Two Ghanaian football greats Charles Taylor and Dong Bortey
The past few days have seen a trend on social media particularly twitter with Ghanaians bantering each other over the impactful and legendary status of some of the nation’s most celebrated entertainment and sporting personalities.
Call it an escape from the coronavirus furore and you won’t be far from right.
On the chopping board today was a debate over two of the finest football talents to have come out of the country.
Charles Taylor versus Bernard Dong Bortey, who was the better footballer?
There was unanimity in their reputation as two of the best if not the best two players the Ghana league has seen in the last two decades.
Also undisputed was the fact that despite their heroics for both Hearts and Kotoko, Charles ‘the terror’ Taylor and Bernard ‘Dada Diouf’ Dong Bortey did not quite make it to the level expected of them.
But where opinions differ greatly is who was the better of the two?
The stylish, enigmatic and ‘man for the big moment’ Dong Bortey or ‘the terror’ Taylor whose wizardry skills and goalscoring instincts brought about the biggest and most protracted transfer battle in the history of Ghana football?.
The two were teammates at Hearts of Oak until Taylor crossed carpet to rivals Asante Kotoko.
The most memorable game between the duo was the two-legged CAF Confederation Cup finals in 2004.
Eventually, Bortey’s Hearts of Oak won but some still hold that Kotoko would have edged their rivals had their coach not committed the unpardonable crime of substituting Taylor.
Below are some posts from Twitter
In 2002, Dong Bortey and Charles Taylor both scored 18 for Hearts.
— Fredrick Gyan-Mante (@Freddie_GH) April 4, 2020
20 starts. 18 goals for Dong Bortey.
26 starts. 18 goals for Charles Taylor.
Bortey will always be my fav player. Why?
— The Alpha Male (@AtsuTamakloe) April 4, 2020
In 2006, Bortey was on a 'sabatical' over contract issues.@HeartsOfOakGH had lost 3-0 to St. George in Addis Ababa in the CAF Champs L'ge knockout 1st leg.
The week before the return leg, MCM calls into Asempa FM Sports Show and says...
Dong Bortey was good obiaa nim, but 3ny3 ne size ne Charles Kwaku Asampong Barnie Taylor. Case close
— NY (@NYboateng) April 4, 2020
C.Taylor isn’t a bad player koraaa but I think he’s getting more vote because he played for both Kotoko and Hearts so Kotoko fans are voting for him in to surpass D.Bortey who only played for Hearts .The truth hurts @Angel961Fm
— Mr. Domfeh???????? (@Kofi_jason) April 4, 2020
Please you people should not mention Don Bortey in the same sentence with Emmanuel Osei Kuffuor.
— Michael Oti Adjei (@OtiAdjei) April 3, 2020
That general who roamed everywhere, played everywhere.
If in doubt watch that Hearts-Esperance final in Accra again. Don't let hype get in the way of substance.
I am shook!!! Dong's reputation was built on his superb goalscoring record against Kotoko. But teams literally shit their pants when Taylor was on a pitch.
— Godfred Akoto Boafo (@eastsportsman) April 4, 2020
Taylor was a very good dribbler & good at setpices too. It appears people rate Bortey highly, because of the occasional fancy dribble & the histrionics to his game. Taylor was the more efficient, he was lethal. He had so much to his game before injuries started messing him up
— Nana Owusu (@AlfOwusu) April 4, 2020
Charles Taylor Vs Don Bortey ?
— Kwesi Boateng (@qwecikanye) April 4, 2020
Two of my all time greats... don’t know who to pick but Taylor was actually a baller. He was like some xavi or Messi. Bortey was a genius regardless !
So sad we don’t even have videos of them. E pain me.
There is a reason Dong Bortey was more feared than Charles Taylor. And it's not because Taylor was a 'better' player, overall.
— Gary #StayAtHome (@garyalsmith) April 3, 2020
Bortey was a jack of all trades, and master of few. And that big game temperament is why we remember him more fondly. https://t.co/nVJINIKrVZ
Not one attribute Bortey is supremely better than Taylor, not one.
— Nana Owusu (@AlfOwusu) April 3, 2020
Penalties ??
Freekicks ??
Dribbling ??
Pace ??
Though Bortey was a genius to be fair, he was quite inconsistent. Charles Taylor is the kind of guy you take to war. He delivers consistently without making a fuss
How did we get here?? Don Bortey > Charles Taylor!! A whole Charles Taylor??
— Kotoko's 1st Son (@JoelHammond_) April 3, 2020
