Sports
Azumah struggles to retain title
World Boxing Council featherweight champion Azumah Nelson retained his title with a split points decision over Marcos Villassana of Mexico at the Los Angeles Forum, on Tuesday, 25 February.The Ghanaian favourite had to call upon all his store of boxing skills to secure a 2-1 decision in a closely fought 12-round contest. The outcome might have come as a shock to the champion who was widely tipped to end the contest inside the distance.
African volleyball finals
The finals of the All-African volleyball clubs championship will take place in Dakar, Senegal, from March 20-28, the African Volleyball Federation Headquarters has announced in Abidjan. The competition will involve eight champion clubs, seven representing the zonal areas of the continent and defending champions from the host nation, Senegal. Ghanaian champion club, Cadbury Rangers of Allied Foods Limited of Accra, will represent zone three which includes Ghana and Nigeria. The inclusion of Rangers means that the African volleyball body has declared them winners of their qualifying match with Nigeria's Super Stars of Kano which the Nigerians abandoned in protest at what they termed biased match officiating by a Ghanaian referee.Okwahu United whip Kotoko in style
The balance of Ghana soccer power, for a long time determined by the power brokers of Accra and Kumasi, looks like swinging to the Kwahu scarp, home of the nation's traditional shopkeepers. Leading the first division table right from the start, Okwahu United dismissed Asante Kotoko with a sound 3-1 thrashing in Accra that will long be remembered not only for the score-line but for the fluency of the soccer exhibited by the men from the 'mountains'.Far from the riotous fans that turned their 1-1 draw in Kumasi into a regrettable spectacle, a disciplined Accra fans cheered wildly as the Mountaineers reduced the two-time African champions to mere novices.
Once Ata Kofi had set them on the winning trail with a 22nd minute lob, the rest of the proceedings became just what extent United could go in their great revival effort. Samuel Antwi got the second a minute later before Kwaku Manu's spot-kick raised the tally to three. Even the 70th minute penalty from which Kotoko got their consolation goal was perceived more as a matter of generosity on behalf of referee Provencal than anything like merit.
Kotoko vow to defy GFA
Asante Kotoko are on the verge of a head-on collision with soccer's ruling body, the Ghana Football Association. And it's all because of the GFA's decision banning Kotoko from using the Kumasi Stadium as their base for the next four league matches.At his first ever press conference since assuming office as the executive chairman of Asante Kotoko, Ofori Nuako stressed on more than five occasions that "Asante Kotoko will not move an inch from the Kumasi Stadium". "The GFA cannot paint Kotoko with the breach of contempt, indifference and ridicule. "Asante Kotoko is too big a fish in the waters of Ghana football," he reiterated. Reacting to the GFA's disciplinary action against Kotoko to ban his club from playing four consecutive home matches in Kumasi on resumption of the current league amongst other measures including a fine of C100,000, Mr Ofori Nuako expressed his "horror and utter disgust" at the decision of the GFA. "We are at a loss to understand and discern decision was based," he said.
New boss for Ghana Sports
Major Joseph Addae of the Force Headquarters has been appointed acting Chief Executive of the National Sports Council (NSC).He replaces Mr Joe Lartey who last week took over in acting capacity from Lt Col Alex Djangmah, who has returned to the Barracks. An official announcement said Mr Lartey, who until recently was the Chief Administrative Officer of the NSC, "returns to the Ministry of Youth and Sports for redeployment".
Keino to train Indian athletes
Kenyan Olympic gold medalist Kipchonge Keino will train Indian athletes for next month's world cross country championships in Switzerland.Keino, who won the 3,000m steeplechase in the 1972 Games in Munich, has arrived in New Delhi to train men and women athletes for four weeks at the National Sports Institute at Patiala, in Northern Punjab State.
During his stay in the country, he will be the chief guest at a three-day seminar for Indian coaches of middle and long distance running.
Wrestling champs
Ten amateur wrestlers emerged champion of their categories at the 4th Interstate senior men's wrestling championships at the Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos. The total absence of a pinfall victory in the three day tournament supports the fact that competition was keen in all classes. About 180 wrestlers representing states including the Nigerian Army on a 10 wrestlers from each state basis fought for position in the Olympic style wrestling bouts. Cross River's Christopher Francis defeated Lagosian Fabian Oke by two points to nil while Ogun State's Mufutau Odukoya's manager threw in the towel after five rounds won by River's Jackson Bidu, to stop his boy from further punishment.Also Lagosian Jim Obot secured a points victory over Cross River's Canece Adumekwe in the 90kg class while Akeem Rabiu (Ogun) thrashed Oyo's Olawale Philip three-nil in the 74 kilogram class.
New look Hearts of Oak
The Executive Council of Accra Hearts of Oak has been reconstituted with Mr Marcus any stratum of justification upon which the Hughes still in power as the Executive Chairman and Mr Stanley Adjiri Blankson as the first vice-chairman.The post of second and third vice-chairmen went to Mr Bob Mensah and Alhaji Awudu Iddrisu respectively whilst Dr Mills was named Adviser to the Chairman. Mr Thomas V. Musah retained his post as the executive secretary, Mr S.K.F. Bampoe, financial controller with Mr T.K. Ollenu, Mr Soloman Newman, Mr Rex Danquah and Mr Adjei Kingsley (TTL) as members.
The other members are Mr E.H.K. Amankwaah, Mr Obeng Busia and Mr R. Odartei Laryea. Mr George Awuku is now the chairman of the National Chapter Committee with Mr E.C. Quaye as Chapter Consultant.
Sanda fights in London
Ghanaian champion Umaru Sanda will challenge for Tony Sibson's Commonwealth Middleweight title at the Alexandra Palace in London on March 19.Sibson, who was stripped of the European crown when injury prevented him from de- fending it, was told he would also lose his Commonwealth title unless he showed himself willing to put it at stake.
Sanda's record is 18 wins and four losses. He has never been stopped and has only lost one of his seven fights in America.
Sibson returned to the ring after a 14-month lay-off on January 22, when he knocked out Mexico's John Elizando 40 seconds into the second round of their non-title fight.
