Premier League: Hearts in narrow victory over Okwawu
B.A. United shock Hasaacas at home
Power secures first victory in league
Ghana Academicals beat Nigeria 2-0
Ghana Academicals coaches fight over player-substitution
Togolese wins Milo Tennis Open Championship
Kotoko reach quarterfinals of CAF Cup Winners Cup
Accra (Greater Accra) 29 April 2002 - Accra Hearts of Oak beat a stubborn Okwawu United by a lone goal in a scrappy fourth week Premier League encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday. The only goal of the match came in the 63rd minute through Awudu Adama, who made it a winning debut for the Phobians after his transfer from Dawu Youngsters.
Hearts, who came into the game as the overwhelming favourites, kicked off and dominated the early exchanges with short passes in midfield but could not break through the tight five-man defence of Okwawu marshalled around George Tutu.
The mountaineers, who found it difficult dealing with the Hearts onslaught, adopted all sorts of tricks to frustrate the Hearts attack, resulting in many hold-ups.
Referee T.R.K. Attifu from Tarkwa did not help matters as he ignored many dangerous tackles by both sides, which encouraged retaliation that marred the flow of the game. The first opening came in the 20th minute when Laryea created space in the box and laid the ball for George Eranio who messed up the chance, letting Okwawu off the hook.
Hearts continued to push forward in droves as Okwawu defenders had resorted to foul play, which earned Hearts many freekicks around the penalty Box. But Edmund Copson and Frank Turkson wasted all of them to end the first half goalless.
On resumption, Hearts made the substitution that was to change the destiny of the game when they brought on Adama for Eranio to add bite to the attack, which was having a hard time with the hard-tackling Okwawu defence. But the change rather produced the reverse effect as Okwawu switched from their defensive approach to a more attacking game that nearly brought them the first goal in the 57th minute. This was when Isaac Asante brought out a diving save from Eben Dida who had previously been on holiday.
Three minutes later, Okwawu again came close when Osei Bonsu lobbed the ball over advancing Dida but the ball just went past the post to the relief of the Hearts fans. Hearts regrouped and in the 63rd minute scored the only goal of the game after Turkson, playing on the left wing, slipped in a pass behind the Okwawu defence for Adama to stretch and push it beyond the reach of advancing keeper Frank Dauda.
That goal was Adama's last contribution to the game as he sustained an injury in his effort to score the goal and was substituted by Adjah Tetteh. In the last minute of the game, Okwawu's Daniel Babayara had a golden chance to equalise but his shot from close range went over the bar.
GRi…/
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Sekondi (Western Region) 29 April 2002 - Visiting Brong Ahafo United beat Sekondi Hasaacas 1-0 in their premier league match played at the Sekondi Gyandu Park on Sunday. The goal was scored by Usman Sakora in the 76th minute.
In the first half, both sides contended themselves with tactical and defensive and made few incursions into the opposing penalty areas. After 40 minutes attack and counter-attack, the game slowed down considerably. The tight defensive play of the two teams did not permit any serious attempt at goal in the first half as most shots taken from the penalty areas went wide.
As the spectators shouted for goals on commencement of the second half, Hasaacas went forward but were soon stopped in their tracks by Brong Ahafo United. The visitors were unable to put their subsequent dominance of the game to an advantage and were often caught on the break by the homesters who also failed to get a goal.
In the midst missed fortunes and the pendulum swinging from one end to the other, Usman Sakora connected a pass into the net of Hasaacas from a tight goal mouth action with 14 minutes remaining. Sakora was replaced by Ismail Fridos in the 86th minute and the visitors defended their thin lead to the end of the match.
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo Region) 29 April 2002 - Bofoakwa Tano played a determined game on Sunday to beat visiting Obuasi Goldfields 2-0 in their league match played at the Sunyani Coronation Park. Half time score was 1-0.
To Bofoakwa the victory ensured their superiority over the Obuasi team for some years now. With their recent 3-1 home victory over Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Len Clay Sports Stadium in mind, Goldfields went straight into attack after a minute's silence was observed for the late Premier League referee Okine who died during a training session of referees last week.
