On this day 26 February 1989 (Exactly 32 years ago today) Two very bizarre, highly incredible scores were recorded at two centres in the last matches of the 1988/1989 national first-division League now the Ghana Premier League.
Two relegation – haunted clubs Brong- Ahafo United and Sekondi Hasaacas scored a total of 39 goals without reply from their opponents at Sunyani and Sekondi.
Brong- Ahafo United routed relegated Man U 20-0 at the Sunyani Coronation Park, while Sekondi Hasaacas whacked city rivals Eleven Wise 19-0 at the Gyandu Park.
Both B. A. United and Hasaacas were struggling to avoid relegation each having 21 points, but with B. A. United maintaining a superior goals difference of two over Hasaacas. And by the cricket scores, both teams raised their points to 23 apiece but with B. A. United still edging Hasaacas on superior goal difference.
In Sekondi, Hasaacas defeated their city “friends” Eleven Wise by a mammoth 19 goals to nil in their local derby at the Gyandu Park.
Hasaacas started this one sided match of convince strongly under Kumasi based referee Capt Bediako Gyebi and were ahead by three goals within 22 minutes of play.
Centre forward Pee Jay Moses opened the goals’ flood gates in the 10th minute with John Plange scoring the second and third goals in 17th and 22nd minutes respectively.
Wise, who fielded an almost Under 20 team, never threatened their opponents’ goal and allowed their relegation threatened opponents to score two more goals through Bright Obeng, from a penalty in the 25th minute to send the scores to 5- 0 before half time.
Five minutes after resumption, Wise keeper Nii Ayi got injured and was replaced by substitute central defender Albert Nyarko, because Wise had exhausted their substitution list.
With defender Nyarko in goal, Hasaacas went on to score 14 more goals through Bright Obeng (52nd, 54th, 70th, 78th and 87th), John Plange (56th, 82nd), substitute Emmanuel Donkor, Francis Cobbinah and an own goal by a Wise defender, before referee Gyebi brought the spectacle to an end.
Results Nullified, Clus Banned
In the furore, the GFA nullified the results of the two matches. It also suspended the four clubs for six months and imposed a two hundred and fifty thousand cedis (old cedis) fine each on them.
In a move to reprimand the clubs, whose crucial matches produced an incredible 39 goals, the GFA directed that the four clubs forfeit their net share of the gate proceeds.
A GFA statement statement on the 28 February 1989 said the six month suspension of the clubs takes immediate effect.
In addition, the statement said the clubs will not take part in any orgaised GFA programme be it competitive or friendly within the six months period.
The four clubs were also ordered to pay their fines within ten days. Failure to meet the deadline, the GFA statement said the defaulters would be banned for two years after which they may re-enter the association’s national programme from lowest levels in their respective regions.
The statement further said the above measures were taken without prejudice to further punitive measures that may be found necessary against individuals and or club officials and players who might have been connected with this ‘contemptible collusion’.
The GFA said the clubs’ actions, had plunged Ghana football into utter disrepute , insulted the intelligence of Ghanaians and attempted to undermine the relegation exercise, it added.
Ghana’s reputation as torch bearers of Africa football , the statement said, had been tarnished by the ‘contemptous manner’ in which the four clubs treated Ghana’s football programme.
The GFA said it feels so flabbergasted by the events and condemns it in no uncertain terms.
Man U banned for two years
Man U were banned for two years for failure to pay the fine slapped on them.
A spokesperson for the GFA on 14 March 1989 said the three other clubs had paid heir fines as at the close of the ten days grace period.
B. A. United paid through hard cash while Eleven Wise and Hasaacas settled theirs by cheques.
In a later development, the Ghana Football Association slapped a one – year suspension on the two officials who handled the two matches.
In a release dated 3 March 1989, the GFA said FIFA referee, Bediako Gyebi who handled the Sekondi match, and referee Adumoah Bossman who was at Sunyani had been suspended.
According to the GFA, all the team officials who were allowed on the substitute benches in the two matches were banned for one year from transferring to other clubs while the 16 players fielded by each of the four clubs were also banned for one year.
The names of the players and their officials were:
B. A . United: Mohammed Iddrisu, Kwao Nannor, Simon Baffoe, Anthony Awuah, Alex Kyeremanteng, Kwame Asare, Kofi Berchie, Mohammed Seidu, Fuseini Suleimana, and Joe Oboshie.
The rest of the players were Stephen Asante, Parku Seidu (Jnr), Adabo Enyan, Carlos Mensah, Justice Amoako and Chisco Abdulai.
The team officials were Osei Tutu (team manager), Kofi Abdullah (Coach), A. Asante (coach), Oppong Asante Dumfe (assistant team manager), and Robert Otu (masseur).
For Man U, the players were: Jerry Asare, Ken Amoah, Alex Attafuah, Nevis Christopher, Joseph Amoateng, Abukari Adams, Vincent Tagoe, Jawra Dauda, Nyanyo Nicholas, Amartefio Emmanuel, Dan Tetevi, and Adjei Nsiah.
The officials were Bawa Ismaila (team manager), Sam Amarteifio (Coach), Emma Shaboe (welfare) and Henry Ameway (chairman).
With Wise, the players were: Nii Ayi, John Nyaaku, Steve Arthur, Fattal Ahmed, Justice Appiah, Kojo Mccarthy, Michael Baidoo, John Ainoo, De-Graft Smith, Robert Nyaaku, Aaron Ashitey, Stephen Feidoo, Albert Nyaaku, Anthony Mensah and Simon Arthur.
The officials were : John Baker (coach assistant), J. K. Mensah Nyaaku (T/official).
Hasaacas players were: John Osei, Anthony Arhinful, Seth Gyan, Felix Tagoe, Justice Boison, Bright Obeng, Edward Yawson, John Plange, Pee Jay Moses, Francis Cobbinah, Bart Mensah, Emmanuel Donkor, Emmanuel Sackey, John Nkrumah and Abossey Quartur.
The team officials were: Ato Dapatem (team manager), E. Koomson, Kuuku Dadzie (coach), P. S. K. Paha (coach) and Richard Quarhie (masseur).
Ministry lifts ban
The six- month ban imposed on the four clubs was lifted by by the Ministry of Youth and Sports on 6 June 1989.
A press release signed by the Sports Secretary, Mr Kwame Saarah- Mensah, said the action was taken following serious considerations to the numerous appeals by the public and the clubs own remorse at the episode leading to the sanctions.
In lifting the ban , the Ministry said it was convinced that the sanctions had achieved the desired objectives judging from the culprits’ repeated apologies and appeals to the Ministry and the GFA.
By: George ‘Alan Green’ Mahamah
