By Ken Bediako
1972: KOTOKO WIN 12 CLUB LEAGUE
Feb 8 – Nov 16
Changes in the political scene following a military coup d’etat that replaced Dr. Busia’s Progress Party government with the Col. Kutu Acheampong National Redemption Council military regime, delayed the start of the league.
The Ministry of Education and Sports, headed by Col. P.K. Nkegbe, ruled that the 20-club competition was too cumbersome.
As a result, the bottom eight clubs instantly lost their first division status – Panbros, All Blacks, Highlanders, Gbewaa, Savanna Stars, Ho Sunset and Ho Mighty Eagles.
The 12-club league proved highly competitive as almost all the clubs appeared equally matched with each parading some international stars. Only bottom club, Cape Coast Venomous Vipers, lost more than half of their 22 games.
Led by ‘Powerhouse’ Kwasi Owusu, Sunyani-based Bofoakwa Tano gave Asante Kotoko a hot chase for the title and were only two points behind the ‘Porcupine Warriors’ at the finishing post.
Kotoko were in peak form and played 21 matches without defeat. Under the tutelage of Hungarian coach Kertez, Kotoko lost only one match on technical grounds a fixture against Hearts scheduled for October 8. Hearts were in the thick of the African club championships and felt they needed to fully concentrate on the continental assignment. Hearts asked the GFA for a postponement of the match against Kotoko, however, the GFA turned down their request.
The two teams then agreed to postpone the match without the authority of the GFA, headed by Col. R. E. A Kotei, and were both declared losers. Observers believe Kotoko agreed to the deal in order to snub the GFA, which confirmed suspicions that the two clubs regard themselves untouchables in Ghana football.
This was an unprecedented action by the two most popular clubs in the country and remained a talking point in football circles for a very long time.
The last two clubs, Hasaacas and Vipers, were relegated.
1973 LEAGUE: HEARTS WIN AGAIN
March 11- Oct 31
Four clubs gained promotion to raise the participants to 14. The new clubs were Volta United, Agona Fankobaa, Highlanders and Northern United.
It was apparent at this stage that promotion and demotions did not follow any set rules and were made depending on the mood of the football authorities.
This was one of the best seasons for Hearts who won the league hands down with an impressive record of 18 victories and two losses in 26 outings. As the icing on the cake, they also won the FA Cup.
Hearts were in such devastating form that when they lost 1-0 to bogey club, Cornerstone, in Kumasi in the 22nd week pairing, they were highly incensed and went all out to grab seven points in the last four matches to regain the trophy.
This was how Hearts did it: 4-0 over Northern United in Accra; beat Fankobaa 1-0 at Swedru, thrashed Highlanders 5-1 in Accra; and drew 1-1 with Bofoakwa Tano at Sunyani.
By the time Hearts finished the league, Kotoko still had four matches to clear because of their involvement in the African Cup series. Kotoko ended the season poorly with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of city rivals Cornerstone in an outstanding match on December 2.
With two more matches to end the league, bottom club Northern United withdrew from the competition. They had matches outstanding against Akotex at Somanya and Eleven Wise in Sekondi but they considered it a waste of time and resources to travel down south for matches that would neither save them from relegation nor improve their finances even if they won.
The points at stake were awarded to Akotex and Eleven Wise.
This was a season that recorded ten hat-tricks. “Powerhouse” Kwasi Owusu of Bofoakwa Tano got two hat-tricks, one against Highlanders in Kumasi on January 17 and another against Fankobaa at Sunyani on September 30.
Other hat-trick scorers were Peter Lamptey (Hearts) against Northern United at Tamale, June 10.
Kotey Hammond Kalala (Olympics) against Highlanders in Kumasi, March 17.
Adamu and “Soccer Articulator” Agyeman Badu (Corners) against Volta United in Kumasi, March 18. Corners won the match 9-0.
Richard Ganu (Volta United) against Northern United at Ho, March 18.
Robert Kouffie (Dwarfs) against Highlanders at Cape Coast, March 18.
Ebo Moses and Francis Kumi (Fankobaa) against Northern United at Swedru, July 15.
Peter Lamptey of Accra Hearts of Oak became the first recipient of the newly instituted goal king award for the top goal scorer in the league by the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG). He scored 21 goals in 26 matches.
Kwasi Owusu of Bofoakwa and Hearts Peter Lamptey were the most exciting players in the season.
Highlanders and Northern United were relegated.
Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.
