Veteran Sports Journalist Ken Bediako - The Writer

It’s interesting to go through the archives from time to time.

I found my 1979 Africa Cup final match report between Accra Hearts of Oak and Union Douala of Cameroun published in the Daily Graphic 44 years ago quite refreshing and wish to share with my dear readers.

THE NARROW MISS IN YAOUNDE
Dec 17, 1979.
Just like they started the competition, Champion club Accra Hearts of Oak were perhaps destined to end it with the five penalty system but dame luck was not on their side.

And, yesterday at the heavily guarded Ahmadu Ahidjo Stadium in hilly Yaounde, Hearts once more failed to win the Africa Cup – this time on an aggregate of 6-4 on penalties.

Hearts having won the first leg 1-0 in Accra, needed only to draw to become the next Ghanaian club after Asante Kotoko to win the Africa Cup but by a combination of circumstances, notably biased officiating and an extremely wild and provocative crowd, Hearts could not achieve their aim.

If the Accra match was a robust affair, the Yaounde encounter was nothing less than a karate contest. The Hearts players were mercilessly kicked about when the ball was not in play.

Ironically, however it was Hearts who suffered when top marksman Nketia Yawson, was sacked in the 60th minute for having the guts to verbally challenge a player who had mercilessly mowed down central defender Justice Moore.

And so for 30 minutes Hearts had to play with ten men. Despite this numerical disadvantage Hearts played with zeal and when victory was in sight, Moroccan referee Mohammed who had made his bias against Hearts clear, throughout the game, shamelessly awarded a dubious penalty against Hearts TWO MINUTES to full time.

There was a corner kick and as full back Ofei Ansah attempted a scissor kick to clear the ball,the referee instantly whistled for a penalty kick.
Skipper goalie Antoine Bell took the kick himself and scored beautifully to throw the match open.

In the five penalty shoot out the homesters scored all five, Mama Acquah and Adolf Armah scored. Simon Awuah missed the third kick. Even though Ofei Ansah scored goal number three. It was not necessary for Hearts to take their fifth kick since Douala had already scored five.
This was a most undeserved home victory. Hearts were miles ahead of their opponents in both skill and strategy and really deserved to wear the tag of the best club in Africa.

It was really shameful the way things went in the presence of all the dignitaries in African football, the Cameroonian head of state and some members of the International Olympic Committee.

If this Africa Cup competition is to maintain its prestige and honour then a better way should be found to decide the ultimate champion. The final should be played once on a neutral ground just like the European Cup and a champion worth the name would emerge.

I was not in Kinshasa in 1971 when Kotoko beat Englebert to win the cup in that match Kotoko conceded a penalty TWO MINUTES to time, but by the ghost of Robert Mensah, the kick sailed over the bar and Kotoko could not be denied the honour they truly deserved.

In 1972, Kotoko had every chance of retaining the trophy but by the twist of the rules governing the competition, their massive 3-0 home win in the first leg, were devalued and Canon were made to tie with Kotoko with their 2-0 win at this same Yaounde Stadium. What happened in the controversial replay belongs to history.

And yesterday at the Ahidjo Stadium that looked like Ghana Broadcastung House during June 4 Revolution with the massive military presence, another drama in the chain of naked robbery and hostile attitude towards a Ghanaian club side, was unfolded. Douala had sworn to win the cup, fair or foul to emulate the shining victory by local rivals, Canon, the cup winners cup holders and they had official backing to adopt crooked means to achieve this victory.

When Hearts arrived in Yaounde last Thursday their training sessions were interrupted by missile throwing insulting teenager hooligans and this was treated lightly.

But what happened during yesterday’s match confirmed that there was a huge plan to unsettle Hearts by any conceivable means.
Immediately the whistle went for half time, a group of hooligans rushed onto the Hearts goal post and soon a scuffle ensued between a session of the Hearts players and the intruders.

In the process, Adolf Armah was hit below the abdomen. Soon a free for all fight began and Micah, Ofei Ansah and the reserve goalie Annan really showed a tough skin by subduing the intruders with series of karate looking chops.

Surprisingly, the numerous peace officers, who were armed to the teeth, looked on unconcerned.

The Hearts players were left to their fate. And it was the match officials who went to their rescue.

A Ghana TV cameraman who was recording the event had his camera seized but coach Addo Odametey, displaying amazing bravery, snatched the camera back and gave it back to the badly shaken cameraman.

After the goalless first half in which Hearts completely dominated, the second session became extremely robust but Hearts were prepared for that sort of game. No quarter was given.Douaia tried all tricks but Hearts rebuffed all their onslaughts. The referee awarded more than a dozen freekicks around the box to the homesters but surprisingly Hearts were superb in the air and short men like Hesse Odamtten in defence were out jumping their taller opponents.

I looked at my watch and it was three minutes to time. I saw people leaving the stadium disappointed and I said to myself “at long last Hearrs are going to be crowned Africa champions”.

Then the unexpected happened Tony Micah fumbled with a clearance and this resulted in a corner kick. The ball was sailing harmlessly across the goalmouth when Ofei Ansah, tried a scissors kick. Suddenly onrushing right winger Bep feigned injury and the referee, as if on cue, happily awarded a penalty.

And so the five penalty shootout had to be applied.

I have confidence in Hearts ability to score from the spot and I knew they could go through it.
Douala scored first and Mama Acquah replied beautifully Wiing half Njeva then put Douala ahead and when Simmons Awuah’s kick hit the crossbar I sensed trouble.

Skipper Bell scored to give Union Douala the lead. Ofei Ansah also scored.
But when Douala scored from their final kick it was not necessary for Hearts to take the fifth kick.
All the battle had been lost.

So for the second consecutive time Hearts have gone near the Africa Cup and missed it.

They played a really good game especially in the first half and when the referee began to play funny tricks awarding dubious free kicks around the box Hearts should have seen through this.

As it were Hearts fell into a trap the referee was looking for. The slightest infringement in the box and when the “golden opportunity
came, he made no mistake about it”.

The records will say Union Douala are Africa champions but Hearts can take consolation in the fact that they really did Ghana proud yesterday with their intelligent fluid soccer and sportsmanship.

Another chance has been lost but true to their motto Hearts should “never say die”. They should try again next year.
After all Kotoko were robbed on a couple of occasions before they won the Cup. In sum Samuel Suppey was hardly tested yesterday.
Ofei Ansah was as usual aggressive in defence but overelaboration at certain stages nearly proved expensive. Strobgma Tony Micah was completely at home with the brand of Soccer adopted by the homesters. Justice Moore and Adolf Armah were ruthless. Nketia
Yawson, hovering all over the place, presented numerous problems to the Douala derenders. He was so slippery that full back Tina detailed to police him, could hardly track him down and the referee had to save the situation by unduly sacking Yawson.

Asabere had a rather quiet day even though he came close twice. So was Anas Seidu, Mama Acquah played his role well and skipper Robert Hammond was not bad. Simon Awuah in his short stay after taking. over from Anas in the 79th minute tested the goalie with two bullet shots and it was unfortunate that he missed that badly needed penalty.

Hearts boss Tommy Thompson summed up the match thus “This is a very bad defeat.
We are really disappointed but we will try again.”

The Hearts players were naturally a very disappointed lot, especially Mama Acquah who gave out his best in perhaps his last major international assignment.

“We were robbed all the Hearts players said almost in unison”. I could not agree more with them.
End of story.

Cheers everybody and keep loving sports