GRi Sports Ghana 10 - 09 - 2001
Goldfields in a African Cup crucial draw
Boxing-Agbeko gives Ghana a world title
Bamako (Mali) 10 September 2001-Schedule for matches in the 2002 African Nations Cup finals in Mali after the completion of the draw on Saturday (all kick-off times GMT):
Group A:
19 January: Mali v Liberia, Bamako March 26 stadium, 1600
21 January: Algeria v Nigeria, Bamako March 26 stadium, 1600
24 January: Mali v Nigeria, Bamako March 26 stadium, 1900
25 January: Algeria v Liberia, Bamako March 26 stadium, 1930
28 January: Mali v Algeria, Bamako March 26 stadium, 1800
28 January: Liberia v Nigeria, Mopti, 1800
Group B:
20 January: Burkina Faso v South Africa, Segou, 1930
21 January: Ghana v Morocco, Segou, 1900
24 January: Ghana v South Africa, Segou, 1600
26 January: Burkina Faso v Morocco, Segou, 1530
30 January: Morocco v South Africa, Segou, 1600
30 January: Burkina Faso v Ghana, Mopti, 1600
Group C:
20 January: Cameroon v DR Congo, Sikasso, 1730
21 January: Ivory Coast v Togo, Sikasso, 1800
25 January: Cameroon v Ivory Coast, Sikasso, 1730
26 January: DR Congo v Togo, Sikasso, 1730
29 January: Cameroon v Togo, Sikasso, 1600
29 January: DR Congo v Ivory Coast, Kayes, 1600
Group D:
20 January: Egypt v Senegal, Bamako Modibo Keita stadium, 1530
21 January: Tunisia v Zambia, Bamako Modibo Keita stadium, 1600
25 January: Egypt v Tunisia, Bamako Modibo Keita stadium, 1530
26 January: Senegal v Zambia, Bamako Modibo Keita stadium, 1530
31 January: Egypt v Zambia, Bamako Modibo Keita stadium, 1600
31 January: Senegal v Tunisia, Kayes, 1600
Quarter-finals:
3 February: Winner A v Runner-up B (match 1), Bamako March 26 stadium, 1900
3 February: Winner D v Runner-up C (match 2), Kayes, 1600
4 February: Winner C v Runner-up D (match 3), Sikasso, 1600
4 February: Winner B v Runner-up A (match 4), Segou, 1900
Semifinals:
7 February: Winner match 2 v winner match 3, Bamako March 26
stadium, 1900
7 February: Winner match 1 v winner match 4, Segou, 1600
Third place play-off:
9 February: Mopti, 1600
Final:
10 February: Bamako March 26 stadium, 1600
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Accra (Greater Accra) 10 September 2001 - The management of Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko and the Management Board of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) on Thursday resolved to take a number of stringent measures to ensure an incident free league match between the two leading clubs scheduled for September 16.
The measures include putting in place an effective security mechanism to protect players and supporters of both clubs.
This was contained in a joint communiqué issued at a meeting of the three bodies in Accra under the chairmanship of the Minister for Youth and Sports, Mr Papa Owusu Ankomah.
The meeting also resolved to educate supporters of both clubs to put up their best behaviour before, during and after the match and to accept the outcome of the match in the true spirit of sportsmanship, while also ensuring that good and capable officials are appointed to handle the match.
The communiqué signed by Messrs Ato Ahwoi and Herbert Mensah, Chairmen of Hearts of Oak and Kotoko respectively and Mr Ben Kwofie, GFA Chairman was emphatic on the resolve of the three bodies to set up a joint committee to implement the measures and to refer to the Ministry of Youth and Sports any problems in the implementation.
The communiqué also appealed to the media to desist from making any inflammatory publications that could stir passions.
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Agona Swedru (Central Region) 10 September 2001 - Former Secretary of Swedru All Blacks
Football Club, Mr Kweku Manful has been arrested on a bench warrant for failing to appear before the Agona Swedru community tribunal.
The arrest follows a civil suit filed against him by a Swedru-based businessman, Mr Kobina Anshong for failing to pay for 35 bags of cement he credited for the construction of the club's hostel.
Mr Manful failed to appear before the tribunal on several occasions the case was called and the chairman of the tribunalissued the bench warrant.