Fielding almost the same side that humiliated Kotoko the Obuasi lads attacked in raids but were not given any quarter by Bofoakwa who matched them boot for boot. Bofoakwa began to gain the upper-hand when the game was 13 minutes old, with Osei Boateng, Kwaku Duah, Kofi Asiedu, Tahiru Abulai, Pasco Amponsah and slippery Charles Benson playing like wounded tigers up-front.
The homesters, however, grabbed the opener in the 30th minute Goldfields goalie Abubakari Kankani misjudged in his attempt to save a high ball and punched the ball onto the path of Kwaku Duah who gently tapped it into an empty net. Both sides made substitutions but it was Bofoakwa who benefited as in the 75th minute Kofi Asiedu after beating three defenders in a row shot the ball into the net for his side's second goal.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 29 April 2002 - Liberty Professionals took a giant step to grab the maximum three points at stake when they spanked city rivals, Wonder Club, Accra Great Olympics 3-0 in their league match played at the Accra Sports Stadium.
It was the heaviest humiliation the Wonder Club has ever suffered since the league began, leaving sad expressions on the faces of their few fans. Olympics gave a very promising start, hoping that they were going to carry the day but unfortunately, they wasted their early chances through poor finishing.
Olympics could have taken an early lead in the 10th minute when John Cudjoe who was well positioned to score shot into the waiting hands of goalkeeper Maxwell Owusu-Banahene in post for Liberty after being set up by Amui Quaye. The Dansoman (Accra)-based lads also failed in their earlier attempts in the second and third minutes when John Paintsil's cross to Emmanuel Asante was wasted as goalie Theodore Atsu in post for Olympics gave a quick dive to deprive Liberty from an early lead.
Anxious-looking Olympics continued their pursuit for goals by subjecting their opponents to a total suppression but failed miserably, especially in the 33rd minute when Owusu Ansah squandered an opportunity after receiving a left flank cross from Numo Mohammed.
Liberty who were not cowed by Olympics' aggression won a penalty the 23rd minute but Ernest Papa Arko slammed the ball against the crossbar. Their pressure however paved off in the 38th minute when keeper Atsu rushed off his line and allowed Papa Arko to slot the ball into an empty net.
The game continued on a faster note with both teams struggling to mount pressure on each but Olympics failed to equalise while Liberty also could not increase the tally. On resumption, the Dansoman-based boys shocked Olympics with another quick goal from Papa Arko, his fifth in the season, in the 45th minute when he spun away from his marker and buried the ball in the net.
With two goals to their credit, Liberty mounted pressure on Olympcis and gained another goal three minutes later through Alfred Larbi, who took advantage of a defensive blunder by Olympics and slotted the ball home. Liberty had more chances from then on but failed to utilise them while Olympics appeared demoralised and could not make good use of the few chances
they had till the end of the match.
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Koforidua (Eastern Region) 29 April 2002 - Koforidua based Power F/C beat visiting Real Tamale United 1-0 in their match played at the Koforidua Sports Stadium.
The visiting team put a lot of pressure on Power F/C but could not find the net till the end of half time. In the second half, however, Power F/C came out strongly but missed several chances which they created until the 83rd minute when a striker of the visiting team fouled a defender in the "18" and the referee awarded a penalty. Dennis Odoom, made no mistake and shot the ball straight into the net for the only goal of the match.
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Dawu (Eastern Region) 29 April 2002 - King Faisal on Sunday put up a spectacular performance to hold Dawu Youngsters to a 2-2 drawn game in the match played at the Dawu Stadium.
Dawu dictated the pace in the early minutes of the game and found the net in the third minute through Paul Ofori, but saw their lead cancelled in the 31st minute when Abubakari Yahuza headed home an inswinger.
