4-Nations Tournament: Black Stars blame defeat on ref

Black Stars coach Fred Osam Duodo yesterday alleged they were robbed of victory against Uganda.

He said Black Stars were destined for the final were it not for the “day light robbery” which they were subjected to. ‘’We were well on course for the final but the match was given to Ugandans on a silver platter,’’ he said. Duodo, the technical director of Ghana Football Association, said the goal, disallowed by the referee, was a rebound and did not warrant an offside. The match was officiated by Alfred Ndinya (Kenya), Julius Bwire (Tanzania) and Abdalla Mwarandani (Tanzania).

‘I was not impressed with the match officiating considering that we were denied a beautiful goal which we badly needed,” he said. The controversial goal came in the 50th minute when Black Stars’ Issa Abdul Rahman fired home a rebound off Ugandan custodian, Ibrahim Mugisha who had initially stopped Edwin Badiako’s shot. The official, however, conceded that Stars did not play to his satisfaction. He attributed their dismal showing to the high altitude and inadequate time for preparation.

“The spirit was willing but the body was weak,” Duodu noted. He however said that they will play their hearts out against Tanzania. Duodu was briefing the press at the Buru Buru SOS Children’s Village where members of the Blacks Stars team conducted a football clinic for the home’s under-20 team.

Ghana skipper Addo tips Kenya for title

By ERIC ODANGA

Ghana's Black Stars skipper Joseph Addo has tipped Kenya's Harambee Stars to win the inaugural Castle Lager Cup when they face Uganda Cranes tomorrow in the final from 4 pm. In an interview after losing 1-2 to Uganda Cranes in their opening match on Wednesday, Addo said: "I tip Kenya for the title although I have not seen them play. They are playing before their own fans." Addo added that the Castle Lager Cup is a good avenue for the players to expose their talents.

"We now have more knowledge about East African soccer," he said. He accepted that Uganda were the better team and deserved to win. "Give credit to Uganda, they played well and deserved to win." But the captain was mad with assistant referees who waved an off-side flag when Baba Adamu slotted a rebound after Issa Rahman's shot was punched back in play by Uganda goalkeeper Ibrahim Mugisha.

"I have no problem with the referee. He did a good job. What I don't understand is why the goal was disallowed by the linesmen. "I have not seen anything like this," the captain fumed. Hinting on why the team lost to Uganda, Addo, who did a sterling job at the back, said: "we were affected by the altitude and the team did not have enough time to effectively prepare for this tournament."

Uganda Cranes drew on their experience of playing West African teams. Their Nigerian coach Harrison Okagbue said the boys played according to his instructions.

"My instructions were that they should not give room for their opponents to settle. They were to keep the ball on the ground and intensify the pressure when in possession. I am a West African and I know how we play," he disclosed. Man-of-the-match, Philip Obwiny, was over the moon after receiving his award. "I had a feeling I could win the award. We played very well." Uganda Cranes captain who contained the Black Stars forwards easily could not hide his joy. "This was a very good match and I am looking forward to the final. I had a feeling that they underrated us and we have proved a point," the captain said.

The Castle Lager Cup followed in the tradition of the Cosafa Castle Cup which this year saw the emergence of Lesotho as a new power in South African soccer. Either way, the trophy will remain in the region. "It would have been bad if Ghana came and took the inaugural trophy away," one soccer fan said.