Results of 17th week matches played on July
16, 2000
King Faisal add to the woes of Olympics
Kotoko, Hearts fight to a standstill
Soccer-B.A. United to squeeze water out of
stone
Standings of the teams at the end of the
17th week – 017: 16th July 2000
Results of 17th week matches
played on July 16, 2000
Kumasi: Kotoko 1 Hearts 1 Accra :
Olympics 0 K. Faisal 1
Tamale: RTU 3 Power 2 Nkawkaw: Okwawu 2
Dwarfs 2
Dawu: Dawu 1
Goldfields 1 Sunyani: Bofoakwa 3
Hasaacase 3
Accra: Liberty 0 B. A. United 0 Asuom: K'bibirem 2 Ghapoha 0
King Faisal add to the woes of Olympics
Accra (Greater Accra) 17 July 2000
Troubled Accra Great Olympics lost their week two, second round Premier League match to visiting King Faisal by a lone goal at the Accra sports Stadium on Sunday.
King Faisal scored the winner in the 60th minute through outside left Yaw Acheampong, when he scrambled the ball into the net from a melee.
King Faisal were the more committed side and gave an early indication of their mission to win, when a fierce drive by Kwadwo Anane missed narrowly in the very first minute.
Olympics returned the challenge by going close in the eighth and ninth minutes, when Desmond Amoah sparkled in attack and created two chances, which were fluffed.
In the 32nd minute, Joe Louis, playing at the inside left position for Olympics against his former club meandered through the King Faisal defence and powered a grounder across the goal area but it went unconnected.
Olympics squandered another opportunity to break the deadlock in the 42nd minute, when Desmond slammed the ball against the cross bar, with goalkeeper Nicholas Opoku Ware off balance.
When the second half began, Olympics introduced Aziz Ansah and Jonathan Abieku for Benjamin Tahiru and Kwaku Duah respectively, with the hope of changing the tide in their favour.
But it was the visitors who accelerated higher and lifted their game with physical play, swift shuffling and fast breaks.
Joe Louis, however, shone among the pack of the lethargic Olympics attackers, with some good dribble runs into the penalty box of their guests, but good defensive organisation and determination from Seth Opoku, Nii Nanka Bruce, Sam Thompson and Emmanuel Ampiah denied Olympics scoring opportunities.
And when Yaw Acheampong shot Faisal into the lead, with 30 minutes of play remaining, Olympics surged forward, looking for the equaliser but over anxiety and lack of attacking options robbed them of scoring.
Dread-locked, Michael Asante was the worst offender, as he allowed begging chances to fizzle away until Class one referee, Joseph McCarthy ended proceedings.
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Dawu (Eastern Region) 17 July 2000
Obuasi Goldfields held Dawu to a 1-1 drawn game at the Dawu Sports Stadium. Goldfields took the lead in the 49th minute through Nana Arhin-Duah while Dawu equalised in the 76th minute through substitute Samuel Tetteh.
The beauty of the match was nearly marred by Dawu supporters who invaded the pitch on several occasions to either attack referee Ati Kesse of Koforidua for poor officiating or players of Goldfields.
In the 70th minute some of the supporters invaded the pitch after substitute Tetteh had been brought down by a Goldfields player. The unidentified player and his colleagues were attacked and in the process, Goldfields Yaw Owusu collapsed but was later revived.
When referee Kesse whistled for the end of the match, the supporters rushed on him but a timely intervention by security personnel and some officials of Dawu, saved him from being lynched.
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Tamale (Northern Region) 17 July 2000
Real Tamale United (RTU) managed a hard fought 3-2 over visiting Power FC in their match at the Kaladan Park.
RTU earned the opener just under a minute when they earned a free-kick outside the visitors box. Veteran Abdul-Rahman Bobby sent in a long range shot straight into the net.
Power FC accepted the challenge and carried the game to the homesters. Their daring moves earned them also a free-kick just outside the RTU goal area and inside right Paul Alhassan of Power FC powered home a low grounder to beat Suraju Mohammed in goal for RTU in the 33rd minute.
RTU who dominated the early exchanges failed to take advantage of their chances messing up a number of begging chances.
In the 38th minute, RTU's midfielder who was put through messed up the chance when he headed the ball over the bar. He followed it with another miss a minute later.
RTU earned a penalty in the 65th minute when a Power FC defender handled the ball but central defender Bobby Abdul-Rahman shot the ball into the waiting hands of goalie Fred Ollenu.
Left-winger Joseph Adjei of RTU made it two in the 75th minute from a beautiful cross.
In the 85th minute, a conflicting decision between the referee and his assistant earned Power FC a free-kick, which Power's Paul Alhassan utilised for the equaliser.
However, RTU got the winner in the dying minutes from a controversial goal when substitute Billa Moaba headed the ball backwards and Power's keeper caught the ball just across the goal line. Power refused to continue play.
