Chief calls for healthy rivalry in sports
Goldfields sails into semi-finals
K. Faisal inflict a defeat on RTU
Myles-Mills wins SWAG topmost award
Accra (Greater Accra) 28 August
2000
The Sports Writers Association of
Ghana's (SWAG) annual awards to distinguished sports personalities in the
country have been described as a motivator for excellence.
Speaking at the silver jubilee
edition of the awards night at the National Theatre, Mr. Joe Aggrey, the
president of SWAG said the recognition accorded sportsmen and sportswomen by
sports journalists creates an atmosphere for healthy competition among them.
Mr. Aggrey said sports journalists
are bound to step on many powerful toes in the discharge of their duties and
called on those who have been offended to forgive and forget.
He said SWAG has tried to sustain
the ceremony despite the economic difficulties it had encountered, because of
its commitment to sports development in the country.
He thanked corporate bodies, which
have sponsored various editions of the awards night and expressed the hope that
they would not relinquish their patronage in the new millennium.
In a speech read on behalf of Mr.
Lamine Diack, president of the International Amateur Athletics Association
(IAAA), he said Ghana has a track record of a great sporting nation.
Mr. Diack lauded the achievements
of Ghanaian leaders, especially the First President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah
for their commitment to the political liberation of Africa.
He called on all stakeholders in
sports to join him in a crusade to emancipate the development of sports and
athletics in particular, on the continent of Africa.
The IAAA President said
journalists have a duty to influence the introduction of new technology in the
training of athletes to better their performances and to improve upon the efficiency of the administration of
competitive sports.
He tasked sports journalists to
mirror the changing nature of sports by placing emphasis on what is new and
crucial in the development of a strategy for Africa.
Two categories of awards were
presented to deserving sports stars of the country. The millennium awards went
to athletes, who were considered the over-all best in their various disciplines
and the 1999 awards for persons, who distinguished themselves last year.
United States based sprinter,
Leonard Myles Mills was voted the sportsman of the year 1999. He also won the
best athlete award for the year.
Below is the list of past winners of
the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) awards.
1974- D. K. Poison
1975- D. K. Poison
1976- -
1977- Richard "Scorpion"
Ofosu
1978- Azumah Nelson
1979 --
1980- Azumah Nelson
1981- Azumah Nelson
1982- ---
1983- ---
1984- Azumah Nelson
1985- Azumah Nelson
1986- Azumah Nelson
1987- Azumah Nelson
1988- Azumah Nelson
1989- Nana Yaw Konadu
1990- Abedi Ayew Pele
1991- Black Starlets
1992- Tony Yeboah
1993- Abedi Ayew Pele/Tony Yeboah
1994- Ike Quartey
1995- Ike Quartey
1996- Ike Quartey
1997- Ike Quartey
1998- Raymond Narh
1999-Leo Myles-Mills
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Accra (Greater Accra) 28 August 2000
Results of the one-eighth matches of the ABC/FA knockout matches played on Sunday.
Accra: Liberty 3 K’bibirem 1 Kumasi: K. Faisal 1 RTU 0
Obuasi: Goldfields 6 Bofoakwa 0 Sekondi: Hasaacas 4 Hearts 5 pen (FT 1-1)
Sunyani: B. A. United 4 Kotoko 3 pen (FT 0-0) Cape Coast: Dwarfs 0 Dawu 2
(Note: Okwawu-Voradep match declared outstanding).
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Tema (Greater Accra) 28 August 2000
Nii Adjetey Kraku II, paramount chief of Tema Traditional Area, has asked Ghanaian sporting clubs to refrain from engineering violence and ensure that competitions are held in a peaceful atmosphere.
The chief was speaking at a reception at which the Accra -Tema branch of the Asante Kotoko Society presented Traditional drinks and money to the Traditional Council towards this year's Homowo.
Nii Kraku advised football clubs to educate their fans adequately on the rules of the game so as to eliminate violence from our stadia.
He told the donors to set up a machinery to re-generate a healthy relationship between Kotoko and other soccer clubs as a way of enhancing development of football in the country.
Dr Tutu, an executive member of the Kotoko Society, who made the presentation, promised to do every thing possible to smoothen the rough edges in Kotoko's relationship with Accra Hearts of Oak.
Other members of the delegation were Mr. E.W. Edusei and Mr. I.K.Edusei, Vice President and National Co-ordinator respectively of the society.
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Sekondi (Western Region) 28 August 2000
Accra Hearts of Oak knocked out Sekondi Hasaacas when they defeated them 6-5 on penalties at the local Gyandu Park.
The scores after full time of play was 1-1.
A goal scored by outside left Frank Turkson from a penalty in the 28th minute enabled Hasaacas to take the lead.
The penalty was awarded Hasaacas after one of its players was brought down in Hearts goal area.
The goal shook Hearts who stepped up their game but missed many scoring chances that came their way.
