Talking Drums

The West African News Magazine

Sports

Aouita leads African squad

Said Aouita, the Moroccan double world record holder will lead a powerful 44-man African team to the World Athletic Championship in Canberra, Australia. The team made up of 24 men and 20 women performers, include Imo Chidi and Innocent Egbunike of Nigeria, Gabriel Tiacoh (Ivory Coast), Moussa Fall (Senegal), Sami Koskei (Kenya) and Wodago Bulti (Ethiopia).

The 20 woman contingent include the Ghanaian quartet, Doris Frema Wiredu, Martha Appiah, Grace Armah and Cynthia Quartey, who won the 4x 100 metres gold at the all African championship in Cairo, Egypt. Others are Nawal El Mouktawuil (Morocco), Maria Usifo and Rufina Uba, both of Nigeria and Marianne Mendoze and Awa Diom (Senegal).

Tight security at Azuma's title defence

Mr Frank Warren, promotor of Azumah Nelson's second title defence has pledged to tighten security. The promise comes in the wake of the disturbances that characterised the British heavyweight title fight between Hugh Currie and Funso Banjo in Birmingham last week.

Azumah, 26, with an impressive ring record of 20 wins with one loss stakes his World Boxing Council featherweight crown against Pat Cowdell, 32, former British and European champion in Birmingham on Saturday October 12.

The Ghanaian champion who knocked out Wilfredo Gomez of Puerto Rico for the title on December 8, has since made one successful defence. He stopped Juneral Ordenas of Chile in the fifth round of a scheduled 12-round contest in Miami.

Hearts shine in Liberia

Accra Hearts of Oak have returned to their base after a five-match tour of Liberia. They won two, drew two and lost one of their international friendlies. Hearts beat Falani Club 3-1, drew 1-1 with Invicible Eleven, 1-1 with Liberian Armed Forces and lost to Lamco Enforces. The tour was part of the club's preparation for the champion of champion engagement with FA Champions Sekondi Hassacas.

Oly now a limited liability company

Accra Great Olympics are now a limited liability company. The instrument of incorporation registered with Ghana's Registrar General followed a new constitution promulgated at the club's congress in Accra.

Under the constitution, a council of founding fathers has replaced the Board of Directors. A board of patrons headed by the Chief life Patron has been introduced. The executive council of the club, headed by the Executive Chairman elected at a general election, shall hold office for three years.

The constitution enjoins those seeking for elections to submit their names to the Chief life Patron, Nii Anyetei Kwakwranya, La Mantse, together with a deposit of £50,000.

In another development, a new constitution for Ghana's champion club Nigerian soccer Accra Hearts of Oak, has been presented to the life Patron Lt-Gen. J.A. Ankrah. The constitution was drafted by Mr Obeng Busia, Nana Fitz and Mr S.O. Barnor.

Leventis pip top Senegalese club

Leventis Football Club of Ibadan, a Nigerian third division club, defeated Jean d'Arc of Senegal 1-0 in the first leg African Cup winners quarter-finals match in Dakar.

The brilliant away performance of the third division team put them in a favourable position to qualify for the semi finals.

Course for Nigerian coaches

The Nigerian Football Association will host a three-day preliminary course for coaches drawn from the 19 states of the federation from October 1 to 3.

The course for which participants are requested to arrive in Lagos on September 30, would be addressed by Mr Heinz Marotze, technical adviser to the Federation of International Football Association.

The GFA probes Hearts of Oak

The Ghana Football Association has appointed a committee to probe allegations of financial mismanagement under the tenure of office of Mr Henry Ameyaw as Executive Chairman of Ghana's champion club. The committee under the chairmanship of Mr S.A. Quartey-Papafio, a chartered accountant of Ayew Agyeman Turkson and Co of Accra is empowered to look into "any other ancillary period in the administration of the club that may have bearing on Mr Ameyaw's period of administration."

A press statement issued by Mr Quartey- Papafio, asked all individuals or organisations in possession of information that may be of assistance in the investigation, to communicate such information personally or in the form of a memorandum to the committee.

Bribery scandal hits

A panel set up by the Nigerian Football Association to investigate allegations made by top Green Eagles striker Henry Nwosu that the Nigerian national team "willingly sold" their African Cup match to Algeria, would soon submit its report.

Mr Patrick Okpomo, Secretary of the NFA explaining the delay in the report explained "the nature of the matter is investigative and involves travelling to Algeria."

The African Football Confederation fined both Nigeria and Algeria 6,000 dollars for lack of commitment in the said match. In the wake of the confusion, NFA chairman Group Captain Tony Ikhazoboh threatened to resign. If the robbery charges are upheld, both Nigeria and Algeria would face stern disciplinary measures from CAF.

Vipers whip dwarfs

Cape Coast Venomous Vipers whipped local rivals Ebusua Dwarfs 3-0 in the Ghana middle league for promotion to the first division next season. The victory, which stretched Vipers' lead on the league table to three points, put them in a favourable position to qualify for the first division.

In another match, Tema-based Home United beat Northern Stars 2-0 at the Kumasi Sports Stadium while Goldfields beat Upper West Heroes 2-1 at Sunyani.

MIDDLE LEAGUE TABLE

TEAMS P W D L F A Pts

Vipers 5 4 1 - 10 2 9
Holy Stars 4 2 2 - 11 4 6
Dwarfs 5 2 2 1 6 7 6
Standfast 2 1 1 8 3 5
Gold Fields 5 2 1 2 7 6 5
U/W Heroes 5 2 - 3 4 12 4
Home United 5 1 - 4 4 7 2
N. Stars 5 - 1 4 3 12 1






talking drums 1985-09-30 Ghana Now Inconsistencies and Realities - Miriam Makeba