Hearts win HIV/AIDS Cup

Accra, Feb. 29, GNA - Accra Hearts of Oak's new technical director, Ernst Middendorp guided his club to win its first competitive trophy beating city rivals Great Olympics 2-1 to lift the maiden HIV/AIDS cup at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.

The match, put together by HIV/AIDS-Concern, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), was to raise funds to cater for affected people with the deadly disease in the country.


In an afternoon spiced with live musical show, the cup match was preceded by a curtain raiser, which featured popular actors including Psalm Adjeteyfio of Taxi Driver fame and Waakye of Obra show against the Association of Sports Broadcasters.


Oly defied a court order stopping them from contesting for the trophy which was brought against it by a faction of the beleaguered club and took the game to the Phobains but unfortunately, suffered a first minute goal when Ablade Morgan rose to head home a cross from teammate Alfred Nii Larbi.


It was a beautiful three-man move initiated by enterprising Frank Kornu who swung the ball from midfield to winger Larbi to set Ablade for the demolishing exercise.

Great Olympics repulsed the challenge almost immediately and took control of the midfield but lacked the potency upfront to score. Ginger-haired Don Bortey sparked off on a fast break against the run of play and raced with the ball from the last quarter of the pitch but his unfamiliar left footed shot brought out the best in goalkeeper John Adjetey of Olympics who expertly dived to parry the ball.


Goalkeeper Adjetey nearly got his name on the scoring sheet in the 19th minute mark when his free kick just outside Hearts penalty area went off the cross bar and 18 minutes later, Michael Ocansey's followed up with a pile-driver from the edge of the "box" after a quick free kick taken by Joe Tagoe was pushed to corner by goalkeeper Sammy Adjei. Morgan made it two for his side with a "footprint" goal on 39th minute as he squeezed through his markers to connect Lawrence Adjei's lob.


Ocansey had two golden opportunities to at least reduce the tally for Oly in the 63rd and 87th minutes respectively but he blew the chances away.


Substitute John Cudjoe pulled one back for Oly with a low grounder free kick on the stroke of full time.