GRi Sports 02 - 10 - 2003
Local players to dominate Olympic qualifiers
DOL league moves into the 11th week
Local players to dominate Olympic qualifiers
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 October 2003 - Ralph Zumdick, coach of the national under-23 team, the Black Meteors, has expressed his desire to rely mostly on locally based players for the qualifying series of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games which starts on October 26 against South Africa.
In an interview the coach said to this end the present crop of players going to represent the country in the All African Games scheduled for Abuja in Nigeria will be the nucleus of the team with only a few additions from their foreign-based colleagues.
He said among the foreign base players he intends to invite include John Painstil, Michael Essien, John Mensah and Abubakar Yakubu. The Coach said the decision to use mostly local players is not to sideline the foreign-based players but to give them enough time to consolidate their positions in their respective clubs as the European seasons has just commenced.
Coach Zumdick said though he will be participating in the All African Games, his main focus would be on the Olympics qualifiers, which has pegged Ghana in the same group with South Africa, Zambia and Algeria.
"For me our opening group match against South Africa on October 26 in Accra is very crucial since it will set the stage for our picking the only ticket from the group to Athens. "The match against South Africa has an added significance since Ghana has not fared well in recent times in matches against them and it is important that we break that circle once and for all."
"To this end I have directed the grounds men at the Accra Sports Stadium to condition the pitch very well to enable us play the ball on the turf where we will have a comparative advantage over them"
Coach Zumdick who was recently appointed coach for the Black Stars and Black Meteors on a six-month trial basis after the departure fellow German Burkard Ziese faces his first task in Nigeria.
The Coach who is very familiar to the Ghanaian terrain having coached Kumasi Asante Kotoko to the finals of the African Cup Winner Cup and the later Kumasi King Faisal said the current crop of players in camp are arguably the best on the local scene who can bring honour and glory to the country.
He said he is not going into the Games expecting miracles but rather he is going to work hard and take one match at a time and " should we win the gold, I will not be surprised."
The Coach said he is aware of the high expectations of Ghanaians any time any of the national teams play but it is also important for them to know that we are in a difficult group with Cameroon, Egypt and Algeria.
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DOL league moves into the 11th week
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 October 2003 - The National Division One League remains on a smooth path match after match as the league continues this week with the 11th week matches scheduled for all the league centres across the country.
Catholic Stars who lost their last match against Shooting Stars in Nyankpala will be at Bolga to redeem their image when they clash with Mighty Rocks, while Jakpa Warriors will also seek to make amends after their three nil lost to Mighty Rocks in the tenth week by welcoming Morin Stars at Navrongo, with Yeji Stars clashing with Nationals at Yeji, all in the zone 1A.
In zone 1B, Pro Sports will be at Berekum to welcome Boca Juniors, while Aston Villa will take on KWAMAX at Sunyani with Upper West Heroes battling Bronkyempem at Wa and Kintampo United being at home against Toppsymore.
At Bibiani, Gold Stars will take on Adansiman after losing to Conerstone last week, while Krofrom battle Farisco Stars at Wesley College Park in Kumasi, with Kaaseman sorting things out with Conerstones at Offinso and Neoplan Stars taking on Great Ashantis at the Kumasi Sports Stadium on Saturday to complete the zone 2A.
The zone 2B, will see Feeyenord welcoming Smartex at Goma Fetteh with Iron fighters also being at home to face eleven Wise at Mpohor. Vipers will travel to Sekondi on Saturday to meet Bafana Bafana while unimpressive Ebuasua Dwarfs take on Fauzan FC at Cape Coast.
At Oda, Fenhack will meet with King Solomon with Sportnet taking on Real sportive at Legon, after denting the unbeaten run of Mitdjyland last week when they beat them 3-0. Seven United will be at Tema Community Eight to face St. Mirren with Mitdjyland seeking redemption at Legon against Afienya United in the zone 3A.
In the zone 3B, Mariners will meet Deelorm Stars at Teshie and Volta Warriors will welcome Vora Akosombo. Group leaders Suhum Maxbees will trek to Ho to face Home Stars while Oscar FC will meet wit Khalid Stars at Legon.
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