Read what Christopher Opoku said about Kurt Okraku in 2016

When Christopher Opoku of blessed memory penned that message to mark his birthday, he was not only celebrating a ‘good friend’ but a young man whose strides he was proud to associate with.

A budding talent who seamlessly transitioned from sports journalism to administration and was carving a niche for himself as the breath of fresh air in football club management.

Opoku of all people knew that if Kurt continued on that trajectory, he was soon going to be a force in football administration not only in Ghana but on the continent.

What he perhaps didn’t anticipate was that the young man he met in 1999 will be handed the responsibility of rescuing a sinking football boat by age 49.

Kurt Okraku is 49 today and it is only right to rehash an eulogy penned by one of Ghana’s best journalists who unfortunately departed three years ago.

This post which was written some four years ago highlights Okraku’s journey from journalism to the apex of football administration in Ghana.

Below is the piece

I met him for the first time in early 1999. He was a guest on our sports programme on Luv 99.5 FM and at the time, he worked for Radio Gold as a sports journalist.

He left for the UK and obtained his Masters in Sports Administration and he is perhaps one of the very few in Ghana with such a qualification, if not the only one.

He returned to Ghana in 2007 and assumed duty as Director of Communications for Accra Hearts of Oak. After a season there, he continued building football contacts and eventually was appointed Administrative Manager for the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA).

The GHALCA Top 4 competitions were exciting and his innovative ideas brought a certain aura that has since yet to be captured after he resigned from the role.

Together with Jamil Maraby, he successfully revived the FA Cup which had undergone a 10-year hiatus and the competition to this day never fails to produce thrills.

Whilst working hard as a key member of the FA Cup Committee, he set up a third division club, Dreams FC and gradually built up Proton Sports Services.

He is a major reason for Baba Abdul Rahman's sudden rise to prominence as a product of the club who now plays for English giants Chelsea.

He also orchestrated the promotion of Dreams FC to Ghana's top flight at the first attempt and the club sits a respectable 6th on the league log after the first half of the current season.

He has been a good friend for many years and today I am delighted to have the opportunity of celebrating Kurt E. S. Okraku as he celebrates his birthday today. Kurt, have a right royal blast!!