By Ken Bediako
It is often said the life of sports always looks for the brighter side of things. This is the reason why in the midst of the hullabaloo surrounding the Black Volta Gold Project by Australian gold-digging company called Azumah Resources Limited, should be congratulated for immortalising Azumah Nelson, arguably the nation’s most elegant professional boxer by naming the Ghana based company after him. It can safely be surmised that the founders of the company love sports and so, according to my own definition they possess a huge sense of humour.
The interesting background to the use of Azumah’s name for the Company, is his demolition of local idol Jeff Fenech in a world featherweight title fight in Australia decades ago. You need a tremendous amount of sense of humour and sportsmanship to take such a decision. Someone who destroyed our hero before our own eyes to be honoured like this? Unthinkable most people would say. But the Australians thought otherwise.
Can you think of a Ghanaian company naming a business enterprise after Danny “Little Red” Lopez of Mexico who whipped David Kotey Poison the nation’s first world champion at Accra Stadium in1977. Your guess is as good as mine.
No matter how you look at it, Azumah has put Ghana’s name firmly on the sporting map of the world and he merits celebration.
Indeed, this is the reason why the Kaneshie Sports Complex constructed during Kutu Acheampong’s era, has been named after the -Zoom Zoom man. Incidentally I was a member of the Committee appointed in 2004 by the Kufuor administration to recognise heroes in sports in Ghana and name sporting facilities after them. (Baba Yara Stadium, Theodosia Okoh National Hockey Pitch etc). The Committee named the Sports Complex after Azumah who according to records, was discovered at that venue in a national amateur boxing tournament.
Let me recall this personal encounter with Azumah in 1979.
After his brilliant exploits as an amateur winning gold at the Africa Games in Algeria and following it with another gold at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, both in 1978, he decided to turn professional.
I was then the Sports Editor of the mass circulation Daily Graphic (print run 250,000), when Azumah visited the office to announce he was turning professional. He came with a gentleman he introduced as his uncle after quite a convivial discussion.
I suggested he should wait a little for the impending 1980 Olympics in Moscow where he would definitely get a wider exposure to boost his professional ambition. After a lively discussion Azumah stuck to his guns to turn pro there and then emphasizing “we don’t know failure in our family”. His story was duly published. Interestingly, as our sportsmen started preparing for the Moscow Games the newly sworn in government of the People’s National Party led by President Hilla Limann, announced a boycott of the Olympic Games. In that situation Azumah had knocked me out without throwing a punch.
The boycott was in sympathy with the US who initiated the withdrawal because of political differences with the Soviet Union over some crisis in Afghanistan. After all, it was good that my advice to Azumah was not taken. We recall this episode anytime we meet and laugh it over.
His impeccable record is there for all to see. Australia has greatly honoured him. It’s all well and good because Attuquaye Clottey the first Ghanaian boxer to make Australia his base in the colonial days had such a rough time that gave Australia a bad name in those days. He was repeatedly robbed in fights at his adopted home country. He actually sold the name of Ghana down under. Back home on retirement Attuquaye established a boxing club at Bukom in Accra known as Akotoku Academy where a number of good boxers were produced. He is on record as the man who steered David Kotey Poison to become the first Ghanaian featherweight boxing champion with a points victory over Mexican Ruben Olivares in Los Angeles in 1975.
Kudos to our sporting heroes dead or alive.
And this reminds me of football philanthropist B.K. Edusei whose 47th memorial falls this Sunday July 19, about six weeks to Asante Kotoko’s 90th birthday on August 31. For the benefit of the younger generation, I provide a short biography of the Kotoko colossus.
The late Benjamin Kyem Edusei, affectionately called B.K by the football fraternity, was one of the strongest pillars in the history of Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football club. He loved football and footballers. He was philanthropist extraordinary and long serving patron of Asante Kotoko. He played football at an early age featuring for Kotoko Youngs alongside with friends like S. K Mainoo, Kwame Adjei, Osei Asibey Mensah, F.A. Jantuah and Atta Mensah. Some of them later played for Kotoko.
- K who hailed from Sesease, a small town near Asante Mampong, became a very resourceful and enterprising businessman when he established the Asona Enterprises Ltd in Accra. The company which was officially inaugurated in June 1959, dealt in building houses and road construction. He was made the first Accra representative of Asante Kotoko and was reputed to be the originator of the poaching of top stars at the end of every football season. Operating from his Ringway Estate residence in Accra, he facilitated the recruitment of high-profile players for Asante Kotoko with attractive monetary incentives. Kotoko thus became a strong force both at home and abroad. And before long the Porcupine Warriors had become champion club of Africa in 1971. He bought cars with his personal resources for some of the players with the aim of motivating them. B.K. always insisted on getting the best for Asante Kotoko. He was the first to employ foreign coaches for Asante Kotoko namely Hungarian Jozef Ember and Kertez. He did that with strong support from his close friends S.K Mainoo, E. K. Osei and Nana Kufuor, the late Nkawiehene.
Accra as wizard dribbler Osei Kofi looks on with them are officials of Kotoko.
B.K. Edusei paid emoluments of the two coaches.
He gave two of his houses in Tesano as camping place for the team each time they were in Accra.
He was the first chairman of the Board of Directors of Asante Kotoko and remained so for a very long time till the late Otumfuo Opoku Ware II conferred on him the title Life Patron.
He was the main inspirer and major financier whilst Otumfuo was the Spiritual Head.
B.K was also the man who resolved conflicts between Kotoko and other clubs.
His philanthropic gestures went beyond Kotoko. Many past international stars benefited from his abounding generosity. In recognition of his contribution to football development the Sportswriters Association of Ghana (SWAG) appointed him a patron of the Association.
The late BK’s love for Kotoko was beyond explanation. Perhaps his own words may amply throw light on his love for the great club when he once said ”
When I die the name Asante Kotoko will be found written in letters of gold in my heart”.
Here was a devoted football philanthropist.
When cometh another. May his soul continue to rest in peace.
Let me end my piece by congratulating Chelsea of England for their masterclass tactical display against PSG of France last Sunday. Those of us supporting PSG to fulfil an oracle with a thumping victory, rather saw a miracle performed.
Surely, football is not an exact science as the sages say. No wonder it is called “The Beautiful Game.”
Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.
