On this day 15 February 1978 (Exactly 41 years ago) Danny “Little Red” Lopez beat David Kotei ((D. K. Poison) in a rematch of their 1976 bout , as part of the undercard where Leon Spinks dethroned Muhammad Ali of the world Heavyweight title. Lopez knocked Kotei out in round six of their rematch.
THE FIRST BOUT
D. K. lost his world title in his third defence on 6 November 1976 by unanimous points decision to Danny “Little Red” Lopez in a fierce fight in Accra, Ghana.
Lopez became world champion by outpointing Kotei over 15 rounds.
This trip proved to be troublesome for the new champion, however: back in his hotel room, he tried to call his family in the United States to announce the good news, but all communication systems had been cut down in Ghana. Lopez then tried to send them a telegram through the American embassy in Accra, but they too were affected by the system failure and could not get his message through. Lopez’s family was finally able to realize that Danny was a world champion when they picked him up at the airport one week later.
On this day 15 February 2004 (Exactly 18 years ago) Two goals from Abubakar Yahuzah gave Alhaji Karim Grunsah’s King Faisal the maximum points to lift the Coca Cola Top Four championship trophy when they beat Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The goals, all scored in the second half, gave Faisal the superior goal advantage over their city rivals, Kumasi Asante Kotoko who finished on equal points having beating Hearts of Oak 2-1 in their final game in Kumasi.
Faisal who had revenge in their minds over the Dansoman-based club for beating them one nil in the first encounter in Kumasi dominated play from the blast of whistle despite the soggy nature of the pitch due to an early heavy down pour.
Lead by slippery Kwadjo Poku, King Faisal took full control of the game dominating Liberty who are firmly rooted at the four-club table with three points with good inter – positional passes in all the departments of the game.
The Grunsah lads could have gone up in the first half but their final delivery after series of onslaughts were wasted after bombarding Liberty’s vital area but their finishing left much to be desired. Goalkeeper Kotie Blankson in goal for Liberty rose to duty with perfection on the half mark when he parried a Kwadjo Poku’s thunder bolt shot to safety to end the half on a clean sheet.
From recess, goalkeeping error on the part of Blankson saw Yahuzah, the eventual man of the match deliver a harmless shot that entered straight into the net in the 48 minute for the opener. Yahuzah pounced on a lose ball in the Liberty goal area and sent a speculative shot upfront and which to the dismay of the scanty fans present at the stadium entered the net even with the belated effort by Blankson in a bid to save it.
Both teams played casually even though the Garden City lads stayed slightly on top with occasional search for goals and it was during one of such moves that substitute Owusu Amponsah’s speculative shot at goal kissed the post and deflected to over.
Poku and his men took over from there and mounted series of attack on the homesters who looked helpless in containing the visitors. Alas, the much-awaited moment for the King Faisal bench came when Yahuzah struck again with only three minutes to end proceedings with a 20 – yard shot which zoomed to the roof of the net with Blankson woefully beating.
The winning goal saw Faisal snatching the trophy from the jaws of Kotoko via a superior goal difference.
Though the Ghana League Club Association (GHALCA), organizers of the competition crowned the new Kings as such, Faisal were not presented with the trophy as information gathered by the GNA Sports indicates the cup was sent to Kumasi as they supposedly tipped Kotoko or Hearts to win the trophy.
Accra: Liberty 0-2 Faisal (Yahuza, 2)
Kumasi: Kotoko 2-1 Hearts (Frank Osei, 2; Abdul Samad)
MVP: Charles Taylor
Lineup for Kotoko: Alhassan, Aziz Ansah, Godfrey Yeboah, Dan Yeboah, Joe Hendricks, Kwame Adzagba, Stephen Oduro, Yusif Chipsah, William Tierro, Frank Osei/Michael Osei, Charles Taylor
Hearts Lineup: Sammy Adjei, Amankwa Mireku, Dan Oppong, Michael Donkor, Coleman/Agyeman, Eric Nyarko, Adjei/Ghani/Abbey, Adjah Tetteh, Abdul Samad, Jojo Bossman, Don Bortey
Final standings of the Coca Cola Top Four
TEAM HOME AWAY
— P W L D F A ..P W L D F A GD..PTS
Faisal 3 2 1 0 3 2 3 1 0 2 3 1 3 11
Kotoko 3 2 0 1 3 1 3 1 1 1 4 4 2 11
Hearts 3 1 0 2 3 2 3 1 2 0 4 3 2 8
Liberty 3 0 3 0 1 7 3 1 2 0 1 2 -7 3
On this day 15 February 2005 (Exactly 14 year ago) Cameroon and then Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o was named African Footballer of the Year for the second successive year in Durban.
The 23-year-old earned 116 votes to finish ahead of Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba (90) and Nigeria captain Jay-Jay Okocha (63) in the annual CAF poll.
Eto’o, who was in Barcelona to play in FIFA’s tsunami benefit match, spoke briefly by video link saying: “It is a very proud moment for me and for my country “
Young Player of the Year: Obafemi Martins (Nigeria and Inter Milan, Italy)
Coach of the Year: Okey Emordi (Enyimba, Nigeria)
Club of the Year: Enyimba (Nigeria)
Team of the Year: Tunisia
Best African Champions League player: Vincent Enyeama (Enyimba, Nigeria)
Goalkeeper of the Year: Ali Boumnijel (Tunisia and Club Africain, Tunisia)
Best goal of the year: Benni McCarthy (South Africa) – Porto (Portugal) versus Manchester United (England), Uefa Champions League, 25 February 2004
Female Footballer of the Year: Perpetua Nkwocha (Nigeria)
On this day 15 February 1978 (Exactly 41 years ago) Leon Spinks beat Muhammad Ali in Las Vegas for heavyweight boxing title
Background
After his unanimous decision victory against Earnie Shavers, Muhammad Ali decided to face 1976 Olympic Gold medalist Leon Spinks, knowing that he’d have to face Ken Norton for the fourth time or lose his WBC belt, after the No 1 ranked Norton beat No 2 ranked Jimmy Young in a title eliminator in November 1977.
The fight
The 10–1 underdog Spinks ended up winning two of the scorecards 145–140 and 144–141, while the third was 142–143 giving him a split decision win. Spinks became the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion after only eight professional bouts, and the only man ever to defeat Ali in a title match
On this 15 February 1996 (Exactly 23 years ago) Former WBO World Heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison announced he has contracted HIV.
By George ‘Alan Green’ Mahamah
