By Ken Bediako
Once upon a time, in the fifties, to be precise Ghana football could boast of one of the greatest left wingers in West Africa. The name is Mohammed Salisu. Born in 1932 Salisu played big time football with Great Ashanti, Asante Kotoko and the Black Stars after his colts days with Kumasi Zongo Highlanders. He was the typical, now old-fashioned winger, who operated strictly and beautifully on the left wing and scored goals from almost impossible angles. A gifted ball juggler akin to my idol Mohammed Polo, his partnership with Asebi Boakye and the immortal Baba Yara on the right wing made Asante Kotoko such a strong force to become the first FA Cup champions in 1958.
In the Black Stars, Salisu became famous when in a Jalco Cup match against Nigeria he dribbled past everybody in sight to get a last-minute equaliser for Ghana at Accra Stadium in 1957. The Nigeria Squad, then known as Red Devils were leading 3-2, and Salisu got that vital last-minute equaliser with virtually the last kick of the ball in the tension packed game. I was 16 in secondary school
Form Two at Abusco and I still remember the headline in the Daily Graphic “SALISU SAVES GHANA”. I loved football to the hilt and read the sports pages of the Graphic like a text book in the school library.
The late sports director Ohene Djan describes Salisu in his authoritative book on Ghana football as “extremely fast winger and difficult proposition to contain by defenders; a great scoring opportunist who excels in scoring from acute angles”.
Salisu who won several trophies with Asante Kotoko and featured regularly for the Black Stars including the 1964 Olympic Games, passed on nearly two decades ago but his name has resurrected recently as the grandson of a modern day Mohammed Salisu of Southampton fame who appears to be having some skirmishes with FA officials in a bid to get him into the Black Stars group.
There seems to be a lot of hullabaloo about this young man’s invitation to join the Black Stars which to my mind is most unfortunate. I find it extremely refreshing when I see football icons breeding future generations of footballers like Abedi Pele has done.
With the popularity of football growing at such a terrific pace it doesn’t come cheap to be selected for a national team. All serious and far looking footballers should know this. The technicians take a lot of things into consideration before picking the final squad.
A quick research has shown that this third generation Salisu is a chip off the old bloc with abundant football talent. Media coverage of the English Premier League describe him as an accomplished defender on the left and could be a useful addition to the Black Stars rearguard. It is therefore my humble suggestion that we leave the issue of his Black Stars call entirely in the hands of Coach Otto Addo and his other technicians. Understandably, some Ghanaians feel there may be too much emphasis on foreign based players for the Black Stars. No player must give the impression he is indispensable.
It’s not that simple. My past experience with the Black Stars as management committee member shows me there is more in football behind the scenes than just seeing 22 players on the field in jerseys trotting around. Those who know will tell you a whole lot that happens off camera.
I can’t help quoting the authoritative football administrator Ohene Djan who said “many lovers of the game know very little about the subterranean aspects of football management”. This was what he told a commission of inquiry in 1966 after the coup that toppled the CPP regime.
My considered opinion is that since Otto Addo and Co have been able to miraculously qualify Ghana for the World Cup, they should be given the free hand and all the support to present what they believe to be a good Black Stars squad.
And please let’s not forget that we have a crowded programme ahead. The 2023 Afcon qualifiers are not too far away. Maybe as a buffer, we should revive what appears to be a dormant home-based Black Stars group concept and keep them busy with a sustained programme of their own.
At this juncture I would like to doff my hat for the young ladies’ team, Black Princesses, who have qualified once more for the next World Cup.
I like the way First Lady Becky Akufo-Addo is supporting women’s football. It reminds me of Fathia Nkrumah who liked athletics so much and sports director Ohene Djan had the Fathia Shield for the Inter College girls athletics.
May I also take this opportunity to congratulate Asante Kotoko for making the Ghana Premier League interesting with their firm grip on top of the table.
I may not be wrong in my analysis that Kotoko supporters patronise matches more than the other club supporters and that is commendable. The FA should be happy Kotoko fans are bringing back the love.
Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.
