By Ken Bediako
It is a fact that democracy permits street protests and demonstrations even though most of them seem to have lost focus, the recent one at Sunyani by the youth calling for a modern stadium at Sunyani was an exception.
The region has contributed so much to sports in the country, especially football that a new modern stadium to take over from the old Coronation park should be a move in the right direction.
I suspect there might be a genuine mistake somewhere along the line.
I was a board member of the National Sports Council from 2000 to 2008 and we got to know plans were afoot to build a new stadium at Sunyani. Indeed, in early 2007 when board members stopped at Sunyani on our way to Tamale to inspect the new stadium for Afcon 2008, we were actually shown a site earmarked for a new stadium. I suggest the authorities get the files and find out the true state of affairs
The region has produced a large number of sporting heroes, especially footballers and a modern stadium would be a fitting tribute to their contribution to the nation in the field of sports.
We can recall the exploits of indigene football stars like Agyeman Gyau, Dan Owusu, Kwasi Owusu, Kwakye Toyota, Saara Mensah, George Arthur and the soccer articulator Agyeman Badu following the Barnieh brothers Atta Kwame and others who made BA United such a strong force to earn the appellation ‘Apostles of Power Soccer’.
These nicknames in sporting circles continue to baffle sports that we are eager to know how they come about.
Former Director of Sports Ohene Djan appears to be Ghana’s originator of nicknames for sporting heroes.
In October 1960, Ohene Djan in his capacity as Director of Sports named the newly formed national football team Black Stars at a ceremony at Nsawam CYO park.
The foundation members were C. K. Gyamfi, Kwame Adarkwa, Wilberforce Mfum, Baba Yara, Addo Odametey, Ofei Dodoo, Mohammed Salisu, Dogo Moro, Kwame Appiah, Ben (Simmons) Akyeampong, Asebi Boakye, A. R Kassum, Addoquye Laryea Emml Obadzenm and J. Rockson.
Ohene Djan later formed the junior national team and called it New Horizon.
Later on, H.P. Nyemitei’s GFA changed the name to Black Meteors. Going forward a new age group Under 20 was formed called Black Satellites and 16-year group called Black Starlets followed.
When I joined the Graphic as junior reporter in training my seniors already had names like ‘Western Show boys’ for Sekondi Eleven Wise and Giants of the West for Hasaacas. Asante Kotoko was Fabulous and Olympics was Oly Dade Mashi. Ohene Djan later added Wonder Club for their wonderful performance at their adopted home grounds at Tema after being forced to quit Accra Stadium for Ohene Djan’s pet model club Real Republikans
Some players also had nick names like bulldozer for Mfum and Osei Kofi soccer show boy.
Hearts had Ga Mantse for George Alhassan and goalie Dodoo Ankrah was Magic Hands, Aggrey Fynn on his transfer from Hasaacas to Hearts earned the nickname Osagyefo. This however raised controversy in political circles for it seemed he was outshining Osagyefo President Nkrumah.
A smart sports Director Ohene Djan quickly organised a press conference for Aggrey Fynn to denounce the title being conferred on him as Osagyefo.
My generation of sports writers started giving nicknames. My Graphic colleague Nelson Ofori gave Bofoakwa’s Kwasi Owusu, Charles Asante of The Mirror gave businessman to Opoku Afriyie of Kotoko and knighted Jones Attuquayefio with a Sir. Joe Aggrey named Abedi the Maestro after football administrator S. K Mainoo had already added Pele to his name.
Yours truly named Mohammed Polo the dribbling magician and sprints queen Alice Anum the baby jet following the Flying Queen given to Christiana Boateng, the amazing sprinter.
It’s a tall list that needs to be continued.
The sporting world occupies a lot of space.
Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.
