By Ken Bediako
This week’s story of the 1980 National League won by Asante Kotoko incidentally coincides with the Fabulous club’s 91st birthday on August 31 the last day of the Month.
It will be interesting to recall the full story of the birth of the Porcupine Warriors but in the mean time let’s deal with their 1980 league triumph.
Easy Race For Asante Kotoko
April 27-Oct 26 1980
Asante Kotoko, parading stalwarts like Sam Ampeh, Charles Oppong, Seth Ampadu, and Ahmed Rockson at the rear and a trenchant attacking machine comprising Papa Arko, George Kennedy, Opoku Nti, Albert Asase, Opoku Afriyie, Kofi Badu and Francis Kumi, went on the rampage to win the league comfortably.
This was the season that saw Kotoko demolish close rivals, Hearts of Oak, by the impressive margin of 3-0 in a mid-week encounter at Accra Stadium on July 9. The scorers were Opoku Afriyie (7th), Francis Kumi (23rd) and Kofi Badu (81st).
Hearts never really recovered from this drubbing and finished the competition 18 clear points behind Kotoko. Kotoko and Hasaacas made a whirlwind start and were neck and neck right from the beginning till the 7th week when Kotoko beat Hasaacas 1-0 in Kumasi to lead the table 12-10, thanks to George Kennedy’s 70th minute header.
Kotoko remained unbeaten until the fifth week in the second round when they were halted 1-0 by Mine Stars at Prestea on August 13. Albert Taylor’s first minute goal did the damage.
When close challengers Hasaacas lost 1-0 to Tema Complex Stars in the 27th week Kotoko stretched the lead by three points 45-42. The Sekondi thriller in the 28th week between the two challengers proved decisive as Kotoko’s 1-0 win virtually gave them the title and they could afford to lose 4-3 to relegation haunted Great Olympics in Accra.
The last two matches provided interesting results. RTU whipped Hasaacas 4-1 in Tamale and Kotoko trounced Juantex 4-0 at Ho in the penultimate fixtures.
In the final round, Kotoko thrashed RTU 6-1 in Kumasi and Hasaacas lost 3-2 to Dwarfs at Cape Coast. Two events of note were that an association of professional football clubs was formed in the country at a time when all the clubs were amateurs.
The idea was mooted by Tommy Thompson chairman of Accra Hearts of Oak. He was made chairman of the association at an inaugural ceremony at Ambassador Hotel on June 4 with M.O.Tetteh of Accra Standfast his vice.
- Y. Tamakloe and veteran journalist John Kugblenu were the executive members. The patrons were twice GFA chairman H. P. Nyemitei and Evans Teye of Standfast.
Mr Thompson said at the inauguration that a foundation was being laid for an effective association of professional football clubs in the country.
“By turning pro, the clubs can guarantee the future of the players and help raise the standard of the game in Ghana,” he added.
The association appeared still born and not much was heard of it after the inauguration. It is significant to note, however, that 13 years later in 1993 the Ministry of Sports decreed the introduction of professional football in Ghana. All the 14 premier league clubs were ordered to register as limited liability companies and given 3m cedis each as seed money by the Ministry of Sports.
The pioneer professional clubs were Kotoko, Goldfields, Dwarfs, RTU, Hearts, Dawu Youngsters Neoplan Stars, Olympics, Afienya, Ghapoha, Kumapem and B. A. United.
It was big news when former Sports Director Ohene Djan was appointed special adviser to Kotoko chairman Simms Mensah at a durbar in Kumasi on May 3 to climax Kotoko Week celebration. Ohene Djan in his trademark flamboyant style said “Just as Okomfo Anokye came from Akuapem to help King Osei Tutu to build a strong Asante nation, so will I, an Akuapem help Simms Mensah to rebuild Kotoko into a fearsome side again”.
This was the season that featured, for the first time in history seven factory clubs – Prestea Mine Stars, Dumas of Ghana Textile Printing from Tema, Nsawam GIHOC Stars, Akotex from Akosombo, Tema Complex Stars, Tarkwa Gold Stars and Juantex from Juapong.
Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.
