You are here: HomeSports2000 12 21Article 12780

Soccer News of Thursday, 21 December 2000

Source: GNA

Abedi Pele reacts to violence in Hearts-Esperance Match

Hearts of Oak, on the 17th December, made Ghana proud by annexing the CAF champions’ league trophy for the first time in its eighty-nine year history. However, the match, which ended Ghana’s drought for club continental glory was marred by some nasty incidents which occurred off the pitch. With these occurrences, doubts have been raised about Ghana’s credibility and right to host next year’s historic African Club Super Cup championship in Accra on the 11th February 2001 when the Ghanaians are billed to meet Zamalek of Egypt who are the confederation of African football cup kings.

Former skipper of the Black Stars, maestro Abedi Ayew Pele, a member of CAF’s technical committee, which supervises the welfare of African players, expressed his misgivings about the Hearts-Esperance match in a reaction to a question posed to him as to whether Ghana will have the hosting rights.

Abedi said he felt sad about the nasty incidents, which halted the match for almost 20 minutes. He however added that he together with other Ghanaians serving on CAF’s various committee’s are ready to lobby to make sure that Ghana gets the hosting rights to the Hearts-Zamalek match.