In the 60th minute, they were awarded a penalty but inside left Stephen Tetteh shot wide.
Hearts however found the equaliser in the 77th minute, through Winfred Dormon playing at the outside left position, which sent the game into penalties.
Obuasi (Ashanti Region) 28 August 2000
Obuasi Goldfields sailed into the quarter final stage of the ABC/FA knockout competition with an emphatic 6-0 win over visiting Tano Bofoakwa in their match at the Len Clay Sports Stadium.
Goldfields who took command of the game from kick off opened the scores in the 18th minute with a spot kick beautifully converted by Sammy Adjei.
Nana Arhin Duah scored the second from a solo effort before Bofoakwa's Richard Kyeremeh netted an own goal to give the miners a conformable 3-0 lead at half time.
Back from recess, Goldfields continued with their dominance as Sylla Abdul Karim's terrific grounder in the 56th minute beat Alhassan Mohammed for the fourth goal.
In the 67th minute Isaac Boakye added his name on the score sheet when he tapped the ball home after goalkeeper Mohammed failed to collect Sylla's powerful shot.
Bent on burying their opponents, the miners kept on probing for more goals and in the 88th minute Momo Wandel completed a clinical cross from intelligent Ofosu Amoah from the right flanks to seal the doom of Tano Bofoakwa.
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Cape Coast (Central Region) 28 August 2000
Tema Real Sportive Club started the National Sub Middle League on a bright note when they whipped Suhum based Maxbees Club 2-0 in the their middle league match played at the Cape Coast sports stadium on Saturday.
In a fast and uncompromising match in which both teams entertained football fans with copy book soccer it was Tema Sportive who broke the deadlock with a spot kick taken by inside left, Kofi Awuah, in the 23rd minute.
Takoradi based class one referee, Jacob Wilson Sey, who handled the match awarded the penalty to Sportive when a hard pressed defender of Maxbees handled the ball in the "18" during a goalmouth melee.
Inspired by the early lead, Sportive continued to pile pressure on their opponents until the 31st minute when centre forward, William Hammond collected a pass from the right flank and increased the tally to 2-0 in the 31st minute.
Maxbees resumed strongly and made frantic efforts to equalise but the defence of Sportive foiled all their attmpts.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 28 August 2000
Liberty Professionals continued their recent dominance over Kwaebibirem when they humiliated them 3-1 at the one-eighth stage of this year's ABC knock-Out competition at the Accra Sports Stadium.
With last Saturday's 6-1 whipping fresh in their minds, Kwaebibirem started on a cautious note and concentrated most of their play in mid-field with their link man Elvis Opoku controlling affairs.
The first break came in the 21st minute when Samuel Ohene was put through but his shot was saved by Louis Quainoo in post for Liberty.
As in their previous match, Kwaebibirem took the lead in the 26th minute through Ohene who tapped in the rebound after a free kick.
Liberty pulled the goal back in the 29th minute, when Ablade Morgan was tripped from behind by Amoah Acheampong, for Albert Neequaye to fire in the 25 meter free kick.
Fired up by the equaliser, and with the first half drawing to a close, David Boateng rose above the defence of the visitors to nod in a corner kick from Neequaye for their second goal in the 42nd minute.
The second half saw Kwaebibirem, dominating the early stages of the game with petit Opoku again controlling the game but Oppong Kyekyeku and Nuhu Mohammed robbed them of chances that came their way.
Liberty took control of the match mid way in the second half and extended their lead further in the 65th minute, when Ablade Morgan finished off a pass from David Boateng.
Liberty had to play with ten men from the 77th minute when their central defender Ebenezer Odamtey was sent out for a second bookable offence.
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 28 August 2000
Brong Ahafo United beat visiting Asante Kotoko by three goals to nil on penalties to send the porcupine warriors out of this year's ABC FA Cup.
The mandatory penalty shoot out became necessary after both teams had settled for a goal-less draw after 90 minutes of regulation time.
Godfred Yeboah, who emerged the best defender for United set his side on the winning trail when his penalty kick beat Osei Boateng in post for Kotoko. Godwin Ablordey's kick was saved by keeper Ransford Kudjo to the cheers of the home fans.
Frank Adjei made it two nil for BA while Alex Djanie of Kotoko played into the hands of Kudjo.
United's third kick was converted by Aziz Sulemana and Seidu Bakai of Kotoko also played into the out-stretched hand of Ransford Kudjo.
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Obuasi (Ashanti Region) 28 August 2000
Obuasi Goldfields sailed into the quarter final stage of the ABC/FA knockout competition with an emphatic 6-0 win over visiting Tano Bofoakwa in their match at the Len Clay Sports Stadium.
Goldfields who took command of the game from kick off opened the scores in the 18th minute with a spot kick beautifully converted by Sammy Adjei.
