By Ken Bediako
This is the fifth in the series on Ghana’s Sports of Hall concept established in 2004 (i.e 21 years ago) by the Kufuor administration, but now completely abandoned by the Ministry of Sports.
I have already explained my motivation for the campaign is to urge the nation to honour our past sporting heroes in order to inspire the present generation to give of their best.
I have covered athletics, boxing, table tennis, boxing both pro and amateur, hockey and all the so called lesser known sports disciplines. Now is the turn of the almighty favourite, football.
Incidentally, this article coincides with the inauguration of a new national administration and ipso facto a new Sports Minister, Hon Kofi Adams.
Adams is well known in the media landscape as an ardent analyst of national issues. It is hoped he would make his presence felt on the famous hot seat of a Sports Minister.
This reminds me of a 1966 incident when a nominee was asked by the media how he would fare on the hot seat of a Minister. His simple answer was, “it depends on how you sit on it”. Over to you Mr Kofi Adams You’re most welcome into the volatile sporting fraternity. Here we go with the list of national football legends who need to be properly inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame and celebrated as such:
1. E.C BRIANDT -First captain of the national team He captained the team to several triumphs. He was one of the first Ghanaian top footballers to train abroad as a coach.
2. C. K GYAMFI-Founding member of the Black Stars who later on became the first Ghanaian to train the Black Stars to win the Afcon Cup for the first time in 1963. He was also head coach when the Black Stars won the cup for the 4th time in Libya 1982.
3. JAMES ADJEI: Asante Kotoko’s brilliant forward with intricate skills. He was a member of the National team that toured Britain in 1951.
4. BABA YARA King of wingers. He was the most fascinating winger on the West Coast of Africa in his days. He played regularly for the Black Stars, Asante Kotoko and model club Real Republikans.
A horrible motor accident he had in1963 left him paralysed. He died in 1969.
5. EDWARD AGGREY FYNN-Captain of the victorious 1963 Black Stars which won the Afcon Cup for the first time. One of the greatest midfielders the nation has produced. He played top football for Sekondi Hasaacas, Accra Hearts of Oak and Republikans.
6. EDWARD ACQUAH– “the man with the sputnik shot.” An international striker of repute. He led
Sekondi Eleven Wise to their first league crown in 1960 after the team had placed last in the previous season.
7. W.K MFUM popularly known as Bulldozer. He was one of the most forceful strikers the nation has produced. He was top performer for Asante Kotoko and the Black Stars and once captained both teams.
He is famed for breaking the net with a bullet shot in an international match at Accra Stadium between Ghana and Tunisia in 1967.
8. ADDOQUAYE LARYEA-Top class international goalkeeper of Accra Hearts fame. He was affable both on and off the pitch.
9 ADDO ODAMETEY captain of the victorious Black Stars of 1965, which retained the Afcon Cup in Tunis.
One of the greatest central defenders the nation has produced.
10. DODOO ANKRAH– Affectionately called Magic Hands in his heydays. He started big time football with Accra Great Olympics before joining model club Real Republikans.
He was for years the number one goalie for the Black Stars.
11.OSEI KOFI– The pint sized amazing dribbler affectionately called Soccer Show Boy and one-man symphony orchestra. He started big time football with Accra Hearts of Oak before joining Asante Kotoko where his partnership with Mfum was phenomenal.
12. JOHN NAAWU– A courageous international goalkeeper of Accra Great Olympics fame known in his heydays as ‘Rubberman.’
He kept the post when Ghana retained Afcon Cup in Tunisia 1965.
13. ROBERT MENSAH, rated Africa’s number one goalkeeper in the early 70s. Featured prominently for both club and country. He inspired Asante Kotoko to their first Africa Cup triumph in Kinshasa in January 1971.
14. IBRAHIM SUNDAY– A great international midfielder who played regularly for the Black Stars and Asante Kotoko. He captained Asante Kotoko to become the first Ghanaian club to win the Africa Cup in Kinshasa in 1971. He made history by coaching Kotoko to win the Africa Cup for the second time in 1983.
16. KWASI OWUSU, affectionately called ‘Powerhouse’ the strong running striker was one of the leading goal scorers the nation has produced.
He played regularly for the Black Stars and Bofoakwa Tano. His partnership with Dan Owusu, another prolific scorer, made the Sunyani club a real top division side.
16. JOHN ESHUN– The gentleman central defender of Sekondi Eleven Wise. He captained both the Black Stars and Eleven Wise to many important victories He was selected as one of the best defenders in Africa in 1971.
17. MOHAMMED POLO, affectionately called ‘Dribbling Magician’ of Accra Hearts of Oak fame. He was easily the most exciting player in his generation. A great crowd puller, he was in the victorious Black Stars squad that won the original Africa Cup for keeps in 1978.
18. ABDUL RAZAK– The Golden Boy of Ghana football and midfielder of repute in the 70s voted the best player in Africa in 1978. Later an international coach of good standing.
19. AWULEY QUAYE: A reliable international central defender of Great Olympics fame. He captained the victorious Black Stars that won the original Africa Cup for keeps in 1978.
20. EMMANUEL QUARSHIE well known international striker of Sekondi Hasaacas fame. He
captained the Black Stars to win African Cup in 1982 for then historic four times triumph for Ghana in Libya.
21. ABEDI PELE, easily the brightest football gem in the 80s. He played for the Black Stars at the age of 17 in the Black Stars 4th Afcon triumph in Libya 1982.
Subsequently played in four more Afcon finals three as captain. He was a top star in the French League and once played for the ceremonial World X1.
22. ANTHONY YEBOAH– great international goal scorer of repute. Played regularly for the Black Stars in the 90s and was a great sensation in the German Bundesliga. He was the first Black man to captain a German top division club Frankfurt. Later he became star attraction in England where he led Leeds United in many important victories.
23. BLACK STARS 1963 Afcon Winners
24. BLACK STARS 1965 Afcon Winners.
25. BLACK STARS 1978 Afcon winners
26.BLACK STARS 1982 Afcon Winners
27.BLACK METEORS First African Olympic bronze medal Barcelona Olympics 1992, beating Australia in the match for third place.
28. SAM ARDAY international coach of repute led the Black Meteors to win Ghana’s first Olympic football medal in Barcelona 1992.
Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.
