By Ken Bediako
Even though I don’t wear my Presbyterian faith on my sleeves, I still remember my Christian roots clearly. I recall that day in 1948, a seven-year-old class three pupil at the Agogo Asante Akyem Primary school reading the Holy Bible at the filled to capacity Presbyterian Church on Children’s Day.
The Bible text, I Corinthians Chapter 13 will never escape my memory especially verse 11 that says, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, thought like a child, reasoned like a child. But when I grew up I threw away all the childish things”.
This Bible quotation came to my mind when I read reports about former national football star Sulley Muntari known in his heydays as a firebrand who on more occasions than one disrespected his seniors now a completely changed person. At nearly 40 years Sulley has thrown into the dustbin the irascible trait that led him into his Infamous tantrums with FA Officials at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. I have seen Sulley in at least three GPL matches recently and I am impressed with his comportment even in the face of several cynical tackles. Off the pitch also his reaction to arguably certain irritating questions from the ever probing sports media, have been well measured.
Sulley can now be classified as a reformed adult who sees things differently now and wants to set a good example for the youngsters to emulate. The respect and adulation from football fans, especially Hearts of Oak followers should motivate him to continue to do his best. I am sure when the right time comes for him to wear the national colours again he will accept the invitation in good faith. From his output so far he seems to have won the hearts of many fans.
How I wish Asamoah Gyan would have been a bit regular on the pitch with Legon Cities so he could also inspire the younger generation to aim higher.
Already in the EPL Cristiano Ronaldo is defying age and still piling up hat-tricks at Manchester United.
The Portuguese goal machine is showing what determination can do in the world of sports. I want to refer to that kind of determination by Ghana’s former international table star Emmanuel Kwasi Asare to raise the standard of the game that made him a hero in his youthful days.
Now a physicist at the world renowned Rolls Royce Power Systems in Germany, Asare who was sponsored abroad by that astute but unsung sports philanthropist, Walter Esposito wants to give back to society the good foundation he gained from playing table tennis for the nation. He has launched a book on the history of the sport in Ghana as a first step to rekindle interest in the sport.
It was an impressive ceremony last Saturday at the Hathiramani Sports Hall at Accra Stadium attended by table tennis faithful including SWAG President Kwabena Yeboah who bought 20 copies on behalf of the SWAG. It is a book appropriately eulogising the monumental achievements of Indian born naturalised Ghanaian D.G Hathiramani affectionately called “Table tennis servant of Ghana”. He was so much in love with this title. Hathiramani’s contribution to the progress of table tennis in Ghana is unprecedented. He single-handedly groomed a large number of novices into national table tennis stars. On top he paid for their education and upkeep.
An interesting character, he made sure he got adequate publicity for his work done. He was friend to all sports journalists. No wonder he was made SWAG patron. DG was a regular visitor to the press houses and he was at Graphic sports desk at least twice a week with a story and picture to match of course about table tennis. “Your line will be very busy if I don’t see the story in the Graphic”, his usual parting words in jest. We had no choice but to do his bidding faithfully for peace of mind.
Some of us will never forget his annual get together for sportswriters that could take a whole day at his Kokomlemle residence in Accra. A confirmed teetotaller but he made sure the drinks would flow. “You want Whisky? Okay I am going to Bring” was his usual refrain amidst laughter when he felt like spicing up the party.
The man lived for table tennis. The sports hall at Accra Stadium was meant for other indoor games but Hathiramani almost monopolised the hall with nonstop training sessions and tournaments so much so that, it became a table tennis hall in disguise. No wonder when in 2004, the then Minister in charge of Sports, Mr Kwadwo Baah Wiredu of blessed memory formed a committee to name sports facilities after outstanding sports personalities, the hall was named after that illustrious table tennis addict. That seemingly small hall there has once hosted Africa table tennis and amateur boxing championships.
This was the hall Muhammad Ali used to train during his two week visit to Ghana in 1964.
Hurray, it is heart-warming Hathiramani’s efforts to make table tennis great in Ghana has not ended in vain. One of his students, Emmanuel Kwasi Asare is determined to keep alive the flame DG lighted decades ago. He has promised to lead from the front.
It is my hope that the recognition given to Hathiramani in naming the hall after him will be extended to the main architect of Ghana’s sports ascendancy in the person of Sports Director extraordinary Ohene Djan so the main Stadium named after him but removed by some faceless people will be restored.
In the meantime, football fans appear fatigued sitting on thorns figuring out the kind of preparation the Black Stars are making for the crucial World Cup qualifier against the Super Eagles of Nigeria next week
At any rate, cheers everybody and keep loving sports.