The tribunal was told that Mr Manful approached the businessman to purchase the cement for the construction of the hostel with a promise of collecting the money from Mr George Aduse Poku (Alas Georgido), chairman of All Black but never honoured his promise.
Mr Manful is also alleged to have resisted arrest and assaulted a policeman and bailiff. The tribunal panel members pardoned Mr Manful after persistently pleading for mercy and promised to pay the amount in instalments since the chairman of the club refused to give him the amount.
It was, however, alleged that the chairman released the money but the secretary misapplied the amount.
He has started paying 100,000 cedis every month.
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Obuasi (Ashanti Region) 10 September 2001 - A red card shown to Nana Arhin Duah in the 43rd minute dampened the spirits of Obuasi Goldfields in their first leg quarterfinal CAF football against African Sports of Cote d'Ivoire played at Obuasi Len Clay stadium, which ended at 0-0.
Arhin Duah who had earlier on had received a yellow card in the 11th minute for rough play, handled the ball in attempt to outwit a defender to score a goal.
FIFA referee Sowe Modou from the Gambia did not hesitate to show him he red card.
Seidu Mariko of Africa Sports also received the yellow card in the 25th minute for using the hand while his colleague Zah Digba also had the yellow card in the 35th minute.
The match in which the red and green shirted Ivorians exhibited manly football, was played in similar pattern as both teams wasted all chances that came their way.
Africa Sports descended on the stadium with their fans dancing and chanting determined to at least draw with their Ghanaian counterparts.
The visitors displayed skilful football and stunned the defence of Goldfields from the commencement of the exchanges.
The visitors kicked-off but the Obuasi lads fielding all their star players quickly took control of the proceedings but the visitors organised themselves and Zah Digba missed two glaring chances in the second and fourth minutes. Ofosu-Amoah also of Goldfields wasted an opportunity in the fifth minute while Digba combining beautifully with Yacouba Komea, Emmanuel Mogne and Sylvester N'kecua wasted a chance 10 minutes later.
Goldfields lacking bite at upfront threw away chances in the 16th and 17th minutes as Isaac Boakye and Yaw Owusu shot wide.
In the 35th minute Ofosu Amoah pounced on a loose ball and his shot hit the crossbar.
On resumption, Goldfields playing with 10 men and their teeming supporters sitting on thorns, allowed the visitors to dictate the pace. Goldfields had a chance in the 53rd minute but Robert Amoako volleyed it over the bar.
The Ivorians played it hard at this stage but the referee failed to sanction them as the Obuasi fans booed and jeered at him whenever there was an infringement against Goldfields. At certain stages, iced water sachets and stones were hurled at one of the assistant referee.
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Results of 18th week Star
Premier League and standings
Accra (Greater Accra) 10 September 2001 - Results of the 18th week matches of the Star Premier League.
Kumasi: King Faisal 2 Olympics 2 Sekondi: Hasaacas 0 Dawu 1
Nkawkaw: Okwawu 2 Liberty 1 Tema: Ghapoha 2 RTU 0
Asuom: Kwaebibirem 1 Maxbees 1 Accra: Hearts v Goldfileds (Refixed)
Sunyani: Bofoakwa v Kotoko (stopped) Obuasi: Adansiman v Arsenals (Refixed)
Standings
Club Local/Region P W D L F A Pts GD
Hearts Accra, Greater Accra 17 13 3 1 34 9 42 +25
Kotoko Kumasi, Ashanti 17 13 2 2 28 6 41 +22
Goldfields Obuasi, Ashanti 17 10 1 6 29 11 31 +18
Dawu Dawu, Eastern 18 8 2 8 21 20 26 +1
Hasaacas Sekondi, Western 18 8 2 8 17 19 26 -2
RTU Tamale, North 18 7 4 7 15 15 25 0
Bofoakwa Sunyani, Brong Ahafo 17 6 5 6 16 14 24 +2
Okwahu Nkawkaw, Eastern 18 6 6 6 21 19 23 +2
Liberty Accra, Greater Accra 18 6 5 7 20 24 23 -4
Ghapoha Tema, Gt. Accra 18 5 6 7 12 14 21 0
K. Faisal Kumasi, Ashanti 18 6 4 8 13 16 19 -3
Kwaebibrem Asuom, Eastern 18 5 3 10 14 19 18 -5
B. Arsenal Berekum, Brong Ahafo 17 5 3 9 13 27 18 -14
Maxbees Suhum, Eastern 18 5 3 10 15 36 18 -21
Adansiman Obuasi, Ashanti 17 4 5 8 17 22 17 - 5
Gt. Olympics Accra, Gt. Accra 18 3 7 8 11 18 16 -7
NB: King Faisal was penalised for fielding an unqualified player in the first round. They lost four points as a result. Meanwhile Obuasi Goldfields appeal against six points deducted from their points build up for fielding an alleged unqualified player, Tony Baffoe, has been upheld by the FA. They have therefore been re-awarded the six points withdrawn pending further investigations.
