How can I forget the glorious night of Sept 20 1975, in Los Angeles, USA, when David Kotey Poison became the first Ghanaian professional boxer to win a world title? He beat the reigning champion Mexican Reuben Olivares on points.
I was privileged to be at the ringside as a young 34-year-old sports journalist reporting for the then mass-circulation Daily Graphic. Indeed, I was among the handful of Ghanaian officials who flew from Accra to Los Angeles specifically for this memorable title fight.
Led by Justice D.F. Annan, chairman of the National Boxing Syndicate, the officials included Ghana Boxing Authority top men Col George Slater, and Mowbray Elliot, trainer Attuquaye Clottey and GBC sports commentator Ben Eghan Jr.
Unfortunately, all these boxing gurus have been called to their Maker, thus missing this golden anniversary of D. K. Poison’s triumph that put Ghana’s name on the boxing map of the world. By God’s Grace. I am the only one alive.
And this is also the reason I feel a sense of guilt, that being the only living among the group that flew from Accra to Los Angeles to watch the fight, I woefully failed to celebrate the day in style. Apologies to D. K. Poison and all genuine boxing enthusiasts in the country.
The name of David Kotey Poison will continue to be written in letters of gold in the impending Sports Hall of Fame.
D.K. fought a fight of his fighting life. He put Olivares down in the very first round for no count. Strangely enough, he hardly used his powerful left throughout the fight.
I was surprised and said so in my round-by-round summaries on GBC Radio, which was offered me by Ben Eghan. Coach Attuquaye Clottey explained to me that after the fight, it was a strategy to stay away from Olivares’ wicked uppercuts and potential low blows.
The verdict was close 144-145 144-143,143-142 for Kotey Poison.
The pro-Reuben Olivares fans rioted after the verdict was announced. We all got scared, but we had police protection and managed to sneak away from the huge hall of waiting cars to our hotel. On the whole, it was a marvellous show by Kotey who, according to coach Attuquaye Clottey, fought to his strict instructions that paid good dividends. He completely outwitted the overconfident defending champion.
Clottey(left) and Ken Bedieako
Boxing historians will recall the strenuous efforts made by the state to produce this world champion. All necessary facilities were put at the disposal of D. K. Poison when his immense talent was discovered. A newly formed state-funded Boxing Syndicate was mandated to ensure D.K. Poison reached the top. Headed by veteran boxing enthusiast Justice D. F. Annan (who would be Speaker of Parliament in 1992), he worked assiduously with a carefully planned series of companionship fights till Kotey was ranked high enough to face the world’s best, and he did not disappoint. No wonder the nation gifted him a three-bedroom house at Teshie-Nungua Estate for his brilliant show.
This was during the Kitu Acheampong era, when sports administration was under the Head of State himself.
To be precise, Kutu had a special assistant, the workaholic Lt. Col. Simpe Asante, who had absolute control over sports administration in the country.
Funds for sports did not appear to be a problem at all. Clubs for CAF assignments were sponsored by the State. The Ghana Air Force also came in handy to facilitate travel across the continent, especially along the West Coast. The comfort of sportsmen was paramount, especially when it involved clumsy flight connections. For example, when the Black Stars had a World Cup qualifier against Morocco in Casablanca, a Ghana Airways direct flight to London was diverted to Casablanca for the Black Stars. A penalty fee was paid for landing rights.
Government involvement in sports, especially football, was great.
There was no question of a group of people trying to determine how football should be run in the country. The good influence of the Head of State was felt happily, keen observers say they are beginning to see a resurgence of this practice when President Mahama recently saw off Asante Kotoko and Bibiani Stars with 50,000 dollars each on their way to their various CAF assignments.
As things turned out, Bibiani Stars became a lost cause. Clumsy travel arrangements coupled with boardroom confusion culminating in the untimely dismissal of coach Frimpong Manso did not help matters. The CAF league debutants unsurprisingly lost 5-0.
This should be a good lesson that it’s not right to part with a large number of players who won the national league, and dismiss the coach who won the league on the eve of a crucial second leg CAF match.
In the case of Asante Kotoko, it’s good to note that they learned their lesson by tightening their defense after taking the lead against Kwara State in Abeokuta. The loose manner in which they conceded three goals at home definitely frightened a lot of their supporters, who were only hoping against hope for qualification to the next round.
The victory in Nigeria reflects credit on the tactics of Coach Karimu Zito.
I have followed the football career of Karimu Zito from his days at GIHOC Stars to Kotoko, and I have great admiration for his bravery and confidence when he was an active footballer; he feared no foe, and he has maintained that poise as a coach. If his players can imbibe his “no surrender” approach to the game, it won’t be surprising to see Kotoko winning more of these crucial matches they will face in due course.
With this qualification to the next round, it won’t be surprising to see the teeming, vociferous Kotoko fans once more filling the stands to capacity like we saw in the not-too-distant past.
I like the fine sporting atmosphere that is gradually returning to our beloved galamsey-tainted country. It was action galore last weekend.
Whilst Kotoko were shining in Nigeria, unheralded students of the University of Development Studies, Tamale, were selling the name of Ghana in faraway China by winning the World University Football Trophy with a neat 2-1 victory over their counterparts from Brazil. And at Accra Stadium, the under-20 women’s team, Black Princesses, confirmed their superiority over Tunisia.
In the second leg of the World Cup qualifiers, they had another 2-0 victory, having won the first leg by the same margin.
Some of us, the unrepentant sports enthusiasts, are happy the national sporting fever is coming back.
Even though the untimely death of two professional boxers this year in somewhat mysterious circumstances may be a blot on the current buoyant sporting scene, it is hoped that legendary Azumah Nelson and good old boxing addict Samir Captan, with their given mandate, will spearhead the crusade to sanitise the boxing scene once and for all.
Cheers, everybody, and keep loving sports.
By Ken Bediako