Both teams came back from recess very strongly and scored a goal apiece in the dying minutes of the game. It was Dawu who once again shot into the lead through Issah Ahmed but Yahuza was on target to pull even for the monarchs.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 02 May 2002 - Porcupine Warriors,
Kumasi Asante Kotoko on Wednesday beat Prestea Mine Stars, 2-0 in their
outstanding league match played at the Kumasi Stadium. But for the sense of
good anticipation, bravery and determination exhibited by goalkeeper Emmanuel
Awuah, Mine Stars would have returned to Prestea carrying a basketful of goals.
When the match got underway, Kotoko initiated series of attacks, pinning the Miners
to their own half on most occasions and came close to scoring in the third
minute but Stephen Oduro’s power-laden shot was beautifully saved by Awuah.
The anxiety of Kotoko to open the floodgates affected their play, making them
to commit elementary mistakes and wasting glorious chances. After a series of
misses by the Kotoko attackers, Stephen Oduro managed to open the scores for
his side in the 24th minute.
It was Aziz Ansah, who initiated the attack at the right flank, and after
sliding past two defenders, sent a beautiful pass to Nana Arhin Duah. The
attacker also dived past an opponent before floating a lovely one to unmarked
Oduro. The diminutive midfielder met the ball with a header, which grazed the
foot of a defender before rolling into the net for the opening goal.
A minute later the Miners nearly equalised, but a beautiful header by Isaac
Osei Asibey hit the crossbar and bounced back into play to the relief of
Kotoko. The second half saw the two teams making frantic efforts to score with
Kotoko slightly on top.
In the second half Kotoko increased the tempo of their game and in one of their
moves, Nana Arhin Duah who proved too slippery was hacked down in the box and
Class One referee, Ebenezer Ferguson whistled for a penalty. Godwin Ablordey
who elected himself for the kick planted the ball beautifully in the net.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 30 April 2002 - Leading goal scorers in the Premiership after the fourth week matches played on Sunday.
5 - Ernest Papa Arko (liberty)
3 - Abubakar Yahuza (Faisal)
2 - Amui Quaye (Olympics), Frank Turkson (Hearts) Bawa Mohammed (BA United) Kwasi Mensah (Mines Stars)
1 - Charles Taylor, Laryea Kingston, Don Bortey, Awudu Adama (Hearts) Godwin Ablordey, Micheal Osei, Nana Arhin Duah, Joe Louis, Joe Sam, Godwin Ablordey, Nana Frimpong (Kotoko) Kenneth Ababio, Issah Rahman, Ofosu Amoah,
Frank Awuah, Dauda Siedu (Goldfields) James Amartey (Olympics) Andrew Antwi, Osman Sakora (BA United) Joe Agyman SNR, Kwabina Opoku, Joe Agyman (Faisal) Osei Bonsu, Eddy Acquah (Okwawu) Issah Shaibu, Masawudu Mumuni (Maxbees) Samuel Owusu, Dennis Odum (Power) Mutalib Abdul, Mohammed Inusah (Hasaacas) Albert
Ayikade, Mohammed Baker, Joseph Adjei (RTU) Kennedy Ayew (Mines Stars) Tahiru Abulai, Kwaku Duah, Kofi Asiedu (Bofoakwa) Eric Mbroah, Kamara Dauda, Paul Otu, Issah Ahmed (Dawu), Eric Adu Poku (Arsenals) Alfred Nii Larbi (liberty).
NB: Scorers chart does not include the scorer for Arsenal/Match
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Lagos (Nigeria) 29 April 2002 - The VALCO academicals soccer team, whose predecessors were thumped 4-1 by their Nigerian counterparts last year, redeemed the country's image with an emphatic 2-0 win in the second leg of this year's international friendly between the two countries at the main bowl, Surulere national stadium in Lagos.
Nana Asamoah Gyan and Richard Pobee scored both goals, one in each half, against the run of play in a thrilling encounter. Tall and lanky Asamoah, younger brother of Baffour Gyan of Black Stars fame, powered the Ghanaians with an immaculate 13th minute header. The final year student of Accra Academy, who once played in the junior team of Greek first division club Panathiniakos, scaled over his markers to nod home the opener from a corner kick.
