Sports
Don't Harass Footballers
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A number of international television organisations have applied for rights to beam the 14th African Cup of Nations's tournament opening in the Ivory Coast, in March this year.
Mr Y. Tessema, President of the African Football Confederation, told the CAF's annual press conference held for the second time in Kumasi, Ghana, that the interest shown by the international TV organisations was a sign of good hope for African football.
Mr Tessema said Egypt have been fined $2,000 for crowd misbehaviour in the first leg African clubs championship final match between dethroned continental kings El-Ahly of Egypt and Kumasi Asante Kotoko in Cairo. The match ended goalless but Kotoko won the return match in Kumasi to grab the trophy.
The CAF president asked national associations indebted to the continental soccer body to settle their obligations
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Chiefs in the Ashanti Region of Ghana entered the football area when they broke the meeting of the Ashanti Traditional Council to receive the victorious Asante Kotoko Football team that had called at the Manhyia Palace to present the African clubs championship to the custodians of the land.
Kotoko won the cup with a lone goal victory over ex-champions El-Ahly of Egypt on Sunday, December 11th. The chiefs congratulated the players and pledged to do all in their power to help Kotoko keep the cup for good. Mr Yaw Bawuah, executive chair- man of the club, expressed their appre- ciation to the chiefs for their financial and moral support during the cam paign to win the trophy.
The word 'Kotoko' is the battle cry of the Ashanti and it was conferred on the club, originally named Kumasi United, as a symbol of the relationship between the club and the Golden Stool of Ashanti.
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The triumph of Fabulous Asante Kotoko topped the list of honours Ghanaian footballers conferred on their country, Mr Lawton Ackah- Yensu, chairman of the Ghana Foot- ball Association has said in Accra.
Reviewing Ghana's performances in the football arena as 1983 came to an end, Mr Ackah-Yensu said victory by Kotoko in the continental series, the national team, the Black Stars succes- ses in the economic commission for Africa Soccer Championship in May and the Kerekou cup in the Ivory Coast more than compensate for any other failure.
He said these victories will confirm Ghana's role as a football power in the Ivory Coast.
The Black Stars, Ghana's national team are the defending African champions. In the new year, Ghana has put all her leading clubs in search of continental honours.
Asante Kotoko defends the African clubs championship. As the defending nation, Ghana has the right to enter a second club and Sekondi Hasaacas by virtue of the second spot they claimed in the domestic league, will compete alongside Kotoko. Accra Great Olympics, FA Cup champions will battle in the cup winners competition while Hearts of Oak take part in the West African Football Union (WAFU) championship.
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The Ghana Football Association has gone back on its word to increase training fees by over 500 per cent. The GFA statement did not assign any reason for reverting to the old rates. The old rates which will apply this season are 100,000 for a player in the national soccer team the Black Stars, C75,000 for a Meteors, (junior) star and 50,000 for a division performer.
The GFA had earlier increased the rates from €100,000 in respect of a first division player to £500,000.
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In preparation for the African Cup of Nations tournament to be staged in Abidjan, Ivory Coast in early March the GFA has invited 34 players to the Black Stars Camp.
The players who reported to camp at Mendskrom on Tuesday, January 3rd included Isaac Acquaye, Albert Asase, Kofi Badu, Owusu Mensah, Hesse Odamtten, Isaac Paha, Dan Nyanu, Papa Arko, Yaw Asamoah, Opoku Nti and Kofi Abbrey.
Others are: Joseph Carr, John Bannerman, Abdul Aziz, Ben Kayede, Addae Kyenkyehene, Ernest Apau, Kwasi Appiah, Thomas Hammond, Joseph Odoi, Philip Sampane, Ebow Mends and Anane Kobo.
There rest are: George Lamptey, Emmanuel Botchwey, Ibrahim Salisu, Mohammed Odoom, Albert Ansoade, Emmanuel Archeampong, Alhaji Bello, Abdulai Mohammed, Seth Ampadu, Bright Owusu and Albert Nyarko.
The list, according to the GFA, will be reviewed as the camping programme progresses.
Meanwhile, the GFA said it has made contacts with the foreign clubs of Abdul Razak, Abedi Pele, Francis Kumi, Ahmed Polo, Adolf Armah and George Alhassan to get them released to join their colleagues in camp for the Abidjan tournament.
You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time. But you cannot fool all the people all the time.
Abraham Lincoln's speech 1858
