Sports Writers Association elect new officers
Alex Quartey, Justice Yeboah for Mali 2002
Accra (Greater Accra) 05 November 2001 – Results and standings of the Star Premier League after 26th week matches were honoured at the weekend, November 4.
Results
Accra: Olympics 1 Kotoko 1 Koforidua: Maxbees 1 Liberty 0
Dawu: Dawu 2 RTU 0 Berekum: Arsenals 2 Goldfields 0
Kumasi: Faisal 0 Hearts 0 Obuasi: Adansman 1 Ghapoha 0
Sekondi: Hasaacas 1 Okwawu 2 Sunyani: Bofoakwa 1 K'bibirem 0
Standings
Club Local/Region P W D L F A Pts GD
Hearts Accra, Greater Accra 26 18 5 3 50 16 59 +32
Kotoko Kumasi, Ashanti 26 17 3 6 41 12 51 +29
Goldfields Obuasi, Ashanti 25 12 2 11 32 16 38 +16
Bofoakwa Sunyani, Brong Ahafo 26 10 8 8 28 24 38 + 4
Hasaacas Sekondi, Western 26 10 5 11 28 30 35 - 2
RTU Tamale, North 26 9 4 13 20 17 31 +3
Gt. Olympics Accra, Gt. Accra 26 6 9 11 24 23 31 -1
Adansiman Obuasi, Ashanti 26 8 5 13 28 38 29 -10
Liberty Accra, Greater Accra 26 8 7 11 28 28 31 0
Ghapoha Tema, Gt. Accra 26 8 7 11 16 18 31 -2
Maxbees Suhum, Eastern 26 9 4 13 27 49 31 -22
Okwahu Nkawkaw, Eastern 25 8 6 11 29 26 30 +3
K. Faisal Kumasi, Ashanti 26 7 9 10 17 22 30 - 5
Kwaebibirem Asuom, Eastern 26 8 4 14 19 38 28 - 9
NB: With a number of protests by clubs before the GFA, it is most likely that standings of a number of clubs would be sharply affected by the end of the season.
GRi…/
Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 05 November 2001 - Bofoakwa Tano beat visiting Asuom Kwaebibirem F/C 1-0 in their star premier soccer league match played at the Sunyani Coronation Park on Sunday.
The homesters, however had to exert every sinew before they could clinch that lone goal victory, which was scored by substitute veteran Ben Kusi in the 75 minutes.
Bofoakwa who felt clinching the three points was a done deal were complacent and nearly paid for it as they had to wait until the final quarter of the game to get the much needed winner.
On a number of occasions they were a bundle of nerves as they wasted countless chances that fell to them. It was little wonder therefore, when their aggrieved supporters rushed onto the pitch immediately FIFA referee Osei Nsiah of Kumasi whistled for the end of
the first half with the intention to vent their spleen on their own players for their dismal showing but Asst. Supt Yartey Tawiah saved the situation.
The match itself had nothing to write home about as the two sides went through the proceedings as if there was nothing at stake. The Kwaebibirem boys with shortisk Nathaniel Nelson as the best player tried vainly to equalise for his side in the dying minutes of the game.
At Berekum, homeboys Arsenals won 2-0 over Obuasi Goldfields.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 05 November 2001 - Wonder Club, Accra Great Olympics failed to grab the maximum three points when they drew 1-1 in their encounter at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
The match could best be described as the match of the equals as both teams displayed classic football to the admiration of the teeming fans who filled the stadium to capacity.
With their new found confidence and prowess, Olympics dictated the pace in the first half and made incursions up front but the superb interventions of dependable goalkeeper, Louis Quainoo, saved Kotoko from going down early.
Olympics nearly opened the scoreline in the ninth minute, through David Sarkodie after receiving a cross from Michael Asante but keeper Quainoo again made a spectacular save. In the 15th minute, however, luck smiled on them when James Zogho headed home a float from Nana Eshun but Sunyani-based FIFA referee Emmanuel Bissi ruled it as off side.
Their pressure however, paid off in the 25th minute, when a penalty kick was awarded them after Joe Hendricks handballed in the penalty box for Nana to convert the resultant into a goal. Kotoko who were not intimidated by the early lead made some moves in their bid to equalise but all efforts failed till the referee whistled for the end of the first half.
On resumption, the trend changed in favour of Kotoko who took control and pilled up pressure on Olympics who appeared exhausted. Goal scoring chances were wasted by Kotoko in the 45th and 51st minutes by Joe Okyere and Godfred Yeboah who both shot over the goal post.
