GRi Sports 24-02-99

 The 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup announced today that President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton have accepted the Organizing Committee's invitation to serve as Honorary Co-Chairs of next summer's third world championship of women's soccer to be held in the United States.

 "This is a tremendous honor for the Women's World Cup and the Organizing Committee," said Donna de Varona, WWC Chair. "The President and First Lady have always championed efforts to increase opportunities for women, and the Women's World Cup is truly a breakthrough event for women's athletics.  We look forward to having the First Family share in the largest female sporting event in history."  

The Women's World Cup will feature a record 16 countries, up from 12 nations in each of the previous tournaments that were held in China (1991) and Sweden (1995). In addition to the United States, which won the inaugural tournament, other nations to qualify for USA 99 include defending champion Norway, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, (North) Korea DPR, Denmark, Germany, GHANA, Italy, Japan, Nigeria, Russia, Sweden, and Mexico.

 The venues for the tournament are: Boston (Foxboro Stadium), Chicago (Soldier Field), Los Angeles (Rose Bowl), New York/New Jersey (Giants Stadium), Portland, Ore. (Civic Stadium), San Francisco Bay/San Jose (Spartan Stadium in San Jose and Stanford Stadium), and Washington, D.C. (Jack Kent Cooke Stadium).

The government on Tuesday appointed a three-member committee to investigate allegations of impropriety and conflict of interest in the award and execution of contracts for renovation works at the Accra and Kumasi Sports Stadiums for the Africa U-20 Youth Soccer tournament.

A statement issued by Mr John Mahama, Minister of Communications in Accra, said the committee will be under the chairmanship of Lt. Col. E. K. Tagoe (rtd).

The other members are Mr Francis Assuah, a journalist and Mr G.K. Avah, Chief State Attorney who will also be the secretary. The Committee is to submit its report not later than March 31, 1999.

The committee's terms of reference are to determine the mode of awards of contracts for the renovation works at the two stadiums and examine the mode of any purchases made in connection with the renovation.

It will determine whether or not there were any conflicts of interest on the part of any person or persons connected with such works.

The committee will also enquire into any other matters which it might consider relevant to its terms of reference.

Vice President John Evans Atta Mills last week ordered an immediate enquiry into the award of the two contracts.

Accra (Greater Accra), 24 Feb.

A team which conducted studies into the construction of an Olympic Stadium Complex for Ghana on Tuesday submitted its findings to Vice- President John Atta Mills, saying the project is feasible.

The Philips Multi-Disciplinary team led by Mr Ben Veenbrinh, project manager of Philips Engineering, has completed initial feasibility studies of the proposal and is proceeding to the next and crucial stage which involves finance sourcing.

Provisional cost of the multi-purpose hall complex with 80,000 seating-capacity is put at 100 million dollars. It is to be sited off the Accra-Tema motorway, near Nungua in Accra.

Mr Veenbrinh said the team has been to some major countries in Africa, Europe and Asia to tap experience and explore various sources of funding for the project.

The ideal situation is to tap at least 80 per cent of the money from the international market after which design for the financial structure will be submitted to the International Monetary Fund for approval.

Mr Veenbrinh said "We think it is feasible. It is realistic," adding that it demands a phased approach due to its complexity.

Mr Paul Smilde, financial engineer, spoke about plans to put management of the complex in the hands of Ghanaians.

He said management would have to embark on aggressive marketing world-wide to attract activities to the complex in order to generate revenue to pay for the cost.

Vice-President Mills congratulated the team for completing the initial studies, saying the project is very important to government.

He said it is the aim of government to proceed with it systematically "so that at the end of the day we can all be proud."

Mr Kojo Yankah, Ashanti Regional Minister last night hosted players and officials taking part in the Africa Under-20 Youth championships at a cocktail party at the residency in Kumasi.

The are from Zambia, Malawi, Guinea and Nigeria in group B.

Mr Yankah lauded the promotion of football at the youth level and said it has great prospects for the improvement of football on the continent.

He commended the teams for the keenness of the competition so far and expressed the hope that the players and officials would abide by the rules of the competition, which he said, is fair play.

