Friday, January 4, 2008

FAISAL MATCH GROSS GH¢88,000 (Page 39)

Story: Kwame Asare Boadu, Kumasi

KING Faisal hit their biggest ever gate proceeds in any match when a gross of GH¢88,000 (¢880 million) was realised from their Onetouch Premier League match against city rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara Stadium last Wednesday.
Team manager Kamel Ahmed told the Daily Graphic yesterday that Faisal were happy about the attendance even though the stadium was not filled to capacity.
He said even though the deductions to be made could be on the higher side, the club hoped to realise “something substantial” to cushion them into the league.
About 90 per cent of the fans at the stadium were Kotoko supporters.
The match, match played under floodlights, ended goalless, with Kotoko playing with 10 men for 73 minutes after their hardworking defender, Harrison Afful, was shown the red card in the 17th minute for hitting an opponent.
The result brought Kpando Heart of Lions on level with Kotoko on points (19 apiece), bringing some life into the league. The Kpando team beat Tema Youth 1-0 in Cape Coast.
Kamel blamed Faisal’s technical bench for failing to organise the team to beat Kotoko when the Porcupine Warriors were down to 10 men.
He said the coach was simply not up to the task on the day and expressed the hope that the team would be in good shape before their next game with Zaytuna FC.
One player who exhibited abuntant talent was Eric Bekoe. The Asante Kotoko lead striker, currently on seven goals, did not score but was at his harrasing best, creating anxious moments for the Faisal defence.
He was unlucky to have missed two good opportuities, one in each half, but sent home the fact that he had indeed arrived.
Kotoko never showed any numerical disavdantage with their defence being very solid, and attack flowing on several occasions.

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