.
GRi…/
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Obuasi (Ashanti Region) 15 November 2001- Aminu
Musah powered Goldfields to a 2-1 win over Tema Ghapoha in their FA cup match
played at the Len Clay Stadium.
The gangling outside left netted once in each
half to pitch his side against the winner of the delayed quarter final match
involving King Faisal and Liberty Professionals slated for the Kumasi Sports
Stadium next Wednesday.
Aminu struck first in the 40th minute when he
completed a beautiful combination with Eric Boakye with a left footer that gave
Abukari Kankani in goal for Ghapoha no chance at all.
He made it two in the 51st minute through a
precise rebound connection after Nana Arhin Duah's effort was jabbed back into
his path. Ghapoha responded positively by making the maximum substitutions,
which oiled their midfield and helped them to carry the game to their
opponents.
The homers were forced to change their arrow
head, Isaac Boakye with Daniel Mortey in a bid to ward off the persistent
pressure from the visitors.
The change could not halt the aggression of the
Tema lads as John Ainoo stabbed in a consolation goal after Goldfields
goalkeeper Rachid Campaore had fumbled with a shot during a goalmouth melee, to
bring the close of play scores to 2-1 in favour of the homers.
GRi…/
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 15 November 2001 -
Kumasi Asante Kotoko, put up one of their best performances to beat arch-rivals
Accra Hearts of Oak in their quarter final knockout match.
The lone goal hero was Aziz Ansah, who latched
onto Shilla Alhassan's cross to slot home the match winner to send the teeming
Kotoko supporters dancing all the way from the stadium.
The match had aroused so match passion that
security was heavy at the stadium to forestall any eventuality. Just before the
game started, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister leading the
Regional Security Council, had a pep talk with both teams and the two sides
took a group picture.
A brief rainfall about 30 minutes before the
commencement of the match helped to calm nerves and the weather and when Kotoko
kicked off, they gave an indication of their determination to carry the day by
winning the first two corner- kicks under a minute but wasted them.
So fierce were the exchanges that in the
seventh minute, there was a clash of heads between Hearts Don Bortey and
Kotoko's Godfred Yeboah with the latter sustaining a cut and had to have it
bandaged.
Kotoko who were a shade ahead kept on the
pressure and in the 13th minute Sammy Adjei had to stretch backwards to tip a
goal bound ball over the bar. Hearts countered and in the 23rd minute caught
the Kotoko defence flat-footed but Charles Benson shot feebly into the waiting
hands of goalkeeper Osei Boateng.
Benson was booked in the 26th minute for rough
play while Michael Osei had his turn four minutes later for handling the ball.
Hearts pulled out Benson for Awuley Quaye
Junior in the 51st minute. They earned a free kick almost on the penalty box
line in the 66th minute, which drew a fierce protest from Kotoko and in the
process Shilla Alhassan was booked for dissent.
Injured Michael Osei gave way to Joe Okyere in
the 71st minute, while Hearts also sent on Charles Allotey for Don Bortey but
it was Kotoko with an iron clad defence who carried the game to their
opponents.
The stadium exploded into thunderous cheers in
the 74th minute when Kotoko's Aziz Ansah found the back of the net. Substitute
Joe Okyere sent the ball to Shilla Alhassan on the left who dribbled past two
defenders before crossing to Ansah to push the ball into the net.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 15 November 15, GNA - The
performance of Ghanaian players in the ongoing International Tennis Federation
(ITF) and Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) West Africa Money Circuit in
Accra has not been impressive.
Speaking to GNA sports, Mr. David Churcher,
head coach of the National Tennis Team said out of the ten players registered,
only Fredrick Egyiri has survived to the quarterfinals in the men's single
event while only one men-doubles pair has made it to the quarterfinals.
He said even though the players did not make
any meaningful progress they cannot be blamed because they are mostly juniors
who are competing against mature players some of whom are already in Davis Cup
rankings. Mr. Churcher said if the players are well motivated and groomed
properly they could become world-beaters.
He however expressed disappointment for his
girl's contingent who could not compete because their competition was cancelled
for lack of competitors.
The ITF/CAT West Africa Money Circuit is being
organized mainly for players of African decent especially those who cannot
afford to travel outside the continent to take part in tournaments. In all 114
players mainly from the sub-region registered for the tournament with two
coming from Cameroon who is outside the region.
GRi…/
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