Sports News of Tuesday, 21 April 1998

Source: --

Superstition as Hearts draw 1-1 with Kotoko

Supersitition took the better of Ghana's top soccer teams -- Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko -- when they met Sunday in their top of the table clash at the Accra Sports Stadium.

With rumours awash at the stadium that a soothsayer had predicted defeat for the team whose player last stepped on the field, the 11th players of both teams refused go onto the pitch.

Therefore, 10 players from each team started the match as Jacob Nettey of Hearts and Lawrence Amankwah of Kotoko stayed glued to the touchline.

Eventually, Nettey signalled referee F.K. Mensah of Tarkoradi and went in, followed by Amankwah.

As if the soothsayer's prediction would come to pass, right winger Emmanuel Yartey, who was the man of the match, put Kotoko ahead in the fifth minute with a 35-metre driver into the net.

Nettey who was all nerves could hardly find his feet and was substituted by Joe Ansah on the 40th minute.

And it was Ansah who plucked the equaliser for Hearts in the 49th minute with a similar 35-metre shot.

But the soothsayer's prediction proved wrong: The match ended 1-1, despite that Kotoko had to play with 10 men form the 21st minute when their central defender, Kalilu Dramani, was given matching orders for a second bookable offence.

At Cape Coast, Mysterious Dwarfs beat visiting WAFU defending champions Ghapoha 3-0 at the Swedru Sports Stadium.

Dwarfs led 1-0 at half-time through wing half Joe Sam's goal in the 42nd minute.

Back from recess, Dwarfs, determined to carry the day, made it 2-0 through centre forward Osei Kufour in the 47th minute.

In the 68th minute a serious defensive blunder by Ghapoha left goalkeeper Edward Ansah helpless and enabled Dwarfs to score a third goal, again through Osei Kufour.

At Tema, Swedru All Blacks defeated local Afienya United 2-1 while Obuasi Goldfields held Dawu Youngsters to a goalless draw.