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo Region)
A 90th minute strike by substitute Danny Essel enabled a well-drilled Sekondi Hasaacas side to draw 3-3 with Tano Bofoakwa in their match played at the Sunyani Coronation Park.
Bofoakwa were coasting to a 3-2 victory when Essel blasted home from close range after Alhassan Mohammed in post for Bofoakwa had punched into play a shot fired by Frank Turkson, striking for the visitors.
Bofoakwa were the first to score when in the 11th minute, Victor Nornoo converted a spot kick after his team-mate Kwame Antwi had been brought down in the penalty area.
Sekondi Hasaacas accepted the challenge and launched a series of attacks spearheaded by good old captain Kofi Abbrey ably supported by Mohamed Issah and their leading marksman Frank Turkson.
Their effort paid off in the 43trd minute when Turkson delivered a curling free-kick around the vital area of Bofoakwa.
Turkson put his side in the lead when he scored again with a header in the 56th minute.
With defeat steering at them in the face, Bofoakwa redoubled their efforts and were rewarded when Kofi Asiedu's long-range shot beat Owu Maxwell in post for Hasaacas for the equaliser after receiving a pass from substitute Athony Minta.
Power pulled levelled when substitute Pasco Amposah dribbled the defenders of Hasaacas before placing the ball into the net.
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Kotoko, Hearts fight to a standstill
Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 17 July 2000
Off the field incidents culminating in Hearts of Oak's deputy coach Ofei Ansah being rushed to the Saint John's ambulance brigade and skipper Jacob Nettey also of Hearts getting his head bandaged before the commencement of the match were some the highlights of the epic ABC premier league encounter between Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak in Kumasi.
The 1-1 drawn game perhaps augured well for everybody, for so great was the tension and anxiety of supporters of Kotoko that if the team had lost, anything could have happened.
To fuel the already volatile situation was the referee's refusal to accept a goal scored from a free kick taken by Kotoko's Isaac Owusu in the first minute.
The Kotoko fans cursed referee Emmanuel Bissi of Sunyani for disallowing what they saw as a perfect goal, which could have enabled them to avenge the humiliating 4-0 trouncing they suffered from Hearts in their first round match in Accra.
Kotoko could have won the match hands down in the first half when numerous good chances fell their way but were squandered and had to sweat for the equaliser with five minutes to full time.
Let off the hook, Hearts went into action and their slippery attackers of Charles Allotey, Kenneth Sarpong, Kwame Ali, Ishmael Addo and Charles Taylow tore the shaky Kotoko defence into ribbons and netted the opener in the seventh minute through Ishmael Addo.
The goal did not unsettle Kotoko who carried the game to their opponents and came close to equalising in the 21st minute but Micheal Osei, who squandered almost all the good chances of Kotoko, shot wide.
Kotoko continued their onslaught and in the 23rd minute, Prince Adu Poku's shot was pushed to corner by goalkeeper Eben Dida who made a number of spectacular saves.
The homesters kept the heat on Hearts and in the 25th minute, Micheal Osei again had the best chance to pull even but with a yawning net before him, he lifted the ball over the bar.
Kotoko pulled out Frank Atsu for Samuel Bakai while Hearts also brought in Emmanuel Adjogu for Kwame Ali.
The tempo of the game slowed down considerably in the second half but Kotoko had a slight edge and continued to probe for the equalizer, which kept eluding them.
Both sides made more changes with Kotoko pulling out Joe Hendricks for Baba Iddi while Hearts replaced injured Sannie Wahab with Agyemang Dua in the 62nd minute.
The changes seemed to have benefited Hearts who launched an attack from the right and after Ishmael Addo had rounded up the Kotoko defence, saw his shot missing the net.
Kotoko continued to probe for the equaliser which did come finally in the 85th minute through substitute Baba Iddi who cooly pushed the ball beyond the reach of goalkeeper Dida from Godwin Ablordey's pass.
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Nkawkaw (Eastern Region)
Visiting Cape Coast Mysterious Ebusua Dwarfs put up a plucky performance to hold Okwuawu United to a pulsating 2-2 draw in their match at the Nkawkaw park.
Okwawu kicked off but lost control to Dwarfs whose coercive play and good ball control gave them the first goal in the tenth minute through outside right Mathew Attiogbe.
Okwawu counter attacked after the goal but wasted two scoring chances in the 12th and 17th minutes when their attackers shot off target.
They managed to equalise in the 25th minute when inside right Kofi Appetor's shot in a goalmouth melee beat Dwarfs keepers Engman Andrews.
Dwarfs who were still on top had the second goal in the 34th minute again through outside right Mathew Attiogbe when he took advantage of a defensive mix-up and shot straight into the net.
Okwawu made two changes before the second half when they sent in Mathew Konadu and Richard Mireku for right full back Ismaila Iddrisu and outside right Didwan Iddrisu respectively.
