Sports
Azuma flattens Chilean challenger
The demolition job of a seasoned practitioner, Azuma Nelson, Ghana's world featherweight champion took only 5 rounds to flatten Juneval Ordenas and end the challenge of the Chilean to his crown and up a money-spinning title defence against Pat Cowdell of Britain, in Birmingham on October 12.A barrage of lethal blows that might be the envy of Rocky Marciano, put Ordenas on the canvas for good in the fifth of a scheduled 12-round contest in Miami, home to the greatest name in the business, Mohammed Ali.
Azuma, who has been inactive since winning the title last December, was in devastating form and gave the challenger no breathing space at all. It was the first title since by the Ghanaian who stopped Fredo Gomez of Puerto Rico to win the World Boxing Council title on December 8
Azuma, nicknamed "zoom zoom" for providing opponents with a barrage of blows, ended the contest 12 seconds to the end of the fifth round.
Ordenas, 28, was never given any chance to show what brought him third ranking on the WBC featherweight ladder. The Ghanaian opened a cut under the challenger's eye in the second round and then all that mattered was when it would all be over.
Azuma floored his opponent on the opening of the fifth round and pinned him in the corner with incessant battering.
The Chilean crashed to the floor for a second time following a flurry of punches to the face and body. He was up after the mandatory count of eight only to face a more ferocious attack.
Azuma, 26, now has a record of 21 wins, of them inside the distance, against one defeat, suffered in his first unsuccessful attempt to wrest the crown from the late Salvador Sanchez of Mexico.
Flying Eagles are third in World Cup
Nigeria's Flying Eagles claimed the third spot in the junior World Cup for the Coca Cola trophy with a crushing 3-1 victory over host nation, Soviet Union in Moscow. The victory, coming a few weeks after the Baby Eagles flew to the top of the youth championship in China, puts Nigeria among the top class world footballing nations. Brazil retained the championship with a lone goal victory over Spain.Sanda retains African title
Abdul Umaru Sanda, Ghanaian holder of the African Boxing Union middleweight championship, retained his title in a one-sided title defence against fellow Ghanaian, Ray Opoku at the Accra Sports Stadium.Sanda dropped Opoku twice before winning a unanimous 12-round verdict. The fight was watched by the Ghanaian leader Flt-Lt. Jerry John Rawlings and his chief of security ex-captain Kojo Tsikata.
A highly elated Sanda threw a challenge to Tony Sibson of Britain to defend his Commonwealth title: "I want Tony Sibson's crown," he said after the fight.
Ivorian President takes charge of footballers’ welfare
President Houphouet-Boigny has taken personal charge of the welfare of players of the Ivorian national team, the Elephants. Addressing the squad at a reception in appreciation of Ivory Coast's defeat of Ghana to qualify for the 1986 African Cup of Nations finals, the ailing president said "from now the boys will not lack anything."As a first sign of his role, Mr Houphouet- Boigny offered each player one million CFA and a full briefcase of items not immediately known.
Linesman walks out on referee
A linesman walked out on a referee for allowing a player suspended by the Niger State Football Association to feature in a league match involving Tornadoes and Niger United at Minna.After about 38 minutes argument on whether the suspended player, Kasali Salau of United should play or not, Alhaji Masaga Jibrin walked out on referee Clement Elube.
The linesman said it was not proper for any player suspended by the Football Association to take part in any match organised by the local FA. The league match which ended 1-0 favour of Tornadoes was therefore handled by the referee and one linesman.
West Germany to the aid of Ghana sports
Mr J.S. Wontumi, technical director of the Ministry of Youth and Sports took delivery of C140,000 worth of sports equipment from the Federal Republic of germany with an appeal to other nations to aid Ghana's ailing sports.He said the equipment, including 50 footballs, 11 basketballs, 11 volleyballs, one volleyball net, ten air pumps and eight pairs of boxing gloves, would help sportsmen and women to improve on their performances.
Mr H.E.W. Vogel, West German Ambassador to Ghana said the presentation was in response to an appeal the Ministry launched in February.
Ghana has been hit by a dearth of sports equipment for time immemorial leading to a decline in the event that has seen this West African nation performing creditably in African and international competitions.
Kotoko whip Kenyan club 2-0
Kumasi Asante Kotoko gave their newly- appointed chairman, Mr Ofori Nuako, something to hope for when they whipped Kenyan Leopards 2-0 in the first leg quarter-final stage of the African clubs championship match in Accra.With a 2-0 lead Kotoko look good enough to advance to the semi-final stage of the competition they are attempting to win for the third time.
The two teams line up in Nairobi for the second let on Sunday. By the way, Leopards used to be called Abaluhya.
Stadium banned
The Kumasi stadium in Ghana has been banned indefinitely by the African Football Confederation (AFC), following crowd violence during the African Nations Cupmatch between Ghana and the Ivory Coast. AFC also asked the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to move the first leg match of the African Cup Winners' Cup between Asante Kotoko and Leopards of Kenya from Kumasi to Accra.
A linesman was injured and the teams and officials had to take refuge in the middle of the pitch to avoid being hit by objects thrown by the Ghanaian fans. The match finished in a goalless draw to enable Ivory Coast to qualify for next year's finals in Egypt.
