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GHANA RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP INTRODUCES WOMEN’S LEAGUE IN HISTORIC MATCHES

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The Ghana Rugby Championship kicked off in Cape Coast on Saturday with the first official Women’s Sevens GRCC in the history of Ghana Rugby
Four women’s teams, Conquerors Ladies, Cosmos Buffalos Ladies, Griffons Ladies and  Dansoman Hurricanes Ladies, competed in the first match day to eventually become the 2017/18 GRCC Women’s Sevens Champions on 17 February 2018.
The first match was played between Cosmos Ladies and Conquerors Ladies which ended in a 0-0 draw. Dansoman Ladies beat Griffons Ladies 5 to 0 in the second women’s sevens match.
According to Rafatu Inusha, Board Member: Women’s Representative of the Ghana Rugby Football Union (GRFU), it was a great day for all teams.
“We saw a very challenging display by Dansoman Ladies when they were playing against Griffons Ladies. It was their very first time playing Rugby, and they defended and attacked well, even though their ball handling was not flowing, but in time they will be good to go,” Inusah said.
Inusah continued to say, “I am pleased because every team played with excitement and were all happy with the opportunity given to them.”
“This initiative will encourage other women to get on board with rugby and also get a chance to play for the National Team.”
Match officiating for the Women’s Sevens matches were handled by Ernest Amewu and Benson Nortey Botchwey.
The President and Board Chairman of Ghana Rugby, Herbert Mensah, said that this historic event will go down as one of his administration’s biggest achievements since taking office on 5 June 2014.
“From the very first strategic blueprint in 2014 the development of Women’s Rugby was placed close to the top of the long list of challenges. This introduction of an official Women’s Sevens Championship is the first step of great things to come for Women’s Rugby in Ghana and indeed in the West African Region,” Mensah said.
In the Men’s 15s Club Championship eight teams started the road to Championship, namely: Pool A – Conquerors Sporting Club, Accra Rugby Club, Dansoman Hurricanes RFC and Griffons RFC. Pool B – Dennis Foundation SC, UCC Spartans RFC, Western Cheetahs RFC, and Lions RFC. Two teams, Cosmos Buffalos RFC and Stallions RFC had a bye weekend and did not play.
Although it is early days Conquerors lead the 2017/18 GRCC table with five points after beating Dansoman Hurricanes 31 points to 0. The match was officiated by Clement Dennis.
In the second Pool A match Accra Rugby Club (13) beat the Cape Coast team Griffons (5) by 8 points to deny the home team a bonus point. The match referee was Ishmael Adamah.
In  Pool B matches Dennis Foundation triumphed by beating Lions 10 to 0 while UCC Spartans beat their local Cape Coast rivals Western Cheetahs with a narrow 5 to 3 margin. The two matches were respectively officiated by Prince Odoom and Ernest Amewu.
The second match day of the 2017/18 GRCC will take place on Saturday 2 December 2017 in Cape Coast at the Robert Mensah and Accra Sports stadiums. The Women’s Sevens matches will all be played in Cape Coast.

Men’s 15s Results
Pool A
Conquerors 31 – 0 Dansoman Hurricanes
Accra Rugby Club 13 – 5 Griffons RFC
Pool B
Dennis Foundation 10 – 0 Lions
UCC Spartans 5  – 3 Western Cheetahs

Women’s 7s Results
Conquerors 0 – 0 Cosmos Buffalos
Dansoman Hurricanes 5 – 0 Griffons

Match Officials
Referees: Ishmael Adamah, Clement Dennis, Ernest Amewu, Prince Odoom and Benson Nortey Botchwey. Assistant Referees: Kobby Asenso Brobbey

Scorers
Tries:  Yusif Jalilu (2 Conquerors), Penalty Try (Dennis Foundation), Daniel Kakraba Koka (1 UCC Spartans), Mohammed Rabiu (1 Conquerors), Jason Dzata (1 Conquerors), Andre Hammond (1 Conquerors), Kelvin Bosomtwe (1 Griffons), Eric Tettegah (1 Accra Rugby Club)
Try and Penalty Conversions: Mohammed Rabiu (3 Conquerors), Nathaniel Darlington Addy ( 3 Accra Rugby Club), Dominic Smith (1 Dennis Foundation), Iddrisu Umaru (1 Western Cheetahs)

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Stolen Ferrari Recovered Almost 30 Years Later –

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Stolen Ferrari Recovered Almost 30 Years Later -

A Ferrari Testarossa sports car stolen from Austrian Formula One driver Gerhard Berger during the 1995 San Marino Grand Prix weekend has been recovered by London police almost 29 years later.