But five minutes later, he wasted a golden opportunity to increase the tally for the VALCO academicals when his penalty kick hit the upright and rolled into touch. Winger Mohammed Fatawu was brought down after he had latched unto a through ball in the penalty area and was whacked down as he attempted to score.
The Nigerians backed by their national supporters union with a non-stop music continued their earlier dominance but agile goalkeeper Abuwaldan Shamdan stood between the Nigerians and their needed equaliser. He pulled some dramatic safes in the game and had to be attended to in the 26th and 40th minutes after clashing with danger man Felix Orode.
Diminutive Frank Appiah, a final year student of Bolga Technical won the hearts of the Nigerians with his superb technical ability and his ball control in midfield. He was so efficient that the young Nigerians team became immobile in the midfield. The deft touches of Appiah, which effectively cut off the Nigerian midfield was so delightful that the Nigerians fans at the stadium shifted their loyalty in favour of the Ghanaians and occasionally booed at their own players.
Ironically, the unfriendly attitude of the Nigerian fans rather gingered their boys to mount an incessant pressure on the Ghanaians and but for a good defensive network marshalled around Aminu Mohammed, the Nigerians could have pulled level.
However, just as the pressure became so intense, the Ghanaians caught the Nigerians on a counter attack and Pobee sliced a loose ball into the net in the 87th minute after substitute John Amuzu's first time shot had been blocked. The Nigerian fans became so angry after the match that they threatened to teach Nigerian coach Emmanuel Okoh "some lessons."
Officials of Shell, Nigeria, sponsors of the competition in that country, had to plead with the fans to take it easy on the players and their handlers. The two sides drew 1-1 in the first leg in Accra last Saturday. Officials of Shell announced after the game that the company would donate a trophy to be competed for from next year.
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Lagos (Nigeria) 29 April 2002 - The two Ghanaian coaches who handled the VALCO academicals boys in their 2-0 win over their Nigerian counterparts, created an embarrassing scene at the bowl, Surulere national Stadium in Lagos as they were visibly seen in a serious confrontation over player substitution.
Head coach Bashir Hayford and his deputy Norman Arthur shifted their attention from the boys for a brief period to prove who was really the boss. It all happened in the first quarter of the second half at which time the Ghanaians were under intense pressure.
Coach Hayford apparently had instructed that Wabil Abdul be substituted for John Amuzu however, just as the papers were being filed for the substitution to be made, right wing back, Emmanuel Yeboah who had picked a yellow card had terribly brought down a Nigerian player.
Yeboah got a minor injury in the process and was stretchered off the field. But deputy coach Arthur sensing danger on the grounds that if the player went in he could attract a red card for a second bookable offence decided to substitute him instead of Abdul.
However, the decision did not go down well with Hayford who thought his powers were being usurped. The issue led to a serious confrontation as the two and unconsciously abandoned their roles of attending to the boys to sort themselves out. After a while, Arthur was seen taking a back stage for a while for tempers to cool down. Funny enough, Yeboah finally came out for another defender Henry Riss Okaikwei while Wabil went out for Amuzu.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 29 April 2002 - Christian Balaise Gakpo, a Togolese Davies Cup player, emerged winner of the men's event of this year's Milo Tennis Open Championship played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday.
Playing a determined game, Gakpo defeated Kwesi Ahinkorah by 6-4, 7-6 in the first two sets of their game to win the competition sponsored by Nestle Ghana Limited, producers of Milo. Gakpo received a cash prize of 1.2 million cedis, trophy, Milo products and a sports bag, while runner-up Ahinkora pocketed 800,000 cedi, Milo products and a sports bag.
In the ladies event, Ivy Aryeetey also beat Ayishetu Karimu 6-2, 7-5 to win the competition and took away a cash prize of ¢800,000, a trophy, Milo products and a sports bag while Karimu took home 600,000 cedis, Milo products and a sports bag.
