Sports
Africa Cup quarter finalists
Ghana's Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Dragons Oueme of Benin have qualified for the quarter finals of the Africa Cup winners contest. Kotoko drew 0-0 with A. S. Fosa of Togo in Kumasi but have qualified on account of their away goal scored in their 1-1 match in Iome two weeks ago.In the same circumstances Dragons Queme who lost 1-2 to Dihep Di Nkam of Cameroon after winning 1-0 in Cotonou qualify on account of their away goal.
Leventis United of Nigeria drew 1-1 with Horoya Conakry and qualify for the next round due to their away goal. The first match in Nigeria ended in a goalless draw. Other results are AFC Leopards (Kenya) 1, Mufulira Wanderers (Zambia) 1 (Aggregate 2-2, Leopards win 4-3 on penalties; El Nasr (Libya) 3, FC 105 (Gabon) 1 (Agg 4-3); Gweru United (Zimbabwe) 1, Kampala City Council (Uganda) 1 (Agg 2-4); National SC (Egypt) 2, Simba Sports (Tanzania) 0 (Agg 3-2); MP Oran (Algeria) 1, Jeanne D'Arc (Senegal) 1 (Agg 1-1) Jeanne D'Arc qualify on away goal.
Atanda Musa invited to train in Japan
Atanda Musa, currently preparing to represent Africa at the 6th World Cup Table Tennis championship due in Cantourn, China, August 10-12, has got an offer of free training from an overseas sportswear company. The Tokyo-based Tamasu Company Limited has selected Musa to represent Africa in this year's training which will be held at the Butterfly Dhojo Hall of Training, Tokyo. The training is scheduled to run for the whole of July, and Musa may leave for the World Cup from there.A Nigeria Table Tennis Association official disclosed that Musa probably impressed officials of the company at the last World Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden.
At the championship, he defeated world 18th-ranked Eric Boggan of the United States in the second round before losing by 1-3 sets to world number three. Xie Sake of China.
The reigning African singles champion reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup played in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last year. He got his current eight world best ranking from that championship where he won his Group D preliminaries matches against Japan's Kiyosha Saito, Hong Kong's Ken Man Chiu and Sweden's Evil Lindh all world ranked players.
Odizor and partner beat McEnroe and partner
Nigeria's tennis superstar, Nduka Odizor, has bagged another international tennis honour in the United States of America. He paired David Dowlen to win the doubles championship at the recently concluded Mercedes Benz Tournament of Champions at New York's famed Forest Hills.Odizor and Dowlen upset the top seeded duo, McEnroe and Peter Fleming in the semi finals en route to lifting the first place cheque of N18,000.
Pension scheme for sportsmen
Ghana's Ministry of Youth and Sports has instituted a pension scheme for retired sportsmen and women.Each beneficiary will receive €2,000 every month for the rest of his life but in the case of a person who qualifies by age and is otherwise gainfully employed he will receive €1,000.
The award will be reviewed from time to time to cover a wider spectrum of sportsmen.
The first recipients, Chris Briandt, first captain of the national football team, James Adjei, Ben Sissuh and Tim Darbah, all retired Black Stars players, have been presented with cheques for the amount by the Special Adviser to the PNDC Cap Kojo Tsikata.
Others were Asebi Boakye, Ku Baffoe, Tim Darbah, Salisu Mohamm and Oscar Jasper, all former Black S players, Kofi Buckle, lawn tennis and Darkey, boxing.
Announcing the scheme at a work rally in connection with the May I celebrations in Accra, Youth and Sp. Secretary Amarkai Amarteifio said ac consideration was also being given to dependants of deceased sportsmen repute.
The scheme which became operative April 1985 would cover sportsmen women who are 50 years old and above except in exceptional cases featured Ghana.
The Secretary said consideration wo also be given to past performers who have not attained the age of 50 but whose spe circumstances compel attention.
Greedy boxing promoter
The international challenge contest between Jeremiah Okorodudu and Ghan Sugar Ray Akwei, billed for last Friday, has again been postponed. An official of the Top Brand Promotions, organisers of the fight, said the postponement was due to the ill-health of the Ghanaian opponent.Okorodudu, who caused a row with the Top Brand over his contract earlier in the week, has agreed to take on any boxer signed for him. The Olympic quarter finalist who turned pro last December noted that Nigeria promoters, save one, are too greedy to think about boxers' welfare.
NNB lose to bottom club
First Bank of Nigeria registered their fourt successive win over Bendel Insurance whe they beat them 1-0 in a league match a Ogbe stadium in Benin City. Bottom of the league table African Continental Bank ha a rare victory over league leaders New Nigerian Bank. Below is the league table:NATIONAL LEAGUE PICTURE
HOME AWAY
TEAMS Pts P W D L GFGAGD P W D L PWDL
NNB 17 12 6 5 1 20 11 +9 7 3 4 5 31
Rovers 14 12 4 6 2 11 7 +45 32-
Spartans 14 12 3 8 1 13 11 +2 523-
Abiola 14 12 4 6 2 6 4 +2 7 24 15 1
Stores 12 11 3 6 2 10 8 +2 5 3 2
Rangers 12 11 3 6 2 6 4 +2 5 5 2 2 1 6 1 4 1
ICC 11 11 3 5 3 18 12 +6 6 3 352 3 11
1st Bank 11 12 3 4 9 13 -4 7 3 3 1 5 - 2 3
Bendel 10 11 3 4 4 8 7 +1 5 2 1 2 6 1 3 2
Sharks 10 12 2 6 4 8 11 -3 7 2 3 2 5 - 3 2
Jets 8 12 3 2 7 7 20 -13 5 2 1 7 1 1 5
ACB 7 12 1 5 6 14 -9 6 1 4 1 6 - 1 5
