Sports News of Sunday, 3 February 2008

Source: GNA

Ho celebrates Black stars victory in grand style

Ho, Feb. 3, GNA - Houses were momentarily empty and residential areas went dead in the Volta Regional capital, Ho as supporters of the Black Stars thronged to the streets amidst singing and dancing in jubilation of Black Stars' 2-1 victory over the Super Eagles of Nigeria on Sunday in their quarterfinals encounter of the ongoing Ghana 2008. The supporters with no age barrier were awash of the Ho Township roads with the national colours everywhere making it impossible for vehicles to move freely.

Bars were heavily jammed with people dressed in various soccer paraphernalia and blowing trumpets, whistles and drumming. There was jubilation everywhere as everybody wanted to do something extraordinary to be noted in the thick and slowly moving crowd.

Ms Happy Kumafo, a Seamstress who was clothed in the national colours, told the GNA Sports that she could not watch the match because she was nervous but said she could not afford to miss out in the celebrations.

Mr Prince Amable, a footballer, described the game as a real cracker and praised the Black Stars for "dying a little for the country".

A group calling itself "Friends of the Black Stars" said the team's performance called for "a great celebration" and appealed to the Government to declare Monday, a national holiday. At Adaklu-Kodzobi, a farming community in the Adaklu-Anyigbe District, football fans, who were watching the match on television under a neem tree; escaped unhurt when a branch of the tree broke and fell on them.

The branch broke when some of the fans jumped on to the tree after Michael Essien scored the equalizer for Ghana. There was a carnival by the whole community after the Algerian Referee whistled for the end of the match.

A number of fans interviewed by the GNA Sports accused the referee of being biased and advised the Ghana Football Association to lodge a protest about his conduct to the confederation of African Sports.