As Kototo were hoping against hope of scoring, their moment came in the 68th minute, when Anas Mohammed lifted the ball to Aziz Ansah who was lurking around to head the ball home to give Kotoko the equaliser. Both teams struggled to take the lead but wasted all chances.
GRi…/
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Sekondi (Western Region) 05 November 2001 - Visiting Okwawu United beat Sekondi Hasaacas 2-1 in their match at the Sekondi Gyandu Park on Sunday.
Hasaacas took the kick off and launched an early onslaught on the visitors but soon lost control to Okwawu almost immediately. Unable to put their passes together, Okwawu United also found it difficult to get past the Hasmal’s lateral wall thus leaving the game in a ding-dong battle.
Against the run of play, however, the homestrikers striker, Mohammed Muyei, punished the ‘soccer mountaineers’ when he unexpectedly delivered a pile driver, which landed in the Okwawu’s net.
Okwawu fought back gallantly equalised in the 69th minute through Alfred Nii Larbi, who again shot his side into the lead ten minutes later.
GRi…/
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Relegation threatened Obuasi Adansiman managed a 1-0 win over Tema Ghapoha in their match played at the Len Clay Stadium. The only goal of the encounter came in the 44th minute through Collins Afriyie who converted a spot kick awarded Adansiman by referee W.O.1 James Nkrumah of Sunyani.
Ghapoha's Joseph Osei had pulled down HarunaGariba in the penalty area and the referee had no option than to award a penalty kick in favour of the homersters.
GRi…/
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 05 November 2001 - King Faisal's goalkeeper Sam Okyere, was the toast of soccer fans as he pulled off some spectacular saves to earn his side a goalless drawn game in their star premier league against Accra Hearts of Oak in Kumasi today.
The game was barely a minute old when King Faisal earned a free kick just outside Hearts penalty box but goalkeeper Sammy Adjei made a perfect save of the kick.
Hearts moved into top gear with Charles Taylor spearheading the attack and in the ninth minute called on goalkeeper Okyere to save a sticky situation, blocking Charles Taylor's grounder after tearing away from the left.
Taylor again had King Faisal defence reeling in the 26th minute when he broke lose from the left but the defence managed to clear the ball. Two minutes later, goalkeeper Okyere parried Osei Kuffour's flick sideways for a corner from another Taylor cross but the corner was wasted. He was called upon again in the 34th minutes to tip Edmund Copson's pile driver over the bar.
In a bid to strengthen the defence, the monarchs pulled out Frank Darko for Francis Osei in the 41st minute, and had a good chance in the 46th minute but Isaac Debrah shot feebly into the hands of goalkeeper Sammy Adjei.
The homesters kept on probing for the opener but Frank Osei's shot in the 50th minute was tipped over the bar by Sammy Adjei. Then in the 62nd minute, Charles Allotey had the brightest chance to send Hearts into the lead after collecting a neat pass and disposing off his attackers but he hesitated and shot wide. It was evident from then on that the afternoon’s hostility was tapering to scoreless end.
GRi…/
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Dawu (Eastern Region) 05 November 2001 - Dawu Youngsters on Sunday played a determined game to beat visiting Real Tamale United (RTU) 2-0 in their Star Premier League match played at Dawu. The loss leaves the northerners threatened by relegation as they are now 12th placed on the table and separated from the bottom by only two points at their haul of 29.
Dawu scored both goals in the second half and succeeded in disorganizing the play of the RTU boys who had hitherto dominated play before the break. The opener came in 57th minute through enterprising Awudu Adama when he converted a spot kick after a defender of RTU handled the ball in box.
Two minutes later, Adama made it two for his side after he blasted a long-range shot past goalkeeper Faisal Sulemana in post for RTU. The prolific scorer has by this feet increased his season’s tally to 14 but is still a distant six from Hearts’ Ishmael Addo who was not in action over the weekend.
GRi…/
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Koforidua (Eastern Region) 05 November 2001 - Koforidua based Maxbees on Sunday beat visiting Liberty Professionals by a lone goal in their Star Premier league match played at the Koforidua Sports Stadium. The first half ended in a goalless draw.
On resumption, Maxbees found their rhythm and mounted pressure on the visitors but wasted chances that came their way especially in the 46th and 49th minutes. They managed to score the only goal of the match in the 72nd minute through a penalty kick converted by Emmanuel Osei, when a defender of Liberty Professionals handled the ball in their penalty box.