The Regional Minister described Ashanti as the cradle of Ghana's rich culture and nerve-centre of commercial activities and wished them an enjoyable stay in Kumasi.

"You will be treated to the much cherished Ghanaian hospitality"' he added.

Meanwhile, the competition continues tomorrow with matches involving Malawi and Nigeria and Guinea and Zambia.

Zambia beat Malawi 1-0 in the opening group "B" match while Nigeria licked Guinea 4-3.

At a post-match interview, Guinean Coach Ousmane Diop attributed his team's defeat to lack of concentration and said he is working seriously to pluck the loop-holes.

The free-scoring Flying Eaglets have won the admiration of the soccer fans with their free-flowing football and have been tipped to beat Malawi who lost 0-1 to Zambia in their opening match.

Accra, (Greater Accra) 24 Feb.

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the African Under-20 Youth Tournament (Ghana '99), has released new ticket rates for the remaining group matches and the semi-finals.

According to a statement issued in Accra yesterday, 20,000 cedis will be charged for the VIP annex, 10,000 cedis for the Wings and 5,000 cedis for the Upper Terrace.

The North Wing and the Osu Stands will attract 4,000 cedis while 3,000 cedis will be charged for the Popular Stand.

These rates will be charged for the group matches at both the Accra and Kumsi Stadiums and the Semi-finals in Accra.

The new rates take effect from today. Mali and Cameroon meet at 1600 hours while Ghana and Angola take their turn at 1830 hours.

Accra, (Greater Accra) 23 Feb.

Black Stars coach, Dossena Giusseppe has invited 17 foriegn-based ghanaian players for the African Cup of Nations' qualifying match against Eritrea on Sunday, February 28 in Accra.

The players are, Richard Kinsgton, Mark Edusei, Eben Dugbartey, Patrick Allotey, Christian Atta Gyan, Mohammed Gargo and Yaw Preko.

The rest are, Felix Aboagye, Peter Ofori-Quaye, Otto Addo, Gerald Asamoah, Daniel Addo, Stephen Baidoo, Emmanuel Duah, Stephen Appiah, Osei Kuffour and Charles Akuunor.

Apart from skipper Akunnor, who is reported to be in town, the rest are yet to arrive.

The Black Stars have won two first leg group one qualifying matches against Cameroon 3-1 in Yaounde and Mazambique 1-0 in Accra.

Accra, (Greater Accra) 23 Feb. All division one league clubs are to settle their affiliation and officiating fees amounting to1,054,000 cedis by Friday, February 26.

According to a statement issued by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) in Accra yesterday, the payment of the said fees is a pre-requiste for registration before the league commences on Saturday, March 13.

It said both old and new players must be registered afresh or hence, there will be no validation of their old cards.

 Sunyani, (Greater Accra) 23 Feb.

The Brong Ahafo Regional Sports Council, in conjunction with the regional hockey association, will organise a hockey gala at Berekum chief's palace park on Saturday February 27.

Announcing this at Sunyani today, Mr David Kwame Osei, regional hockey coach of the National Sport Council named Sunyani Awosent hockey club, Berekum Secondary School hockey club and Berekum Training College hockey club as teams expected to take part in the competition.

Mr Osei said the gala would form part of the association's programme for the year aimed at rekindling interest of the game in the region.

Kwadwo Kyere, the 1997 national schools and colleges best hockey player will lead the Awosent team.

Accra, (Greater Accra) 24 Feb.

Fourteen out of the 17 foreign-based players invited by Black Stars' coach Dossena Guisseppe, have arrived for the African Cup of Nations' qualifying match against Eritrea on Sunday, February 28 in Accra.

The remaining players, Yaw Preko, Emmanuel Duah and Daniel Addo, are yet to come.

A Ghana Football Association (GFA) spokesman told the GNA in Accra today that Yaw Preko is expected from Turkey today while efforts are still being made to get in touch with Emmanuel Duah in Portugal and Daniel Addo in Germany.

The Black Stars are currently camped at Tema with assistant coach Masimo Morales while Guissppe, who also doubles as the Satellites coach, is with the Under-20 side in Accra.

The Black Stars won their first two group one matches against Cameroon 3-1 in Yaounde last October, and Mozambique 1-0 in January in Accra.