GRi Sports 20-04-99

Soccer - Gallant losers Satellites back home

Boxing - Clottey brothers to feature in May Day bonanza

Accra (Greater Accra), 20th April 

The national under-20 soccer team, the Black Satellites, returned home on Tuesday from Kaduna, Nigeria, after their elimination by Spain in their quarter-final tie of the World FIFA/Coca Cola U-20 soccer championship in Nigeria on Sunday. The Satellites lost 7-8 on penalties after drawing 1-1 in the regulation 90-minute period and the extra time.

They were welcomed on arrival by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr E. T. Mensah and his two deputies, Professor Patrick Addy and Sylvester Azantilow, Colonel George Brock, Chairman of the National Sports Council and a sizeable crowd of soccer fans.

Mr Mensah said though the team left Accra with the hope of winning the tournament; they lost gallantly at the quarterfinal stage. He said, "you lost gallantly and we are proud of you", and congratulated them on behalf of the government and people of Ghana.

Alhaji M. N. D. Jawula, Chairman of the Ghana Football Association thanked Ghanaians for their support during the tournament stressing that the Satellites did their best but it was not enough to bring the cup to Ghana. He expressed his misgivings about officiating during the tournament, especially matches involving Ghana and said that on two occasions he had to raise the issue during the match against Costa Rica and Spain, handled by Spanish and Costa Rican referees respectively. He indicated his intentions to raise the issue at the next FIFA and CAF congresses.

The Coach, Giuseppe Dossena praised his boys and said it was unfortunate that they were eliminated adding " we lost the opportunity to win but we were not disgraced.

A few hundreds of soccer fans, who were at the airport, mobbed the players and carried the coach shoulder-high.

Accra (Greater Accra), 20th April

The Famous Clottey brothers, Emmanuel and Joshua have vowed to give their opponents a sound beating when they mount the ring in a May Day boxing bonanza to be staged by Sikaprix International Promotions at the Lebanon House in Accra. At a press conference at which the boxers who will feature on the bill were introduced, Emmanuel, the senior of the two, pledged to knock out his opponent, Sammy Ray, for the vacant national lightweight crown.

He said with the experience he has gained since his amateur days through to his professional career, there was no way his opponent could last the 12 rounds.

Ray, who is trained by former World Boxing Council (WBC) superfeatherweight champion, Azumah Nelson's brother, J.A. Nelson, will not be intimidated with words and responded : " I will prove to everybody that the Clottey brothers are not as fearsome as they think", he said.

Coach Nelson, backing his ward said: "Boxing is not strength and shouting alone but common sense as well and this is what Ray is going to teach Emmanuel in the ring on May Day".

In the supporting bouts, junior Clottey, Joshua will fight Isaac Quartey, another boxer from Azumah's gym in an eight-round welterweight contest.

In a featherweight contest, the champion, Eric Odumase who is also a ward at Azumah's gym said he will prove to his challenger, Thomas Dodoo that "boxing is not for Gas only but Ashantis as well".

Maciano Commey will fight John Alarbi in a welterweight contest while Flash Ibole Issaka will battle with Marvin Liston Otoo in a catchweight contest. Both fights will go eight rounds.

Scorpion Bawa will fight Kofi Quaye in a light heavyweight contest, Joseph Agbeko versus John Abugri in the flyweight division while Moro Tijani meets Baba Clay in a super lightweight elimination bout.

Tijani, an Airforce Seargeant and a former member of the black bombers, is said to be finding it difficult getting opponents beacause most boxers fear him.

Mr Sammy Captan, the promoter of the event, called on the boxers to be ready to fight anybody they are paired against.