Damba to drag Hill all the way

Accra, Sept 2, GNA - Former Ghana national goalkeeper, Abukari Damba says he will go down the drain with Canadian journalist, Declan Hill to prove his innocence in the ensuing match-fixing allegations made against him.

Damba told GNA Sports in Accra on Tuesday that "I'm prepared to go to the letter with Hill till my innocence is proven. "He will have to give physical evidence to prove that I'm guilty but I can assure you that I will come out clean."

Damba has sworn his innocence about the allegations made against him and said he is prepared to go to any length to clear his hard won reputation in football cycles.

Hill has accused Damba in his book titled "The Fix", published in Germany and released on Tuesday that the keeper acted as an intermediary between an Asian betting syndicate and the Black Stars to throw the second round game against Brazil at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Ghana lost the game 0-3 in Dortmund on June 27 to exit from the competition in which they played as debutants.

Damba described Hill's assertion that he (Damba) remains the link between Africa and Asia betting syndicate as ridiculous. The former Black Meteors goal keeper's trainer told GNA Sports that plans are far advanced to sue Hill, winner of the 2007 Canadian Association of Journalists Best Investigative Radio Documentary for his allegations. "My Lawyers have written to the publishers demanding a copy of the book for critical observation."

Damba however admitted meeting Hill, 43, twice in Accra where the latter sought for his assistance for the acquisition of a match ticket for the Ghana 2008 quarter final clash between the Black Stars and the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

This is the second time the former goalkeeper has been cited in a match-fixing scandal and has told GNA Sports that he feels sorry for himself for what is happening. The first was close to a year ago when a make-shift Black Meteors team played Iran in an international friendly in Azadi where Ghana lost 4-2.

Damba was alleged to have linked six players to a supposed betting syndicate hours before the game, an accusation he denied.