GRi Sports 11 - 11 - 2002

NB: Hearts of Oak are confirmed League Champions. It is their sixth consecutive title and will represent the country at next year's CAF Champions League.

GRi…/

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Kotoko beat Liberty Professionals

Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 11 November 2002 - Asante Kotoko struggled to beat Liberty Professionals 2-1 in their match played at the Kumasi sports stadium.

After an unimpressive first half by both sides, Nana Arhin Duah slotted the ball home in a goalmouth melee in the 51^st minute to put Kotoko into the lead. Liberty, playing a determined game in the second half, put pressure on the porcupine warriors and equalised in the 55^th minutes through Ablade Morgan.

They continued their search for more goals and made several incursions but all their efforts were thwarted by goalkeeper Osei Boateng who made wonderful saves for Kotoko. Kotoko increased its goal tally when Joe Hendricks shot the ball into the net from Godwin Ablordey's free kick in the 60^th minute.

Kotoko continued to search for a third goal but Nana Arhin Duah who was later substituted due to an injury, squandered a beautiful chance in the 65^th minute thereby denying his side the third goal.

GRi…/

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Hearts crowned champions at Sunyani

Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 11 November 2002 - Accra Hearts of Oak on Sunday won the Premier League Trophy for the sixth time running when they drew 1-1 with Bofoakwa Tano in their action-packed last encounter at the Sunyani Coronation Park before a capacity crowd.

Among the dignitaries who watched the epic encounter were Kofi Nsiah, Secretary General of the Ghana Football Association, Ingatius Baffour Awuah, Sunyani District Chief Executive, Dr Kwesi Botchway, an aspiring presidential candidate of the NDC, Mike Gizo and Dr Mustapha Ahmed, both MPs.

By this victory, Hearts have set an enviable record of not only annexing the league cup six consecutive times but also being the only club in the country to have won the top scoring club and the goal-king award on six occasions.

No sooner had Cape Coast-based class one referee Essel Walker signalled the two teams into action than ubiquitous Don "Diouf" Bortey made incursions into Bofoakwa’s goal area and threatened goalkeeper Mohammed Alhassan with three powerful shots but the striker missed target on all occasions.

Bofoakwa took a surprise lead in the 16^th minute when their striker Kwadwo Opoku beat goalkeeper James Nannor with a bullet shot after receiving a neat pass from Pasco Amponsah and held on to this slim lead till half time.

Hearts changed their pattern of play in the second half and mounted a sustained pressure on Bofoakwa. Their efforts were rewarded in the 50^th minute when Don Bortey scored the much-needed equaliser after beating a host of Bofoakwa defenders before planting the ball in the net to the admiration of their numerous supporters who had travelled from the length and breadth of the country to watch the match.

Hearts made two changes against Bofoakwa's three in the second half. Kenneth Sarpong replaced Don Bortey while Massawudu Yahaya took over from Laryea Kingston. Bofoakwa on the other hand, pulled out Kwaku Adu for Alhaji Iddrisu, Tahiru Addulai replaced Kwadwo Opoku while good-old Ben Kusi went in for Kwaku Duah. The changes did not, however, alter the score line.

The Sunyani DCE, assisted by the GFA secretary, presented the prestigious league cup to Hearts skipper, Joe Ansah who in turn, handed it over to Thomas Okine, the Chief Executive of the champion club. Thereafter, thousands of Hearts supporters, some of them in a fleet of vehicles went through the principal streets of Sunyani to celebrate their club's victory, lasting deep into the night.

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Desperate Dawu win but to no avail

Cape Coast (Central Region) 11 November 2002 - Dawu Youngsters managed a 1-0 victory over Obuasi Goldfields at the Cape Coast Siwdu Sports Stadium but that could not save them from relegation after Sunday's final league matches.

They join fellow Eastern region club Suhum Maxbees who were stuck at the bottom of the 16-club league while yet another Eastern region club, Power F/C who placed 14^th would have win a play off to secure their stay in the premiership.

Dawu's lone hero was Edusei Kakyiri who struck in the 47^th minute after a fruitless first half. The miners tried hard to equalise but their efforts were thwarted.

GRi…/

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Power thrash Maxbees

Koforidua (Eastern Region) 11 November 2002 - Koforidua based Power F/C on pulled themselves from the relegation zone when they humiliated relegated Maxbees with a 3-1 defeat in their final league match at Koforidua.

Maxbees started the match strongly in an attempt to pull Power along with them into relegation but it was Power who took the lead in the 13^th minute through their inside left, Dennis Odoom.

