RB Business Consult Tournament

Date : 23rd – 28th June 2010
Match Venue : Town Park
Final Scores : Cantonments 0:1 Mandela / Cantonments 1:0 Obunu / Cantonments 1:3 Labone
Match Report by Projects Abroad volunteer Nicolai Matt

Cantonments’ first league fixture of the season was played today after months of waiting. For weeks the league has been scheduled to kick but the FA have found excuse after excuse to delay until this afternoon.

On the 23 June, Cantonments FC played their first match of the RB Business Consult Tournament at Town Park in Labadi against Mandela FC. Although we actually had a good start, Mandela scored a free kick after only 10 Minutes. We continued to control the game but were not able to create many great scoring opportunities. The few we had in first half were missed by Christopher Lavoi and Salifu.

This changed in the second half, where Cantonments FC took advantage of their brilliant physical shape to really press the opposition. However, Mandela’s goalkeeper was just unbeatable this day, even up against 4 Cantonments strikers on the pitch at the final whistle.


Final Score: Cantonments FC v Mandela FC 0:1

On 25 of June, Cantonments already had a lot of pressure on their shoulders as another defeat would probably mean the end of their tournament. The opposition team was league leaders Obunu FC, who we beat in our first league match this season.

We dominated the match from the first minute, with Evans Tawiah scored our first goal of the tournament after 24 minutes. Thomas Afrifa found him with one of his trademark through balls and the finish was confident from a striker in form.

Cantonments FC continued to pressure the Obunu goal, but again suffered from failure to convert their chances. Towards the end of the match, our legs started shaking, as we had missed many excellent scoring opportunities and Obunu FC themselves were able to test our goalkeeper. Fortunately, they couldn’t take advantage of our finishing weakness and Cantonments held on for a priceless win.


Final Score: Cantonments FC v Obunu FC 1:0

Today was the last group match for Cantonments against Labone FC at Town Park. Because of one defeat in the first and one victory in the second match, the eleven of Coach Eric Ofori needed a result against their local rivals to get into the quarter finals of the tournament.

Unfortunately, our team suffered a poor start to this crunch game. Only 3 minutes where played when Labone FC got a free kick just outside of the box on the left side. The ball kicked straight to the far post became longer and longer and found the back of the net without any player having a touch. The players had to find a response!

Pushed forward by our captain Nii Commodore who had played a great tournament so far, the team was not shocked and created a triple chance after 14 minutes. The first shot from Evans Tawiah was saved by Labone’s keeper who deflected the ball right on front of Thomas Afrifa, whose shot got blocked by a defender. The third try came from Simon Salifu who started in central midfield today, but his shot got blocked by a defender as well.

Just during a phase of constant attacking pressure, Cantonments were hit with a sucker punch as Labone converted at the far post form a sweeping counter attack.

Coach Eric had to react and immediately changed his line-up to the usual system. Salifu went back to the side, Thomas came to the central midfield and Abonny plaid as right back. Instantly, we started to created more scoring chances. Consequently, our team got a goal back afterr 24 minutes. Afrifa found Tawiah with a carbon copy of his pass against Obunu FC. The striker didn’t hesitate from distance, his powerful shot finding the back of the net like a bombshell.

Coach Eric seemed to have found the right words at half time, as the body language of the CFC players looked very aggressive now. Chance after chance presented itself but once again the team was unable to hit the back of the net.

With 15 minutes remaining, Cantonments were made to pay for their profligacy as Labone converted their first chance ofsecond half. The match finished 3:1 to Labone who will now take their place in the quarter final stage.

Once again it was a very unlucky and unnecessary defeat for Cantonments. However, as Coach Eric Ofori used the tournament mainly to try some experiments with his line up, everybody is confident that he found the right recipe to face our next league opponents and that we will be able to bounce back from this first round exit.


Final Score: Cantonments v Labone 1:3