Dawu lose to Power at Koforidua
Bofoakwa, Olympics share honours
Kotoko silence Okwawu at Kumasi
Scorers after the ninth week matches
Ghana Football Association opts for Issah Hayatou
Sam Johnson quits playing for Black Stars
Bolgatanga (Upper East Region) 28 May 2002 - Real Tamale United (RTU) split the points with Kumasi based King Faisal after the former for the first time encountered the toughest encounter to hold a visiting team to a goalless draw.
The two teams exhibited good soccer with the visitors having a better exchange as their attackers were able to penetrate the homesters defence at ease. None could however break the deadlock till half time.
RTU, and Faisal made two changes on resumption but the game still remained a ding-dong battle. Three players, Kwame Acheampong, Samuel Okyere, King Faisal, and Tanko Mohammed, also King Faisal, were booked in the 56th, 92nd and 49th minutes of the game respectively.
Tension however, mounted when RTU fans in the closing minutes of the first half, vehemently protested against a private cameraman shooting the match for King Faisal, with the explanation that they were not allowed to shoot the matches when they played away.
GRi…/
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Obuasi (Ashanti Region) 28 May 2002 - Obuasi Goldfields recorded their heaviest victory this season when they whipped visiting Sekondi Hasaacas by five goals to one in their ninth week league match played at the Len Clay Stadium, Obuasi.
By this victory, Goldfields have reversed the disappointments their supporters have gone through in the past three weeks, drawing two consecutive home matches and losing to Arsenals at Berekum last Wednesday.
The Miners went into action just two minutes inside the first half when enterprising Frank Awuah's header to Yaw Owusu's cross beat Theo Mensah in post for the visitors for the opener. Hasaacas redeemed the deficit in the 15th minute through Ebo Mensah whose terrific shot was mistimed by goalkeeper Edmund Atta. Goldfields accepted the challenge and scored two quick goals in the 25th and 29th minutes through Asare Boateng and Solomon Laryea to end the first half 3-1.
Back from recess, the miners kept their marauding raids and pinned Hasaacas in their own half during which the visitors gave in two more goals. "Tico" Ofosu Amoah overrun two defenders and on seeing the onrushing keeper beat him for the 4th goal in the 50th minute before Aminu Musa sealed the doom of the visitors with a brilliant header in the 87th minute.
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Koforidua (Eastern Region) 28 May 2002 - Dawu Youngsters, one of the three premier league clubs from the Eastern
Region, seem to be losing out of the premiership this year as they were beaten 2-0 by Power F/C in their match played at Koforidua. Dawu occupy the 15th position on the standings after nine weeks of action.
Power signaled their determination to carry the day when they stormed the gaol area of their opponents and registered the first goal in the third minute through outside right Mohammed Awal. Dawu had a good chance to draw level in the 40th minute when they managed to break through the defence of Power, but the shot from substitute player, Eric Tetteh went straight into the hands of Mohammed Saani in the post for Power.
Dawu had another chance in the 59th minute when a cross from the left flank beat Saani, who had come out to make a save and dropped in front on Kwame Chronicles but the left winger's effort was cleared off the goal line by the defenders of Power.
Power increased the tally to two in the 71st minute when inside right, Raja Nurudeen beat Malik Gargo in the centre of the Dawu defence and joggled the ball away from two other Dawu defenders before placing it on the path of substitute Sefa Boateng, who tapped it into the net.
Dawu tried to put up a last minute fight but it did not yield any results till the final whistle. It was the fifth away match that Dawu had lost since the beginning of the current season.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 28 May 2002 - Hearts of Oak's player maker, Charles Taylor, scored a hat-trick as the defending League champions thumped Suhum Maxbees 5-0 in their ninth week match played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The match, however, took a dramatic turn in the 90th minute when Maxbees' stalwart defender Emmanuel Osei hit the ball against the abdomen of first assistant referee E.T. Allotey in what appeared to be a deliberation act. The assistant reefer could not continue with officiating and his place had to taken by fourth referee Vivien Aggor.
The middleman Muller Gyansah had no option than to give the matching orders to Osei who weakened the numerical strength of his side by two, after an earlier red card to Anthony Appiah. The league match itself was scrappy especially during the initial stages as the two teams struggled to find their rhythm. Lone striker of Maxbees, Mumuni Masawudu, came close to registering the opener for his side but he over elaborated and fumbled before Hearts goalie Eben Dida in the sixth minute.
