GRi Sports Ghana 01 - 10 - 2001
Star Premier League 21st week results and
standings
Maxbees triumph over the monarchs
Saarah-Mensah wins Stanchart golf
GFA would not be intimidated - Ben Koufie
Okwahu United appeal for points
Star Premier League 21st week
results and standings
Accra (Greater Accra) 01 October 2001 - Results of the 21st week matches of the Star
Premier League played on Sunday.
Accra: Hearts 2 Ghaopha 0 Kumasi: Kotoko 0 Okwawu 1
Obuasi: Goldfields 1 K’bibirem 0 Tamale: RTU 1 Hasaacas 0
Berekum: Arsenals 1 Bofoakwa 0 Koforidua: Maxbees 1 K. Faisal 0
Dawu: Dawu 0 Olympics 2 Accra: Liberty 6 Adansiman 0
Standings
Club Local/Region P W D L F A Pts GD
Hearts Accra, Greater Accra 21 15 4 2 40 11 49 +28
Kotoko Kumasi, Ashanti 21 13 2 6 30 11 41 +19
Goldfields Obuasi, Ashanti 20 11 2 7 30 14 35 +16
RTU Tamale, North 21 9 4 8 20 17 31 +3
Hasaacas Sekondi, Western 21 9 3 9 21 22 30 -1
Bofoakwa Sunyani, Brong Ahafo 21 7 7 7 21 17 29 +4
Okwahu Nkawkaw, Eastern 20 7 6 7 22 22 27 0
Liberty Accra, Greater Accra 21 7 5 8 27 26 26 +1
Ghapoha Tema, Gt. Accra 21 6 7 8 14 15 25 -1
B. Arsenal Berekum, Brong Ahafo 21 7 4 10 15 29 25 -14
Kwaebibrem Asuom, Eastern 21 7 3 11 17 21 27 -4
Gt. Olympics Accra, Gt. Accra 21 5 8 8 16 19 23 -3
Maxbees Suhum, Eastern 21 6 4 11 18 38 23 -20
K. Faisal Kumasi, Ashanti 21 6 6 9 14 18 21 -4
Adansiman Obuasi, Ashanti 21 5 5 11 18 30 20 -12
NB: King Faisal was penalised for fielding an unqualified player in the first round. They lost four points as a result. The GFA’s decision to declare Kotoko losers in a protest against them by Bofoakwa has also led to a drop in their point build-up.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 01 October 2001 - Accra Hearts of Oak extended their lead on the standings on the Star Premier League table on Sunday to 49 points, eight clear points from their closest rivals, Asante Kotoko who lost at home to Okwahu United.
A brace by Ishmael Addo was all the Phobians needed to ward off the resolute attack of the fluid playing Ghapoha team who were attempting another giant-killing exercise after defeating Kotoko last week and had more possession than the winners.
Ishmael scored in the 21st and 90th minutes to send the supporters of the African champions into a carnival as soon as Takoradi based Class one referee Wilson Say sounded the final whistle.
The first goal was classic as the reigning goalking made a swift turn to face the opponents' goal before choosing his spot away from the reach of Abukari Kankani in goal for Ghapoha.
The visitors responded quickly but John Ainoo failed to make hay in the 38th minute after Sammy Adjei had fumbled and had presented him with an opportunity.
In the 42 minute, Kwabena Boateng also failed to cancel Hearts' lead with a powered a header away after receiving an incisive pass from Sammy Addo.
Ghapoha continued their siege in the second half, building up beautifully from mid-field but their finishing was woeful and disappointing.
Hearts introduced veteran striker Osumanu Amadu for Owusu Benson and Emmanuel Osei Kuffour for injured Edmund Copson but the trend did not change as the Tema boys stroke the ball from one player to the other.
In the 62nd minute, Hearts had the chance to seal the game but Kuffour, Ishmael and Taylor missed in turns as clearances from the defenders of Ghapoha fell to them in the penalty box one after the other.
Keeper Kankani was superb in the 85th minute when he saved a close range effort from Ishmael.