Maxbees embarrassed themselves in the 30^th minute when their most reliable defender, Emmanuel Osei in an attempt to clear the ball deflected it into his own net for the second goal of the match. The goal brought confusion to the technical bench of Maxbees as they could be seen openly arguing among themselves as to whether the goal was a mistake or intentional and at the end of the exchanges, Osei was pulled out of the match.

The inside left of Maxbees, Asamoah Dzifa pulled one for his side in the 35^th minute for the score line to settle at 2-1 at half time.

During the recess, there was a heavy downpour that made the field heavy and difficult for ball control. However, it was the Power boys who took control of the second half and virtually pinned the Maxbees boys to their own half.

In the 78^th minute, a cross into the penalty box of Maxbees was beautifully headed by the winger, Benard Asare which beat goalkeeper Samuel Nartey and hit the side post before entering the net for the third goal of Power. Asare had two other chances getting to the dying minutes of the game but failed to take advantage of the situation.

GRi…/

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Olympics beat B.A. United

Accra (Greater Accra) 11 November 2002 - Wonder Club, Accra Great Olympics, defeated BA United 2-0 in the last match of this year's premier league at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.

The first ten minutes of the game did not produce any exciting football because the two sides approached the game with less determination, as the result might not have any adverse effect on any of the teams in the premiership.

Olympics however got the opener in the 16th minute when skipper Amui Quaye's header entered the net when Alex Djanie made an attempt to clear the ball to safety. This came after Olympics had subjected the visitors to much pressure at the end of the first quarter of the game.

The game again became dull and uninteresting after the goal as the two sides concentrated their efforts in the midfield, with no clear-cut chance being created by the two sides till the end of the first half. The two sides continued with the same pattern in the greater part of the second half, but keeper Ransford Kudjo saved Richard Armah shot in the 76^th minute.

Owusu Addae could have leveled up for B.A. but his header missed target narrowly in the 77^th minute. However it was Olympics who made use of their chance in the last moments of the game when Richard Armah chested a cross from Joe Tagoe and fired a shot into the net for the second goal to end the day in favour of the "dade boys".

GRi…/

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Faisal win over tired-looking Okwawu

Accra (Greater Accra) 11 November 2002 - Alhaji Karim Grunsah's King Faisal descended on Accra on Saturday and inflicted a painful lone goal defeat on tired looking Okwawu United to draw down the curtain for the season at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The victory ensured the Kumasi lads performed an important double over the mountaineers having beaten them in the opening match of the season by an emphatic 3-1 score line in Kumasi.

Faisal right from the start announced their determination to carry the day and took the game to the homesters pushing them to play on the defensive as the visitors controlled the midfield. It did not take Faisal much time to open the scoring when in the eighth minute Eric Agawu out-raced a flat Okwawu defence to score on the rebound after his initial shot had been pushed back into play by Fatau Dauda in post.

Okwawu urged on by their tiny but vociferous supporters pushed on and nearly came close in the 30th minute but veteran Samuel Okyere in post for Faisal proved equal to the task as he punched a powerful free kick to touch. The second half was balance with chances opening at both ends but poor shooting in front of goal ensured the second half remained goalless to give Faisal their first away victory of the season.

GRi…/

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Don Bortey and Charles Taylor are joint goalking

Accra (Greater Accra) 11 November 2002 - Accra Hearts of Oak did not only win the 2002 Premier League but was also emerged as the top scoring side for the season with 72 goals. And the men who ensured that Hearts achieved the feat, the ‘terrible terror’ Charles Taylor and Bernard ‘Diop’ Don Bortey shared honours by jointly winning the year’s goalking award netting half of Hearts’. They registered 18 goals apiece.

18 - Charles Taylor, Don Bortey (Hearts)

12 - Godwin Ablordey (Kotoko)

10 - Kossi Noutsoujie (Goldfields) Wisdom Abbey (Hearts) Amui Quaye (Olympics)

8 - Masawudu Mumuni (Maxbees) Osei Bonsu (Okwawu) Nana Arhin Duah (Kotoko)

7 - Kwabena Boateng (Faisal) William Tiero (liberty) John Cudjoe (Olympics) Abdul Samad (Mines Stars)

6 - Ablade Morgan, Ernest Papa Arko (liberty) Abubakar Yahuza (Faisal) Frank Awuah (Goldfields) Frank Osei, Michael Osei (Kotoko) Joseph Adjei (RTU) Issah Shaibu (Maxbees) Kwaku Adu, Kojo Poku (Bofoakwa)