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Nkawkaw (Eastern Region) 10 September 2001 - Okwawu United managed a 2-1 win over Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals in their Star Premier League match played at the Nkawkaw Park.
Liberty kicked off but lost to Okwawu who piled up pressure and wasted three quick scoring chances in the 25th, 30th and 35th minutes due to erratic shooting up front.
Owawu registered the first goal, in the 42 minute with a penalty when Liberty midfielder Yaw Nkom handled the ball in the "18". Ernest Boateng converted the resultant kick.
Liberty lifted their game in the second half and got the needed equaliser also through a spot kick when ace striker Kofi Deblah was brought down in the penalty area. Moses Tetteh converted the resultant kick.
Both teams exhausted their substitution list but it was Okwawu who benefited from the changes when they got the winning goal in the 88th minutes through substitute defender George Tutu.
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Sunyani (Brong Ahafo Region) 10 September 2001 - The match between Tano Bofoakwa and Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Sunyani Coronation Park ended abruptly in the 74th minute when an alleged Kotoko supporter went onto the pitch to assault the referee.
There was no goal to either side before the incident.
The supporter, identified as Samuel Ofori Gyasi, a 22-year old second year student of the University of Cape Coast rushed onto the field of play and hit referee Kwame Ghartey of Cape Coast with a football boot.
Immediately after Gyasi’s misbehaviour, policemen on duty arrested him but some "machomen", said to be Kotoko supporters managed to release him from police grip. He was however rearrested later by the police and indications are that charges would be preferred against him to stand trial in court soon.
The referee, with a cut on his forehead as a result of the assault indicated later that he could not continue with match and was escorted by the policemen to his dressing room.
During recess, some Kotoko supporters apparently unhappy with some decisions by referee Ghartey, held him hostage by refusing to allow him to go into his dressing room amidst threats of assault.
Efforts by the policemen led by assistant superintendent of Police Yartey Tawiah, to disperse the hooligans proved futile.
Meanwhile, Mr Herbert Mensah, Board Chairman of Kotoko said the incident was a disgrace to Ghana football pointing out that such bias and irresponsible officiating caused the May 9 Accra Sports Stadium disaster.
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Kumasi (Ashanti Region) 10 September 2001 - A dubious penalty awarded against visiting Great Olympics almost on the stroke of full time by Cape Coast-based class one referee Essel Walker helped King Faisal to draw 2-2 with the Dade boys at the Kumasi Sports Stadium.
The wonder club came from behind to equalise in the 39th minute through substitute Fatawu Barnes after Faisal had netted the opener in the 15th minute through Eric Gawu.
Olympics goalkeeper David Sharpe who performed creditably, failed to make a one time save of a goal-bound shot and enabled Gawu who was lurking in the goal area to slot home for Faisal's opener.
The homesters put Olympics under intense pressure but could not increase the tally.
Olympics pulled out Albert Nkansah for Fatawu Barnes in the 34th minute in a bid to put bite into their attack and this paid off as the tide changed and came as a matter of course when Barnes equalised in a goalmouth melee after a corner-kick.
The homesters resumed the second half with renewed vigour and earned a free-kick just outside Olympics penalty box in the 48th minute but wasted it.
Then came the 61st minute when Olympics David Amoako cut through the defence and with goalkeeper Nicholas Opoku Ware at his mercy, he shot wide.
Two minutes later, Faisal's Frank Osei shot over the bar at close range and they pulled out Kwabena Poku for Abubakari Yahuza while Joe Okyere also gave way to Vincent Boateng.
In the 71st minute, Olympics J.B. Danquah made a solo ran into Faisal's penalty box and beat goalkeeper Opoku Ware but before he could shoot, he was brought down by Opoku Ware for a penalty which was converted by Lakotey.
