"Coal Pot" wins draught competition

Accra, Jul 3, GNA - Vincent Cofie alias "Coal Pot" on Monday won the draught competition organised by the Assembly Spot Fun Club at Jamestown in Accra.

He defeated Ben Nii Sackey Solomon in the first, third, fifth, sixth and seventh games with the second and fourth games being even in the finals of the competition.

In the course of the seventh game when it had become apparent that Coal Pot had overwhelmed his opponent, the spectators started shouting "Coal Pot", "Coal Pot", and "Coal Pot".

Before the beginning of the finals there was drama between the finalists as to where to play the game with Solomon insisting that it should be under a canopy while Coal Pot preferred it before the dais for the dignitaries to have a clear view.

The spot for the contest was settled when the Umpire, Paa Joe, tossed a coin, which was won by Coal Pot.

Speaking before the commencement of the final game of the competition, which was open to 16 Division Two and Three players of the Club, the Member of Parliament for the Odododiodoo Constituency, Mr Jonathan Nii Tackie Kumme, who sponsored the contest commended the members of the Club for maintaining a non-partisan posture and urged them not to allow party politics to divide their ranks. He noted that the non-partisan nature of the Club should be used for the promotion of social and community development programmes such as cleanup campaigns, sanitation and the provision of infrastructure, which cut across political lines.

Nii Tackie Kumme stated that as the MP for the area he represented not only members of his party but the whole community, adding that, people should not see their political opponents as enemies. The MP said he decided to sponsor the competition as his social responsibility as part of the activities to mark this year's Republic Day celebration and stressed his determination to fall on groups such as the Assembly Spot Fun Club in his programmes to mobilise the people of the area for development.

He declared his intention to organise a competition in football, netball and other sports and games for Clubs in the constituency during the Homowo festivities.

Nii Tackie Kumme commended the members of the Club for the level of discipline and friendliness displayed during the competition. Mr George Mensah alias "Archipelago" organiser of the programme said the objectives of the Club included the promotion of friendship and cordial relations between members and to project their interest. He noted that members of the Club were opinion leaders in the community from both "sides of the area" who meet regularly to socialise and share ideas.

The Chairman of the Club Mr William Lartey alias "OSA" commended the MP for gracing the occasion and providing the prizes and refreshment for the competition.

Before the finals, Coal Pot had declared optimism that he was going to carry the day since his wife was by him to give him moral support and was not going to "disgrace" her.

This infuriated Solomon who carried the playing board to Coal Pot who was sitting by his wife for the game to begin immediately but had to be restrained and calmed before the Umpire's instructions for the beginning of the game.

Coal Pot for his prize took home 300,000 cedis while Solomon had 150,000 cedis.

Dennis Adams had 100,000 cedis for placing third with Kwasi Smith getting 50,000 cedis for taking the fourth position. 03 Jul 07