By Ken Bediako
This is the second part of my series on Asante Kotoko players as my voluntary contribution to mark the fabulous club’s 89th anniversary on August 31.
The focus today is on WILBERFORCE MFUM.
The aggressive forward player with bullet shots affectionately called ” bulldozer”, led Asante Kotoko to become the strong force in the 60s. He was a star player in Kotoko’s first Africa Cup final against Englebert of Congo that Kotoko lost through the toss of a coin. He started big time football with Swedru All Blacks, moved to Cape Coast Venomous Vipers and later on Great Ashanti before joining the Porcupine Warriors.
He played regularly for the Black Stars and made history by tearing the net with a bullet shot in an international match against Tunisia at Accra Stadium in 1968. Legendary Sports Director Ohene Djan described Mfum as “a powerful individual with a lethal shot in the right foot, a fearless minesweeper and initiator of all onslaughts. A centre forward but in desperate moments he roamed the entire field for action and goals. He hated defeat and spent every iota of strength in him employing all tricks to convert defeat into victory,” Ohene Djan added. I would say Mfum had a telepathic understanding between him and wizard dribbler Osei Kofi. Nimble footed Osei Kofi supplied the perfect passes and Mfum finished the goods in brilliant fashion.
It is said that in certain matches Osei Kofi would play so much to the gallery with prolonged dribbling
antics much to the annoyance of Mfum who was ever ready to find the net.
Mfum was made captain of the Black Stars in 1965 but he unfortunately missed the Black Stars defence of the Afcon Cup in Tunis following an injury at training in preparation for the tournament. He was in hospital when the team departed for Tunis. The good news was that his inspiring message from the hospital bed at the 37 Military Hospital to the team to fight courageously in his absence, tactically yielded good results.
The Black Stars rose to the occasion and led by acting skipper Addo Odametey, retained the Cup beating the host nation in extra time in the final.
Mfum later played professional football in the USA.
Back home from the USA after more than two decades he once served as board member of Kotoko in charge of the club’s training facilities.
OSEI KOFI
Famous for his dribbling wizardry and cheeky goal scoring, the pint sized ball juggler, was a great crowd puller. His telepathic partnership with Mfum fetched Kotoko numerous victories both at home and abroad. He played in Kotoko’s first Africa Cup final against Englebert in Congo in 1967. He however missed the 1971 Cup final triumph in Kinshasa through injury after leading the club throughout the qualifying series including the first leg Cup final match in Kumasi.
Affectionately called the “one-man symphony orchestra” and “soccer showboy,” the top national star has the honour of playing for Ghana in three Olympic Games namely Tokyo 1964, Mexico 1968, and Munich 1972.
Osei was a distinguished member of the Black Stars team that retained the Africa Cup for Ghana in Tunisia 1965 by beating the host nation 3-2 in extra time. He was also regular member of Kotoko’s trenchant side that won the national league back to back in 1967,1968, 1969. In his youthful days Legendary Sports Director Ohene Djan who mentored the Black Stars, described Osei as a colourful dribbler and scorer whose development into maturity appear to have been delayed by excessive clowning. And he added, “when serious, Osei splits and cuts tried and tested defences into ribbons. He plays all positions upfront.” Osei became such a brilliant player when
Kotoko toured the United Kingdom in 1969 a top division club Stoke City, offered him a tidy sum of 30,000 pounds sterling as transfer fee but he declined the offer “because of his love for Kotoko.” His brilliant football career came to an end following an injury he sustained in a national league match against Savanna Stars in Tamale in 1975.
It is recalled that Osei Kofi started playing colts football with Koforidua Corner Stars in 1957 whilst a pupil at the local Methodist Zion School.
He started big time football with Accra Great Argonauts on leaving school in 1958.Three years later he signed for Accra Hearts of Oak in 1961. He played for the Phobians for only one season before joining the “fabulous train” in 1962.
There is an interesting background to Osei’s transfer from Hearts to Kotoko. Osei’s father had to pay 30 pounds cash compensation for divorcing his new wife who was accused of constantly maltreating the young Osei who was his father’s favourite son. Finding the amount too high to pay, Osei’s father had to fall on his employer Mr B K. Edusei who was incidentally a patron of Asante Kotoko. Osei’s father was Mr Edusei’s driver. The Kotoko patron proposed a straightforward bargain. “I pay the 30 pounds and Osei Kofi plays for Kotoko” and that was it.
To be continued.
Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.
