Sports
Mali: Count us out of continental soccer
Mali has said that she would not participate in most continental soccer competitions in the 1985/86 season due to poor showing this year. Sports Minister Ahmed Mohamed told newsmen that Malian soccer was in crises and needed at least one year to get back into shape.Mali, one of the earlier promising African soccer nations has been hit by poor results of late. Last season, her top club, Djoliba, was bundled out of the cup winners competition with a 0-4 thrashing in Bamako after holding their conquerors, Great Olympics of Ghana, to a goalless draw in Accra.
Apart from results, finance has also been a bane to most African nations. Even Ghana, one of the best soccer nations on the continent, had to withdraw from the 1982 World Cup competition, for the same reason.
Super-Stars win Nigeria volley championship
Super-stars of Kano clinched the 1985 All- Nigerian inter-club volleyball championship with a three sets to nil victory over Paulosa Club of Benin. Scores were 15-9, 15-7, 15-9.The week-long championship, organised by the Nigeria Amateur Volleyball Association, featured eight clubs from various states of the federation.
Duruibe punches to glory
Aaron Duruibe punched his way to the Nigerian welterweight championship with a unanimous points verdict over holder Tunde King of Lagos state. Referee Folorunsho Jacobs scored it 118-113, with judges Rex George and Oguntoye giving the new king 117-112 and 116-114 respectivelyGolden Eaglets on world tour
The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria, world junior champions, are to embark on a world tour next year to prepare the players for the defence of the Kodak World Cup they won in China. Group Captain Ikhazoboh, Chairman of the Nigerian Football Association, said his association was working on a programme that involved the invitation of new players for screening. He said after the exercise the boys would honour a number of friendly internationals around the world."We are the champions; we still have enough time before 1987 to prepare for the world championship," the chairman said.
Bofoakwa, United appeal
The two relegated Brong Ahafo teams in Ghana have jointly appealed to the Ministry of Sports their relegation status.In a statement issued in Accra, the two clubs strongly felt that "when this is done, the Ministry of Youth and Sports will wholly complete the general amnesty granted all clubs in the county."
The statement said it would also fulfil the objective of widening the base of first division league to allow for greater participation to enhance development of football in Ghana.
NUGS steps in to save schools sports
The National Union of Ghana students has taken measures to infuse dynamism in schools and colleges sports in the country. As a first step, the Students Representative Council of the University of Ghana has organised a football gala competition for 14 schools and colleges in the Ashanti region.The competition was won by Ahmadiyya Secondary School who defeated Kumasi High School 4-2 in the finals. Mr Amarkai Amarteifio, Youth and Sports Secretary, who distributed prizes, was full of praise for the NUGS and urged them to extend their activities to other ministries as a practical demonstration of their partnership with the government to rebuild Ghana.
Schools and colleges sports, bedrock of sports development in the country, has been hit by lack of proper guidance with drastic consequences on Ghana sports.
Allotei-Cofie to serve on WBC
Mr J. Allotei-Cofie, chairman of the Ghana Boxing Association, has been appointed member of the legal Advisory Committee and a member of the Grievances and Appeals Committee of the World Boxing Council.Mr Allotei-Cofie, a lawyer by profession, was appointed when he represented Ghana at the WBC convention in Bangkok, Thailand. Meanwhile, the WBC has commended Ghana for celebrating the WBC International Boxers Day, last May. Mr Frank Quil, chairman of the Inter- national Day of the Boxer Committee has decided to fly to Ghana to join in next May's celebration in Accra.
African title bout for Ghanaian champion
Ghana's bantamweight champion Ramos Agyare is scheduled to challenge Francis Musankabala of Zambia for his African Boxing Union title in Accra, on Saturday, December 7.Much like Azumah Nelson’s world title defence against Pat Cowdell last October, said Saturday's 12-round contest would be under Freeman Kwame Promotions.
Babangida calls for sponsorship in sports
Nigerian President Ibrahim Babangida has appealed to private establishments in the country to come forward and sponsor future national and international sporting events.The president made the appeal in Bauchi la: Sunday at the closing ceremony of the week long Nigerian Army Sports Festival. He said that neither the government nor any individual could sponsor sports alone. The commander-in-chief stressed the importance of physical and mental well-being of Nigerians which, he said, could only be improved through sports.
He directed various state governments to provide facilities for games in their respective states. The president also called on armed forces service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police to re-activate sporting programmes in their respective organisations.
New dates for big tourney
The Association of Tennis Professional (ATP and the Men's International Professional Tennis Council (NIPTC) have approved date for Nigeria's 1986 circuit tournaments.In a telex message received in Lagos by the Nigeria Lawn Tennis Association (NLTA) the ATP stated that the circuit tournaments in Nigeria should be concluded by the end of March, next year.
With the new development, the Ogbe Hard Courts will hold from February 10-15 while the Enugu Premier Hard Courts have been fixed for February 17-22.
The Lord Rumens Lagos Classic, which is the highest of the circuit in Nigeria, will be played from February 24 to March 2, while the Ogun Green Court will start on March 2 and end on March 9.
Already, the organisers of the Lagos classics have set up various sub-committees for the successful staging of the tournaments.
