Black Queens to host Ghatel Ladies
Accra (Greater Accra) 19 November 2002 - Fresh from their
slender 0-1 loss to Wydad Casablanca of Morocco, team
chiefs of Kumasi Asante Kotoko are recommending
caution ahead of the ultimate contest three weeks away. But the teeming fans
cannot wait.
Thousands stand poised to occupy every space at the
In a post-match interview with the press, Zumdick
assured the Kotoko family of at least a 2-0 victory over the Moroccans when
they engage each other in the Cup Winners Cup final in
The anticipated thriller in
This final phase of their campaign started on a wobble last Sunday in
second-half goal from striker Mohamed Madihi handed
hosts Wydad Casablanca that slender 1-0 win.
Driving rain and a muddy pitch made playing conditions difficult for both
teams, forcing them into a kick and rush-like battle of attrition. The ball
consistently stuck in puddles of water or patches of mud.
Madihi stole in at the back post to score after team
mate Mourad Erraji headed a
free kick from Boujemaa Kassab
perfectly into his path for a close-range tap-in. The 50th minute
goal came just 60 seconds after Erraji had a penalty
saved by Kotoko's goalkeeper Osei Boateng.
The Moroccan hosts were handed a rather soft looking spot kick by the Camerounian referee after a challenge on Abdelhak Ait Laarif.
Television replays showed just a slight brush as the Wydad
midfielder went tumbling down in the area.
Erraji hammered his kick to the left of the Kotoko
goalkeeper but Boateng came up with a splendid save
to deny the hosts. Aiut Laarif
might have got a second for Wydad in the 64th minute
as he ran round the Ghanaian goalkeeper but he slipped on the wet surface as he
attempted a shot from a tight angle.
Kotoko produced just two noteworthy chances, both early in the second half
when, first, Wydad's defence cleared at the end of a
goalmouth scramble and then goalkeeper Tarik El Jarmouni pushed a powerful shot from Shila
Alhassan over the crossbar.
Despite the defeat, Kotoko will now be considered favourites for the title
given their free scoring form at home where they have found the net four times
in both the home legs of their quarter-final and semi-final.
The second leg of the final is to be played on December 8 with both sides
looking to add the Cup Winners Cup title to previous success in the African
Champions Cup.
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He has therefore assured the Phobian fraternity to
prepare for another celebration in the coming season, as the championship is an
already done deal. He indicated his commitment to ensure a seven straight
championship in the final of his two-year term next year and stressed that the
trend will continue if he is given another term.
Making this revelation in an interview with the Graphic Sports, Okine only exhorted the other contenders including Kumasi Asante Kotoko to remain patient in the queue while awaiting
their turn after the 10-year ambitious reign by the Phobians.
On the occasion the Hearts Chief Executive, who noted how proud he was about
the historic victory, was simply overjoyed by the fact that it coincided with
the team's 91st birthday anniversary.
According to him, much as he held closest rivals Kotoko in high esteem for what
he described as one of the toughest challenges ever mounted by them throughout
his long association with Hearts, it never crossed his mind that they would
ever surrender their lead.
He noted that the best yet from Hearts should be expected next season where
they will definitely raise the standards even higher on all fronts.
"All should expect a different Hearts of Oak next year," he
emphasised. He, however, wished Kotoko, Great Olympics, Liberty Professionals
and the other clubs to keep up the spirit in the coming years for the
betterment of
"The secret to our success was discipline and dedication on the part of
the playing body," he revealed. Okine also spoke
highly of Coach Herbert Addo for his commitment and
promised to renew his contract for another season.
Reflecting on the just ended season, he recalled that the first round clash
against Power FC in which Hearts won 1-0 through a penalty was their toughest
in the series while singling out joint top scorer, Charles Taylor as the most
outstanding player in his outfit.
He disclosed that his other target will be to restore the
Touching on refereeing, he gave the knights of the whistle 70 percent for their
performance and urged all to understand them when they go wrong since they are
fallible being human beings.
He therefore explained that he has psyched up his players not to challenge
referees' decisions on the field of play and also introduced a concept in the
club where referees are constantly invited to update players on the rules of
the game.
He called on the various chapters to rally behind the management with total
support to enable it to realise its dreams.
Meanwhile, Hearts are currently taking part in a special four-club invitational
tournament in
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Black Queens to host Ghatel Ladies
The match
will serve as part of the preparations of the
Josephs
Ayittey, Team manager for the league leaders told GNA sports that his side is
well drilled to give the
GRi…/
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