Sports
Ex-Hearts’ board chairman explains failure to redeem promise to players … after 2000 CAF Champions League glory
Retired football administrator and former board chairman of Hearts of Oak, Mr Emmanuel Martey Commodore-Mensah, has disclosed that the cancellation of the 2001 FIFA Club World Championship played a key role in the club’s failed promise to the squad that won the 2000 CAF Champions League.
Players of the club’s ’64 battalion’ squad that delivered the trophy in 2000 have been bitter over the failure of the club to honour their $25,000-per-player promise made to them after winning the Champions League in that year.
Mr Commodore-Mensah, who was then a board member of the Rainbow team, said on Asempa FM that the club was very determined in delivering on its promise as it served as motivation for the players to win the Champions League and qualified for the 2001 FIFA Club World Championship in Spain, in the process.
“Yes, we made that promise, knowing that the World Club Championship was going to be the deal breaker financially.”
He explained, however, that later on FIFA announced that its marketing company in charge of the tournament, International Sports and Leisure (ISL), had gone bankrupt – hence cancellation of the Championship that year.
“For the cancellation, FIFA gave us some monies as compensation and not the monies we were expecting from the tournament for which we made that promise to the players, hence we failing to fulfill our promise to the latter.”
According to him, from the compensation money, they gave the technical team and the playing body some monies and used the rest of the money to offset debts accrued from the Champions League campaign.
“Yes, we rewarded the players enough for the history they made for the club that year. Given how much came to the club, we did what was needful. I know, I am prepared to put my hand on my chest and say we gave them something, as to whether it was enough or not, it is a discussion for another day, Mr Commodore-Mensah added.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
Management of Asempa FM has issued a public apology to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Kofi Adams, after wrongly quoting him in a recent publication about the selection of players for the Black Stars.
In a statement released by the station’s management, Asempa FM admitted that a quote card shared after Kofi Adams’ interview on Ultimate Sports Show on 13th October 2025 misrepresented his actual remarks.
According to the station, the error created a wrong impression that the Sports Minister was directly involved in selecting players for the national team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“The wording on the artwork may have created a misleading impression. For clarity, the Honorable Minister stated that the final decision on player selection rests solely with the technical team, and he emphasized the importance of transparency and merit-based selection,” the statement said.
Asempa FM expressed deep regret for the misrepresentation and apologized to Kofi Adams and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The management further assured the public that the station would take steps to ensure greater accuracy and care in its future communications.
“We hold Kofi Adams and his office in the highest regard and deeply regret any inconvenience or misunderstanding caused,” the statement concluded.
By: Jacob Aggrey
When Otto Addo took charge, Ghana sat fourth in Group I with just three points from two matches — a situation that seemed daunting for even the most optimistic fans. But what followed was one of the most remarkable turnarounds in African World Cup qualifying history.
Addo’s arrival brought renewed tactical clarity and belief. He restructured the team’s shape, redefined roles, and instilled discipline in both defense and attack. The results began to flow as Ghana went on an astonishing run of victories.
The coach’s calm leadership was crucial in restoring confidence to key players who had lost form. Veterans found new motivation, while youngsters flourished under his guidance, creating a perfect blend of maturity and energy.
Each win became a statement of intent — that Ghana was back. The team’s comeback victories over tough opponents like Mali and Central African Republic showed resilience and mental fortitude.
By the end of the campaign, the Black Stars had climbed from fourth to first, topping the group with 25 points and a +17-goal difference — a clear testament to Otto Addo’s transformational leadership.
This turnaround will go down in Ghana’s football annals as a story of hope, determination, and tactical brilliance that brought the nation back to the world stage.
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