5 - Andy Pomayie (Olympics) Daniel Babayara (Okwawu) Ishaak Debrah, Ben Wilson (Faisal) Faisal Sulemana (RTU) Asamoah Dzifa (Maxbees)

4 - Nana Frimpong, Stephen Oduro (Kotoko) Eric Mbroah, Paul Ofori, Issah Ahmed, Mohammed Polo (Dawu) John Paintsil (Liberty) Emmanuel Osei Kuffour, Osumanu Amadu (Hearts) Ofosu Amoah (Goldfields) Philip Amoaku (RTU) George Eranio (Arsenals) Prince Yeboah (Mines Stars) Edward Sosu (Power)

3 - Eric Adu Poku, Richard Awuah (Arsenals) Eric Sefa Boateng, Raja Nurudeen, Justice Appiah, Dennis Odum, Bernard Asari (Power) Awudu Adama, Kenneth Sarpong, Laryea Kingston, Frank Turkson (Hearts) Daniel Bonfah, Bawa Mohammed (BA United) Ebo Mensah, Gariba Haruna, Agyman Opoku (Hasaacas) Joe Agyeman, Kwabina Opoku (Faisal) Alfred Nii Larbi (Liberty) Alhassan Weah (RTU) Richard Armah, Paa Joe Kuma, Sumaila Iddrisu (Olympics) Kenneth Ababio (Goldfields) Kelvin Asamoah (Mines Stars) Henry Plange (Maxbees)

2 - Charles Allotey (Hearts) David Osei Tutu, George Biara, Kwasi Mensah, Issaka Tanko (Mines Stars) Isaac Boakye, Abedi Sarfo, Hamza Mohammed, Joe Okyere, Shilla Alhassan (Kotoko) Eric Gawu, Joe Agyman Jnr (Faisal) Moses Tetteh, David Boateng, Jonathan Qaurtey (Liberty) Kwaku Duah, Charles Benson, Ben Kusi (Bofoakwa) George Tutu, Paul Amposah, Isaac Asante (Okwawu) Kwasi Boateng, Lawrence Kenyah, Osman Sakora, Angelon Dedon, Nasiru Ganni, Addai Owusu (B A United) Kingsley Kwarteng, Charles Asamoah, Richard Afriyie, Maxwell Kensah, John Ainoo, Elvis Opoku (Hasaacas) Gershon Adjetey (Olympics) Dauda Siedu, Aminu Musa (Goldfields) Chronicle Kwame Amadu, Fred Anane Mensah, Edusei Kaekyre (Dawu) Robert Mensah, Francis Aggrey, Yaw Sebreh (Arsenals) Komi Adgaba, Gilbert Ayikade (RTU)

1 - Awuley Quaye, Adjah Tetteh, Hassan Mohammed, Edmund Copson (Hearts) Isaac Owusu, Joe Louis, Joe Sam, Abass Inusah, Joe Hendricks (Kotoko) Emmanuel Donkor, Martin Appau, Issah Rahman, John Quansah, Asare Boateng, Solomon Laryea, Alfred Arthur (Goldfields) James Amartey, Joe Tagoe, David Sharpe, Wilfred Dormon (Olympics) Andrew Antwi, Charles Ampiah, Emmanuel Nkrumah, Isaac Amoaku, Bill Mogba, Kwame Andrews (BA United) Eddy Acquaye, Okainja Thompson, Paul Appariki (Okwawu) Mustapher Ali, Emmanuel Osei (Maxbees) Osei Kofi, Felix Gbadegbe, Samuel Owusu, Awal Mohammed (Power) Mutalib Abdul, Mohammed Inusah, Atta Yawson, Salu Muntari, Anthony Annan, Kwaku Agyman (Hasaacas) Mohammed Baker, Alhassan Habib, Mawe Mohammed, Bobby Rahman, Kwame Acheapong (RTU) Kennedy Ayew (Mines Stars) Alhaji Iddrisu, Tahiru Abulai, Kofi Asiedu, Kwasi Owusu Jnr, Anthony Mintah, Kennedy Boadi (Bofoakwa) Kamara Dauda, Paul Otu, Samuel Bakai, Baba Sule, Osei Kofi (Dawu) Osei Kofi, Kwame Adjei, Seth Antwi, Francis Bossman, Frank Yeboah (Arsenals) Nii Ayi Tetteh, Dan Yeboah, Ibrahim Attiku, Lawrence Awuley Quaye (Liberty) Ben Boakye (Faisal).