The Metropolitan Police said on Monday the red F512M, worth some 350,000 pounds ($444,325.00), was tracked down in four days after Ferrari reported it was the one being sold through a British broker to a U.S. buyer.

Police enquiries found it was shipped to Japan shortly after being stolen from the Italian city of Imola and then arrived in Britain in late 2023.

The Organised Vehicle Crime Unit said enquiries were ongoing and no arrests had been made.

A second silver Ferrari F355 that belonged to Berger’s French former team mate Jean Alesi, which was stolen on the same weekend in the Italian city, remains missing.

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Alesi finished second in the race won by Williams’ Damon Hill with Berger third, in the Ferrari drivers’ final season at the Italian team before the arrival of Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine.

Berger had caught the thief in the act of stealing his car but after jumping clear and then giving chase in a friend’s Volkswagen Golf, according to a news report at the time, was unable to prevent it from getting away.

-Reuters

 

 

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Bayelsa State are National Para Games champions

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The resounding success of the 2nd edition of the National Para Games culminated in an exhilarating and grand closing ceremony at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

 

The week-long celebration of talent, resilience, and sportsmanship concluded on December 14th, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of para sports in Nigeria.

 

The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, lauded the remarkable display of talent and dexterity exhibited by the para athletes throughout the Games. Expressing his delight, he commended the spirit of competition and the dedication of all participants.

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“The National Para Games have once again showcased the incredible abilities and unwavering spirit of our para athletes,” Senator Enoh said. “The level of talent and determination displayed by these athletes is truly inspiring. They embody the essence of sportsmanship and perseverance.”

 

“Through sports, we celebrate unity, resilience, and determination. The National Para Games have proven to be a platform that not only showcases exceptional talent but also fosters inclusivity and breaks barriers.”

 

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From December 8th to 14th, the stadium played host to representatives from all 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The atmosphere was charged with excitement as athletes showcased their skills, determination, and unwavering spirit, captivating audiences and leaving spectators in awe.

 

Bayelsa State emerged as the champions of the Games, winning 30 gold, 24 silver and 20 bronze medals. Abia, Kano Lagos, and Oyo states completed the top five in that order. Their athletes’ dedication and outstanding performances solidified their position at the pinnacle of para sports excellence.

 

The closing ceremony was a spectacle of pomp and pageantry, featuring captivating performances, cultural displays, and heartfelt tributes to the athletes who epitomized perseverance and triumph over adversity.

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As the curtains drew to a close on this momentous occasion, the legacy of the National Para Games continues to inspire a new era of inclusivity, empowerment, and recognition for para athletes across Nigeria.

 

 

 

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A football club gets record! Sixteen yellow cards in a game

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Czech football club TJ Sokol Upohlavy had 16 players booked in in their match last weekend. PHOTO: TJ SOKOL UPOHLAVY/FACEBOOK

A Czech football club playing in the lowest division has made the sports pages across the country after 16 of its players were booked at the same time last weekend.

TJ Sokol Upohlavy’s players decided to make a splash as they were trailing TJ Sokol Libochovany 6-0 in their game in the lowest district tier last Saturday.

When Martin Blizil scored to make it 6-1 in the 82nd minute, all 11 of the team’s players on the pitch took off their shirts in celebration – a deed punishable by a yellow card.

Five substitutes came off the bench to celebrate with them, also taking off their shirts and earning a booking.

“The last game didn’t really go our way, but our players maybe set a world record,” the team said on Facebook after losing the game 6-2 in the end.

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“When you underperform, what’s left is a sense of humour.”

The referee did not book each player individually – also because with the players’ shirts off, he could not see the numbers.

But he did enter the bookings in the match report. The transcript, with a yellow rectangle next to each Upohlavy player’s name, has since gone viral on local social media.

The village of Upohlavy, where the club is based, has a population of 276 people and lies about 50 kilometres northwest of the Czech capital Prague.

AFP

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