Two
Ghanaian Referees for CAN 2002
Accra
(Greater Accra) 30 November 2001 - Ghana and F.C. Wolferg’s offensive
midfielder, Charles K. Akunnor has been dropped as captain of the senior
national team, the Black Stars. Akunnor will also not be part of Ghana’s squad
to the Mali 2002 Nations Cup finals as the Ghana Football Association who
announced this on Friday says, “He would not fit into their preparations.”
C.K.
Akunnor was last called to national duty in March, this year when Ghana played
against the Sudan in Khartoum in a World Cup qualifier. Ghana lost the match
1-0.
No one has
been named yet as CKs replacement as headcoach, Osam Duodu indicated that it
would be made known on January 4, 2002 when he makes his final list to the tournament.
He has
however, named 17 professionals as those to be invited to compete with 22
locals in camp for positions. Among the foreign-based players invited are
Samuel Osei Kufuor, Mohammed Gargo, Stephen Appiah, Christian Atta Djan,
Emmanuel Duah, Charles Amoah, Yakubu Abubakar, Abdul Razak, and George Blay.
Others are John Mensah, Derrick Boateng, Michael Essien, Peter Ofori Quaye,
Alex Tachie Menson and Baffour Gyan.
The FA also
announced that it has entered into a kit-sponsorship deal with Adidas to kit
the Black Stars during the tournament.
GRi…/
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By
Maurice Quansah (Graphic Sports)
One down,
one more to go. It's survival time for the struggling clubs in football's elite
competition this weekend as the checked flag is waved on the trouble-plagued
Star
Premier
League. And certainly a lot of drama is in store in these deciding encounters
as the focus shifts from the big guns to which club joins Kwaebibirem United to
division one football.
Perhaps the
football regulatory body needs to dispatch a lot of paramedics to these centres
to avoid casualties that may arise from among fans who may develop hypertension
at seeing their beloved clubs condemned to relegation.
Asuom's
two-year romance with the premiership ended with King Faisal's stunning 1-0
victory last Sunday and now the fate of Maxbees, Ghapoha, RTU and Adansiman
hang rather precariously. All these struggling sides, except Ghapoha, have
territorial advantage in a last ditch attempt to retain their premiership
status as they encounter clubs effectively secure in the competition.
But the
intrigues associated with such deciding games make no side any safer until the
final whistle.
Last year,
Hearts of Oak gifted Dawu Youngsters three 'free' points by refusing to honour
an away tie and thus ensured their survival. Ironically, the champagne popping
Phobians find themselves in a similar situation, but given the repercussions of
any such action again, Hearts are unlikely to play Father Christmas on Sunday.
Maxbees'
late efforts have been paying dividends and at Koforidua they will have the
crowd behind them as they make a desperate bid to upset the uncrowned
champions.
Adansiman's
desperate effort to hang on in the elite division now lies in the hands of
Bofoakwa Tano and, somehow, Dawu. That should be good news as they need a win
against a side yet to record an away victory, and then hope Ghapoha lose to
Dawu.
Bofoakwa
have little to lose in the game except for pride, but the three points at stake
look a remote possibility for the Sunyani lads, especially at the Len Clay
Stadium, which has become a waterloo for most visitors.
This is not
the time to play away, especially at the dreaded Dawu stadium. This is the
predicament of Ghapoha who need nothing short of victory at a field that has
been a banana peel for big name clubs including Asante Kotoko. Ghapoha's
surprise loss to Arsenals last Sunday means they must conjure some magic to win
at all cost against Seth Yeboah's charges who have lost just one home game in
the second round.
Unless the
unexpected happens Ghapoha could leave Dawu miserable, especially given the
impressive form they have displayed at home lately. But football is full of
surprises and we just have to wait and keep our fingers crossed.
Real Tamale
United look the least expected to fall victim to relegation. That surely will
derail football development up North. Kaladan Park has not been fertile grounds
for visiting teams in search of three valuable points, and at a time RTU's fate
hangs in the balance, not even the uninitiated in the sport will boldly predict
an upset, especially as the opponent is none other than Goldfields who have a
poor away record. This must be a blessing for the Tamale lads who are unbeaten
at home this season.
Anyone who
takes Alhaji Grunsah lightly does so at his own peril. When relegation began
staring them in the face he vowed to beat the odds and week after week Faisal
have picked valuable points to move steadily out of imminent danger.
After
upsetting Kwaebibirem at Asuom, Faisal needs just a point at the expense of
Sekondi Hasaacas to survive. This does not look a big task for a side that has
proved a hard nut for even the big clubs to crack at the Kumasi stadium, and
Hasaacas are unlikely to be any luckier in Faisal's most desperate moment.
Win or lose
Great Olympics are out of danger. After carefully negotiating the relegation
curve, the Wonder Club can pop champagne to celebrate another narrow escape at
home where they play relegated Kwaebibirem.
Olympics
have been very impressive in the second round and lost just one match and the
odds heavily weigh against the league bottom club.
At the
Berekum Coronation Park, Arsenals should crown an impressive debut in the elite
division with victory over Okwawu United.
