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Sports News of Monday, 10 May 1999

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Kotoko, Dawu draw as superstition takes centre stage

Dawu: Superstition nearly marred the ABC premier league match between Dawu Youngsters and visiting Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Dawu Sports Stadium. The match ended 1-1.

Before the inspection of the two teams by class one referee E. M. A. Laryea, players of Kotoko had refused to enter their dressing room, citing blood stains at the entrance

This development led to the inspection of cards of the players on the field after a 45-minute delay.

In the course of the match, supporters of Kotoko deflated two balls, saying they were not those officially provided but rather "juju balls".

When Dawu chairman, Mr Seth Yeboah, realised that the Kotoko fans were about to deflate the balls, he rushed to the technical bench of Kotoko in an attempt to retrieve the balls, and this nearly led to an open fight between him and Mr Herbert Mensah, Board Chairman of Kotoko.

After the confusion, Kotoko scored in the ninth minute through right full back Joseph Hendricks.

Dawu equalised in the 25th minute through left winger Joshua Kennedy.

Earlier in the 20th minute Chronicle Kwame Amadu of Dawu scored but it was disallowed because the referee found Amadu to have intentionally handled the ball before shooting.

In the dying minutes of the match, Hendricks headed the ball home. The referee, however, disallowed the goal, citing Hendricks' clashing with goalkeeper Joseph Danladi.

Four soccer fans got injured after the match, from stones hurled from outside the stadium onto the pitch.

Security men had to rescue the referee, who was attacked by Dawu fans for disallowing Dawu's 20th minute goal.

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