GRi Sports Ghana 16 - 07 - 2001
Ghana pips Sudan 1-0 in World Cup qualifier
"Our match with Nigeria is not about
points but maintaining history -Coach
GOC organises maiden sport symposium
Ghana pips Sudan 1-0 in World Cup qualifier
Accra (Greater Accra) 16 July 2001
The Black Stars of Ghana beat the Sudanese national team 1-0 in a World Cup qualifying match at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Emmanuel Osei Kuffour tapped in the winner in the 44th minute when he received a pass from Mohammed Gargo after skipper Emmanuel Duah had made a great run from the centre circle before picking up Gargo, whose one touch pass found Kuffour unmarked in the Sudanese penalty area.
The victory, however, is of no real significance to the two sides as Liberia's win on Saturday over Sierra Leone in Freetown has put them on 15 points, two clear of Nigeria who are on 13 but have a game against Ghana, now on 11, in a fortnight.
With today's loss Sudan remains on 9 with a home game in hand against Sierra Leone who a rooted to the bottom spot in Group B, from which only the winner qualifies to play in Korea/Japan 2002.
The race is now a two-horse affair between Nigeria and Liberia and if the Black Stars win or draw in Nigeria, then Liberia would qualify to make their maiden appearance at the World Cup, while a victory for Nigeria would ensure their third consecutive World Cup appearance.
Though Ghana dominated the match, there was no urgency in the play of their attackers and they fluffed chance after chance to the anguish of the sparse crowd.
Duah persistently mesmerised the Sudanese defence with his dribble runs but Kuffour and Charles Amoah remained anonymous and when they were identified, they either lost control or froze in front of goal.
Mohammed Gargo who returned to the team after two years of self imposed ban won most of the midfield battles and covered up effectively, making the work of the rearguard very easy.
James Nanor in goal for the Stars was virtually on holiday, but when the Sudanese went forward in the 47th minute, he fumbled with a feeble header by James Joseph Saeed Moji. Princeton Owusu Ansah was however on hand to clear the ball off the line.
In all, it was a very drab match and the performance of the Sudanese was so ordinary that fans could not believe they were the same players who beat the Stars when they met in the first leg in Omdurman.
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"Our match with Nigeria is not about
points but maintaining history -Coach
Accra (Greater Accra) 16 July 2001
The Black Stars Coach Fred Osam Doudo has warned the Nigerian Green Eagles to be ready for a tough battle of survival as the Stars were determined to prove a point that they might be down and out but still have what it takes to defeat them.
Coach Osam Duodo, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency at the Accra Sports Stadium after the Stars had beaten the Sudan National Team one nil in their penultimate World Cup qualifier, said the rivalry between Ghanaian football and that of Nigeria was still alive.
"We are going to play a good game in Nigeria," he said, adding: " Our match with Nigeria is not about the points, but about holding on to the record of never being beaten by Nigeria. We are going in just to prove ourselves."
Coach Doudo said he has arranged a series of matches for the Stars to keep them in shape for Mali and expressed the hope that the Ghana Football Association would give its approval.
Asked how he was able to convince Mohammed Gargo to rescind his decision two years ago not to play for Ghana, Coach Osam Doudo said: "Gargo is my own boy."
He said that a couple people spoke to Gargo on his behalf prior to his approaching the player.
Some of the players interviewed said they did not attach much importance to the Sudan match because it made no difference whether they won or lost because they were already out of the competition.
"When we heard that Liberia had beaten Sierra Leone, we were devastated so we found the match not to be so important, but we just decided to come and play anyway," said Charles Amoah.
"It was unfortunate that Ghana has failed to qualify for the World Cup this time around," said Amoah. "I think we should forget about it and concentrate on Mali 2002, the African Nations' Cup."
Asked why they failed to qualify, Yaw Owusu of Goldfield said: "Our preparations from the beginning were very poor and this accounts for it."
Sudan's players also seemed unenthusiastic about the match.
Sudanese Coach Ahmed Babiker El Faki said he was satisfied with the results since their preparation was weak and accounted for their missing so many chances.
He added that the demoralisation the team suffered when Nigeria beat them 4-0 in Sudan also contributed to their loss.
Coach El Faki said: "Even though we have lost, we shall endeavour to beat Sierra Leone to give us a better place in the FIFA ranking."
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GOC organises maiden sport symposium
Accra (Greater Accra) 17 July 2001
The Ghana Olympic Committee on Thursday organised the first-ever sports management symposium for staff of the National Sports Council in Accra.
The symposium is aimed among other things to help improve the image and quality of the physical education enterprise and the sports industry as a whole in the country.
Addressing the 50 participants, Professor Reginald T.A. Ocansey of SUNY
Brockport in New York, USA, enumerated some of the difficulties associated with sports development, which include misconception and misrepresentation of the sports industry.
"There is apathy towards training of personnel to perform in specialised roles in the sports industry," Professor Ocansey said, adding that conservative limitations have always impeded initiatives for growth and development.
Professor Ocansey regretted that the role of the physical education teacher has shrunk to extent that they are often referred to as mere sports masters or sports mistresses.
He said that in other to revive the importance of the P.E teacher, there is the need to overcome such impediments, which affect the training of specialists in the sports industry including sport management and marketing.
Professor Ketra Armstrong of the Ohio State University facilitated the symposium and outlined some of the strategic plans for effective sports management in the country.
"I do understand that sports in the US is different from sports in the other country. I am not presumptuous to think that what works in the US will work in other countries without modifications.''
She, however, said that basic sports management principles dictate that sports management should always involve not only the participants but the spectators and the sponsors of the event as well.
Professor Armstrong said issues such as adequate planning, security measures, finance, sponsorship and venue should not be underestimated but should be given equal importance.
She said sports should not only serve as entertainment but could be used as a tool for positive change among the youth.
Mr Benson T. Baba, President, Ghana Olympic Committee assured the participant of GOC's continual support toward such training programmes.
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