Osam-Duodu Blames Referee For Defeat

Black Starlets coach, Fred Osam-Duodu, says the use of the 'backdoor' by fellow African teams at the Under-17 footbal World Cup in Korea will be exposed at the event.

"I will advise my fellow coaches and countries to learn how to play football and stop using the back door because they will be exposed at the World Cup.

"I have been there before and I know what I am talking about," Coach Osam-Duodu said at the post-match press conference after his side could not reach the final, after losing 1-2 to Togo at the semi-finals stage.

The experienced coach left the cross breed of journalists and broadcasters from across the continent in shock when he declared: "I am not going to answer any questions from anybody".

In his general remarks, however, Osam-Duodu explained that his action stemmed from Camerounian referee, Omgba Zing's, performance on the day.

"He showed our players about four yellow cards and the boys were intimidated," he said.

Osam-Duodu, whose achievements on the job include guiding Ghana to a Nations Cup glory in 1978 and leading The Gambia to a first time triumph on the continent when they won the Sixth edition of the Under-17 championship on home soil two years ago, was expected to lead the Starlets back at training yesterday after their shock defeat by Togo, the host nation.

The team's camp was in quiet yesterday, but the shock which almost kept some players away from supper appeared to have melted by lunch time yesterday.

Ghana will now meet Tunisia, second in Group A and 0-2 losers to Nigeria in the other semi-final, in Sunday's third place match.

Sory by Michael Quaye