50th Anniversary of Baba Yara Sports Stadium celebrated

Kumasi, Jan. 10, GNA - Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club on Wednesday beat Club Football du Ouagadougou of Burkina Faso 4-1 in a friendly soccer match to commemorate the 50th anniversary celebration of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.

Among those who thronged the Stadium to participate in this great day included, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah and his Deputy, Mr. Osei Assibey Bonsu, Paramount Chiefs, members of the National Sports Council and the Local Organizers of the Kumasi Venue Organizing Committee of the African Cup of Nations (CAN), 2008.

The Asantehene who was the guest of honour was conducted round the VIP stand of the refurbished Stadium after he was welcomed to the Stadium by Professor K. K. Adarkwa, Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Chairman of the KVOC. A number of past players who have played at the stadium from the early seventies including, Kwadwo Mfum, Rev. Osei Kofi, Abukari, Malik Jabir, Ibrahim Sunday, Dogo Moro, Cliff Odame, goalkeeper Dan Botwe and Joe De-graft, Kwasi Owusu, 'Power House' Dan Owusu, Agyeman Gyawu, John Bannerman, Ben Acheampong among others were introduced to the teeming soccer fans and later went on to shake hands with Asantehene. Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, later cut the anniversary cake, inspected the teams before kick-off which was played under floodlights. It was Kotoko who first launched an attack and nearly took the lead in the 4th minute but Francis Akwafful missed the post with Nana Arhin Duah also shooting wide three minutes later.

The Burkinabe's accepted the challenge and took over the game, playing it hard for some time but against the run of play, Nana Arhin Duah pounced on a cross from Daniel Nii Adjei after he saw the visitors' goalie was out of his gaol line to flick the ball into the net in the 17th minute. Nana Arhin Duah was nearly on target again in the 21st minute but his shot was saved perfectly by Traore Adama in goal for the Burkinabe's. In the 25th minute, Traore Ben Iddrisu who was in a good position to score was brought down in the box by George Asare and referee Rignald Lathbridge did not hesitate to whistle for a penalty.

The resultant penalty which was taken by Cisse Gumarr hit the cross bar and bounced into play to the relief of the Kotoko following. Kotoko score their second goal three minutes later when George Asare nodded home a cross from Nii Adjei in a goal-mouth melee to the delight of the fans.

From then on Kokoto took complete control of the game, mesmerizing their opponents and making them chase their shadows. The visitors brought in Some Aimoure for Traore Dawuda in the 40th minute but it did not benefit them while Kotoko kept piling incessant pressure on them.

Kotoko made it 3-0 in the 56th minute through Nana Arhin Dua with a terrific shot while the Burkinabe's redeemed a goal through substitute Adama who connected home an own goal from a Kotoko defender in the 74th minute.

Both teams exhausted their substitutions and with four minutes to end the game, Eric Bekoe scored for Kotoko to bring the final scores to 4-1.