By Ken Bediako
This is part five of my selection of Asante Kotoko Legends, who in my estimation deserve to be given eternal recognition as the fabulous club celebrates their 89th birthday this August.
I have so far profiled nine stalwarts-Baba Yara, James Adjei, Wilberforce Mfum, Osei Kofi, Ibrahim Sunday, Malik Jabir, Abdul Razak, Robert Mensah, and Opoku Afriyie.
The focus this week is on Papa Arko, Opoku Nti and Kwasi Appiah.
Easy going midfielder Papa Arko who played football with amazing confidence, is on record as the youngest player to captain Asante Kotoko at age 23. He took over as acting captain following Opoku Afriyie’s “forced” retirement by the Yaw Bawuah administration in early 1983.
PAPA ARKO
led Kotoko to retain the League trophy in 1983 and win the Africa Cup on top the same year.
Popularly called Bob Marley for his great love for Reggae music, handsome Papa Arko played with amazing ease and confidence. His ability to score from well outside the penalty box earned Kotoko and Ghana several sweet victories.
Born in Kumasi on June 2 1960 Papa Arko took to active football in Secondary School at Konongo Odumasi and was soon a hero. He joined Asante Kotoko after completing his GCE O Level in 1978.
OPOKU NTI
From “Tarkwa Polo” to Zico of Brazil that’s the success story of easily this biggest name in Ghana football in the early 80s. A good dribbler, goal scorer and free kick expert. Opoku Nti is best remembered for his 21st minute classic goal against Al Ahly of Egypt at the Baba Yara Stadium that won the Africa Cup for Kotoko for the second time in 1983. He received a slide rule pass from ace winger John Bannerman and made no mistake about it. Beautiful goal by all standards.
Opoku Nti later played professional football abroad. On his return home he once served as special assistant to club chairman Dr K.K Sarpong, subsequently he was appointed interim chairman when Dr Sarpong left. Opoku Nti is currently
executive member of the GFA. Born at Kintampo on Jan 24, 1961 Opoku Nti hit the limelight in his maiden appearance for Tarkwa Gold Stars in 1979. Then a student at Tarkwa Secondary School, Opoku Nti was affectionately called Tarkwa Polo apparently because he could dribble like Accra Hearts former super star Mohammed Ahmed Polo.
The Kotoko scouts, always looking for the best, pounced on the young talented player and had him transferred in 1980 to Ahmadiyya Secondary school in Kumasi.
His dedication to the game earned him a place in the Black Stars in 1981 and he blossomed into a mature star earning the nickname Zico after that great Brazilian midfielder. Within a short time, he was appointed both deputy captain of the Black Stars and Asante Kotoko.
He was a member of the victorious Black Stars that won Afcon 1982 in Libya.
KWASI APPIAH
The cool and collected international full back was one of the most reliable defenders to wear the Porcupine Jersey. Interestingly, he took to active football only after his Secondary school education at Opoku Ware School in 1979. Within three years he had established himself as an international star.
Kwasi Appiah had the distinction of captaining both the junior national team, Black Meteors, and the seniors, Black Stars. He had come to the limelight after only a couple of appearances for Tarkwa Mine Stars at Accra Stadium.
Kwasi played for Mine Stars for only one season before joining Asante Kotoko in 1980 and he became the regular full back for the Porcupines and the Black Stars.
He was noted for his effective close marking. This trait earned him the nickname ‘Mayele’ for the remarkable way he neutralised Congolese dangerous striker in one hectic international match in Kumasi.
Kwasi Appiah was a member of both the Black Stars Afcon Cup triumph in Libya 1982 and the fabulous club’s second Africa Cup victory in 1983.
Born at Bekwai on 9th August 1960 Kwasi Appiah had the distinction of being the first Ghanaian coach to take the Black Stars to the FIFA World Cup in Brazil the2014.
He is now an expatriate coach for the Sudan national team and controversially executive member of the Ghana Football Association.
(To be contd)
Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.