After the goal, the Liberty boys took up the challenge and dictated the pace but failed to take advantage of the situation until the final whistle of the match.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 05 November 2001 - Mona Captan retained her Ghana Ladies Golf Union (GLGU) Championship trophy when she grossed 157 to win this year's competition played at the Achimota Golf Course in Accra on Sunday.
Mona grossed 75 and 82 on the first and second day respectively to beat a field of over 120 golfers. Helen Morita came second with a gross score of 163, Florence Etwwi-Barimah placed third with 170 gross, Rashida Khalil was fourth with 170 gross, Nora Vangronengen took the fifth position with 172 gross while the sixth position went to Suzie Abaloo with 173 gross.
J. Hill won the Handicap event with 140 net, Clara Price was second with 141 net while Konte Masikodumi was third with 142 net. The two-day Scratch event attracted competitors from Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United Kingdom and the Gambia and was sponsored by Vanguard Assurance Company Limited.
Mrs Sophia Horner-Sam, Deputy Western Regional Minister, who was the guest of honour, said it is government's policy to give due recognition to all lesser-known sports.
She called on the Union to come out with a programme that would help unearth talents among students.
Mrs Rosemond Dsane-Selby, President of the GLGU said the competition is becoming one of the most important events on the Ladies calendar and they are determined to keep it as such.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 05 November 2001 - All Stars cycling club moved to the top of the Cowbell Cycling league table with 15 points when they out-rode Koforidua River Park in their fifth week race held in Accra on Saturday.
In the other races, Gutten Club beat City Micro, Young Stars lost to Fire Brunch while Accra River Park defeated bottom club, Nippon Stars. All Stars have so far covered the 85- kilometre race with a time of two hours, 28 minutes, 44 seconds. Accra River Park, who are lying second with 13 points had a time of two hours 30 minutes and three seconds and third-placed Gutten had a time of two hours, 30 minutes, 24 seconds.
Nuru Padie of All Stars was adjudged the Best Time of the competition, while Joseph Lomo Tahinu of Nippon won the Youngest Cyclist award. The competition would be moved to Tema on Saturday, November 10 for the sixth week race.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra) 05 November 2001 - The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) on Saturday, went to the polls to elect new officers to handle the affairs of the association for the next four years.
Those elected were Mr Ebo Quansah of Public Agenda as President, Mr Kwabena Yeboah of Africa Sports as Vice President and Mr Emmanuel Amoako of Graphic Communications Group as Secretary.
The rest were Mr Maurice Quansah as Assistant Secretary, and Ms Rosalind Amoh as Treasurer, both of Graphic Communications Group, while Mr Ben Ohene Ayeh of the Ghana Tourist Board and Mr Kwame Baah-Nuako of Radio Gold were elected as Executive Members.
A statement by the Electoral Commisioner, Mr Harry Mouzalas of the Ghana News Agency said the new executives would be inducted into office in December, but the time and place would be announced in due course.
GRi…/
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Alex Quartey, Justice Yeboah for Mali 2002
Accra
(Greater Accra) 05 November 2001 - At the time when referees in Ghana continue
to come under scrutiny for all the wrong reasons, the Confederation of African
Football has shown confidence in two Ghanaian officials for the next year’s
Nations Cup in Mali.
Alex
Quartey, four times Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) referee of the
year and Justice Yeboah were named in CAF’s list of referees and assistant
referees for the 23rd Nations Cup.
Not more
that one referee or assistant referee is selected from the same country. The
most controversial of the picks were two who were banned for a year earlier in
season.
Mourad
Daami of Tunisia and Falla Ndoye of Senegal had their suspensions lifted in
time to take part, after appeals form their home federations.
Ndoye had
been tipped to be one of Africa’s referees at next year’s World Cup Finals but
was sanctioned after Angola protested about what they saw as a biased
performance in a Nations Cup qualifier they lost 1-0 at Burkina Faso in
January.
Angola also
had a legitimate-looking goal disallowed, and that proved crucial to their
failure to reach the Finals.
Daami took
his punishment after showing dismally at least year’s Champions League final
second leg in Accra, which he attended as a guest of Esperance.
He tried to
persuade the match officials to abandon the game after Hearts of Oak fans
caused disturbances, which spilled on to the pitch.
The list of
officials for Mali includes two referees from Europe Spain’s Arturo Dauden
Ibanez and Italian Domenico Messian – and two assistant referees, as well as
the 14 African referees.
GRi…/
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