By Ken Bediako
This is the last of profiles on my selected legends of Kumasi Asante Kotoko FC. The focus today is on Joseph Carr and Kwadwo Addai Kyenkyenhene.
JOSEPH CARR the enigmatic goalkeeper, was a carbon copy of the great Robert Mensah with his trademark cap and acrobatic antics in the posts. He had a wonderful anticipation and even when the game was becoming a bore, Carr could thrill the crowd with his peculiar antics.
An international goalkeeper of repute, he was in the posts when the Black Stars won the original Africa Cup of Nations trophy for keeps in 1978. He was also in the posts for the Black Stars in 1980 Afcon in Nigeria and member of the 1982 Afcon squad in Libya.
Carr kept the posts for Kotoko in two consecutive Africa Champion Clubs finals against Al Ahly of Egypt in 1982 and 1983 when Kotoko won the Cup for the second time.
A welder by profession, Carr started his football career as a full back with Manchester Colts Club at Cape Coast in 1965 whilst at the Jubilee Middle School. Somewhere along the line Carr found goalkeeping more attractive and soon switched to the posts when he moved to another Colts club in Cape Coast called Massacres Club.
Having matured as a goalie Carr registered for National League Club Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs in 1979.
He took over from the legendary Robert Mensah who had quit Dwarfs for Asante Kotoko in 1970. Carr thus became the regular goalie for Mysterious Dwarfs till 1975 when he signed for Sekondi Hasaacas.
His brilliant goalkeeping helped a lot in Hasaacas becoming winners of the novelty one round national league champions in 1977.
In preparation for hosting the 1978 Afcon, the GFA decided on a one round special league in 1977 to give the Black Stars ample time to train.
After helping the Black Stars win the Africa Cup for keeps in 1978 Carr left for Nigeria where he played for Ibadan Shooting Stars for two years. He returned to Ghana in 1981 and joined the Porcupines family in 1982 where he remained the nation’s top goalkeeper till his retirement from active football.
He became the club’s goalkeeping trainer for some time before finally retiring from football affairs altogether.
KWADWO ADDAI KYENKYENHENE-The utility player who fits comfortably in several positions at the rear with ease, is on record as possessing the longest and arguably one of the most fascinating names in Ghana football. He rose to the limelight in 1976 when most of the regular Stars in Kotoko were on national assignment and the national league had to
go on. He led a band of novelties to successfully hold the fort for the regulars and since then his name became household.
He was the midfield general in the Black Stars squad that won the original Africa Cup for keeps in 1978
beating Uganda 2-0 in Accra. He was also an influential member of the Asante Kotoko trenchant squad that won the Africa Clubs Cup in 1983. He also played an active role in Kotoko’s domination of the national league in the early 80s.
Born on Nov 14 1955 to Opanin Kwaku Antwi Agyei a farmer, and Madam Ama Serwaa, a trader, Kyenkyenhene is an electrician by profession but currently a lay preacher.
My final story in connection with Kotoko’s 89th anniversary celebration will be a recollection of the “Big Split” in 1954 that nearly broke the Porcupine family into pieces.
Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.
