Frank Ofori credits Kwesi Botchwey for a successful career

Ghana tennis legend Frank Ofori has doffed his hat for former finance minister Dr Kwesi Botchwey for standing by him through thick and thin.

Dr Botchwey, who is a tennis addict, followed Ofori’s exploit throughout his career and served as a ‘God father’ to the player, despite his core responsibility as the one in charge of the fiscal policy of Ghana.

Ofori, who was the longest serving player Ghana has seen on the national tennis racket, extolled the virtues of Ghana’s longest serving finance minister.

Speaking on Metro TV’s Sports File show, the former captain of the Golden Rackets – the national tennis team of Ghana – recalled how Dr Botchwey spurred him on from the stands when he was on the verge of giving up in a crucial tournament.

Ofori revealed Dr Botchwey sent him a note with the Coat of Arms of Ghana embossed on it through his manager and that changed his mind set.

The Botchwey factor “I had returned from the States and had gone for some Waakye and I think I started running [stomach upset]. The next day the match started, and every 10 minutes I had to visit the loo and I was 4:1 down,” the legend told host Prince Annang.

“I said it can’t happen and it’s a wrong timing. I wanted to quit but there was no way I could quit. Then the next moment Kobby [Owusu Afriyie] brought me a letter from Dr Botchwey on a little paper and he wrote ‘Remember you are a champ, remember in Zimbabwe about six years ago after 12 hours of flying and cramps from the States you still made it’ … he is my God father and a great gentle man and I just turned it around. My heart out to him,” a visibly elated Ofori reminisced.

Ofori, who is a household name in the world tennis circles and retired in 2000, said he failed to allow himself to be demoralized by the views of his detractors. According to him, one of the secrets of success is to tolerate the opinions of all and use it as a source of motivation.

“If anyone laughs at you, they are not pulling you down, they are rather pushing you to the top. Keep on striving and the top will be your target,” he advised the current crop of sportsmen.

Asked what kept him going during his days as a tennis player, Ofori, who is now a man of God, said he “hates to lose.”

“I wanted to die for Ghana… it was a good feeling representing the country. I enjoyed it... I don’t like losing… I always want to win and when I lose I cry… Winning the Milo tournament was a shock. I knew I could beat the seniors and everything paved the way.”

Ofori represented Ghana in several international tournaments including the popular Davies Cup. He started tennis at the age of 10, having won the Milo Tennis Championship in the 80s after beating the seniors including the famous Kojo Atisu.

Gratitude Ofori was grateful to all those who played a part in shaping his career.

“I have to say a big thank you to the late Glend Sowu, when they were setting up the Davies Cup team, he started it all and our chairman Edmund Annan and my manager Kobby Owusu Afriyie. It was so far too quick. I was 16 years then and that time you hardly see that age playing in Davies Cup. I must say I’m grateful. I felt honoured to have played in the Davies Cup at that age.

“At that time tennis was close to soccer and it was like the whole nation supported Davies Cup and we were winning a lot of matches and the atmosphere was awesome. I never thought we could draw a lot of people to the stadium. Never in my dream did I ever thought of that.”

Ofori and his wife are now into charity work around the world.