On this day 26 March 1995 (Exactly 26 years ago today) Obuasi Goldfields (now Ashantigold Fc) put up a splendid performance and succeeded in routing National Port Authority (NPA) Anchors of Liberia by eight goals to one (8-1) in the second leg of their Africa Clubs’ Championship Cup and first continental match ever honoured at the Len Clay stadium in Obuasi.
To date, the eight goals scored by Goldfields is the most any Ghanaian club have scored in a single CAF Inter Club match.
The seven goal margin also equalled the biggest winning margin by any Ghanaian club and was later marched by Kotoko in 2013.
Until this massacre, Accra Great Olympics had held the record for most goals scored by Ghanaian club with 7-0 against MMM of Madagascar in 1971.
The first leg in Monrovia two weeks earlier ended goalless.
Kofi Deblah scored four goals, Eben Hagan hit three successful strikes, with Kwabena Boateng also on the score sheet.
Goldfields entered the match full of determination to make history and set the tone for victory as early as the seventh minute when Eben Hagan won the opener for the Ghanaians with cheeky ease.
Having wasted two quick corner kicks under three minutes with Kofi Deblah fumbling with another begging chance a minute later, Kofi Owusu who played a great game dismantled the midfield of the Liberians and found unmarked Hagan who had the easy task of floating a curly one into the net for the opening goal.
After this early goal, Goldfields scored as many as five more goals to bring the curtain down on the first half.
It appeared as if every move initiated by Goldfields was going to yield in a goal as the Liberians looked so ordinary that spectators could not help but describe the match as a great mismatch.
Virtually Goldfields scored a goal in an average of about ten minutes from the first goal.
By the 15th minute, it was quite clear that Goldfields were gunning for a goal harvest, which indeed was.
Kofi Deblah raised the tally to 2-0 in the 21st minute when he completed a Hagan- Kamara Dini move to beat goalkeeper Latee Jackson in post for the Liberians.
Goldfields were still in control and Kofi Deblah who was guilty of mis-directing his headings, wasted another chance a minute later before making amends in the 24th minute with a beautiful goal to bring the tally to 3-0.
Kofi Deblah initiated a move and found Kwabena Boateng who after one – two sent a pass back to Deblah to score the third goal.
He was again on target in the 28th minute with the fourth after being set up by Kwabena Boateng with whom he combined beautifully in the game.
Thirty minutes into the game, Kofi Oausu was stretched off the field to receive attention on the sidelines after twisting his leg.
And the Liberians who felt being humiliated resorted to some rough tackles which won them the first yellow card of the game when half back Solomon Joe lunged a brutal tackle on Kamara Dini who was a thorn in the flesh of the Liberians defence with his penetrating passes.
The resultant free kick was directed to Kofi Deblah who again headed away the begging chance with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Kwabena Boateng, however, atoned for this when Hagan sent him a good pass to beautifully connect home, before Hagan added the sixth goal on the 42nd minute.
N. P. A. Anchors replaced their goalkeeper, Latee Jackson who was also their captain with Sam Mulbah to end the first half.
On resumption, N. P. A. Anchors brought on Frank Taylor for Emmanuel Horton at the inside left position which rejuvenated their attacking machinery.
Goldfields, on their part, started this half relaxed and as they allowed Anchors to disorganise their pattern of play, the Liberians nearly reduced the scoreline but Nanabenyin stood between them and their goal.
Anchors efforts were however rewarded in the 54th minute when substitute Frank Taylor weaved his way through the tough Goldfields defence to reduce the scoreline by one.
They nearly made it two a minute later but strong defender Afo Dodoo managed to scoop the ball out before it could cross the line.
Goldfields increased their lead when right full back Tony Arhinful raced deep into the goal area of Anchors and centered beautifully for Kofi Deblah to head home his fourth goal.
Goldfields made two substitutions in the 80th minute bringing on Nana Frimpong and Atta Kofi for Kamara Dini and Kofi Deblah.
Barely six minutes after these substitutions, Goldfields Eben Hagan sealed the doom of Anchors with the eight goal after a two- man move by Arhinful and Kwabena Boateng to beat Mulbah in post for the Liberians.
Goldfields: Nanabenyin Crentsil, Tony Arhinful, Sammy Adjei, Afo Dodoo, Stephen Baidoo, Kofi Owusu, Adjetey Lee, Eben Hagan, Kamara Dini/Atta Kofi, Kwabena Boateng, Kofi Deblah/Nana Frimpong
Elsewhere;
On this day 26 March 1973 ( Exactly 48 years ago today) Future Australia National Boxing Hall of Famer, Hector Thompson beat Joe Tetteh of Ghana at the Festival Hall, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia for the Commonwealth (British Empire) Super Lightweight title.
Hector Thompson, was Australasian Lightweight Champion and needed this victory to seal his chance for a World Championship bout.
The British -Commonwealth Champion was Joseph Tetteh.
The 31 year-old- Joe Tetteh with a record of 45-23-5 (25 KO’s) was ranked
as the #5 Light-Welterweight by Ring Magazine.
The ‘boys’ also fought back in June 1972, where Hector Thomspon won a ‘close’
10-Round Decision.
The Fight
Hector Thompson, using younger legs, boxed circles around the ‘veteran’ Joe Tetteh over the early rounds , to build up a ‘solid’ points lead.
Hector bounced solid left jabs into the mid-section of the muscular
British-Commonwealth Champion, preventing Tetteh from landing his powerful right-hand hooks.
Tetteh (living in Scotland), did score with an occasional left hand, but could not get his hard right through the tight defense of the Australian.
Thompson, shook the rock-jawed Tetteh in Round 8 with a left-hook and right
uppercut, forcing the Champion to hold on.
The Ghanaian was the aggressor in Rounds 10, 11 and 12, as he was able to back the ‘quick-footed’ Australian up, by landing the heavier punches.
But, the Australian fought cleverly over the last ‘3-Rounds’, as he jabbed his way inside, and then out-worked the Champion with quick combinations, before backing way unharmed.
Referee, Terry Reilly scored the bout with Hector Thompson having a 4-Point advantage.
On this day 26 March 2017 (Exactly 4 years ago today) Defending League champions, Wa All Stars, suffered a great humiliation in their own backyard as they were trounced 4-1 by WAFA in an outstanding league fixture.
The Sogakope side, who were yet to win on the road, blew away their guests in the final half hour of the game to inflict on the champions their second defeat of the season.
Richard Danso opened the scoring for the academy side as they went into the break with a slender lead but the lead was short lived as Sadiq Alhassan restored parity from the spot 4 minutes after halftime.
Daniel Lomotey put WAFA ahead once again before two goals in quick succession from Richard Danso and Majeed Ashimeru put gloss on the scoreline.
The victory was WAFA’s first win in 29 tries on the road.
On this day 2 March 1974 (Exactly 45 years ago) George Foreman knocked out Ken Norton for the WBA, WBC, The Ring & Lineal World heavyweight boxing titles in Caracas, Venezuela
BY: George ‘Alan Green’ Mahamah