GRi Sports Ghana 02 - 10 -2001
Another difficult weekend for Kotoko, Hearts
Soccer-Goal scoring chart for the Star Premier League
Stars preparation on course - Kudjo Fianoo
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 October 2001 - Mr Kudjo Fianoo, Welfare Manager of the senior national team, the Black Stars, has said the team's preparation towards the CAN 2002 tournament scheduled for Mali in January is still on course in spite of difficulties in getting the full complement of local players for training.
In an interview with the GNA Sports in Accra on Monday, Mr Fianoo said he believed an amicable solution would soon be found in the wake of meetings between the coach and the Stars management committee to find common grounds acceptable by all.
The number of players that reported to camp doubled from six to 12 after the second camping session with all invited players from Hearts except Ishmael Addo, who sought permission to travel outside the country, participating. Players from Goldfields and Kotoko are yet to report.
"To me Hearts and Kotoko were reluctant to release their players due to the tension on them when they were running neck to neck on the league table, but now that the gap has been widened and the pressure reduces, I expect all of them to soften their stands soon.
Hearts, Kotoko and Goldfields who supply the bulk of the local stars for the national team refused to allow their players for camping with the excuse that they would not have enough time to prepare adequately for league matches when the players are released on Thursdays from Stars camp.
On whether a long camping is necessary, the Welfare manager said it is important since the team needs to be synchronised into one unit before the arrival of the foreign based counterparts to fill specific positions in the set up.
"Camping would not have been that necessary if we have majority of our players taking part in any of the continental club championships.
"At the moment the conditions of most of the players leave much to be desired and we have also been informed that the FA is in the process of adding a goalkeepers' coach to the technical team to handle our goalkeepers".
On the foreign-based players, Mr Fianoo said no decision has been taken on them since the leagues in Europe has just started adding that the coach has been in touch with some of the players; but it would be too early to know who would be invited.
He said they intend using most of the foreign-based players for the tournament even though their clubs would also like to use them for their league which still be in progress at the time of the tournament.
Mr Fianoo confirmed that the coach has been in contact with Alex Nyarko who recently announced that he was quitting international football to convince him to rescind his decision.
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra) 01 October 2001 – By contrasting fortunes over the past couple of weeks, the 2001 Star Premier League is in grave danger of losing the glamour that has characterised it this far.
On account of the whirlwind manner in which commenced this year’s league, hope among the club’s legion of followers appeared to have soared to heights not witnessed in almost eight years. Everything pointed to Kotoko’s strongest challenge yet to knock Hearts of glory, but things seem to be going to pieces now.
The loss of three points to Tano Bofoakwa on disciplinary grounds and two defeats on the trot to Ghapoha and Okwawu - something that rarely happens to the Porcupine Warriors - have combined to endanger the club’s championship hopes.
With eight points now separating them and arch rivals, Hearts many supporters of Kotoko appear to have thrown in the towel. For them, catching up with Hearts will be as difficult as a camel going through the eye of a needle.
Amid the despondency, Kotoko are compelled to go into another dicey battle against red-eyed Kwaebibirem United at Asuom this Sunday. With the fear of relegation ominously dangling over their head like an executioner’s sword, Kwaebibrem are poised for an uncompromising battle.
Kotoko, from the look of things, expended everything on victory over Hearts, after which things have been in reverse gear for them. They would need to put up a better performance than they exhibited against Ghapoha and Okwawu so as to find their way in the frightening forest at Asuom. A draw seems the most tempting prediction.
At Nkawkaw, Okwawu United’s giant killing feat of humbling Kotoko 1-0 last Sunday must have given them the needed inspiration and strength to battle Hearts of Oak. Like Kotoko, Hearts face real threat at Nkawkaw and it would take more than the stuff they have been exhibiting lately to be sure of conquest, or at least split the points.
Bofoakwa Tano have been invincible at home, and against Tema Ghapoha at the Coronation Park they can be sure of at least a point, and at Sekondi, Hasaacas would have to stand firm in order not to fall at the feet of Obuasi Goldfields.
King Faisal may be clutching at a straw to survive in the Premiership, but they could find the needed steam to collect the three maximum points at the expense of Liberty Professionals at the Kumasi Sports Stadium. At the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium, visiting Real Tamale United may prove too strong for sinking Adansiman.
Berekum Arsernals are tipped to win over Dawu at Berekum, and in Accra, Great Olympics are expected to go to any length to overcome Suhum Maxbees to ease their relegation blues.
The Fixtures: 22nd week Star Premier
Venue Home Away
Sunyani Bofoakwa V Ghapoha
Nkawkaw Okwahu V Hearts
Asuom Kwaebibirem V Kotoko
Sekondi Hasaacas V Goldfields
Obuasi Adansiman V R.T.U
Kumasi King Faisal V Liberty
Accra Olympics V Maxbees
Berekum Arsenals V Dawu
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Soccer-Goal scoring chart for the Star
Premier League
Accra (Greater Accra) 02 October 2001 - Leading scorers in the Star Premier
League after the 21st week matches on Sunday.