When everything was pointing to a lone goal victory for Hearts, Amankwa Mireku who was playing his first competitive after an injury in South Africa set up Ishmael to slot home the second goal on the stroke of full time.
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Tamale (Northern Region) 01 October 2001 - A 61st minute goal by substitute Kwami Adzagba gave RTU the maximum points in their match against Sekondi Hasaacas played at the Tamale Kalandan Park on Sunday.
RTU's skipper Hamza Mohammed was fouled outside the penalty box of Hasaacas resulting a free-kick, which was converted by Kwami to register the only goal of the match.
RTU kicked-off but lost control of the game to the visitors, who made several incursions into the RTU half and should have fetched the opener in the first quarter of the game.
The RTU defencemen, centred around Alex Kyeremeteng held the Hasaacas attacking machinery of Issa Mohammed and Frank Turkson at bay till the end of the first half.
In the second-half RTU brought in Koni for Faisal Sulemana and the game changed in their favour.
With the weather condition hot and dry the visitors appeared worn out after the break and allowed RTU to dominate the game in the mid-field, whilst they packed their players at the rear.
But the Hasmal boys managed to hold their own until the 61st minute when Kwami broke the deadlock.
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Koforidua (Eastern Region) 01 October 2001 - Koforidua based Maxbees beat visiting Kumasi King Faisal one nil in their match played at the Koforidua Sports Stadium here on Sunday. Half time scores were goalless.
In the second half, King Faisal missed narrowly when a striker, with only the goalkeeper to beat, collided with him, resulting in a hold-up for several minutes because of injuries to the goalkeeper.
During the second half, Maxbees woke up to the Faisal onslaught and increased the tempo of their game and halted the dominance of the visitors.
As a result, Maxbees got the opener in the 68th minute through substitute player, Juma Shardarn.
From then, both teams kept the pressure on each other but none could score until the end of the match.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 01 October 2001 - Soccer Mountaineers, Okwahu United deepened the woes of Kumasi Asante Kotoko in their quest for the league diadem after several years in the wilderness by handing a painful 1-0 in their encounter.
It was Kotoko's first home defeat and the second defeat in a row, having lost to Ghapoha with the same margin last week after their historic win over arch-rivals, Accra Hearts of Oak a fortnight ago.
It was Kotoko who gave false hope early in the game to their fans when they took the field by storm and had the supporters roaring in the 13th minute when smallish Francis Asowah's goalbound header was cleared on the line by the Okwahu defence.
Kotoko still kept the pressure on Okwahu and in the 29th minute, Joe Okyere met a pass and dashed into the Okwahu goal area but the ball hit his hand in the process.
Joe Okyere was on hand again in the 44th minute with a powerful header to Shilla Alhassan's cross but Okwahu's goalkeeper Mauzu Nkono who had a good game tipped it to corner.
Okwahu resumed the second half with confidence and earned a free-kick in the 49th minute, just outside Kotoko's penalty box but wasted it.
Stephen Oduro sent the stadium roaring in the 53rd minute with one of his characteristic long-range shots, which was again tipped over the bar by goalkeeper Nkono.
Let off the hook, Okwahu attacked from the left flank and a two-man move between Richard Mireku and skipper Alfred Nii Larbi found the skipper in the box. He took a neat pass from Mireku and after shrugging off two Kotoko defenders, he sneaked the ball past goalkeeper Osei Boateng for the opener in the 57th minute.
A minute later, Kotoko's Aziz Ansah hit the cross bar but the rebound was wasted.
Both sides made changes as Kotoko sent in Abedi Sarfo and Nana Frimpong for Asowah and Joe Sam while Okwahu pulled out Iddrisu Ismala and Ernest Boateng for John Maclean and Paul Amponsah in the 65th minute.
But it was Kotoko who pilled on the pressure and bombarded the Okwahu goal with shots from all angles however, goalkeeper Nkono tipped substitute Micheal Osei's goal bound header over the bar while Abedi Sarfo hit the woodwork in the 80th minute.
