GRi Sports News Ghana 27 - 04 - 2001
Soccer-Nyarko
talks to Everton about future
Sport-Star Premier
League: It looks dicey for Hearts
Soccer-Nyarko
talks to Everton about future
Liverpool (United Kingdom) 27
April 2001
Everton midfielder Alex Nyarko has
held talks with manager Walter Smith over his future at the club after walking
out earlier this week.
The 27-year-old Ghanaian announced
he was quitting football after being abused by an irate Everton fan during
their 4-1 premier league defeat at Arsenal last Saturday.
He did not turn up for training on
Monday but an Everton spokesman said on Thursday the midfielder had spoken with
Smith and would have further discussions next week.
"Walter Smith has today had a
discussion with Alex Nyarko in which the player expressed his thoughts on the events
of last weekend at Highbury," Everton spokesman Alan Myers said on the
club's website.
"Alex has asked for more time
to consider his future and with the club having a very important game against
Bradford City at the weekend the manager is happy to allow him that time."
He added that Nyarko and Smith
would talk again next week.
Stephen Price, the fan who ran
onto the pitch and offered to swap shirts with Nyarko at Highbury, was banned
from all football grounds in Britain for three years by a north London court on
Thursday.
Price, from Kirkdale, Liverpool,
pleaded guilty to unlawfully entering a playing area. He was also fined 170
pounds ($245.2).
"In the light of the events
at Highbury last Saturday, Everton Football Club would like to express its disgust
and disappointment at the actions of the supporter who made his way
onto the pitch," said
Everton's head of corporate affairs and PR Ian Ross.
He said the club would discuss
whether or not to take further action against the fan at its next directors' board
meeting.
GRi…/
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Sport-Star
Premier League: It looks dicey for Hearts
Accra (Greater Accra) 27 April
2001
The excitement of the Star Premier
League will be raised a step higher as defending champions, Accra Hearts of Oak
make their maiden appearance in this year's competition.
Perhaps their absence from the
early meal has impacted negatively on the thrills of the league, as their
vociferous fans are yet to be heard. The Phobians are coming wounded and very
hungry for recognition and respect after being mauled 5-1 and kayoed from the
African champions league by Etoile du Congo.
Hearts's humiliation by Etoile du
Congo will not augur well for other teams as they would be poised to vent their
spleen on them to appease their teeming fans.
Interestingly, Obuasi Goldfields
are also yet to put the smiles back on the faces of their fans and as such, it
is going to be very competitive when the two sides meet in the topmost
encounter at the Len Clay stadium.
From all indications, Hearts will
be going in for the kill in order to collect the three points and maintain
their invulnerability, at least, on the local front.
Kotoko fans may have every cause
to jubilate as their team is yet to loose a match but as to whether the
jubilation would continue will be determined when they host Tano Bofoakwa at
the Kumasi Sports Stadium.
In Accra, Great Olympics who have
performed creditably, with a win and draw, since the commencement of league
would be anxious to prove to their crest fallen supporters that there is light
at the end of the tunnel with the exit of Mr Ade Coker.
But playing against Alhaji
Grunsah's boys is nothing to joke about since King Faisal are firmly fixed at
the top on the table with four points from two outings and Olympics must be at
their best to avert their first loss this season, home advantage
notwithstanding.
New entrants Adansiman, who are
yet find their feet in the premiership and moderate performers, Berekum
Arsenals will come face to face at Berekum in a match which may tilt in favour
of the home team.
Maxbees, another debutante pulled
up a surprise last week by beating Okwawu United 1-0 at their own back yard at
Nkawkaw, silencing the vociferous Okwawu fans.
This time, Maxbees will meet
tougher opposition as they clash with Kwaebibirem United at Asuom. And fresh
from their massive victory over Dawu at the same venue last week, Maxbees must
be extra careful to avoid disgrace.
In Accra, Liberty Professionals
will sort things out with Okwawu United in another dicey encounter while at
Dawu, Sekondi Hasaacas battle Dawu Youngsters in a thriller, which has the odds
on the side of Dawu.
At the Tamale Kaladan Park, fans
will be treated to an interesting encounter as RTU combat Tema Ghapoha.
GRi…/
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