Sydney 2000 Olympics soccer qualifying series
Soccer-Three new Kotoko players introduced
Soccer-Three new Kotoko players introduced
Accra (Greater Accra), 19th October 99
Mr. Herbert Mensah, Board Chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club Limited on Monday introduced three new players the club signed on from Power F/C.
They are; Humphrey Amoah, a goalkeeper, Alex Djanie and Felix Yeboah both defenders and currently in the national Under-23 squad, the Black Meteors.
Mr. Mensah did not disclose the terms of their three-year contract with Kotoko but said the players were released after tough negotiations with the management of Power.
He said although it is unusual in Ghana to introduce new players at a press conference, it is necessary to make the public aware of the progress the club has made in the recruitment exercise which began last May.
"This is the first phase of the exercise and hopefully we would be able to secure the services of four more quality players to don the jerseys of the Porcupine Warriors".
He said contrary to rumours that Kotoko were poaching players, " we wrote to all the clubs which we had interest in their players such as Hearts of Oak, RTU etc and have respected the decisions they have taken on these players."
He said Mr J.Y Appiah, a director of Bofoakwa is said to be seeking a club in Europe or the Middle East for Osei Kwame of Bofoakwa who has expressed interest to join Kotoko.
" But if Osei Kwame stays in Ghana then he would definitely play for Kotoko".
Asked whether, Kotoko will re-negotiate, a new deal with Baba Armando whose contract expired at the end of the season, the Kotoko boss said Mr. Jones Abu Alhassan, the player's manager is arranging a new foreign contract for him.
" Apart from that, the amount being quoted by his former club in Dubai is too expensive and not in our interest".
Mr. Mensah said the current 25 players would be pruned down to about 16 and those who would not fit into the 'new Kotoko' would either be given out to other clubs on loan or transferred.
He said Kotoko would leave for Germany by next week where they would be joined by the new coach, David Booth.
" When they come back, Coach Booth would then decide on his technical team that he would use".
Mr. Mensah said the new polices and programmes being initiated by Kotoko would also benefit other teams and the GFA as well since good remuneration and better conditions would entice the players to stay in the country instead of moving to Europe.
He said plans are also underway to establish a website for Kotoko on the Internet to market the club world-wide.
Meanwhile the management is organising a rally, a match between the possibles and probables as well as a Musical bonanza by Amakye Dede and Lord Kenya at the Kumasi Sports Stadium on Sunday, October 23.
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Sydney 2000 Olympics soccer qualifying series
Nigeria, Cameroon and Morocco took off to a flying start in their opening matches of the qualifying series of the Sydney Olympic games as the posted wins in their respective matches, leaving behind Ghana who had to struggle to a 2 - 2- draw with South Africa, and Egypt and Guinea who lost 0-1 and 0-3 to Morocco and Cameroon respectively.
Olympics gold medallist, Nigeria won two nil against Angola at Lagos on Saturday in a Group A encounter that had only 5000 fans watching due to the home side’s poor turn out in recent matches. Striker Emmanuel Issah hit the back of the net twice in the 31st and 54th minutes to grab the maximum three points at stake.
However, the surprise team of the Group is Zimbabwe who defeated Uganda 3-0 in Kampala before the eyes of President Yoweri Museveni. It was a 27 minutes first half blitz that saw Zimbabwe’s Joel Lupahla scoring two and another by Kobisinta Ncube to give the visitors the biggest win in the qualifier.
Ghana drew 2-2 in Group B with South Africa in Accra on Sunday while a 3-0 win by Cameroon over Guinea make them tops of the table. Dangerman, Daniel Matsau put the Amagluglug of South Africa ahead with two goals in the 15th and 35th minutes before the Ghanaians pulled even in the 45th and 47th minutes through goals from skipper Peter Ofori Quaye and Edmund Copson. All Africa Games champions, Cameroon proved too tough for Guinea as they pummelled them to a humiliating defeat in Conakry on Sunday.
In Group C Morrocco’s Zerouali’s goal midway in the second half gave his side a thin win over Egypt in Rabat that enabled them top the Group. Cote d’Ivoire who paraded a virtually ASEC youthful side forced Tunisia to a 1-1 drawn game in Tunis.
Tables
Group A
Teams P W D L F A Pts GD
Zimbabwe 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 +3
Nigeria 1 1 0 0 2 0 3 +2
Angola 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 -2
Uganda 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 -3
Group B
Teams P W D L F A Pts GD
Cameroon 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 +3
South Africa 1 0 1 0 2 2 1 0
Ghana 1 0 1 0 2 2 1 0
Guinea 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 -3
Group C
Teams P W D L F A Pts GD
Morocco 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 +1
Cote d’Ivoire 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0
Tunisia 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0
Egypt 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 -1
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