The changes paid off as they equalised in the 47th minute through centre forward Ernest Boateng when his curled shot in the 18 entered the net with keeper Andrews completely beaten.
After the equaliser, Okwawu put in every effort for a winning goal but wasted a number of scoring chances in the dying minutes.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 17 July 2000
Liberty Professionals on Saturday failed to impress their teeming fans when they played draw with bottom-lined BA United in the 17th week of the ABC Premier league.
Liberty who from the beginning seemed poised for action failed to make any impact throughout the game.
The visitors who were bent on making amends for their poor performance in the first round, put up a brilliant performance and dominated play.
Their solid defence of Kwame Mensah, Alhassan Moro and Mohammed Yaps made it difficult for the homesters to weave their way through to the goalpost.
In the 25th minute, Daniel Babayara's cross to Bernard Aryeee in the goal area was not utilised.
BA United also had chances in the 13th and 20th minutes, which could have lifted them up.
On resumption, BA continued to dominate and pilled up pressure on the homesters, who were totally lost in the game but they could not make use of the chances that came their way.
In the 46 minute however, BA United wasted a penalty that came their way when Kasula Dacosta's kick went straight into the hands of the goalkeeper. The game continued with both teams wasting chances till the 90th minute.
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Soccer-B.A. United to squeeze water out of
stone
Accra (Greater Accra) 17 July 2000
Mr. Kwame Ntow-Fiako, the Accra Representative of Brong Ahafo United Football Club, on Friday said the five per cent of gate proceeds for Away Teams decided on at this year's Ghana Football Association (GFA) Congress has not favoured small clubs.
Speaking to the GNA in Accra on Friday, Mr. Ntow-Fiako cited the match between Great Olympics and BA United in Accra on March 19, as an example.
He said that B.A United had only 31, 362 cedis, out of an undisclosed amount while in their match against Kwaebibirim on April 25, it had only 88,125 cedis.
According to the BA United Representative, the highest amount the Club received this season was 1,349,000 cedis in the match against Accra Hearts of Oak in Accra on May 9.
He said that, even though they have good players, the Club's present poor financial position does allow it to motivate them enough.
Mr. Ntow-Fiako announced that Coach Kwame Ofori, who was relegated to the background as a result of an impasse, has been reinstated as Head Coach and admitted his absence also contributed to the poor performance of the club in the first round of the league.
He gave the assurance that the clubs would move from the bottom of the league table to a "respectable position" even if that would mean squeezing water out of stone.
Mr. Ntow-Fianko attributed the current good fortunes of teams like Accra Hearts of Oak not only to their good players but their solid financial background as well.
He appealed to fans of the club to rally behind the team and to cheer them up to avoid relegation.
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Standings of the
teams at the end of the 17th week – 017: 16th July 2000
Team Local/Region P W D L F A Pts GD
Hearts Accra, Gt. Accra 17 15 2 0 42 10 47 +32
Goldfields Obuasi, Ashanti 17 9 4 4 20 11 31 +9
King
Faisal Kumasi, Ashanti 17 8 4 5 22 15 27 +7
Liberty Accra, Gt. Accra 17 8 3 6 24 18 27 +6
Bofoakwa Sunyani, Brong Ahafo 17 7 3
7 19 22 25 -3
Ghapoha Tema, Gt. Accra 17 7 3 7 22 22 24 0
Kotoko Kumasi, Ashanti 17 6 6
5 19 20 24 -1
RTU Tamale, Northern 17 7 2 8 16 20 23 -4
Hasaacas Sekondi, Western 17 6 4 7 20 21 22
-1
Dwarfs Cape Coast, Central 17 5 5 7 18 21 21 -3
Kwaebibirim Asuom, Eastern 17 6 2
9 18 29 20 -13
Okwawu Nkawkaw, Eastern 17 4 6 7 16 19 18 -3
Olympics Accra, Gt. Accra 17 4 6 7 13 22 15 -9
Power
F/C Koforidua, Eastern 17 2 8 7 10 15 14 -5
Dawu Dawu, Eastern
17 2 8 7 16 23 14 -6
B.A.
United Sunyani, Brong Ahafo 17 2 8 7 11 20 14 -9
(NB. The GFA Appeals Committee sat on Kumasi Asante Kotoko versus Accra Great Olympics issue and declared Kotoko not guilty in their 0-0 drawn match. Olympics had protested against Kotoko's Burkinabe import, Cambou Clovis and Togolese Frank Atsou for playing with expired papers. The match was declared valid and the results made to stay. Kotoko therefore became richer by four points while Olympics lost two points and three goals that had been awarded them, reducing their wins to four.
Also Accra Great Olympics, with four wins and five draws suffered a deduction of three points from their build up for failing to honour an outstanding match against King Faisal who were credited with the points).
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