On this day 12 January 1953 (Exactly 66 years ago) Former Ghanaian professional boxer Roy “The Black Flash” Ankrah, who won the Gold Coast flyweight title, Gold Coast bantamweight title, Gold Coast featherweight title, Gold Coast lightweight title, Gold Coast welterweight title, and British Empire super featherweight title, knockout his compatriot Benny Kid Chocolate in round two of a scheduled ten round Lightweight Contest at the New St. James Hall, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom.
On this day 12 January 2016 (Exactly 3 years ago) Kwesi Nyantakyi was re-elected president of the West African Football Union (Wafu) Zone B after election in Accra.
Nyantakyi beat Niger’s Djibrilla Hima Hamidou 4-3 in a close victory after voting at the Movenpick hotel
On this day 12 January 2009 (Exactly 10 years ago) Cristiano Ronaldo collected his first FIFA World Player title while Marta claimed her third successive FIFA Women’s World Player award at the 18th FIFA World Player Gala at the Zurich Opera House.
Ronaldo had a remarkable 2008, in which he scored 31 goals for Manchester United in the Premier League and propelled his club not only to another league title but also to the UEFA Champions League crown. He performed creditably at international level at UEFA EURO 2008, although Portugal were eliminated in the quarter-finals. Ronaldo reaped 935 points in the vote in which the coaches and captains of 155 national teams took part. Argentina’s Lionel Messi finished second (678 points) and was trailed by Spain’s Fernando Torres (203), Brazil’s Kaká (183) and Spain’s Xavi (155).
Marta delivered an outstanding performance at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in Beijing 2008, and equalled the record set by Birgit Prinz by claiming her third consecutive FIFA Women’s World Player title. For the women’s vote, 139 coaches and captains cast their vote and Marta won comfortably (1,002 points) ahead of Germany’s Birgit Prinz (328), Brazil’s Cristiane (275), Germany’s Nadine Angerer (198) and England’s Kelly Smith (150).
On this day 12 January 2015 (Exactly 4 years ago) Cristiano Ronaldo won for a 2nd consecutive time the FIFA Ballon d’Or Award, his 3rd award overall.
On this day 12 January 1918 (Exactly 101 years ago) Montreal Canadien’s center Joe Malone scored 5 goals in a 9-4 win over Ottawa to become the first 20 goal scorer in NHL history; goes on to score 44 regular season goals
On this day 12 January 1951 (Exactly 68 years ago) Former Heavyweight champion Ezzard Charles TKOs Lee Oma in round 10 for heavyweight boxing title
On this day 12 January 1966 (Exactly 53 years ago) Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach recorded his 1,000th NBA career victory (regular season and playoffs), 114-102 over the Los Angeles Lakers in Boston
On this day 12 January 1997 (Exactly 22 years ago) Tiger Woods won the Mercedes Championship in incredible fashion. This was Tigers third win in nine total starts on the PGA Tour. The 1997 Mercedes Championship was plagued with ugly wet weather that shortened the even to 54 holes.
By George ‘Alan Green’ Mahamah
