Soccer-Hearts present
CAF trophy to President Rawlings
Soccer-Hearts
present CAF trophy to President Rawlings
Accra (Greater Accra) 19 December
2000
President Jerry John Rawlings, on
Monday thanked players and management of Accra Hearts for helping to ease the
tension after the general elections with their sweet 3-1 victory over Esperance
on Sunday.
He was speaking when the team
presented the trophy to him at the Castle, Osu.
The President noted that when Hearts were down in the first half, he could feel general gloom over the country, which turned into joy with the three quick goals in the dying minutes of the second half.
"I was out of town and was
told that Hearts were a goal down when I called the Airport control tower so I
said some prayers for you before I started watching the match. As if God
responded immediately to my prayers and the goals started raining in just as I
finished".
He asked the players not to rest
on their oars but to re-examine themselves and work harder to remain where they
are since they would now become the targets of all clubs.
President Rawlings asked them not
to go out and make merry on whatever financial reward they gain for winning the
trophy but rather invest in profitable ventures to yield something in the
future when they would not be playing active soccer.
He paid glowing tribute to all
Ghanaian athletes, who use mostly outdated facilities in training but are able
to rise to the occasion and sometimes match and outperform fellow athletes from
the advance countries, who use the state of the art facilities.
He assured the players that the
government would reward them at the appropriate time for the glory and honour
they have won for the nation after winning the cup that has eluded the country
over some time now.
Earlier the Board Chairman of the
Club, Mr Ato Ahowi, presented the three trophies the team won this season to
the President.
The Board Chairman said he was
proud of his seven years stewardship, in which the team won the League four
times, FA cup three times and has been crowned CAF league Champions.
He said the next trophy in the
club's plan is the CAF Super Cup where they hope to beat Zamalek of Egypt
before going to the World Clubs Championship slated for Spain in June 2001.
Mr Ahwoi said before the World
Championship, the management would put together a tour of some European and
South American countries so that they can go and give a good account of
themselves in Spain.
The captain, Jacob Nettey, who presented
the trophy to the President, thanked him for giving them such an opportunity to
present him with the trophy and thanked Ghanaians for their support.
GRi…/
Accra (Greater Accra) 19 December
2000
Felix Frempong returned 143 net to
win this year's Club Beer Open golf championship played at the Achimota Golf
Course in Accra on Sunday.
He was followed by John Amuzu with
144 net, James Mensah took the third position with 145 net, beating J.K. Kally
and E.K. Osei on countback.
Ama Morgan won the Ladies trophy
with 135 net, Florence Etwi-Barimah came second with 136 net, Eunice Adzakpo
placed third with 143 net, Suzie Abaloo took the fourth position with 144 net
beating Rose Dzane-Selby on countback while Mary Asafu-Adjaye came sixth with
145 net.
Victor Brave-Mensah won the
Professionals event with 217 gross, E.K. Korblah came second with 218 gross,
John Dorman was third with 220 g ross, while Yaw Nii Badu placed fourth with
222 gross.
The two-day 36-hole scratch event
opened to amateur and professional golfers throughout the country, was
sponsored by Accra Brewery Limited (ABL).
Mr. Kamel Noshie, Vice Captain of
the Achimota Golf Club praised ABL for their sponsorship and called on other institutions to help develop the
sport.
Mr. Raymond Stark, Managing
Director of ABL gave the assurance that his company will sponsor the even t
next year to mark the 70th anniversary of ABL. He was assisted by Miss Ghana
2000, Ewura Esi Hawkson in presenting the prizes to the winners.
GRi…/