At the
Accra Stadium tomorrow Liberty Professionals hope to complete Kotoko’s
miserable visits to the nation’s capital with a vital home win.
The
Porcupine Warriors will definitely draw the crowd to the stadium on a mission
to redeem their image after failing to win a league match in Accra this season.
GRi…/
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By
Samuel Ebo Kwaitoo (Graphic Sports)
Friday
night will surely be the night boxing patrons have been waiting for as the
richly packaged Despite Promotions vessel finally docks at the traditional Kaneshie
Complex arena with all the much-anticipated goodies.
The stuff
of a perfect blend of good music fused with thrilling boxing action will
definitely leave an indelible imprint on the minds of the massive crowd, which
is expected to witness the night's showdown.
On a bill
which presents seven sumptuous bouts plus a flyweight duel between promising
boxers, Alfred Quaye and Galley Cudjoe as a flavour, there is every indication
that Akutruku Night 3 will follow the trail registered by the earlier bouts staged
by Despite Promotions.
In terms of
fun as far as live music performances are concerned, one would be amazed at the
array of hip-life stars on the show, which include Lyrical 419 and VIP.
And for the
main event of the day, the two characters on the bill, Laatekwei Hammond and
Moro Tijani, have both remained tight-lipped in characteristic fashion.
Interestingly,
both boxers are men of few words who would always want to explode in the ring
with whatever stuff they have in store for their opponents.
It is
therefore not surprising that neither boxer has since broken the silence.
This
situation has heightened tension and anxiety among their fans, as either camp
would perhaps be harbouring a surprise package for the other.
As a matter
of fact, both boxers are potential world-beaters, which is why this particular
fight has all the trappings of a main bout.
Even though
the Armed Forces Pride, Tijani, will enjoy a reach advantage that can certainly
not guarantee him the national and West Africa super-lightweight title as the
champion, Laatekwei is a tough boxer with immense endurance and ring craft.
Brimah
Kamoko who is becoming popular by the day following his funny nickname
"Bukom Banku" has already fired the first shot by declaring that his
Togolese opponent, Sabou Ballogou, will not last the distance in their West
Africa super- middleweight championship.
Perhaps,
Kamoko's wild prediction is based on his opponent's recent points loss to
compatriot, James Toney.
Kamoko
might confront a tougher opposition than he anticipates, taking into
consideration Ballogou's impressive 13-2 fight record.
Like
Kamoko, Osumanu Adama has also predicted an easy win over his more experienced
opponent, Machiano Commey, in their national and West Africa super welterweight
title fight.
US-based
Emmanuel Clottey has all the potential in beating Isaac Quartey in their final
eliminator to a possible shot at the national and West Africa super lightweight
belt.
Joshua
Clottey who, like his twin brother is an exciting boxer, will face a Nigerian
opposition in Fata Onikeke in a 10-round welterweight contest while ABU
champion,
James
Toney, also takes his turn to entertain the crowd when he confronts Setehegbe
Maturin of Benin in an international middleweight fight over 10 rounds.
Another
Beninois, Lokossou Theodore, will come face to face with Osumanu Akaba in a
thrilling international featherweight eight-rounder.
GRi…/
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 30 November 2001 - The FIFA Committee for Security and Fair
Play has awarded the FIFA Fair Play Diploma to Sumaila Abdallah goalkeeper for
Dawu Youngster for his exemplary act which saved the life of Hearts Charles
Taylor during a league match last year.
A statement
signed by Michel Zen-Ruffinen, FIFA Secretary-General said the award would be
presented to the player during the annual player of the year Gala in Zurich on
Monday December 17 where the best players in the world would join him.
It would be
recalled that Ibrahim Sannie Darra, a sports caster with an Accra radio station
recommended the player's act to the FIFA Committee for security and Fair Play
which prompted a personal congratulatory letter from the Sepp Blatter, FIFA
president on February 15.
During the
first half of an ABC Premier League match between Accra Hearts of Oak and Dawu
Youngsters at the Accra Sports Stadium last Year, Taylor collapsed after he
fell on his head following an attempted bicycle kick.
Abdallah
seeing the danger Taylor was in rushed out and administered mouth-to-mouth
resuscitation to him whiles the match was still going on before the medics
arrived to attend to him.
GRi…/
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 30 November 2001 - Two Ghanaians, Mr Alex Quartey and Mr
Justice Yeboah have been selected among 32 referees by the Confederation of
African Football (CAF) to officiate during the African Cup of Nations in Mali
2002.
Referee
Quartey, the number three on the list would be in the centre of affairs whilst
Referee Yeboah would assist on the lines.
In a letter
addressed to the Ghana Referees Association (RAG) by Mr Mustapha Fahmy, General
Secretary of CAF stated that the referees are to arrive in Mali by January 15
to undergo a refresher course followed by physical test on January 16 and 17.
He said any
referee who fails the medical test would be asked to return home. The statement
said the referees would be entitled to a daily indemnity of 100 dollars each
day during their stay in the competition in conformity with the regulations of
the competition.
GRi…/
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