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Dawu (Eastern Region) 01 October 2001 - At the Dawu stadium the wonders of Accra Great Olympics came into play when they silenced the home side 2-0 in their encounter.
Oly's two goals came in seven minutes spell through substitute Dennis Odum in the 73rd minute and centre forward Albert Nkansah in the 80th minute.
Oly who threw away a 4th minute penalty awarded them were in no way intimidated by the home boys, as they transformed their game in the second half and easily won the day.
By this victory Olympics have now amassed 23points and are now placed 13th on the 16 team table, a step above relegation.
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Saarah-Mensah wins Stanchart golf
Accra (Greater Accra) 01 October 2001 - Kwame Saarah-Mensah, former Secretary for Youth and Sports scored 41 points, beating Mawuli Ababio on count back, to win the 33rd annual Standard Chartered Bank (Stanchart) Golf championship played at the
Achimota Golf Course in Accra on Saturday.
James Kally was third with 40 points, beating E.K. Osei and M. Yoshikuni on count back, while Nick Smallman was sixth with 38 points, beating Francis Agbemor on count back.
The Ladies event was won by Grace Komladzei with 39 points, Mary Malik was second with 38 points, Maria Ben-George took the third position with 37 points, beating Eunice Adzakpo on count back while Elizabeth Quartey placed fifth with 34 points, beating Esther Amoah on count back.
The one-day 18-hole stableford competition opened to amateur golfers from Achimota, Tema and Celebrity Golf Clubs, attracted over 150 golfers.
Mr Sammy Adetola,Vice Captain of the Achimota Golf Club praised the bank for the assistance the club has been receiving in the past years and called on other corporate bodies and institutions to help develop the sport.
Mr Ebenezer Essoka, Managing Director of the bank, who presented the prizes to the winners, on behalf of the bank, presented a cheque for five million cedis to the Club.
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GFA would not be intimidated - Ben Koufie
Accra (Greater Accra) 01 October 2001 - Mr Ben Koufie, Chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has said he would not allow his administration to be
intimidated by anybody or group of people to satisfy their own selfish ends.
In a statement, Mr Koufie said football in Ghana would be administered on the basis of internationally accepted principles advocated by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), the continental and world governing bodies to which GFA was affiliated.
He said the GFA has noticed a chain of events including clubs refusing with impunity to release their players for national duty whiles violence was showing its head at training grounds of reputable clubs and supporters demonstrating against the decision of the GFA Disciplinary Committee, whereas it was not the first time it has penalised a club for flouting the rules.
Mr Koufie said football was managed by rules enacted by the clubs themselves during their annual congress and these rules would be interpreted without fear or favour.
He said, even though, currently football in country was going through a difficult phase, his administration was still in control of issues as it was in talks with law enforcing organs to stamp out hooliganism.
He said measures to be taken would include the closure of stadiums,where violence would be recorded and culprits arrested would be prosecuted at the law courts.
Mr Koufie continued that known hooligans would not be allowed to enter the stadiums to ensure the safety of football loving fans.
He said his administration was committed to restoring the dented image of the game as a result of the May 9 disaster, which took the life of 126 soccer fans and that there would be no place for hooliganism.
Mr Koufie assured all clubs that they would be dealt with fairly and without bias and sought the understanding and fair play from all.
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Okwahu United appeal for points
Nkawkaw (Ashanti Region) 01 October 2001 - The management of Okwahu United Sporting Club has appealed to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to award them the three points and three goals for their abortive 19th week Star Premier League match against Obuasi Goldfields at Nkawkaw which was re-sheduled for last Friday but the miners failed to turn up.
Speaking to the GNA sports at Nkawkaw, the team manager of Okwahu United, Mr Kwabena Boateng, said the match which was scheduled for 27th of September was re-scheduled for 28th September when the appointed referee and match commissioner failed to turn up.
He said the acting GFA executive secretary, Mr K. Ampim Darko talked to officials of the two teams on telephone to honour the match the following day at the same venue but Goldfields failed to turn up.
Mr Boateng who is also the Welfare Officer of the club therefore urged the GFA to apply the rules and award them the points.
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