By Ken Bediako
One of the best achievements of Ohene Djan, Ghana’s legendary sports administrator, was undoubtedly, his contribution to the introduction of The National Football League in Ghana. Since the League’s take off in 1958 this annual event has grown to be a popular weekend pastime for a large portion of the populace.
The economic and social benefits of this weekly entertainment package are so enormous that Ohene Djan’s name could not be left out when, in 2004, the Nation decided to celebrate her outstanding sports personalities, dead or alive, by naming famous sports facilities after them.
Football star BabaYara, boxing great, Azumah Nelson, Table Tennis addict D.G.Hathiramani, Hockey Queen Theodosia Okoh and legendary sports administrator Ohene Djan were all named after important sports facilities in Accra and Kumasi to start with the exercise.
As I write this piece all these sports facilities carry the names of these aforementioned outstanding sports personalities, except Ohene Djan whose name has been brutally removed from the Accra Stadium named after him.
There is no official reason for this apparent destruction of history. Indeed some of us old enough to bear witness to Ohene Djan’s achievements feel obliged to appeal to the current movers and shakers of Ghana sports to rectify this anomaly as quickly as possible.
In support of my appeal I started last week a recollection of the history of the National League under the direction of Ohene Djan from its inception in 1958 to 1966 when the astute sports administrator was sacked from office in the wake of the Coup that overthrew Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s CPP regime.
This is the second instalment which doubles as the 7th episode of the “Ohene Djan Story” series.
Here we go”
1959-60 LEAGUE SEASON
KOTOKO’S CLASS EARNS THEM “‘FABULOUS”‘ TAG
June 7, 1959 – Jan 1,1960
The 1959 league produced more drama than the maiden contest and ended in sparkling triumph for the two Kumasi clubs. This was the year Kotoko earned the tag ‘Fabulous’ by the media. Though in top form, they suffered two dramatic defeats at the hands of Sekondi Hasaacas and Cornerstone, and a narrow 1-0 loss to Great Olympics. However, they beat archrivals Hearts 4-2 in Accra, and 3-2 in Kumasi to win the cup.
Kotoko’s two major defeats by Sekondi Hasaacas and Kumasi Cornerstone were the most interesting events of the season. Hasaacas thrashed Kotoko 5-3 and then the following week Cornerstone defeated them 6-5 in a local derby.
The Gyandu park game against Hasaacas started in whirlwind fashion. Within the first 15 minutes Kotoko were up by two goals through Frank Awuah and Mohammed Salisu. “The Porcupines are getting wild,” jubilant fans screamed. The deafening shouts must have woken up Hasaacas because just before the whistle for the end of the first half, Ali reduced the arrears.
Fleet-footed left winger Salisu, who had the knack for manufacturing goals from acute angles, stretched Kotoko’s lead to 3-1 a few minutes after the start of the second half. It was then smooth sailing for Kotoko until 15 minutes to full time when the drama began.
Aggrey-Fynn scored from the penalty spot and by the 80th minute, Ali hammered home the goal that would equal the tally for Hasaacas. The scores were now 3 all, so when Baba Yara missed a penalty in the 83rd minute, serious pressure mounted on Kotoko. With just minutes away from the end of the match, the pressure obviously further confused goalkeeper Kwao Baffoe who conceded two rapid goals through Arthur’s free-kick and an 88th minute blistering killer goal by Aggrey-Fynn. The match ended 5-3 to Hasaacas.
It was this dramatic victory which first earned Hasaacas the tag, ‘Giants of the West.’ It wasn’t to be Kotoko’s week. Hardly had they recovered from the shock defeat when they were beaten 6-5 by Cornerstone in a local derby. Those were the last two matches of the first round.
Despite the poor performances at the end of the first round, the Porcupines put it behind them and showed terrific form in the second round; winning six out of their seven matches to claim the league title. The only match they lost was to Great Olympics 1-0 in the third week on November 1 at Accra Stadium.
Outstanding players of the season were once again Aggrey Fynn of Hasaacas and Asante Kotoko’s Mohammed Salisu.
Mysterious Dwarfs became the second club to complete the league with no win emulating local rivals Venomous Vipers last season.
Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.