GRi…/

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Goldfields protests behaviour of Kumasi fans

Obuasi (Ashanti Region) 11 November 2002 - Obuasi Goldfields Sporting Club have made a formal protest to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) against the unruly behavior of Kumasi Asante Kotoko in their 28^th league match played at Kumasi sports stadium last November 3^rd.

The protest which touched on the club's ordeal at the pre-match technical meeting, at the main gate of the stadium, at the dressing room, during and after the match was signed by Augustine K. Kessie, the acting managing director of the club.

It observed that Goldfields made an official protest to the match commissioner at the-match’s technical meeting to the effect that they would not honour the match if Kotoko should continue with their threat as indicated by two Kotoko officials namely Messrs George Amoako and Amoa Bosompem at the meeting.

The protest said aided by a police officer with staff number 33105, Kotoko management demanded at the stadium gate that only 18 players and two officials would be allowed to enter the stadium. In the course of the exchanges a Goldfield player, Ofosu Amoah (Tico) was pulled out of the club's bus and assaulted while the head coach, Oti-Akenteng was arrested and detained by the police for well over 20 minutes for allegedly slapping a policeman.

Kessie said when the bus was finally allowed entry into the stadium, Kotoko fans who had besieged the VIP area rushed on the bus and did whatever pleased them including ransacking of their bags. In the process, items estimated at about ¢50m in the supporters bus including a video camera, one large iced chest and the windscreen of Luigi Balduzzi's car were smashed.

The protest said two club officials who were at the VVIP area to assist to rescue the players and the technical men were severely beaten up by the rowdy supporters of Kotoko. It also expressed surprise that some Kotoko officials looked on as the angry supporters petted water sachets and insults on Gus Kessie and Akwasi Acheampong of Goldfields.

The protest also mentioned the deep involvement of Herbert Mensah, chief executive of Kotoko in the drama to the extent that he questioned the regional sports development officer why security was been beefed up at the stadium and instructed that Goldfields officials should be left alone to their destiny.

The six-page protest which was copied to the chairmen of the disciplinary committee of the GFA, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Professional league board and board of directors of Goldfields sporting club, demanded immediate justice. We hope we can count on you to help move barbarism and chaos from Ghana soccer and make it free from any form of intimidation whatsoever, it said.

GRi…/

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Thirty two invited to Satellites camp

Accra (Greater Accra) 11 November 2002 - The Ghana Football Association has invited 32 players predominantly from the Premier division to begin camping at the Winneba Sports College on Monday at 1400 GMT.

Twenty of the players from 11 Premier clubs form part of the preliminary list of the national under-20 soccer team, the Black satellites, released by the GFA in a statement on Saturday. The team is preparing towards next January's Africa Youth Championship slated for Burkina Faso.

The players are Alex Agyepong (Stay Cool), Eric Amponsah, Daniel Coleman (Power), Isaac Amoako, Daniel Bonfa (B. A. United), Salu Muntari (Hasaacas), Habib Mohammed (Fauzan), William Thompson, Kwadwo Poku (Kotoko), Imoro Lukeman, Moro Gariba (Real Sportive), Avevor Rashid (F/C Mitjitland) Loius Agyeman, Eric Nyarko and Kwame Antwi (Hearts).

Others are Samuel Cudjoe, Michael Ocansey (Young Auroras), Chibsah Yusif,

Abubakari Yahusa (King Faisal), Asare Boateng, Owusu Agyemang and Frank

Awuah (Goldfields).

The rest are Jonathan Quartey (Liberty), Abdul Samad (Mine Stars), Mumuni Masawudu (Maxbees), John Cudjoe, Joseph Tagoe (Olympics), Collins Adjei (Semereka), George Blackson (Odupong Heroes), Francis Bossman (Arsenals), Eric Aboagye and Kenneth Addae-Mensah (No club mentioned).

GRi…/

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Osei Boateng banned for one year

Accra (Greater Accra) 11 November 2002 - Osei Boateng, the number one goalkeeper of Kumasi Asante Kotoko has been sanctioned from participating in all Ghana Football Association (GFA) organized competitions for one year.

The ban follows goalkeeper Boateng's violent attack on Bernad Asare a player of Power FC in the 24th week league match between Kotoko and Power. Kofi Nsiah, General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) said in a release that the FA took the decision after a critical evaluation of reports on the 24th week league between Power FC and Asante Kotoko and all the evidence before it.

