Which of Dawu, Power and Bofoakwa stays after Sunday?
Bofoakwa
in crucial away win over Liberty
Olympic
Committee hunts for talent
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 08 November 2002 - Kumasi
Asante Kotoko’s journey to the final of the Cup Winners Cup competition has
been a jagged one.
Dogged by numerous difficulties as connecting flights to honour away matches,
Kotoko are making frantic efforts to ensure that their trip to North Africa is
devoid of unforeseen problems.
Inspired by the ‘early bird catches the worm’ adage, Kotoko plan to jet off
early to Casablanca to face Wydad Athletic Club (WAC) of Morocco for the first
leg encounter.
Barring any last-minute hitch, Kotoko are expected to depart Accra on Monday
night for Europe before reconnecting to Casablanca, venue for next weekend’s
crucial clash.
Travelling within Africa is often a nightmarish experience, and the bitter
lessons from previous trips to Angola, Egypt and Congo informed Kotoko’s
management to solicit the help of Youth and Sports Minister, Edward Osei Kwaku,
for the release of the Presidential Jet in order to ease the usual travel
difficulties.
Unfortunately, Kotoko’s status as Ghana’s only representative in international
club competition could not guarantee them the use of the newly refurbished jet.
Available information indicates that the government’s Chief of Staff turned
down Kotoko’s request. Instead, the Air Force was asked to release their Fokker
F27 aircraft, which Kotoko reportedly turned down.
The club’s Accra Representative, Kwame Amoa-Bosompem, stated on Thursday that
Kotoko were working out alternative options to travel to Casablanca right after
honouring their last league match against Liberty Professionals in Kumasi, on
Sunday.
With no direct commercial flight from Accra to North Africa, Kotoko have to
embark on a trans-Atlantic journey through Europe before connecting to the
Mediterranean port city.
Among the options to choose from are Swiss International Airlines, Alitalia and
British Airways. Depending on which airline they settle on, Kotoko will move to
either London, Zurich, Geneva or Milan before flying back to the continent.
Hopefully, the club’s management would have settled the issue at an
astronomical cost, (about $50,000 for the round trip). Sources close to the
club say Kotoko will storm Morocco with a 30-man contingent, including 18
players.
Beyond the frustrating flight connection, Ralf Zumdick has other worries too.
His is threatened by injuries to some key players and hopes to avoid limping
over their last hurdle.
On Wednesday when they lost the league title to Hearts, Kotoko faced RTU
without such players as Michael Osei, Shilla Alhassan, Isaac ‘Ninja’ Owusu,
Stephen Oduro and skipper Godwin Ablordey who, according to Amoa-Bosompem,
received serious knocks last Sunday at Prestea.
With the premiership title lost, Zumdick
may rest his ace cards against Liberty on Sunday and travel to Casablanca with
his full arsenal.
Next week Saturday’s first leg clash will have Camerounian referee Evehe Divine
in charge, with his countrymen Endeng Zogo and Augustine Njoya assisting on the
lines. The match kicks of at 9.30 pm (21.30 GMT).
Meanwhile, Kotoko’s opponents had smiles back on their faces. Wydad lifted the
delayed 2001 FA Cup last Saturday with a 1-0 victory over MAS Fez. Mohamed
Lansri scored the winner in the 113th minute of extra-time.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 08 November 2002 - Solicitors for former Asante Kotoko player, Lawrence
Adjei, have sent out a clear signal about their determination to unravel the
mystery surrounding the whereabouts of the player's enticement fee paid by
Spartak Moscow.
In a petition dated 5 November and addressed to the GFA Chairman, the
solicitors, Lumor, Acheampong and Co. implored the FA to intervene and help
trace the whereabouts of Lawrence Adjei's enticement fee.
The
solicitors expressed the hope that the petition would be responded to within 28
days. They also urged the FA to contact the Russian FA for the agency contract
and all other documents in respect of Lawrence Adjei's contract.
