Soccer-Black Stars draw with Africa XI
Racing - Sand Ring wins Stanchart Queen's Birthday cup
Soccer - Meteors struggle to beat Vijana 2-1
Soccer-Black Stars draw with Africa XI
Accra (Greater Accra), 14th June --
Ghanaian-born Marcel Desailly, led a star studded Africa XI side to draw 3-3 with a locally dominated Black Stars team in a special soccer match dubbed "Marcel Desailly France 1998 World Cup Winning celebration in Ghana" at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday night.
The match, organised by the Paris-based Sports and Cultural Association and telecast live to more than 30 countries, is the player's way of saying "thank you" to Ghanaians for the moral support given to him and the French national team as a whole in winning the '98 world cup.
Proceeds of the match will be donated to the Korle-bu Teaching hospital.
Former Camerounian international Roger Milla set the stadium ablaze with an immaculate bicycle kick to register the first goal for the Africa XI.
It was a 10th minute strike after 1995 world best player, George Oppon Weah's lob into the penalty area.
Barely four minutes after that spectacular goal, Black Stars striker Felix Aboagye levelled up for his side.
Midfielder Godwin Ablordey gave a pass to Aboagye who sneaked through the well-organised defence of Africans Xl but goalkeeper Antoine Bell slipped in an attempt to save the situation, leaving Aboagye tap the ball into the empty net.
After that equaliser the Star studded Africa XI mesmerised the Black Stars with individual skills to the applause of the over 40,000 spectators at the stadium.
As a result, ex-Blacks Stars skipper, Abedi Pele and Oppon Weah became targets of rough play.
Back from recess, Africa XI scored two quick goals in the 68th and 73rd minutes. Liberian International Joe Nagbe finished off a free kick by substitute Kofi Abbrey while Ivorian international Ibrahim Bakayoko nodded home the third goal for his side from a corner kick taken by Abbrey.
Abbrey, ex-Black Stars left winger who came on for Milla combined beautifully with Weah at the left flank and could have increased the tally but over-elaboration robbed cost them the goals.
The Stars put up a last minute fight to cancel the two goals deficit as a 76th minute shot from Sam Johnson and a 90th minute penalty converted by Ablordey ensured that the Stars drew up level with their celebrated opponents.
Line up (Stars): Richard Kingston/James Nanor, Sam Johnson, Eben Dogbartey, Mohammed Gargo, Foster Bastios/Alex Djame, Jacob Nettey/Felix Yeboah, Justice Ampah/Yaw Serbeh, Charles Sampson/Eugene Addo, Godwin Ablordey, Osei Kwame, Felix Aboagye.
Africa XI: Antoine Bell/Constant Mantey, Heresson Bernad, Frank Atsou, Marcel Desailly/Tenasi Frank, Joe Nagbe, Mahouve Marcel, Abedi Pele/Prince Daye, George Oppon Weah, Roger Milla/Kofi Abbrey, Ibrahim Bakayoko, Miage Willie.
GRi
Racing - Sand Ring wins Stanchart Queen's Birthday cup
Accra (Greater Accra), 14th June 99 --
Sand Ring, ridden by S. Musa, clocked 2.20 minutes to win the Standard Chartered Bank Queen's Birthday horse racing competition held at the Accra Race course on Saturday.
La Queen took the second position, Royal Palm placed third, and Al-Kora came fourth. The tote was 2,700 cedis.
The nine-furlong fourth race, the main event for the day and sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank, was to commemorate the birthday of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second of Britain.
The first race, the "Stanchart Leader" stake, was won by Chase, ridden by D. Kotey, followed by True-Love, Grand Finale and Nima Village Gate in that order. The tote was 1,200 cedis.
The second race, "Stanchart Excellence", was won by Hampshire Lad, ridden by H. Braimah .
The Labadi Beach Hotel Queen' s Birthday Cup went to Cigar, ridden by D. Kotey, in a time of 2.27 minutes.
The last race, Stanchart Millennium Stake, was won by "I'm that I'm", timed 1.45 minutes.
Mr Vishnu Mohan, Managing Director of the Stanchart Bank who presented prizes to the winners, gave the assurance that the bank will sponsor the event every year.
GRi…/
Soccer - Meteors struggle to beat Vijana 2-1
Accra (Greater Accra), 14th June 99 -
The national under-23 soccer team, Black Meteors, struggled to beat their Tanzanian counterparts, Vijana Stars, 2-1 in their first leg Sydney 2000 Olympics Games qualifier played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
It was a poor performance by the stamina-suspect Meteors who, after barely 30 minutes of play, lost their rhythm and concentration, allowing their Tanzanian counterparts to dictate the pace of the game.
Germany-based Emmanuel Bentil put the Ghanians ahead in the ninth minute from a spot kick after Vijana's Kassim Issa Bedwi had handled Abubakari Yakubu's goal-bound shot.
In the 23 minute, Gambian referee Mallick Sallah ignored a second penalty for the Ghanaians, when right winger Hamza Mohammed's shot went off the hand of Mtindi Ali Kombo.
After this, the Ghanaians, especially the Europe-based ones, showed signs of tiredness, and allowed their opponents to dictate the pace. But for inexperience, the visitors could have carried the day.
They took total control of the midfield and probed the porous Meteors defence but shot wide each time they came close to scoring.
The visitors, however, managed to level up in the 49th minute when striker Abubakari Ally Mkangwa headed an in-swinger to the blind side of goalkeeper Sammy Adjei.
Awudu Issaka of the 1997 Starlets fame, who came on for Abubakari Yakubu in the 60th minute, changed the pattern of the play for the Ghanaians and created the winning goal for the Meteors.
In a characteristic manner, Issaka went through his markers but was brought down just as he was about to lay on a pass. Joe Fameyeh headed the resultant kick by Patrick Allotey for the match winner.
The second leg is scheduled for Tanzania in two weeks' time.
Line up (Meteors): Sammy Adjei, Christian Atta Gyan, Patrick Allotey, Michael Ofori-Mensah, Kofi Amponsah/Shilla Alhassan, Hamza Mohammed, Abubakari Yakubu/ Awudu Issaka, Emmanuel Bentil/Baba Sule, Joe Fameyeh, Stephen Appiah, Bashiru Gambo.
Vijana: Amami Ally Simba/Adinami Mohamed Yusufu, Kassim Issa Badwi, Mtindi Ali Kombo, Omari Kapilima Caminero, Ally Moshi Rashid, Renatus Bonisace Njohole, Lameck Lan Sichula, Wilfred Mcgustine Kidau/Victor Aron Krowoko, Mnenge Albert Suluja, Abubakari Ally Mkangwa, Abdallah Swalele Mohamed/Ephraim Makoye Mahalas.
GRi../