In a related development, Alhaji Haruna Yahaya, team manger of Kotoko, has also been banned for one year from holding himself as an official of any football club in the country. Kumasi Asante Kotoko football club has also been ordered to pay a fine of ¢950,000 for the misconduct of their supporters in the 24^th week league match against Power FC.

According to Nsiah, the supporters vandalised a Nissan pick up of registration number GT. 6945 belonging to Electricity Company of Ghana few minutes before the commencement of the game and the amount would be used as the cost of repairs incurred on the vehicle.

Nsiah said the fine should be paid within 21 days from the day of the decision for collection by Power FC on behalf of the Electricity Company of Ghana.

GRi…/

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Ghana FootAssociation, L-Sporto launch raffle

Accra (Greater Accra) 11 November 2002 - The Ghana Football Association (GFA) in conjunction with L-Sporto, the new kit sponsors of the national teams, have launched a raffle dubbed "show that you care promotion".

The raffle is aimed at giving the Ghanaian public the opportunity to choose from three samples of jerseys for the national teams and the sample with more coupons would be provided to the national teams by the kit sponsors.

Kofi Poku, Country Manger of L-Sporto said the winner of the raffle would be presented with Seat Ibiza car donated by Massai Motors, while a set of furniture donated by Josboad Furniture would go to the second prize winner.

He said the third and the fourth prize winners of the raffle would take home cash prizes of five and three million cedis respectively. Poku said his company did not come to do only business in Ghana but to promote and develop sports as well.

Maham Braimah General Manager of Massai Motors called for a massive patronage of the raffle since the national teams as well as Ghanaians stand to benefit a lot from it. He said there is the need for all to take part in the raffle because apart from winning prizes, Ghanaians will have the opportunity to select the kind of jersey they want their national teams.

Ben Koufie Chairman of the Ghana Football Association expressed his appreciation to the L-Sporto and other donors towards the raffle for contributing to the development of Ghana soccer. He said the raffle would go a long way to boost the finances of the association.

GRi…/

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Hearts are 91 years old

By Oyeeman Wereko Ampem

Accra (Greater Accra) 11 November 2002 - Today (11 November 11 2002), marks the 91^st Anniversary of the founding of our great club, Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club Limited, and on behalf of my colleagues of the Council of Patrons, I wish to extend warm congratulations of the occasion to all members of the Phobian family.

It is my fervent prayer and hope that the good Lord will grant us peace and success in the coming years as we approach the centenary of the founding of our club.

As it is customary, on occasions like this, we wish to remember the sacrifice of our founding fathers, office holders, players and all other Phobians who have been summoned to the world beyond. The greatest tribute we can pay to the memory of the departed is for us to pledge to carry the torch which destiny has thrust into our hands.

We are celebrating our Birthday against the background of a very excellent achievement by the club in the just ended Premier League. We won the championship for a record 6th consecutive time with one of the highest points ever recorded in the history of Ghana Soccer. We also won the GHALCA Top 4 and the King Tackie Tawiah centenary competitions.

I am happy to observe that on the Goalking title race, Charles Taylor or Bernard Bong Bortey stand the best chance of carrying the day thereby making it the 5th consecutive time that Hearts players have won the title.

I wish to extend a hand of commendation to the Board of Directors, Management, players and our army of supporters for making us proud by their good work. I also wish to say a big thank you to all individuals and corporate bodies that assisted us in diverse ways to help us achieve our goal.

As we prepare to participate in the 2003 CAF Champions league, by virtue of our winning the league, I wish to appeal for total commitment and dedication to enable us to recapture the trophy. The challenge on the continental scene will be strong and enormous, but I am convinced that with sacrifice and determination we shall overcome.

I am informed that quietly and steady some work is taking place at the Phobian site. While commending the Phobian Sports Complex Committee for the good work done so far, I wish to urge them to work harder so that in a year’s time the team can train at Phobian.

I am saddened to observe that we have not been able to hold our Annual General meeting/congress due to unforeseen circumstances. I am confident that the obstacle that have prevented us from meeting will be surmounted in the not too distant future so that we can lay the foundation to transform our club into a modern entity that can be compared to clubs in Europe.

Finally I wish to appeal for discipline and respect in our dealings with each other within the Phobia Family and others within the National football family.

Let us resolve to make Hearts better than we met it by our thoughts, actions and to deeds.

Long live the Phobia family. Never say die!

NB: Oyeeman Wereko Ampem II is the President of the Council of Patrons of Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club Limited.

GRi…/

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