Kickoff (Cape Town)
2 September 2008
Former Ghanaian international goalkeeper Abubakari Damba is threatening legal action against the Canadian journalist who claimed he had acted as the middle man in the alleged rigging of the Ghana versus Brazil World Cup second round game.
Declan Hill claims Damba was the go-between after some Ghanaian players agreed to lose that game by at least 0-2 under the influence of an Asian betting syndicate. The game ended 0-3.
This has brought great pain and difficulty to me, my family and country. He will have to answer for his folly
Damba admits meeting Hill but says the allegations are untrue.
"This is a devious attempt by Hill to besmirch my name, but I will not take in lying down. I have had talks with my lawyers to sue him," Damba told Ghanasoccernet.
"This guy approached me suspiciously after I had an interview at Joy FM claiming he wants to help me. He was just desperately trying to tie me to a betting syndicate and he has come out with this rubbish.
"He thinks he can just come and write anything including falsehoods and get away with it. It won't happen.
"This has brought great pain and difficulty to me, my family and country. He will have to answer for his folly."
Damba met Hill around the period when the former Black Stars' goalkeeper, who also spent part of his playing days in Malaysia, had been dismissed as the goalkeeper's trainer of the national Olympic team after some players reported that he had tried to influence an international friendly against Iran in Tehran.
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