Amoah threatens legal action against colleague

Accra, May 23, GNA - Eric Amoah, Ghana's highest ranked Table Tennis player has threatened to initiate legal action against Joseph Osei if he does not withdraw some disparaging comments made about him.

Osei is alleged to have accused foreign based players of bribing officials to gain entry into the National Table Tennis team, the Black Loopers.

His comment followed his failure to make an entry into the list of eight players selected by the Technical Committee of the Ghana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) for the final phase of a justifier-your-inclusion exercise for the All Africa Games, in Algiers, Algeria, in July this year.

Amoah, based in England told the GNA Sports that "the comments are disheartening and I don't understand why a colleague should pass such comments about me and other foreign based players." He challenged him to come out with evidence to support his claims or face the full force of the law. Amoah said, Osei's allegations have no basis and he must be compelled to withdraw since it damages the reputation of the officials as well.

"I have been with the Loopers since 1996 and have never offered bribe or gift to any official to influence him, so why now?" asked Amoah.

Amoah said he is bent on pursuing the case to its logical conclusion since the comments have dented his hard won reputation over the past years. According to Amoah, he would consider putting the case to rest if Osei withdraws his comments and render his apologises to them for the mistake done.

The player, however, stated that he has stepped up his preparations in a bid to grab a place in the final squad that will represent the nation at the All Africa Games. He noted that picking a medal in the individual event at the Games remain his priority hence his decision to double up his training to achieve that dream. 23 May 07