Nana Arhin Duah scored the second from a solo effort before Bofoakwa's Richard Kyeremeh netted an own goal to give the miners a conformable 3-0 lead at half time.
Back from recess, Goldfields continued with their dominance as Sylla Abdul Karim's terrific grounder in the 56th minute beat Alhassan Mohammed for the fourth goal.
In the 67th minute Isaac Boakye added his name on the score sheet when he tapped the ball home after goalkeeper Mohammed failed to collect Sylla's powerful shot.
Bent on burying their opponents, the miners kept on probing for more goals and in the 88th minute Momo Wandel completed a clinical cross from intelligent Ofosu Amoah from the right flanks to seal the doom of Tano Bofoakwa.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 28 August 2000
King Faisal inflicted a one-nil defeat on Real Tamale United (RTU) in their knock-out competition to advance into the quarter final stage at the Kumasi stadium.
The winning goal was scored by Massaudu Yahaya in the 69th minute who connected Ben Wilson's pass from the right.
Wilson latched onto a pass on the right and with dexterity cut the RTU defence into ribbons before laying on a neat pass for Massaudu to send the ball past goalkeeper Sulemana Abukari.
RTU fought back fiercely and had danger man Joseph Adjei spearheading the incursions into the Faisal goal area but Gilbert Ayikade shot feebly into the hands of goalkeeper Sampson Appiah from an Agyei pass.
The first half was uneventful as the game was played mostly in the middle but on resumption, the two teams increased their work rates and it was RTU who nearly shot ahead in the 52nd minute but Iddrisu Yahaya cleared the ball just on the goal line for Faisal.
Two minutes later, RTU goalkeeper Sulemana Abukari missed a high ball but the ball hit the bar and rebounded into play.
Both sides made changes, RTU sent in Bukari Mohammed for Azagba Komi while Faisal replaced Bella Boafo with Mohammed Tanko in the 81st and 82nd minutes respectively but this could not make any impact on the game till the final whistle.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 28 August
2000
Leo Myles-Mills, Ghanaian athlete
based in the United States, was on Saturday crowned the Sportsman and Athlete
of the year 1999, by the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) at its
silver jubilee gala night held at the National Theatre.
He was presented with the Kofi
Annan Award donated by the UN Secretary General on his visit to Accra a
fortnight ago.
Myles-Mills, current Africa
100-metre sprint champion was among 17 other sportsmen and sportswomen
presented with awards for their outstanding performances in 1999.
Seven other sports veterans
including Nana Kumi Gyamfi I (C. K. Gyamfi) former skipper of the Black Stars,
Abedi Ayew Pele and Ghana Brewery Company (GBC) received the millennium awards
at the ceremony spiced with musical interludes by top Ghanaian hi-life stars.
This year's award was a departure
from the previous 24 editions, which were characterised by dinner/dance. The
night could best be described as a replica of the US Grammy awards, which also
featured Ghanaian rap king, Lord Kenya, the Marriot International Band, the
Winneba Youth Choir and the Pan-African Orchestra.
The night was also given an
international flavour with Jenny Horrocks of the BBC Fast Track fame as one of
the presenters.
But before the other awardees
could mount the podium for their prizes, one Yaw Korankye broke protocol as he
could not stand the might of the indigenous African rhythm performed by the Pan
African Orchestra.
He mounted the podium and started
to dance to some popular African tunes performed by the group.
The 1,500 audience could not help
it but applaud to the 61-year old man.
Other award-winners were Osei
Kuffour of Bayern Munich fame as footballer of the year, Kofi Jantuah,
professional boxer of the Year and Osumanu Adama, amateur boxer.
Accra Hearts of Oak was the top
scoring club, Ishmael Addo, goal king, Alex Quartey, referee of the year,
Shelley Ogoe-Panford, tennis, Ivy Aryeetey promising star and Alfred Cudjoe,
hockey.
The rest were Gifty Addy, Prospect
of the Year, Godson Asem- Taekwondo and Memunatu Abiba Sulemana (Black Queens),
Assistant referee Justice Yeboah and Vida Anim will be presented with special
awards.
The millennium award-winners were
the late Roy Ankrah, first African Commonwealth champion, Eddie Blay, silver
medallist at the Rome Olympic games in 1960 and Commonwealth gold medallist and
Azumah Nelson, World Featherweight Champion for 12 years.
C. K. Gyamfi, who was the coach
when Ghana won both the 1963 and 1965 Africa Cup of Nations trophies and Abedi
Ayew Pele, former skipper of the Black Stars, Mike Ahey and Alice Anum
Athletics division, were also honoured for their achievements.
The late Ohene Djan, first black
sports administrator in the Gold Coast, won the Personality Award, while Ghana
Brewery limited snatched the sponsor of the millennium award. All the award
winners were presented with a special Silver jubilee SWAG plaque. Over 20
companies supported the programme with GBL as the main sponsors.
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