Apart from the marvelous organization and top quality football exhibited by well groomed professionals culminating in the best team winning the cup, Euro 2008 scored a lot of marks for the remarkable respect accorded referees by both players and officials.

I am delighted that my prediction came through and Spain deservingly won the cup.Amazing Spanish striker Fernando Torres confirmed the prediction that he would be the man to watch in the titanic final against Germany and he braved the odds to get the lone match winning goal.

It isn’t always that the best team comes out triumph in such high profile cup matches. Spain completely outplayed Germany in almost all departments of the game. And if perchance the match had gone into extra time Spain would have treated Germany like what Russia did to Holland in the semis.

The European football authority’s insistence on players and officials showing respect for referees yielded good dividends. Discipline on the pitch was at its best and we had a sweet flowing tournament. How I wished Ghana could emulate this fine example.

The way the technical bench of Kpandu Heart of Lions challenged decisions of referee Alex Quartey in the President’s Cup match against Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium on Sunday June 29th left much to be desired. Their reactions against the referee’s rulings could have incited a home crowd to misbehave if they were playing at their pet Kpandu grounds. Luckily the Heart of Lions players kept their heads even when one of their key players was sacked for second bookable offence and they had to play with ten men for almost an hour.

Officials of Hearts of Lions must be reminded that with their second spot on the league they will be playing in Africa next season and they would need to imbibe the new international message of respect for the referee The Kpandu based club is a fine side with quite a knowledgeable bench headed by Oti Akenten of the GFA Technical Directorate and they won the hearts of most neutrals on Sunday by the way they fought back twice to level matters against Kotoko in this special annual cup match arranged to mark the Republic day anniversary in Ghana.

One may say that the way they shot three penalty kicks over the bar was somewhat amateurish and they would have to go back to the drawing board to polish the art of scoring from the spot The consolation is that when it comes to penalty shoot out it becomes some sort of lottery and many great teams have lost through this process so theirs is no big deal.

For Asante Kotoko it is a remarkable addition to their string of triumphs both at home and abroad this season culminating in their annexation of the national league title for the 21st time since its inception 50 years ago This victory could not have come at a better time when the fabulous club of Africa is planning a big coronation party at Agona Swedru on Sunday in the last league match of the season against All Blacks affectionately called the "Black magicians".