Black Meteors host the Amagluglug on Sunday
Meteors stretched by Amagluglug.
B.A United, Kwaebibirim in draw games
Soccer-Milo championships open
Meteors stretched by Amagluglug.
Accra (Greater Accra), 18th October 99
The national Under-23 soccer team, the Black Meteors yesterday escaped defeat by the skin of their teeth when they fought from behind to cancel a two lead by their South African counterparts Amagluglug in the first Group B qualifier for the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
Ironically, it was the Meteors who started the game on a fast note with Peter Ofori Quaye, Baffour Gyan and Johnson Eklu making threatening incursions into their opponents' goal but were unable to score.
As early as the third minute Ofori Quaye, who captained the side, took a pass from the right flank, outrun his markers and delivered a grounder that went narrowly across goal. Two minutes later, Johnson Eklu found himself encountered only by South Africa’s goalkeeper, Emile Raymond Baron but the winger was caught wrong-footed as he failed to connect to give the Meteors the opener.
When the tide changed, the South Africans who played minus some of their seasoned professionals shocked the Ghanaians with the first goal of the match when Daniel Matsau scored in the 15th minute. Matsau positioned deep in the Meteors’ goal area, received a pass from Siyabonga Nomuethe to fire a shot past advancing goalie Osei Boateng, the post, for the Meteors.
The Ghanaians quickly reorganised and put pressure on their opponents giving defender Michael Booth and his men anxious moments. In the 26th minute, Edward Copson should have brought the meteors on level terms but the midfielder, uncharacteristically shot feebly into the arms of goalkeeper Baron.
Against the run of play Matsau dented the spleen of the Ghanaians when he hit the back of the net for South Africa’s second goal in the 35th minute. The goal came as a result of a confusion among the Meteors rear men, which saw Abdul Issah Rahman being outpaced by the striker to fire past a diving Osei Boateng.
Sensing danger, Meteors coach Guiseppe Dossena brought on Adu-Tutu Skelly for Issah Rahman in a bid to strengthen the attack. The change brought more life into the Meteors' game as Ofori-Quaye managed to pull one back on the stroke of halftime when he connected home a rebound after Abdul Razak's shot had ricocheted off the post.
After the recess, the Ghanaians brought themselves on level terms after just two minutes. A relentless attack by the Meteors earned them a free-kick 20 metres from the South African’s goal area and Copson's kick deflected off an Amagluglug defender into the net.
Copson was replaced by Laryea Kingston while the South Africans brought on Ephraim Mashaba for Duncan Fredericks in the 65th minute.
From then on, the game became a ding-dong affair with both sides fighting for the match winner. Desperately in need of a win the Meteors placed the Amagluglug goal area under siege but goalkeeper Baron thwarted all their efforts till the end.
Line-up: Ghana - Osei Boateng, George Blay, Kofi Amoako, Sani Wahab, Isaah Abdul-Rahman/Skelly Adu-Tutu, Abdul Razak, Godwin Ablordey, Edmund Copson/Laryea Kingston, Peter Ofori-Q Quaye, Baffour Gyan/ Nana Arhin Duah and Johnson Eklu.
South Africa - Raymond Baron, David Kannemeyer, Fabian McCarthy, Matthew Booth, Duncan Fredericks/Ephraim Mashaba, Daniel Matsau, Abram Nteo, Jeremiah Pule/Matshidiso Marumo, Patrick Mbuthu, Aaron Mokoena and Eugene Namvethe/Mbongeni Ndlovu.
Ghana will meet Cameroon for the next Group B encounter on October 31st at Younde while South Africa takes on Guinea. Cameroon current African champions at the Under-23 level walloped Guinea 3- 0 in their game at Conakry, Guinea.
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B.A United, Kwaebibirim in draw games
Dawu (Eastern Region) 18th October 99
Brong Ahafo United and Kwaebibirim United drew in their respective week-end matches to maintain their join lead on top the on-going Division One Middle League.
In their match at the Dawu Sports Stadium, B.A. United were unlucky not have won against Adansiman United as the Obuasi lads cancelled a thin goal lead by B.A two minutes from time through enterprising Hope Larweh. B.A had the first laugh when speedster Paschal Oduro shot them ahead in the 28th minute.
At the Tema Sports Stadium, Cape Coast Venomous Vipers nearly jolted Asuom Kwaebibirim’s aspirations for a Premier berth next season when they made them sit on thorns for pretty 80minutes with a one goal deficit before clawing back on level terms. Vipers shot ahead through a 25th minute penalty but Kwaebibirim’s power soccer yielded dividend when Osei Kofi netted with a long range ten minutes from time.
Three goals without reply from Kwame Adjei(12th minute), Oppong Kyekyeku(72nd minute) and Seth Antwi Gyan(82nd minute) gave Arsenals a win over Maxbees to register their first win in the league.at Cape Coast.
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Teams P W D L F A Pts. GD
Kwaebibirim 4 2 2 0 7 5 8 +2
B.A. United 4 2 2 0 5 3 8 +2
Adansiman 4 1 2 1 6 3 5 +3
Arsenals 4 1 1 2 8 9 4 -1
Vipers 4 1 1 2 5 7 4 -2
Maxbees 4 0 2 2 2 6 2 -4
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Soccer-Milo championships open
Cape Coast (Central Region), 18th October 99
The sixth National Milo Youth Soccer Championships opened at Cape Coast on Saturday with high hopes of unearthing talents.
The tournament expanded from 12 to 16 teams this year has foreign participation from Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and Mali, and is being co-sponsored by Africa Football Management(AFM) and Nestle Ghana Limited.
Opening the tournament, Professor Patrick Addy, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, said the government’s desire is for the country to continue to chalk successes in juvenile soccer at the international level. "For this reason, a second and critical look is being taken at the sport with the aim of giving it the necessary support and boost", he said.
Prof. Addy said that government is hopeful that the provision of a meaningful support would improve the skills and performance of juvenile footballers and raise their standard of play.
He commended companies and individuals that have been sponsoring various sports disciplines, especially Nestle for sponsoring the championships.
The Deputy Central Regional Minister, Mr. H. Jehu-Appiah, Deputy Central Regional Minister underscored the importance of soccer in the country and said during the 1998/99, league season, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) had 1.2 billion cedis (500,000 dollars) from international transfer of players.
He said the country also earned billions of cedis from remittances and repatriation of earnings of these players and this indicates that soccer is a lucrative employment avenue.
"It is, therefore, very important for all to take the development and organisation and management of soccer programmes seriously".
In the opening matches, Uncle Edwards Stars of Central Region walloped Anlo Kotsioko F/C of Volta Region, 6-1. Joseph Sackey, who scored four goals, was adjudged the best player of the match.
In a second encounter, Mighty Victory of Greater Accra drew 2-2 with BSI of Nigeria.
Previous winners of the Milo championships are: Accra Cowlane Babies (1994), Sunyani Evans Stars (1995), Kumasi Corners Babies (1996), Wa Young Heroes (1997) and Tamale Real Republicans (1998).
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