Just when everything pointed towards a win for the wonder club, referee Walker stunned the sparse crowd with his strange decision thereby enabling Faisal to equalise through Yahuza.
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Tema (Greater Accra) 10 September 2001 - At the Tema Sports Stadium, Ghapoha Readers played a highly determined game to beat visiting Real Tamale United 2-0 in their match.
The harbour boys scored one in each half while RTU struggled to at least cancel a goal. Sam Addo scored in the sixth minute when RTU were finding it difficult to settle down in the game.
Skipper Hamza Mohammed earned a 60th minute penalty for RTU when he was brought down in the "18". But substitute Ibrahim Musah who has just come on two minutes earlier wasted the resultant kick.
Ben Addey-Yeboah made victory certain for Ghapoha with an 87th minute strike.
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Sekondi (Western Region) 10 September 2001 - Visiting Dawu Youngsters beat Hasaacas 1-0 in their 18th week Star Premier League match played the Sekondi Gyandu Park on Sunday.
The match was tough from the kick off but it was until the 42nd minute that veteran Ibrahim Labaran scored broke the deadlock. He scored a beautiful goal, which eventually became the lone goal of the match.
Hasaacas did their best to equalise despite the strong opposition from Dawu and in the process failed to utilise their chances.
Hasaacas redoubled their effort after recess but the Dawu lads thwarted their efforts.
On the whole the two sides displayed good skills and tactical play.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 10 September 2001 - Joseph "King Kong" Agbeko, gave Ghana a world boxing title within two minutes and eight seconds at the Kaneshie Sports Complex early Saturday morning when his two flawless hooks sent Ugandan Mike "Iron Bomber" Kizza sprawling on the canvas in their vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) bantamweight championship.
Kizza who doubles as the Super bantam and bantamweight champion in East and Central Africa, failed to answer the bell after sole referee judge, J.B. Vias of Togo had given the 10 mandated counts.
Agbeko, has thus become the only Ghanaian boxer with a world title after the fallout of big guns like Azuma Nelson, Ike Quartey and Nana Yaw Konadu.
It was the fifth world title bout staged in Ghana after Floyd Klutei Robertson in 1964, D. K Poison in 1975 and 1976 and Azumah Nelson in 1993.
Agbeko who predicted a fifth round knock out improved his record to 12-12 and 10 KOs while Kizza dropped to 17-15-2 and eight by way of knock out. The victory though sweet, was received with shock, apparently because Kizza, three weeks ago had knocked out Agbeko's original opponent Lewis Mwambo of Zambia in the East and Central Africa Championship in Bologna, Italy, sending signals, that the bout was going to be a high-profiled one.
But when the bell went for their scheduled 12 round-bout, Agbeko proved too strong for the Ugandan when he sent him to the canvas twice in the first round.
The 21-year-old Ghanaian boxer, tested the pulse of his opponent with some right-left punches to his ribs forcing him to lose his guard which he was severely punished for.
He went down with a first right hook and had to revisit the floor moments after he was up, with a feeble left punch.
"I don't know what actually went wrong, but I think it could be the weight difference", the 25-year-old Kizza told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after the fight.
He said moving down from Super bantamweight to the bantam affected his performance, "my legs became very weak that could not carry the body. The boxer urged the WBF to arrange for re-fight in Kampala, Uganda to prove his wealth.
In the under cards, James "hot ice" Tony had a wakeup call when he struggled to beat his last minute substitute opponent Salou Balogo of Togo on unanimous decision.
It was Toney's first fight that has travelled the full distance since he became a middleweight professional early this year.
Judges Ataa Abey Adama scored it 80-74, Shadrack Acquaye made it 80-76 while Botwe had it 80-74 all in favour of Tony.
Raster haired Charles Adamu had a first win over Bob Abiro in their scheduled six round middleweight contest while Ago Ashong maintained his West Africa Welterweight crown with a ninth round technical knock out over Nigerian Julius Obiriu.
In an international super bantamweight contest, Abdul Malik Jabir had a first round TKO over Camerounian Elol Cyrile while Joshua Clottey defeated Mebara Dewsire with a TKO in the round of their international welterweight contest.
The show was put together by Life Time Promotions and Management Syndicate and sanctioned by the WBF and the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA).
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