I was a more complete player than Shamo Quaye - Joe ‘Afriki’ Debrah

Legendary Kumasi Asante Kotoko forward Joe ‘Afriki’ Debrah has shed more light on his rivalry with the former Hearts of Oak playmaker Shamo Quaye.

The age long debate started in the 90’s when both players were in their prime for their respective clubs.

Joe Debrah was undoubtedly one of the best performers of the local game in the early and mid-parts of the 1990’s, due to his brilliant ball control skills and amazing goal scoring instincts.

A knee injury in the late 90’s affected his dominance and a subsequent move to Kotoko’s regional rivals Goldfields saw him fail to replicate his brilliant spell at the Porcupine Warriors.

Shamo Quaye on the other hand was an enigamatic playmaker for Hearts of Oak, who despite emerging at a very young age carried an experienced football head.

He had the tendency to notch very crucial goals and was certainly the poster boy for Hearts of Oak just after his second year at the club.

Sadly, he died mysteriously in 1997.

Shamo Quaye’s death killed the intensity of the rivalry between himself and Joe Debrah.

However avid local football followers have from time to time reignited such discussions about who bettered the other on the pitch.

Speaking about this on Kessben FM, Afriki Joe has revealed that in as much as Shamo Quaye was an excellent player, he believes he had more to his game than the Hearts playmaker.

He recounted how their relationship was in their playing days and talked about their respective abilities on the pitch.

“We were close, but not as close as I was with Joe Addo,” Debrah said. “He (Shamo Quaye) had his qualities and I also had my qualities. His qualities were, he could score unexpected goals, I also had mine but I knew I was better than him he stated.

“But in football, if debates don’t emerge the game doesn’t become exciting…I knew I was better and Shamo himself was aware but he just couldn’t say it

“I possessed all the qualities in the game, strength, and striking abilities. Shamo was a goal scorer, but I was that and more. I was more involved in the game than Shamo. He always used to lurk around the goal area. Everyone has his skillset and strength so that’s it” he concluded.

The verdict from Joe Debrah currently based in Germany, will ignite the debate more than kill its intensity.

In the case of sports debate there has never been a winner or a loser because opinions will always be divided.