After a string of near misses by Hearts including a 38th minute bicycle kick by Charles Allotey, which was scooped off the goal line, Sarpong opened the floodgates two minutes later. Referee Gyansah ignored an obvious penalty for the visitors in the 41st minute and as the players were murmuring, Hearts took a fast break, which Sarpong finished off with a beautiful deceptive volley from the edge of the "box" to beat goalkeeper Alex Ansah.
In a similar fashion, Taylor latched unto a loose ball after the referee had ignored an infringement in favour of Maxbees to slot in the ball in 54th minute. Those two goals coupled with a 59th minute red card shown to Anthony Appiah for retaliating against Taylor after the two had crashed in a tussle aided Hearts to add three more goals.
Taylor scored his personal second and third for his club after capitalising on a miss-kick by veteran Ben Adjei who had just come on for Maxbees barely a minute earlier and fired into the far right corner in the 66th minute. As if that was not enough, the skilful mid fielder scored his third in the 81st minute when he beautifully finished off from substitute Osumanu Amadu's header, which took a ricochet of the upright.
Adjah Tetteh completed the demolishing in the 90th minute with a long drive. Hearts maintain their 100 per cent record in the league and top the pack on 27 points. The match was heralded by a practice game between a team "B" side of Hearts against former players of the team who now ply their trade in Europe. George Cobblah of Romania netted the only goal for the foreign-based players.
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo Region) 28 May 2002 - Visiting Accra Great Olympics played one of their best games in recent time to hold Bofoakwa Tano 1-1 in their match played at the Coronation Park. Both goals were scored in the first half.
Olympics, who have not been of themselves since the beginning of this year's league season, crumbling to a heavy 0-3 defeat to Kumasi Asante Kotoko in Accra recently however met homesters, Bofoakwa, boot for boot in their encounter.
With John Cudjoe, Winfred Dormon, Kofi Aperto, Andrews Pomeyie, Amui Quaye and raster-haired Eshun David forming the attacking line, the defence of Bofoakwa had a tough time containing the Olympics boys. Bofoakwa Tano who were seeing their substantive chairman, Ebo Mends for the first time since the beginning of the season at the Coronation Park due to a business trip overseas, went all out to justify their retention in the competition to the chairman.
Their supporters cheered wildly as soon as chairman Mends came out of his car and started walking towards the VIP stand.
The good news was simultaneously communicated to the players when the game was only two minutes old and this spurred them on into action. But that was nothing to disturb the "Dade" boys as in the fifth minute they nearly had the opening goal, but an attacker shot wide at a close-range.
Bofoakwa came into the picture and nearly welcomed their chairman with an early goal in the 10th minute, but Kwaku Duah's 35-yarder shot went over the bar. Olympics whose fast and immaculate passes were a delight to watch finally hit the back of the net through a beautiful goal scored by Quaye Amui in the 13th minute.
But, like wounded tigers, Abdulai Tabiru, Emmanuel Kyeremanteng, Kojo Opoku, Kwaku Duah and Pasco Amponsah constituting the attacking machinery for Bofoakwa accepted the challenge and bombarded Olympics’ rearmen, hoping for the equalizer. Their efforts were rewarded in the 15th minute when Kojo Opoku beat goalkeeper Theodore to equalise for Bofoakwa.
After the break, Bofoakwa brought in Baba Sule, Anthony Mintah and Abu Issah for Owusu-Sarpong, Kojo Opoku and Captain Abeiku Sikins but this did not make any meaningful impact till the end of the injury-stricken match.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 28 May 2002 - A 58th minute goal by Stephen Oduro earned Kumasi Asante Kotoko the maximum three points against Okwawu United in their match. It was a free-kick taken by Kotoko's top striker when Seth Osei Wire of
Okwawu handled the ball just outside the box.
Kotoko should have increased the tally two minutes later at the same spot through another free-kick when Frank Osei was brought down by a defender but Frank Osei's kick hit the defence wall of the visitors and went into play.
