Academicals thump Togo 4-1

The VALCO sponsored Academicals soccer team, selected after last year's inter-schools competition, thumped their Togolese counterparts 4-1 in an international friendly at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.

Earlier on Saturday, the Ghanaians beat Donjo football Club, a second division side from Benin Republic by a lone goal; courtesy a second half penalty converted by right wing back Abu Adams.

The Ghanaians, looked a transformed side on Sunday after a lethargic performance on Saturday and hit the back of the net four times before the end of the first half but were unable to increase the tally after the break.

Tall and lanky Nana Asamoah opened the floodgates in the 12th of their 80-minute game after a beautiful one-two combination with John Amuzu. Asamoah had an easy task of just tapping in before an empty net. Three minutes later, the goal scorer turned a provider as he put the ball on the path of Amuzu to score.

The match became a one-way traffic from then on and the Togolese players had no option than to rely on unsuccessful offside traps. In the 27th minute, the visitors paid dearly for their over reliance on the trap, as Amuzu, a second year student of Bompeh secondary school, broke through the ball-watching defense. He raced with the ball and rounded up goalkeeper Kossi Djahlin to slot it into the net.

The Ghanaians in a bid to win the hearts of the few VALCO officials present including Dr Charles Mensah, Country Director, became selfish which robbed them of some glorious opportunities. Asamoah who had an excellent afternoon, decided to go solo in the 30th minute when in fact he could have aided his colleagues to increase the tally. His final curling shot hit the upright and rolled over the goal line.

The only bright spot in the Togolese attack, Komlan Ahorokou, became the target of rough play by the Ghanaian defenders and had to be stretched off the pitch after a clash with one of the defenders. Richard Pobee increased the Ghanaian goals to four when he connected a rebound shot after the goalie Kossi had failed to make a one time save of a volley.

The game got to a crescendo with the introduction of bulky Razak Issifu who came on for Amuzu. The substitute delighted the fans with some scintillating passes and swift runs down the flanks. But his colleagues looked content with the score line and messed up supplies from amazing Frank Appiah and skipper Owusu Sekyere.

The two friendlies were part of VALCO's plans of reviving the academicals soccer programme, which was a dominating force in the 1970's in the sub-region and to whip up the interest for a possible ECOWAS tournament next year.