16 - Ishmael Addo (Hearts)
10 - Awudu Adama (Dawu)
9 - Isaac Boakye (Goldfields)
8 - Godwin Ablordey (Kotoko), Nana Arhin-Duah (Goldfields) Issah Mohamnmed
(Hasaacas)
7 - Frank Turkson (Hasaacas) Asamoah Dzifa (Maxbees)
6 - Emmanuel Donkor (Hearts)
5 - Robert Amoaku (Goldfields) Sulemana Bentil(Kaebibirem) Osei Kuffour,
Charles Taylor (Hearts) Baba Sulley (Dawu) Hamza Mohammed (RTU) J.B.
Danquah (Olympics)
4 - Eric Mbroh (Dawu) Joseph Adjei (RTU) Nana Frimpong, Shila Alhassan
(Kotoko) Awudu Alhassan (Adansiman) Albert Neequaye (Liberty) Ernest
Boateng (Okwawu) Ablade Morgan (Liberty)
3 - Joe Agyeman (King Faisal) Albert Batsa, Kofi Debrah, Moses Tetteh, David
Boateng (Liberty) Kwaku Asare (Adansiman) Frank Osei (King Faisal) Adzagba
Komi, Abass Iddrisu (RTU) Amui Quaye (Ghapoha) William Agyapong
(Bofoakwa) Joe Okyere (Kotoko) Ellis Opoku (Kaebibirem) Issa Shaibu
(Maxbees) Edmund Copson (Hearts) Kingsley Kwarteng (Hasaacas)
2 - Fatawu Arola (RTU) Anthony Mintah, John Kudjoe, Baffour Gyimah, Tahiru
Abdulai (Bofoakwa) Adu Kwaku, Ayitey Dorman (Kaebibirem) Eric Gawu,
Chibsah Yusif (King Faisal) Lawrence Adjei, Joe Louis, Steven Oduro (Kotoko)
Princeston Owusu-Ansah (Goldfields) Willie Hammond, Anthony Appiah
(Maxbees) Ben Kwame, Alex Awuah, Sammy Addo (Ghapoha) Nicholas Addo,
Ibrahim Labaran (Dawu) Nana Adarkwa, Mike Acheampong, Seth Antwi,
George Brown (Arsenals) Asare Nyarko, Johnson Eklu, Kwesi Keremanteng,
Alfred Nii Larbi (Okwawu) Awuley Quaye Bernard Don Bortey (Hearts) David
Amoaku, David Larkotey, Dennis Odoom (Olympics) Isaac Asari, Haruna
Gariba, (Adansiman) Ernest Papa Arko (Liberty) Ebo Mends (Hasaacas)
1 - Abubakar Yakuza, Tijani Mohammed, Ben Boakye, Kwabena Opoku, Ben
Wilson, Awudu Ronaldo (King Faisal) Nuhu Mohammed, Victor Antwi, Salifu
Shaabu, Martin Appau (Kwaebibirem) Samuel Kyere, Ibrahim Yahaya, Joseph
Boakye, Razak Moro, Shaibu Yussif, Seth Ofori (Arsenals) Limbambani
Yedibahoma, Akakpo Patron Wahid Mohammed, Yaw Berko (Liberty) Samuel
Hansen, Richard Anderson, Mensah Pomanney, Michael Thompson (Ghapoha)
Samuel Aryetey, Albert Nkansah, Frank Adjei, Kwabina Dodzie, Fatau Barns
(Olympics) Kofi Apetor, Richard Mireku, Alfred Nii Darko, Seth Osei, Yaw
Ohene Noble, Robert Kingston, Matthew Konadu, Paul Amposah, Osei Bonsu,
George Tutu (Okwawu) Charles Ampiah, Hope Leveh, Kwaku Armah, Alfred
Arthur, Osei Kofi, Collins Afriyea, Paul Attiah (Adansiman) James Boateng,
Steven Amo, Eric Boakye, Aminu Musah (Goldfields) Richard Oppong, Ben
Kusi, George Yamoah, Kwadwo Opoku, Kennedy Boadi, Kwasi Matthew
(Bofoakwa) Ibrahim Kuvi, Sulemana Faisal, Fusani Sumaila, Kwame
Acheampong (RTU) Joshua Quarcoopome, Kofi Acquah, Eric Marfo, George
Ampoful, Clement Cove, Ben Adjei (Maxbees) Abedi Sarfo, Aziz Ansah, Ofosu
Amoah, Michael Osei (Kotoko)
GRi…/
Send your comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com