Okwawu played the game with 10 men from the 38th minute when their defender, Yakubu Umar was shown the red card by referee J.K. Agbeko of Accra for dissent. The referee had earlier booked him in the 16th minute for similar offence. Kotoko substituted Abas Inusah for Kwaku Duah in the 30th minute while Joe Louis also replaced Nana Arhin Duah in the 36th minute.
The substitutions by Kotoko yielded good results as they mounted series of attacks on the visitors. Stephen Oduro nearly found the net in the 20th minute but fumbled. Okwawu's Thomas Avorgbedor's made an incursion in the 37th minute into Kotoko vital area but his beautiful shot was saved by goalkeeper Osei Boateng.
Frank Osei nearly scored in the 46th minute but his shot was parried to a corner by goalkeeper Fatawu Dauda. The resultant corner-kick was wasted. Joe Sam had a chance in the 49th minute but his header was saved by the agile goalkeeper of Okwawu while Stephen Oduro also missed a fine chance in the 53rd minute but broke the deadlock in the 58th minute.
Okwawu substituted Abdul Midjima for Osei Bonsu in the 56th minute to strengthen their defence as Kotoko continued to pile pressure on them to increase the tally. Isaac Asante had a chance in the 80th minute to equalise for Okwawu but shot wide.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 28 May 2002 - Brong Ahafo United suffered another set back when they lost 1-0 to Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals in their ninth week premier league match played at the Accra Sports Stadium leaving their few fans with nothing to cheer about.
This was the third time B.A had failed to glitter having lost 2-0 each to Maxbees and Hearts with the latter being on their own home soil. Even though they put up an impressive performance to win the respect of the few fans at the stadium by taking total control of the mid-field, their porous defence always brought on them incessant pressure from Liberty who also failed to make good use of the chances they had.
But for Goalkeeper Isaac Amoako who made some brilliant saves for his side, it would have been a disaster for B.A, as Liberty piled up more pressure on them leaving no room for the young goalie. It was very clear Liberty had the intentions of carrying the maximum three points away when as early as the second minute when Lawrence Awuley Quaye’s freekick narrowly missed the net denying them of a quick lead.
Liberty squandered other chances in the seventh and 10th minutes through Awuley Quaye and Ernest Papa Arko. The Dansoman lads kept on pilling up pressure, pushing more players upfront and it came as no surprise when they had the opener in the 17th minute through John Paintsil, after having been set up by Awuley Quaye.
B.A United who appeared undaunted fought back gallantly to gain an equaliser but found it difficult penetrating the Liberty defence. The game wore on as both teams put up an aggressive fight in their effort to score.
In the second half, a more improved BA side came in, totally outclassing Liberty, but unfortunately failed to glitter as Bawa Mohammed's 51st minute chance narrowly slipped by. He utilise a similar opportunity in 59th minute as keeper Owusu Banahene in post for Liberty dived to save the ball from entering the net. Liberty also had some chances but could not make good use of them until the referee's final whistle.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 28 May 2002 - Following is the goal scorers chart of the Premiership after the ninth week matches were honoured.
5 - Ernest Papa Arko (Liberty) Amui Quaye (Olympics) Charles Taylor (Hearts) Frank Awuah (Goldfields)
4 - Don Bortey (Hearts) Abubakar Yahuza (Faisal) Masawudu Mumuni (Maxbees).
3 - Nana Frimpong, Godwin Ablordey, Frank Osei, Stephen Oduro (Kotoko) Eric Adu Poku (Arsenals) Osei Bonsu
(Okwawu) Raja Mohammed (Power) Kenneth Sarpong (Hearts).
2 - Frank Turkson (Hearts) Bawa Mohammed (BA United) Kwasi Mensah (Mines Stars) Joe Okyere, Nana Arhin Duah
(Kotoko) Issah Ahmed, Eric Mbroah (Dawu) Joe Agyman, Kwabina Boateng (Faisal) Alfred Nii Larbi, John Paintsil
(Liberty) Kwaku Duah, Charles Benson (Bofoakwa) Gariba Haruna (Hasaacas) Ofosu Amoah (Goldfields).
