Vipers win Arafat Cup

Cape Coast, May 1, GNA - Cape Coast Venomous Vipers beat their local rivals, Ebusua Dwarfs 2-1 to lift the Arafat Cup in a special soccer match played at the Robert Mensah sports stadium on Sunday.

The match was played in memory of the late Alhaji Muniru Arafat Nuhu, the former Cape Coast Municipal Chief Executive.

Nana Ato Arthur, Deputy Central Regional Minister presented the Cup to Vipers.

Nana Arthur who is also the acting Cape Coast Municipal Chief Executive, commended the two clubs for their sportsmanship and gave the assurance that the Assembly will donate a Cup to be competed for annually in memory of the late Chief Executive.

FIFA Referee, Joseph Macarthy, who signalled the two teams into action saw Vipers starting the match with determination and took a seventh minute lead through their playmaker Francis Yankey. Vipers continued to pile pressure on Dwarfs and it came as no surprise when outside left, Frank Mensah raised his side's tally to 2-0 in the 55th minute with a thunder-bolt shot.

Dwarfs came into the picture in the dying minutes of the game and managed to pull a goal back through a spot kick beautifully converted by substitute John Deheer.

Prince Ernest Oduro-Mensah, Chief Executive Officer of the National Sports Council was among the dignitaries who graced the occasion. In another development, Cape Coast Super Rainbow made a good start when they beat their rivals Odomankomba, 3-2 on penalties in the Inter-Districts Under 17 Colts championship which commenced at the Robert Mensah sports stadium on Sunday.

Midfielder, Augustus Mensah who played a yeoman's game, opened the scoring for Odomankomba in the 20th minute but Super Rainbow managed to pull even through Oswald Boatey to throw the match open. Rainbow won by three goals to two when the penalty rule was invoked. In another encounter, Great Halifax beat Royals 5-4 also on penalties.