November 29, 2019
On this day, 29 November 1966 (Exactly 53 years ago today), three clubs from the Ashanti Region, Asante Kotoko, Great Ashanti and Cornerstone withdrew from the Ghana Football League due to ’employment problems’ of their players, resulting in the cancellation of the league in December.
Majority of their players were employees of state-owned organisations, and had lost their jobs in the wake of the political changes sweeping through the country, following the February 24, coup d’etat, which toppled Kwame Nkrumah’s regime.
A meeting was held between the Clubs, Ghana Amateur Football Association (GAFA) and the Central Organisation of Sports (COS) on November 23, in Accra.
The COS decided at the meeting that, in order for the clubs to get more revenue, the COS will reduce its share of gate proceeds from 30 percent to 25 percent.
It was also agreed that the clubs should submit the list of the affected players to the government for consideration.
The clubs, however, did not give the government enough time to respond to their demands.
In a statement jointly issued by the clubs, they said they were quitting the league until their dismissed players were re-instated at their companies of employment.
The boycott by the three clubs from the Ashanti Region disrupted the league schedule.
While the authorities were taking steps to solve the crisis, a petition was lodged by four football clubs from the North and the Upper Regions.
Gbewa, Great Harmattans, Wait and See and Northern Stars accused the COS of neglecting the two regions in sporting activities.
In their statement, signed by Abdulai Mahama, chairman of ‘Wait and See’, they rejected a previous argument of the authorities that the two regions were too far away and lacked proper roads.
On December 15, the Commissioner for Education and Sports, A.K. Deku, called a meeting of the clubs, COS and GAFA, and it was decided to cancel the league.
On this day, 29 November 1956 (Exactly 63 years ago today), Chris Brasher became first Briton to win an Olympic gold medal in track and field since 1936.
Brasher finished first in the 3,000 metres steeplechase with a time of 8 minutes 41.2 seconds, but was disqualified for allegedly interfering with another runner, Ernst Larsen of Norway.
The following day, after an investigation, he was reinstated as the gold medallist. Brasher had been celebrating for several hours before the delayed medal ceremony, and later claimed to have been “the only Olympic champion to be totally and absolutely slaughtered when he received a medal”.
On this day, 29 November 2015 (Exactly 4 years ago today), British Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton finished 2nd in season-ending Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix to win his 3rd overall, and 2nd consecutive World Drivers Championship by 59 points from team mate Nico Rosberg.
STORIES: GEORGE MAHAMAH