In the junior divisions, Emmanuel Mensah beat Baba Eric 3-6, 6-4 and 7-5 in the Under-16 category of the boys' event to win the championship. Mensah would also have the opportunity to embark on an International Tennis Federation (ITF) European tour sponsored by ITF. Ernestina Atiso also won the female under-16 event by defeating Abigail Opoku Mensah 7-5,6-2 in the first two games.
Winners of both the boys and girls events of the Under-16 category received one pair of trainer, 300,000 cedis scholarship bursary, tennis rackets, ball, Milo products and a trophy. Kanbete Andrews also beat Atikpo Michael 6-3,6-4 to win the boys Under-14 division, with Emmanuella Cudjoe beating Kate Coleman 6-3,6-2 to emerge the Girls Under-14 champion. Those in the Under-14 division also received one pair of trainer, ¢200,000 scholarship, rackets, balls, trophy, and Milo products.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 29 April 2002 - A well-drilled Santos side descended on Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Kumasi sports stadium and nearly succeeded in causing harm but ended up drawing 1-1 in their CAF Cup Winners one-eighth match.
The results did not go down well with the South Africans as their national goalkeeper Andre Arendse rushed on Nigerian referee Alex Mama at the end of the match, which sent the security personnel hurrying to the aid of the referee. Santos were just unlucky as Ithier Jean-Narc hit the cross bar on the stroke of full time to let Kotoko off the hook. The win therefore sent Kotoko into the quarterfinals of the competition.
Kotoko should have won the match in the first half in which they squandered numerous chances to the consternation of their supporters who had thronged the stadium in their numbers. The homesters went straight into attack and Godfred Yeboah sent the ball across the goalmouth in the first minute while goalkeeper Arendse plucked the ball on the head of Micheal Osei in the second minute.
Kotoko gave the visitors no breather as they carried the game to them and in the fifth minute Arendse in desperation kicked a back pass to prowling Michael Osei but his pass to Shilla Alhassan caught him napping. Everything pointed to an early Kotoko lead but they squandered begging chances as in the 16th minute, Nana Arhin Duah missed from Stephen Oduro's pass from a free-kick just on the edge of the penalty box.
Then in the 23rd minute, Stephen Oduro operating from the right, cut through the Santos defence into the penalty box but shot feebly into the waiting hands of goalkeeper Arendse.
Santos re-organised themselves and put their act together and came very close in the 28th minute catching the Kotoko defence flat footed but they scrambled to clear the ball. The tall South Africans then started operating from the wings particularly where Solomons Jonathan dominated and after soaking the Kotoko pressure to the 33rd minute sent Ithier Jean-Narc on with a pass but he shot wide.
Kotoko regrouped and this time Stephen Oduro operating from the left again cut through the Santos defence but again shot feebly into the hands of goalkeeper Arendse just on the stroke of half time. It was obvious from the way Kotoko were missing these chances that something had to be done about the attack and it came as no surprise when Shilla Alhassan who was virtually a passenger was replaced by Nana Frimpong on resumption.
Santos also pulled out Mobata David and Xaba Thokozani for Manwetli Rocardo and Tyran Arendse in the 52nd minute and these changes seemed to have brought some bite into their play. They quickly seized the midfield winning the 50-50 balls and put Kotoko on the defensive and in one of their moves, earned a freekick in the 56th minute just outside the Kotoko penalty box.
Tsui Tebeho elected to take it and sent the ball into the Kotoko box, which caught the defence off-guard for Otieno Musa to slot home the opener. The goal sent a chill through the spines of the teeming supporters of the porcupine warriors as defeat stared them in the face.
Kotoko however did not give up and attacked from the right and in the 69th minute Nana Arhin Duah shot off target from skipper Godwin Ablordey's perfect pass after a good run on the right. They pressed on and in another foray, substitute Joe Louis equalised in a goalmouth action after collecting a pass from Arhin Duah to send the stadium alive again.
But the hearts of the supporters nearly stopped beating as on the stroke of full time Santos Otieno Musa hit the cross bar with scissors-kick from a cornerkick with the Kotoko defence once again caught wrong footed.
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