Margaret Simpson Makes History!

Charles Taylor is footballer of the year
New sensation Margaret Simpson last Saturday broke the male dominance of the SWAG topmost prize when she was named the country's top sports personality for 2002.

Simpson, Ghana's sole medallist at this year's Commonwealth Games, won the Sportswoman of the Year award.

The 2O-year-old Mauritius-based heptathlete becomes the first woman to win the top prize in the 27-year history of the Sportswriters Association of Ghana (SWAG) Awards.

Simpson, whose year was highlighted by the heptathlon bronze medal she won in Manchester, and later gold in the African championship in Tunisia, was also named Athlete of the Year.

Accra Hearts of Oak's brilliant striker Charles Taylor was named male Footballer of the Year while Florence Okoe of La Ladies and the Black Queens won the female Footballer of the Year award.

Taylor and his Hearts team-mate Bernard Dong-Bortey, both of whom tied with 18 goals in the premier league, were named joint Goal-King.

Premier league champions, Accra Hearts of Oak won the Top Scoring Club award for the sixth successive year, scoring 72 goals.

The national female football team, Black Queens, were named Team of the Year for becoming the first African side to qualify for next year's World Cup in China and also winning silver in this month's African Women's Nations Cup in Nigeria.

James 'Hot Ice' Toney, the national and ABU middleweight champion, won the Professional Boxer of the Year award.

FIFA referee Joseph Wellington was named Referee of the Year, succeeding Alex Quartey, who has been 'honourably retired' after winning the award for the last five years.

The award for Dedication and Valour went to veteran defender Bobby Abdul Rahman of Real Tamale United (RTU).

Other awards went to Asante Kotoko's young striker Kwadwo Poku (Most Promising Star), Feyenoord Fetteh's Jordan Opoku (Discovery of the Year) and Edward Seidu Adjanko (Volleyball Star of the Year).

The award for hockey and other Special Awards will be announced later.

Meanwhile, SWAG wishes to the sporting public a happy, prosperous and eventful New Year.

Signed
Maurice Quansah (Asst. Secretary)
for Emmanuel Amoako (Secretary)