The petition was copied to the Chief Executive of Asante Kotoko, the Minister
of Youth and Sports and the Chairmen of the Professional League Board and the
Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA). The petition said Adjei was
transferred to Spartak Moscow somewhere in June, 2001, and played series of
matches for them.
The player was paid $10,000 for the first three months and $2,000 for the
fourth month. When Adjei inquired about his enticement fee, insurance and
accommodation from the Moscow club, he was told to contact his agent as all
monies had been paid to him.
The player, the petition noted, insists he never met any agent when he was
being transferred. All efforts to contact Kotoko about the revelation relating
to the agent drew a blank. Following difficulties he faced in Moscow, Adjei
returned to Ghana to sort things out with his former club. His problem could,
however, not be solved.
His solicitors thereafter wrote to Kotoko to ask for documentation on his
contract. Documents the solicitors received indicated that an agency fee of
12.5 per cent was paid to an alleged agent. The solicitors followed up the
matter with a request for the agency agreement, but Kotoko have not been able
to make available the contract signed by Adjei and the said agent.
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 08 November 2002 - Kennedy Agyepong, the hardworking
Vice-chairman of Africa Cup Winners Cup title aspirants, Kumasi Asante Kotoko,
has resigned his position in the club.
The young and affable Agyepong, known to have bankrolled the club in very crucial
periods since he joined the management four years ago, gave ‘personal reasons’
for his resignation.
But observers of the goings-on in Kotoko believe that the Vice-chairman’s
resignation might have been influenced by some conflicts within the ranks of
management.
In a
letter of resignation to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the club on
Thursday, Agyepong expressed his pain at taking this decision, being “one of
the benefactors and administrators of the club” for which he has for the past
four years devoted his “time, energy and resources”.
The shy-looking but enterprising Kennedy Agyepong, however, assured all
followers of Kotoko that he would still continue to support the club to win
laurels for the nation.
“Having seen the club come this far, I wish to assure you that I will continue
to take keen interest and support the club at this critical stage in its quest
to be crowned Africa Champions and return the Golden Fleece to its rightful
home, and will, therefore, fully assist the club in its efforts during the
two-leg final and will be present at the final in Kumasi on December 8, 2002.”
He asked for forgiveness “if in the course of my involvement in the
administration of the club, I have in any way offended any parties, either as
individuals or as a group”.
GRi…/
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Accra
(Greater Accra) 08 November 2002 - When the premier league comes around this
Sunday, the significance of the fixtures will be limited to two main issues.
The first is the obligation that binds on the clubs to honour their last games,
and the second, the search for a partner for Maxbees as they make the journey
back into the tortuous world of Division One soccer.
Such are the main attractions that hold for soccer fans as the clubs engage in
their season-closing and fate-defining games, in which the real competition for
now is limited to the last quarter of the table.
Last Wednesday when title holders, Hearts of Oak, gave power FC a 4-0
annihilation, the result did not only power them to their fifth successive
title defence, but also succeeded in reducing their last game and the one
involving closest pursuers, Asante Kotoko, to mere official procedures.
So between Bofoakwa, Power FC and Dawu Youngsters, relegation candidates,
Maxbees, will find a suitable companion, unwilling though, for that fateful
trip, which has proven to be an unfortunate adventure for all who have trodden
that path in the past.
Conscious of the imminent danger of slipping into relegation, each of these
sides will tackle their respective games with utmost seriousness, with full
acknowledgement of the consequence of an unfavourable result.
Significantly, as fate would have it, all three sides will honour their last
games at home. While Power take on Maxbees at the Koforidua Park, Bofoakwa
welcome Hearts to the Sunyani Coronation Park, with Dawu staying at Dawu for
Goldfields.
Although Bofoakwa appear to have the tallest order, both Power and Dawu can ill
afford to claim easy victories against their opponents ahead of the clashes.
Interesting all opponents for the three sides have no worries in these last
games.
Indeed, the Sunyani side seems so unfortunate to have been paired against the
best side in the league at a time their continuous existence in the premiership
appears endangered by the haunts of relegation.
