GRi Sports Ghana 23 - 03 - 2001
Soccer-Satellites thrash Nigeria to qualify
for World tourney
Suspend all international
tournaments for a year- Baba
Soccer-Satellites thrash Nigeria to qualify
for World tourney
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 March 2001
Ghana's Black Satellites on Thursday thrashed their Nigerian counterparts 4-1 to book a place in this year's World Youth champions slated for Argentina at the on-going CAF under-20 soccer tournament in Ethiopia.
The Ghanaians scored three in the first half and added one in the later part of the second half. Offensive midfielder Sule Muntari banked in two, fifth and 43rd minutes and petit Stephen Oduro netted one in the 10th minute.
The Nigerians unsettled the Ghanaians with early immaculate passes but the Satellites reorganised themselves in midfield and in the fifth minute Sule connected a rebound shot from striker Ishmael Addo. Five minute later Oduro delivered a blistering pile-driver into the roof of the net.
These two goals galvanised the Satellites who went all out to add another. Sule weaved through his markers and released a curling left footer to beat onrushing goalkeeper two minutes before half time.
Razak Bimpong nearly increased the tally a minute to half time but his goal-bound shot hit the upright and rolled into touch.
The Nigerians came back after the recess a well-knitted side but wasted a 64th minute penalty after Stephen Tetteh brought down an opponent.
However, five minute later the Nigerians pulled one back only for Razak Bimpong to increase the tally with a header.
GRi…/
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Suspend all
international tournaments for a year- Baba
Accra (Greater Accra) 23 March
2001
Mr Benson T. Baba, President of
the Ghana Olympic Committee, on Thursday urged sports authorities to suspend
all international competitions for a year and channel the resources into the
provision of some basic facilities for the country's sportsmen and women.
He said much as he agrees that
this might not go down well with a lot of people, "it is necessary for
everybody at a point in life to make sacrifices for a brighter future of which
sports is no exception".
Mr Baba told the GNA sports in an
interview in Accra that it is obvious that the government budgetary allocation
cannot cater for rehabilitation of the facilities in all the 10 regions let
alone contract new ones.
He is of the view that if the
various disciplines under the national sports council including football would
be prepared to forego such international engagements no matter their importance
for a year the monies could be used to provide at least tartan tracks for
Ghanaian athletes.
The GOC president cited the
example of the Ghanaian athletes who were sent home at the Sydney Olympics for
not making the required grade, saying that if the tartan tracks at the Accra
and Kumasi Stadiums were good the athletes would have had their final trials
here and qualified people selected.
Asked whether the GOC could appeal
to the IOC for instance to help relay the tracks, Mr Baba said it is up to the
Ghana Amateur Athletics Association to write through the Africa Amateur
Athletics Association to the IAAA for assistance just as the Ghana Hockey
Association did.
He said the GOC only comes in when
asked by IOC to give a covering letter for approval.
Mr Baba said provisions of
infrastructure fall under the ambit of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the
Sports Council but occasionally the
GOC could give a helping hand.
He said at the moment, the GOC is
working out a plan to replace the dilapidated table tennis boards at the Sports
Hall of the Accra Sports Stadium.
GRi…/
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