Sports
Commonwealth Boxing Council commiserates with Kotey’s family
The Commonwealth Boxing Council (CBC) has extended its sympathies to the family of the late former world champion, Alfred ‘Cobra’ Kotey who passed on last week in the United States of America.
The CBC’s message of condolence was conveyed through Mr Yoofi Boham, an international boxing matchmaker.
“I am very sorry to learn from my old friend Yoofi Boham, of the death of our former champion, Alfred Kotey, whose very successful early career in Ghana and the UK I remember very well,” the statement signed by Simon Block, a member of the CBC said.
“Kotey won our vacant flyweight title in Accra in 1989, successfully defending it a year later in the UK, vacating it when he moved up in weight.
“Four years afterward, he won the WBO bantamweight title; defending successfully twice before losing it in 1995 but remarkably, bounced back in his next contest to win the WBC International title, a title he never lost in the ring.”
Mr Block said Kotey’s career became more erratic after that, winning and losing a number of minor title contests but when he twice failed to win the Ghanaian and African Boxing Union super featherweight championship against fellow countryman, Gideon Annor, drawing the first in 2000 and losing the second in 2001, it seemed clear that his career as a world-class boxer was over.
“He carried on far too long until 2008 mostly losing; regrettably a story not unknown in this toughest of all sports.
“Kotey will be remembered as a gentleman and a classy athlete, but one whose talents inside the ring were almost certainly not matched by the sort of financial reward that may more easily accrue to home grown heroes; a fate that often befalls talented boxers who have to leave their homelands to pursue their careers in countries where opportunities exist to get to the top, but where success does not always translate into either a substantial ticket sales or television audiences.”
The former world champion died on July 1 in New York, USA.
BY SPECTATOR SPORTS REPORTER
Otto Addo is taking a calm and focused approach to the World Cup after being drawn against England, Panama, and Croatia in Group L.
“I look forward to every game as special,” he told ghanafa.org.
“Very important for us that we don’t underrate any team. For sure, England is the favourite in that group,” he acknowledged. “But for me as a coach, to be honest, I’m looking at each and every game equally.”
Addo is particularly focused on getting a strong start against Panama. “I’m hoping that we have a good start against Panama, that will be very, very crucial,” he said. “It will make the other games a little bit more relaxed and easier for the players psychologically. We will use the window of March for test matches, and then see,” he said.
Despite being a young team, Addo is proud of his squad’s progress. “I think we did very well in the qualifiers ” he said. “We didn’t lose a single official game, like the qualifying games, we did very well. We just played one draw and the rest we won, so we had quite a good year in 2025, after a bad year in 2024’’.
“Even though we have a very young team, we really, really did well, had a good harmony in the team, good union,” he added.
Ghana will open their FIFA World Cup campaign against Panama in Toronto on June 17 before facing England and Croatia in the other Group L matches on June 23 and 27 respectively.
The unbeaten away run of Accra Hearts of Oak will be put to the test tomorrow when they visit the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium in Tamale to play as guests of Karela United. Described as one of the top-liners of the weekend games, the match will pitch one of the best home teams against the best away team, with their records on the line.
After playing a pulsating 2-2 draw with Kumasi Asante Kotoko last week, league leaders Medeama SC return to their fortress, the TnA Stadium, to welcome Berekum Chelsea FC in a clash of former league winners. Medeama have struggled in recent times to hold their own against the ‘Bibires’, losing their last four games both home and away.
However, according to Head Coach of Medeama, Tanko Ibrahim, that sequence of results will come to an end tomorrow as they look to crawl out of the claws of their opponents with victory. Eleven points separate the sides, with Berekum Chelsea lying a distant 14th position on the log. They have been a pale shadow of themselves this season, and it remains to be seen if Coach Samuel Boadu’s side can keep the bragging rights over the Yellow and Mauves in what has been described as one of their worse starts to a league season.
Today, second-placed Kpando Heart of Lions will trek to the Kwame Kyei Sports Complex in Abrankese to play as guests of struggling Nations FC. Having suffered a 1-0 away loss to Basake Holy Stars in their last game, Nations FC would look to pick all three points to better their current 12th position.
In other games, the Hohoe Sports Stadium will come alive as new boys Hohoe United FC welcome Kumasi Asante Kotoko. The Nii Adjei Kraku II Sports Complex in Tema will host the Vision FC versus Young Apostles FC game, the Tuba Astro Turf will host the Dreams FC versus Bechem United FC clash, while the Nsenkyire Sports Arena will host the Samartex FC versus Bibiani Gold Stars game. High-riding Aduana FC will sort things out with Basake Holy Stars at the Nana Agyeman Badu I Park in Dormaa.
By Raymond Ackumey
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