Gallant losers Satellites back home

Accra (Greater Accra), 20th April ?99-

The national under-20 soccer team, the Black Satellites, returned home on Tuesday from Kaduna, Nigeria, after their elimination by Spain in their quarter-final tie of the World FIFA/Coca Cola U-20 soccer championship in Nigeria on Sunday.

The Satellites lost 7-8 on penalties after drawing 1-1 in the regulation 90-minute period and the extra time. They were welcomed on arrival by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr E. T. Mensah and his two deputies, Professor Patrick Addy and Sylvester Azantilow, Colonel George Brock, Chairman of the National Sports Council and a sizeable crowd of soccer fans.

Mr Mensah said though the team left Accra with the hope of winning the tournament; they lost gallantly at the quarterfinal stage. He said, "you lost gallantly and we are proud of you", and congratulated them on behalf of the government and people of Ghana.

Alhaji M. N. D. Jawula, Chairman of the Ghana Football Association thanked Ghanaians for their support during the tournament stressing that the Satellites did their best but it was not enough to bring the cup to Ghana. He expressed his misgivings about officiating during the tournament, especially matches involving Ghana and said that on two occasions he had to raise the issue during the match against Costa Rica and Spain, handled by Spanish and Costa Rican referees respectively. He indicated his intentions to raise the issue at the next FIFA and CAF congresses.

The Coach, Giuseppe Dossena praised his boys and said it was unfortunate that they were eliminated adding " we lost the opportunity to win but we were not disgraced.? A few hundreds of soccer fans, who were at the airport, mobbed the players and carried the coach shoulder-high.