By Ken Bediako
Feedback shows football lovers are interested in the history of the National Football League, especially after the exit from the scene of Ohene Djan, the legendary sports administrator.
Before I present the history of Ghana’s tortuous journey for a FIFA World Cup qualification from 1960 to the 2006 breakthrough let’s continue with the national league history.
This week’s write up will focus on the 1969 league.
SUSU BIRIBI MISS GOLDEN CHANCE
March 23-December 21, 1969
This was the first fully-fledged competition after four seasons of abridgement, trial and error. The number of participating teams was pruned from 20 down to 12. Great Ashanti, Hurricanes, Fankobaa, Standfast, Eagles, Akim United and Ho Sunset, all lost their first division status.
Asante Kotoko won by a narrow margin, beating audacious Abuakwa Susu Biribi by only one point. Kotoko, then in the thick of the continental series, had a backlog of outstanding matches to clear. At one stage when Susu Biribi had played 16 matches, bagging 22 points, Kotoko had played only 10 matches and had 13 points. Susu Biribi, then the leaders, had the uncomfortable experience of watching Kotoko systematically clear their five outstanding fixtures to dislodge them from the top by only one point.
Susu Biribi had only themselves to blame for they blew a chance to win the cup when the GFA ordered a replay of their controversial match against Kumasi Cornerstone.
The first match on December 21 that officially ended the league did not last the full 90 minutes. Cornerstone were leading 2-1 when Susu Biribi’s midfielder, Okroh was shown the red card by Referee Kwaku Baah for rough play. Susu Biribi protested vehemently and in the ensuing confusion the match was called off after only 20 minutes of the second half.
The GFA upheld the protest by Susu Biribi and ordered a replay but Susu Biribi inexplicably decided to rest most of their key players in this crucial replay, apparently thinking that Cornerstone didn’t need the points. They had a rude shock when Cornerstone won the match 2-1.
Susu Biribi, later on, lodged a protest that Cornerstone fielded an unregistered player, Jasper Manu, but the protest was dismissed by the Disciplinary Committee, headed by Justice E. N. P. Sowah. The committee concluded that the two clubs might have colluded to fix the match because even though Cornerstone had fielded an unregistered player, Susu Biribi failed to inspect the identity cards of the Cornerstone players. The committee, however, fined Cornerstone ₵100 (about GH₵.01000) and ruled that the score, 2-1, should stand.
Susu Biribi hit back, engaging the services of three Accra lawyers to file a writ in Court to set aside the decision of the committee. The Lawyers were K. Dua-Sakyi, Ofosu Asante and Peter Swaniker.
At a press conference, Mr. Henry Djaba, Chief Patron of Susu Biribi, alleged that Mr. Justice Sowah failed to properly study the rules governing the league and had arrogated to himself the role of an investigator and prosecutor. The case was later withdrawn from court.
The Disciplinary Committee was later reconstituted and headed by Col. G. K. Yarboi, former Ashanti Regional Commissioner.
This was clearly Susu Biribi’s best season. They lost only three matches, 3-2 to Vipers at Cape Coast, 2-0 to Hasaacas in Sekondi and 2-1 to Cornerstone in Kumasi. Those were the days when Tetteh Chandu, Boahene, Okroh and Raimi reigned supreme at the Tafo Rovers Park. Susu Biribi went on a 16 match unbeaten run until they were halted 2-0 by Hasaacas at the Gyandu Park on November 23 with goals by Hanson (48) and Mills (52).
Often teased by opposing supporters as draw specialists, Susu Biribi recorded nine draws but their two spectacular away victories over the dreaded veteran campaigners Hearts of Oak in Accra and Asante Kotoko in Kumasi really boosted their ratings.
Susu Biribi beat Hearts 4-3 on October 26,1969 in Accra with Hearts getting all their goals from penalties. Addo Odametey scored first for Hearts in the 20th minute but Susu Biribi, displaying amazing football skills, completely mesmerized Hearts and scored thrice through Budu, Doku and Boye Owusu to lead 3-1 at half time.
Odametey scored again from the spot in the 60th minute but Boye Owusu quickly made it 4-2 for Susu Biribi who put Hearts under pressure until the closing stages when Kofi Bruce scored the third penalty for Hearts to make the final tally 4-3.
Susu Biribi beat Kotoko 3-2 in an outstanding fixture in Kumasi on January 11, 1970, when Susu Biribi’s goalkeeper Kisco Adansi stole the show with several dramatic saves in front of a packed stadium.
Kyere Boateng put Susu Biribi ahead in the 15th minute and Osei Kofi levelled matters for Kotoko in the 30th minute. Osumanu Orlando shot Kotoko ahead nine minutes later and Okroh missed a chance to pull even for Susu Biribi when he shot wide a 39th minute penalty.
Kyere Boateng however equalised for Susu Biribi in the 55th minute. Okroh atoned for his penalty miss with a classic match winner in the 65th minute.
One of the most surprising results of the season was the 5-0 whipping of Asante Kotoko by Mysterious Dwarfs at Cape Coast on August 27.
Incidentally, Kotoko had just returned from a two-week tour of the UK apparently full of new ideas.
Wizard dribbler Osei Kofi later disclosed that Kotoko lost heavily to Dwarfs because they applied wrongly certain formations they had learnt in the UK. Full back, Oliver Acquah, put into practice some of what they had learnt abroad and repeatedly tried to push upfront on the flanks, consequently leaving the defence bare. Dwarfs exploited this flaw and before Kotoko could mend their ways; they were conceding goals with amazing speed.
The second leg match between the two teams was steeped in controversy. It was originally fixed for a mid-week under floodlights. Dwarfs insisted on playing in broad daylight and actually went to the field in the afternoon, and then left. Kotoko, obviously prepared for an evening encounter, came later but saw no Dwarfs on the pitch. Fans went home disappointed.
The GFA however fixed a new date and Kotoko earned a consolatory 1-0 revenge over Dwarfs on a bright Palm Sunday afternoon at the Kumasi Stadium. Osei Kofi’s 10th minute match winner was so superb that Dwarfs goalkeeper, Robert Mensah, who was later to join Kotoko, openly congratulated Osei for his goal scoring wizardry.
This was the match that unearthed the talents of Essel Mensah, previously overshadowed by John Botchwey in the Kotoko goalpost.
Goal getter Robert Kwofie of Dwarfs and goalkeeper Kisco Adansi of Susu Biribi were the most outstanding players of the season.
There was no relegation.
Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.