But that could be their main advantage. Having already wrapped up their six-times-in-a-row
ambition, the Phobians may not possess any motivation for victory on Sunday as
no result will tamper with their overall fortunes as far as winning the
competition is concerned.
With the fate of a drowning man, Bofoakwa will fight till their last breath,
clinging on to the tiniest straw they could lay hands on, all with the singular
ambition to escape the undignified realm of Division One.
Tough as
it may seem, the task ahead is surmountable but whether the homesters will make
any use of the advantage home grounds offers remains to be answered on Sunday.
But what could be crucial to the fate of Bofoakwa will be the chase between
silky Charles Taylor and his striking partner, Bernard Don-Bortey, for the
goalking title. If the brakes are not applied on them, they may be responsible
for any sad story to be told by Bofoakwa after Sunday.
For Power, playing Maxbees who have no place in the premiership after Sunday is
a less difficult task, but the shocker they provided Okwawu in Accra last
Saturday should be enough warning to the Koforidua-based team.
Incidentally, Power made their return into the top-flight competition only this
year after sojourning in the 'wilderness' for a year. And with that bitter
experience, they will go all lengths to achieve victory.
Dawu
Youngsters will no doubt also be unwilling to compromise their precarious
situation against Goldfields, although it seems a tough assignment. Goldfields,
however, may be on the route to losing their third straight game having seen a
dip in their form over recent period.
At Berekum, Arsenals may have the last laugh over Hasaacas while rejuvenated
Mine Stars are favoured to send RTU home empty handed in their game at Prestea
with Olympics having the edge over B.A.United in Accra.
On Saturday, Okwawu United and King Faisal will battle for supremacy when they
end the season ahead of their counterparts, while observers will be keen to
watch how Kotoko and Liberty Professional will fare against each other in what
is, in fact, the week's toughest pairing at Kumasi.
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Bofoakwa
in crucial away win over Liberty
Accra (Greater Accra)
08 November 2002 - Tano Bofoakwa notched up a crucial 2-1 win over Liberty Professionals
to steer themselves away from relegation in a 29th week Premier League
match played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Thursday.
Playing a determined
game it was Bofoakwa who took the game to their surprisingly sluggish opponents
and stunned them with the first goal in the seventh minute. Kojo Opoku hit a
low drive from the edge of the penalty box to beat Cudjoe Addo in post for
Liberty.
The visitors, who
needed the points desperately, nearly allowed an easy equaliser through
goalkeeper Mohammed Alhassan's error but to Bofoakwa's relief William Tiero's
connection went wide. Bofaokwa continued to dictate the pace of the game and
gave the defence of Liberty some anxious moments but they failed to convert
their chances due to poor shooting.
Having wasted a series
of chances Bofoakwa were taught the art of goal scoring when Liberty's Moses
Tetteh's shot from a free kick on the edge of the box zoomed straight into the
net after a slight deflection in the 44th minute.
The second half
continued as the first with Bofoakwa probing for the winner and it came in the
81st minute through Kwaku Adu who coolly tapped in the rebound after Liberty's
Addo had failed to make a first time save of skipper Abeiku Aikins low drive.
GRi…/
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Olympic
Committee hunts for talent
Accra (Greater Accra)
07 November 2002 - The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) is embarking on a talent
hunt initiative in schools and colleges to unearth potential materials for
sprints and relays events.
The first phase of the
exercise has already been completed for the northern sector of the country
including Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Upper East, Upper West and Northern regions. The
second phase of the exercise will be held at the Accra Sports Stadium for the
Southern sector on Friday November 8 for the Greater Accra, Volta, Western,
Eastern and Central Regions.
Albert Tettey, General
Secretary of the GOC, said the event is to discover young athletes and sustain
their interest in sprint events through motivation. Tettey said, cash prizes would
be given to deserving students after the competitions to help them pay their
school fees, medical bills as well as provide them with kits to enhance their
training.
He said the programme
would be held once in every term adding that the GOC hopes to sustain the
interest of schools in the event.
GRi…/
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