Sports
CRISIS HITS AFRICA SOCCER KINGS
from our correspondent in Accra
Fabulous Asante Kotoko, the current African football club champions may not reach the finals of this year's competition if the intra-management crisis and "politics" bordering on animosity, suspicion and unnecessary show of power continue.Chairman Yaw Bawuah may be un- aware that his "style of administration" has been the main cause of confusion, resignations, and the current poor performance of Asante Kotoko particularly in their match against underdogs, Primiziro de Maio of Angola. The match ended in a disappointing 1-1 draw with the African champions scoring an own goal.
Certainly, Chairman Bawuah has made history for Kotoko, Ghana and himself. In his first year he led Kotoko to the finals and the following year (1983) led Kotoko to capture the African Clubs championship. It is significant to say that on both occasions the grand final were played in Kumasi, Kotoko's home ground and that is also "history" in the competition's 21-year history. Naturally overwhelmed, Chairman Bawuah gave Kotoko a seemingly endless "honeymoon" for winning the African cup, the second since 1970. The long period of inactivity (December-April) has made the players rusty.
What is significantly wrong with Chairman Bawuah's administration is that almost all the top executive officers live in Accra whereas the team is based in Kumasi. The following are in Accra: the Executive Chairman himself, Special Adviser, Special Aide/Assistant Secretary, the Director of Operations, Club Secretary, Financial Secretary, supporters' group representative and two other Executive members out of a total of ten-member Executive committee.
The club is therefore left in Kumasi with the coach, team-manager (non- Executive!) and one other officer whose innocuous position on the Executive makes him ineffective.
Allen Gyimah, a business tycoon, who has been the club's "financial back-bone" has resigned as financial controller. He was not too happy with the appointment of Fred Agyeman Berko, a manager at Social Security Bank, as the club's new financial secretary without his (Allen) knowledge.
Chairman Bawuah as a rule appoints his closest friends to serve on his Executive Committee. That's okay. But his mode of appointment is somehow peculiar if not embarrassing.
Assad Mallah, the Special Adviser has also quit. It was through Assad's (popularly called "Mr Kotoko") untiring efforts that some key players Agbana and E. A. Addo. who deserted the team last year were brought back and that no doubt enabled Kotoko to win the African Cup.
Already, four key members of the club have resigned. Coach Ibrahim Sunday who handled the team to win the African Cup has left for Gabon. John Bannerman who made it possible for Kotoko to score the Africa cup winning goal and goalie John Abeka have left to join Eleven Wise whilst Africa cup goalkeeper Joseph Carr is now playing for Africa Sports of Abidjan. When African cup star Bannerman resigned, Chairman Bawuah remarked, "it pains me the boy has left. He was instrumental in our winning the African cup and I wished he stayed longer. Nevertheless, I have instructed that all his annual bonus and ration of essential commodities be kept intact in Kumasi for him."
But newly appointed Financial Secretary Agyeman Berko says bonus for Bannerman and John Abeka would not be paid to them because they have June left Kotoko. Perhaps what he forgets is that bonuses are paid at the end of a year's dedicated service. Bonuses are not used to blackmail players who wish to change clubs.
If Kotoko fail to win the African clubs cup this year, then Ghana foot- ball is doomed. Already the country has not recovered from the shocking and humiliating performance of the national team during the 14th African cup Nations Tournament in Abidjan and Hassacas have been dethroned as West African Club Champions.
Ghanaian boxers in camp
Thirteen Ghanaian amateur boxers are in camp at the Kaneshie Sports Complex as part of preparation towards the Los Angeles Olympic Games next July. They include Micheal Ebo Danquah (Lt. Fly) George Freeman (flyweight) Amon Neequaye (bantam), Gristian Kpakpo (featherweight) and Douglas Odame (lightweight).Others are Tony Bawa-Kabir (Lt.. Welter), John Zu (Welter), Sulley Sadak (featherweight) and Napoleon Abbey (middleweight).
The boxers are being handled by coaches Lorenzo Martinez, Amstrong
50,000 Naira for Olympic Games
Nigeria's Olympic Appeal Fund Committee has divided the country into four zones to campaign for funds for the forthcoming Los Angeles Olympic Games in July.Zone One comprises Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Bendel and Kwara States. Zone Two includes Cross River, Imo and Anambra. Niger, Sokoto, Kano and Kaduna States are under Zone Three. While Zone Four comprises Gongola, Benue, Bauchi and Borno States.
The chairman of the publicity committee of the appeal fund, Mr Hayford Alile, disclosed these facts while receiving a 50,000 Naira donation from the Inlaks Nigeria Limited.
Nigeria's final selection in June
Fourteen athletes have been called to camp in continuation of the preparation for the Los Angeles Olympic Games. They are Samson Öyeledun, I. Adeyanju, L. Adegbeingbe, G. Okon, V. Edet, T. Arinze, Ikpoto Eseme and O. Stanley. Others are: I. Oladipo, J. Faleye, J. Kio, Comfort Igbagdon,Linda Eseimokumoh and Mary Akinyemi. The selected team will leave Nigeria for the US on April 30th and join the US based athletes in training and competition.
The final selection of Nigeria's athletic team will be made on June 2nd in the United States and the team will proceed to the games from their training camp in the US.
