The tragedy of May 9th will be with me till the day I die - Herbert Mensah

Erstwhile Chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Herbert Mensah has disclosed that the May 9th tragedy will forever be with him till the day he departs from earth.

Herbert Mensah who witnessed the events that led to the May 9th tragedy, actively assisted in carrying lifeless bodies from the stands to informing families about their departed relatives. Since 2001, the astute football administrator has commemorated the day by supporting bereaved families in Accra and Kumasi.

In an interview with Kwabena Yeboah on GTV’s Sports Highlights, Mr Mensah noted that although there were other memories that clamor his mind and gives him happiness, the May 9th tragedy would forever be engraved in his memory.

“The tragedy of May 9th will be with me till the day I die because to be there to carry the bodies and impossible to go and visit the households is unforgettable.” He added, “In some households the wife did not know that the husband had run to Accra to go and watch… And now pregnant with a child, these are moments that bring tears into my eye and others that bring happiness to my soul.”

Herbert Mensah who served as Chairman for Kotoko for only 4-years is regarded as the instrumental piece that led the team to rise to win the Africa Winner’s Cup after his departure.

Describing the moments that gave him joy, the President of the Ghana Rugby Association recounted how he led the Porcupines to fight clubs who had governmental influence. Despite the calls that the team spent beyond its means, Herbert notes that it was all part of the plan to make Asante Kotoko the number one club in the country.

He said, “The fight between RTU, Cape Coast Dwarfs and the nemesis, the Don Bortey that we had taken and paid for and the influence of my dear friend ET Mensah knowing the process that Hearts of Oak was like a government team.”

“To take on people for the sake of Kotoko, we took on governments, at the time it was the NDC. It wasn’t political for me, it was about Kotoko first and for those days I will never change for anything. People say you spend excess money, yes I did but it is not important,” Herbert Mensah concluded.

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