Sports
Top soviet team tour Nigeria
Soviet Union first division side, Jalgiris, will undertake a 13-day playing tour in Nigeria from November 26.The Russians are expected to play five matches, including three against Leventis United. Abiola Babes and New Nigeria Bank, during the visit. Jalgiris will play their first match in November against United at the National Stadium, Surulere, and then take on Abiola Babes four days later, at the same venue.
On December 3, the team will be guests of 17. DIC "Bees" at the Ahmadu Bello stadium, Kaduna, from where they will move on to Kano to play Works Golden Stars on December 5. The Russians will round up their tour on December 8 as guests of New Nigeria Bank at the Ogbe Stadium, Benin.
Hearts are tops
Accra Hearts of Oak have won a special two-nation club championship with a lone goal victory over Sekoni Hasaacas at the Accra Sports Stadium. The championship involved champions and FA Cup winners of Ghana and Togo.Hearts had earlier whipped Agaza of Togo 3-1 while Hasaccas pipped Asfosa 1-0. In the finals, Hearts got the winner in the 11th minute through centre forward Isaac Ayipey. Hasaacas got what should have been the equaliser through Henry Acquah in the 83rd minute, but referee L.O. Laryea ruled it offside.
14 teams to contest Ghana league
The 1985-86 Ghana first division soccer championship will be contested by 14 instead of 12 teams. This follows the Ministry of Sports directive that all the teams that finished in the top four bracket of the middle league be admitted to first division status. Consequently, Obuasi Goldfields, Ebusua Dwarfs, Techiman Holy Stars and Cape Coast Vipers will play in division one.The giants draw in Accra
Accra Hearts of Oak and traditional rivals Great Olympics settled for a goal each in a challenge cup match honoured to usher in the 1985 national soccer season. Emmanuel Sackey put the "wonder club" ahead in the 41st minute before veteran Mohammed Ahmed 'Polo' got the equaliser in the 72nd minute in this national exercise organised by the Organisation of Ghana League Clubs Association.Kotoko and Cornerstone failed to score in Kumasi in a foul strewn encounter that saw four players being shown the yellow card and Kwame Sampson of Kotoko being sent off.
Sekondi Eleven Wise were leading 3-1 against Hasaacas when the match was called off at the Sekondi Gyandu Park in the 70th minute. Poor visibility was the reason assigned.
Dwarfs lost 0-1 to Zebi at Cape Coast. The league was scheduled to kick off on November
Hearts hit 74
The new Executive Council of Accra Hearts of Oak has approved the appointment of National soccer coach, Mr John Eshun as the club's senior coach. Also appointed are Mr Addo Odametey, General Team Manager and head of the technical committee. Anas Seidu, alias "Thunder' is now the manager for the Under-20 team.This was contained in a statement issued by the Executive Chairman Mr Marcus Hughes, to mark the 74th anniversary of the club which fell on November 11.
Mr Hughes said even though his administration did not meet a 'pesewa' in the coffers of the club when it took over in July this year, it has been able to keep all the top stars intact, paid all outstanding bills and will very soon pay around C3 million in bonuses.
Envoy's gift to Ghana hockey
Mr Kwame Saarah-Mensah, Ghana's High Commissioner to India has presented hockey equipment to the Ministry of Youth and Sports at a ceremony in Accra.The equipment, a personal gift from Mr Saarah-Mensah, comprises 12 hockey balls, two pairs of goalkeepers pads and two pairs of goalkeeper's kickers.
The High Commissioner also donated a magnificent trophy for the champion of champions hockey match between the league. champions and the knock-out champions.
Mr Amarkai Amarteifio, the Secretary, receiving the equipment, remarked that "if Mr Saarah-Mensah's gesture is emulated by all and sundry, his ministry will not go the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning for money all the time to import equipment." Mr Saarah-Mensah, a top hockey star of the 70's, was for many years a member of the Ghana national hockey team.
WBC to the aid of African boxing
The African Boxing Union (ABU) is to receive financial assistance from the World Boxing Council (WBC) to reorganize its boxing administration, it has been announced in London.A WBC spokesman said ABU had been functioning without a general assembly for the past three years and there have been a number of complaints about the lack of communication.
He quoted WBC President, Mr Jose Sulaiman of Mexico as stressing that the recent 32nd convention of the WBC in Thailand, Bangkok, that the WBC aid would be offered only if the present ABU leadership comes up with an acceptable reorganization plan, including detailed costing.
The spokesman said the WBC also insists that Dr Joseph Fole of Cameroun, who has been president of ABU since its establishment in 1974, should hold a general assembly early next year as the keystone of the reorganization.
Kotey to fight for Commonwealth title
Ghana and Africa lightweight boxing champion Sam Ago Kotey will meet Australia's Barry Michael for the latter's Commonwealth title at the Accra Sports Stadium on December 21. The fight, which has been approved by the Ghana Boxing Authority and the Commonwealth Championships Committee (CCC), is to be promoted by the Ringcraft Promotions Syndicate.Ago Kotey, who has just returned home from Manchester where he underwent some training in preparation for the fight, is quoted by the Ghanaian Times as being sure of winning the crown.
Coaches academy ends in Lagos
A 12-day Federation of International Football Associations Academy for coaches drawn from the Anglophone countries of West Africa has ended in Lagos.Reviewing the course sponsored by Cocoa Cola International, FIFA's technical adviser and academy chief inspector Karl Heinz Marotzue, likened the session to the Biblical parlance of Jesus Christ and the fish.
Marotzue related how Christ illustrated to his disciples the distinction between giving a man a fish and teaching him to fish. In effect, the lesson of the academy was how FIFA could help local coaches improve their standards instead of providing foreign coaches. Coaches from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Gambia attended the academy.