1 - Laryea Kingston, Awudu Adama, Awuley Quaye, Wisdom Abbey, Charles Allotey, Adjah Tetteh (Hearts) Michael
Osei, Joe Louis, Joe Sam (Kotoko) Kenneth Ababio, Issah Rahman, Dauda Siedu, John Quansah, Asare Boateng,
Aminu Musa, Solomon Laryea (Goldfields) James Amartey, John Cudjoe (Olympics) Andrew Antwi, Osman Sakora,
Angelon Dedon, Bawa Mohammed (BA United) Kwabina Opoku (Faisal) Eddy Acquah, Isaac Asante (Okwawu)
Issah Shaibu (Maxbees) Samuel Owusu, Dennis Odum, Awal Mohammed, Sefa Boateng (Power) Mutalib Abdul,
Mohammed Inusah, Atta Yawson, John Ainoo, Maxwell Kensah, Ebo Mensah (Hasaacas) Albert Ayikade,
Mohammed Baker, Joseph Adjei, Alhassan Weah, Alhassan Habib, Hamza Mohammed, Bobby Rahman (RTU)
Kennedy Ayew (Mines Stars) Tahiru Abulai, Kofi Asiedu, Anthony Mintah, Kojo Poku (Bofoakwa) Kamara Dauda,
Paul Otu, Samuel Bakai, Paul Ofori, Baba Sule (Dawu) Kwame Adjei, Seth Antwi, George Eranio (Arsenals)
William Tiero (liberty)
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Accra (Greater Accra) 28 May 2002 - Sam Johnson, former national star and ex- dependable defender of the Champions club, Accra Hearts of oak has presented three sets of jersey to the club.
Johnson who until last year was playing regularly for the Black Stars told the GNA in an interview that the presentation was done in connection with the kind of love he had enjoyed from the phobian fraternity all these years. Johnson, now plying his trade in far away Turkey with Fernabache said he was hopeful that the donation would inspire the players in their quest to annex the league trophy for six consecutive times.
He said though football is a game of chance, Hearts are capable of winning the league though they will encounter stiff opposition from other contenders. "As you know, the league has now become a one way traffic and Hearts still look the most likely team to maintain the record" he added.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 28 May 2002 - The Ghana Football Association will vote for Issa Hayatou, President of the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) in his two-race challenge of Sepp Blatter, the incumbent of the governing council on global football, FIFA in the crucial 29 May elections in Seoul, South Korea.
Public Agenda can confirm that the decision was taken at an extraordinary meeting of the GFA at the association’s secretariat in Accra last week. No reason has been given for this decision which run counter to the view of at least one vocal member of the association.
Abedi Ayew Pele, Member of the GFA in charge of Promotion and Sponsorship has been globe-trotting canvassing support for Blatter against the African challenge. It is not know whether or not Abedi Pele was present at the meeting which took the decision.
So far, the FA has kept the ‘Vote for Hayatou’ decision to its chest but Agenda sources at the FA secretariat say the decision was taken in consonance with CAF’s directive to African national associations to side with the President of the African Confederation.
In 1998 when CAF directed its affiliated members to vote for the European Football Union (UEFA) President Lennart Johansson in his hotly challenged contest with Sepp Blatter, the GFA and other African football federations broke ranks with CAF and voted for Blatter, which has rewarded football associations in developing countries with $250,000 per annum for the development of the game at grassroots level. – Public Agenda.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 28 May 2002 - Sam Johnson, one of the old guards of the of the senior national team, the Black Stars, who was excluded from the 22-man squad for the last African Cup of Nations in Mali said he was no longer interested in playing for the nation.
He said he was playing very well for his Turkish club and does not need to play for the nation to enhance his "market" value adding, "I can move to any club at any time." The burly utility player said in Accra that he would not like to incur the displeasure of officials and be tagged as indiscipline.
He noted that outspoken players of the Stars' have been referred to as indiscipline citing Samuel Osei Kuffour's case where after complaining about the poor apparel for the Stars', Kuffour was axed from the inexperienced young team after a single match in Mali.
Johnson also known as ‘Foyoo,’ called on the authorities to put their houses in order and endeavour to do the right things to avoid a possible confrontation with players. "If a father and mother always engage in fights, it will definitely reflect in the lives of their children", the player said, apparently referring to the alleged disunity at the Ghana Football Association.
Foyoo noted that nothing has changed either at the GFA or at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, adding that officials keep repeating the same old mistakes. "We always complain there is no money, I wonder when we will have money to solve some basic things for the Stars" he added.
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