On this day 26 April 1959 (Exactly 60 years ago) The Executive of Asante Kotoko Sporting Club dismissed Kwabena Badu and suspended seven others including four international stars for a period of one year.
They were Baba Yara, Mohammadu Salisu, Dogo Moro, Kwao Baffoe, Kofi Ennin, Kobina Otoo and Yao Deni.
The decision to suspended the players was taken at an emergency meeting of the club after a match at the Jackson Park in Kumasi, in which Kotoko playing without these stars, defeated Cornerstones by 4 – 3. The players were suspended for alleged “gross insubordination and flat refusal to participate in the match against Cornerstones.”
“The maintenance of discipline is essential to the success of every football Club”, late former Chairman Frimpong had said. Although Kotoko do not treat their players as servants, it is a well – known fact that from time immemorial they have never allowed any player to flout the authority of the governing body — the Executive Committee. “No player in the club is more important than the Club itself .”
The players later appealed to the Regional Commissioner, Mr Charles de Graft Dickson, former Chairman of the Club, who interceded on their behalf and were re – admitted.
On this day 26 April 1993 (Exactly 26 years ago) Brian Clough announced that he will retire as Nottingham Forest manager at the end of the season after 18 years in charge. Clough won two European Cups, the league title and four league cups with Forest, who were relegated from the top flight a week later.
On this day 26 April 1991 (Exactly 28 years ago) Soccer star Diego Maradona was arrested in Argentina for possession and distribution of illegal narcotic.
Diego Maradona, suspended from soccer earlier in the month for using cocaine, was arrested for possession of a half-kilo of the drug.
Two other men also were arrested at an apartment in the Buenos Aires suburb of Caballito, local news agencies reported.
Maradona was suspended by the Italian League on March 29,1991 after an analysis of his urine taken following Napoli’s March 17 victory over Bari tested positive for cocaine.
The Italian League two weeks earlier formally suspended Maradona for 15 months, a ban that was extended world-wide by the International Federation of Association Football.
Maradona, then best-known soccer player in the world, led Argentina to the World Cup title in 1986 and to the final in 1990. He led Napoli to Italian League championships in 1987 and 1990. The annual earnings of the man who grew up in a shantytown outside Buenos Aires was estimated at between $12 million to $15 million,
Argentine fans have a special place in their heart for Maradona.
Fans outside the apartment at first blocked police from putting Maradona into the squad car. Reinforcements arrived and finally the player, in the center of a cordon, was put in the car and driven to the federal police that specializes in narcotics crimes.
Prior to the suspension, Maradona made $2 million a year playing for Napoli, as well as an estimated $10 millionto $13 million a year from commerical endorsements.
Despite the suspension, Maradona, who grew up in a shantytown outside Buenos Aires, remains a hero to most Argentine fans.
On this day 26 April 1966 (Exactly 53 years) International Olympic Committee(IOC) votes to award German city of Munich the right to host the 1972 Summer Olympic Games
Munich won the bid at the 64th IOC Session at Rome, Italy, over bids presented by Detroit, Madrid, and Montréal. Montréal would eventually host the following Olympic games in 1976.
1972 Summer Olympics bidding results
City Country Round 1 Round 2
Munich W.Germany 29 31
Madrid Spain 16 16
Montréal Canada 6 13
Detroit United States 6 —
BY: GEORGE ‘Alan Green’ MAHAMAH
