Frankfurt are Colts champions

Ho, Jan. 16 GNA - Akwatia-based Frankfurt Football Club in the Eastern region on Thursday exhibited a sterling performance to beat Kumasi Corners Babies 2-0 in the Under-17 final match, to pick the gold at the 11th National Milo Colts Clubs Championship, which ended at the Ho Sports Stadium.

Debutants Frankfurt FC scored two quick goals through Godfred Appiah and Asamoah Antwi in the 35th and 36th minutes respectively to complete the demolition exercise of Corners Babies.

They were presented with a magnificent shield, 1.5 million cedis, gold medals, three cartoons of Milo, two footballs and Milo T-shirts. Runners up Corners Babies received a trophy, one million cedis, silver medals, two cartons of Milo, footballs and T-shirts.

The third position went to King Dogo FC of Accra who beat Kumasi Anokye Stars 4-1 in a penalty shoot out after a drawn game.

King Dogo was rewarded with 700,000 cedis, bronze medals, Nestle products, T-shirts and footballs while Anokye Stars picked 500,000 cedis, Milo, T-shirts and footballs for placing fourth.

In the Under-14 category, Kumasi Corners Babies emerged victors after beating Achiase Black Stone (ABS) 2-0 in an uncompromising encounter, which saw enterprising Daniel Clinton scoring both goals for his side in the 18th and 38th minutes respectively.

They received a giant trophy, one million cedis, gold medals, two cartons of Milo, two footballs, and T-shirts for placing first. ABS FC collected 8000,000 cedis, silver medals; Milo, footballs and T-shirts while Golden Boys of Accra placed third and received 500,000 and a quantity of Milo products and footballs.

In his closing remarks, Mr La-Danso Addo, Acting Chairman of the National Juvenile Association (NJA) entreated corporate bodies and institutions as well as non-governmental organizations and benevolent individuals to assist in charting a new course for football, the passion of the nation.

He said soccer had become a vital industry contributing heavily to the rapid socio-economic development of countries and individuals, and appealed to all and sundry to invest in it and stop paying lip service towards its development especially juvenile soccer.

Mr Addo said the assemblage of the galaxy of stars at this year's championship could not be wished away but rather nurtured in a scientific manner to return the country back to its glorious past. The acting Chairman of the NJA said sponsorship has seen much improvement as it rose to 330 million cedis this year, from the initial amount of 1.4 million cedis in 1991, adding "Nestle had demonstrated that they are really colts friendly".

He commended Nestle Ghana limited for its sponsorship packages, which had sustained the championship, to date and urged others to emulate their example.

Mr Tettey Aryee, Group Product Manager in-charge of milk and Drinks, Nestle Ghana Limited announced that the company would continue to sponsor the championship and execute better innovation to make it more exciting.

The next Championship would be staged at Bolgatanga, the capital of the Upper East Region. Outstanding players receive awards at Colts Championship Ho, Jan 16, GNA - Outstanding players at the end of the 11th edition of the National Milo Colts Championship at Ho were rewarded for their brilliant performances.

Master Godfred Appiah of Frankfurt FC in the Eastern region and Anthony Arhin of Achiase Black Stone (ABS) FC of Swedru in the Central region were adjudged Best Players in the Under-17 and u-14 categories respectively.

Salice Abubakar of Anokye (UWR), Enoch Andoh of Kumasi Corners Babies and Enoch Asare of Anokye Stars (ASH) shared the goal kings honours in the U-17 category, each scoring four goals.

The Under-14 division produced joint goal kings in the persons of master Richard Roger of Golden Boys (GAR) and Dickson Wiafe of Kumasi Corners Babies.

The best defender went to Forster Vinyo of Frankfurt FC in the under-17 level while Justine Agyekum of ABS won it at the under-14 division.

Master Osumanu Kasim of Frankfurt and Prince Boateng of Corners Babies were the best goalkeepers at the under-17 and 14 categories respectively while the fair play team award went to Frankfurt FC and ABS in their respective divisions.

The award winners received shields, cash and Milo products for their sterling showing.