Today in history: Shamo Quaye passes on

Today marks exactly 22 years since the tragic passing of one most gifted players in the history of Ghana football.

The mercurial and nimble footed Shamo Quaye died under mysterious circumstances on a Sunday at Tema.

According to eyewitness reports Quaye who had return home from Sweden was enjoying a football match with friends was hit with a ball in the face which triggered some complications that eventually led to his death on November 30, 1997.

However there are other versions of the incidents that led to the death Shamo Quaye as seen in this report by Bartholomaus Grill, the Africa correspondent for German weekly newspaper Die Zeit.

"When Shamo Quaye, who was playing professionally in Sweden, came home to Ghana to collect debts from his old team [Hearts], he was bitten by a poisonous snake while at supper [in his own home]. He died on the way to hospital. The whole country had only one explanation: Juju, black magic."

From Hearts of Oak’s academy came the man who was popularly referred to as ‘Shamo Leather’ who caught the eyes of Ghanaian football lovers with his incredible footwork and silky passes which earned him a comparisons with legendary Italian player, Bebeto.

Shamo Quaye was a member of the Hearts of Oak ‘Musical Youth’ team that included Sam Ablade Kumah, Ezekiel Alamu, Joe Addo and Eben Dugbartey.

At the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, Quaye wowed the world with his artistic football and helped Ghana to win a Bronze medal at the games.

At the time of his death, Quaye was playing for Swedish side Umea FC.