By Ken Bediako
It’s unfortunate the sad stabbing to death at Nsoatre of Nana Frimpong that famous Asante Kotoko supporter has disturbingly polluted the sporting atmosphere especially in the Garden City.
The National Football League was gradually gathering momentum with at least five clubs fighting shoulder to shoulder at the top.
Patronage was gradually improving in this national
competition, which I unilaterally refuse to call it the Premier League. In my opinion that nomenclature should be reserved for the English League since ours is a poor resemblance of the one in England in every aspect of football organisation and output.
Excuse the diversion.
The Nsoatre incident is a big blot on our football organisation. This dastardly act is arguably the first in Ghana’s football history, Yes. Please it should not be compared with the stabbing to death of Asante Kotoko’s Legendary goalkeeper Robert Mensah in 1971 as some latter day sports analysts want to portray. The truth of the matter is Robert was stabbed at a drinking spot at Tema in the night when socialising with some friends. The Nsoatre incident was at the stadium immediately after a league match between Kotoko and Nsoatreman that had seen a lot of rowdy scenes including a free-for-all fight among the opposing players.
My young colleague Bernard Nyankomago Yeboah of Kotoko Express fame, has compiled a list of football match hooliganism involving Nsoatreman and other league clubs in the area but this latest stabbing event does not appear to be the result of skirmishes during the match.
All reports suggest there might be some premeditated issues. No further comments at this stage since the matter is still under investigations
My worry is the messy atmosphere newly appointed Sports Minister Kofi Iddi Adams is going to face. He is so unlucky. I may not like his politics but I admire him for his sincerity as an analyst on radio and TV. He also appears to have confidence in the media and that gives me a feeling he is most likely to get support from the sports media. Past great sports administrators like Ohene Djan and Simpe Asante acknowledged the fact that sports thrive on media exposure and they succeeded in the end.
Ohene Djan took the barrage of media attacks in his stride.
His weekly press conferences were tension packed but he stood firm. He was often put on the carpet but fought back gallantly. In the long run he accepted his faults, made amends and produced results to the satisfaction of majority of sports loving Ghanaians.
Simpe Asante, the military man at times tried to be a bully but his eventual cooperation with the media produced good results for the nation. All eyes are now on Kofi Adams to reshape Ghana sports.
Early indications show that the talkative critic would team up with the media to rebuild Ghana sports. It is my hope that he would take criticisms in good faith and be the man to restore the fallen standards in Ghana sports as a whole and football in particular.
As an old timer sports journalist, I have the penchant for reminding our sports ministers to honour our past sports personalities in order to encourage the youth to take to this national pastime.
Twenty-one years ago (2004) Baah Wiredu’s Ministry of Sports established a Sports Hall of Fame to honour outstanding sports personalities. The programme was launched at the plush Alisa Hotel on November 26, 2004.
After a brief implementation that saw the emergence of Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, Hathiramani Sports Hall, Theodosia Okoh Hockey Stadium, Azumah Nelson Sports Complex in Accra and few others, the whole Hall of Fame project recommended by a Special Committee set up for the purpose is dead. Luckily the idea is not buried yet since most members of the committee that worked on it are still alive and kicking, yours faithfully included.
I have kept reminding the authorities to be up and doing by writing a series of articles on the need to honour our past sporting personalities.
In my most recent piece on football heroes the lot fell on the Afcon Cup winning Black Stars of 1963 1965, 1978, 1982 and the 1992 Olympic bronze medallists Black Meteors. By public request I provide names of the players that constitute the five award winning squads Black Stars 1963: Aggrey Fynn (Capt), Dodoo Ankrah, Addoquaye Laryea, Franklin Crentsil, Oblitey Owens, Addo Odametey, Ben Acheampong, Anum Okai, Kwame Adarkwa, Ofei Dodoo, Wilberforce Mfum, Edward Acquah, Mohammed Salisu, Kofi Pare, Atta Kwame, E. E. De Graft, Agyeman Gyau, Joe Aikins, Tetteh Akrong, Leonard Acquah.
Black Stars 1965: Addo Odametey (capt), Dodoo Ankrah, Ben Acheampong, Kofi Pare, Agyeman Gyau, Sam Acquah, Salami Ganiyu, Willie Evans, Bernard Kusi, Kwame Nti, John Naawu, Paa Nii Lutterodt, Jones Attuquayefio, Richard Barnier, Oman Mensah, Joe Addison, Amusa Gbsdamosi.
Black Stars 1978: Awuley Quaye (capt), Opoku Afriyie Joseph Carr, Husein Salifu, Isaac Acquaye,
Kuuku Dadzie, Haruna Yusif, P.S.K. Paha, Charles Oppong, Justice Moore, Ofei Ansah, Adolf Armah, John Yawson, Dan Kayede, Mohammed Polo. Addai Kuekyenhene, Willie Klutse, Anas Seidu, Kuntu Blankson, Abdul Razak, Emmanuel Quarshie, George Alhassan.
Black Stars 1982: Emmanuel Quarshie (capt), Haruna Yusif, Sampson Lamptey, Owusu Mensah, John Baker, Joseph Carr, Kwame Sampson, Isaac Paha Albert Asase, John Essien, Kofi Badu, George Alhassan, Opoku Nti, Seth Ampadu, Kofi Abbrey, Abedi Ayew Pele, Opoku Afriyie, Hesse Odamtten, Kwasi Appiah, Acquaye Maclean, Ben Kayede, John Essien.
1992 Black Meteors: Anthony Mensah, Ibrahim Dossey, Simon Addo, Frank Amankwah, Isaac Asare, Sammy Adjei, Mohammed Gargo, Yaw Acheampong, Odartey Lamptey, Shamo Quaye, Yaw Preko, Ablade Kumah, Bernard Aryee, Maxwell Konadu, Mahmoud, Kwame Ayew, Osei Kufuor, Oli Rahman.
Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.
