Football in Ashanti region of Ghana is not only about Asante Kotoko, King Faisal Babes or "sleeping" Cornerstones. Ashanti Heroes, Neoplan Stars, Ashgold, Adansiman FC, Queens Palace Rangers all carry weight of glory as far as soccer in the region is concerned.
In juvenile soccer, Kumasi Corners Babies are gradually having no class in colts football whilst Osei Kyeretwie Secondary School (OKESS) have won more competitions than any other school in the region. In the last two decades, OKESS trained household names like Frank Amankwaah, Osei Bonsu "Africa", Ibrahim Tanko, Kenneth Sarpong, Joe Agyemang Snr, Agyemang Prempeh, Joe Louis, Maxwell Owusu Banahene, Stephen Oduro, Lawrence Kainya, Ben Wilson, Abedi Sarfo and Suley Ali Muntari. Tutors including Usmanu Orlando, F Arkhurst, Paa Kwesi and Karrium a.k.a Joe Lakka really played a major role in the historical successes of OKESS. Orlando, now a sports teacher at Opoku Ware School (OWASS) was awarded an International Olympic Committee (IOC) scholarship to Hungary to build on his technical capacity. OKESS is gradually disappearing in juvinile soccer as equally big competitors like OWASS, T I AMASS, KUHISS, Prempeh College etc are now flying high in such competitions.
In the 1980s, there was an intensive youth soccer development drive in the region. Players like Isaac Kwakye, Joe Okyere, Joe Debrah( Abdul Razark Jnr), Kwaku Duah, Anthony Osei Kwadwo, Yaw Owusu, Kofi Owusu, Nii Odartey Lamptey, Olli Rahman, Isaac Afriyie and my friend Yussif Alhassan were all groomed in the heat of colts soccer in the early 80s. The results had a positive dimension on Asante Kotoko who benefited by absorbing a number of these players afterwards. Names like Kwaku Kyere, Gabriel Antwi, Michael Osei, Daniel Coleman and Emmanuel Nkrumah rose through colts soccer and eventually represented Ghana in youth competitions. Martin Appau had unsuccessful career during his spell at Hearts of Oak and Obuasi Goldfields. His younger brother, Daniel Acquah is still with Asante Kotoko. I don`t know whether Ernest Boateng, Stephen Amo, George Eranio, Elvis Opoku and Ishaq Debrah are playing actively back home. News of the death of Lawrence Amankwaah in the year 2000 was received with a big shock. May his soul rest in peace.
I am not so bold to name the all -time best of the region. However, whoever gives it to any of names like Opoku Afriyie, Abdul Razark, Joe Debrah, Albert Asaase, Tony Yeboah, Ackwetei Armah, Opoku Nti, Adai Kyenkyenhene, Malik Jabir and Wilberforce Mfum would not be far from right.
Ashgold (Obuasi Goldfields) got to the finals of the maiden edtition of the African Champions League. Indeed, that was when Nana Arhin Duah, Issah Rahman and Wisdom Abbey launched their continental football. They really combined beautifully with Joe Okyere, Nana Frimpong, Ibrahim Kone, Tony Ahinful among others. It was so unfortunate the Miners could not stamp their authority on Africa
I dont know whether Neoplan are still playing home matches at Ashanti Bekwai. They had quality players in Joe Acheampong, Kwabena Mensah, Kwaku Minka, Kwabena Boateng and Roland Kwakye who were always beating Obuasi Goldfields at the Bekwai Gyamfi Park.
Undoubtedly, Asante Kotoko is the best club in the region. Kwasi Appiah who used to be a hockey goalkeeper of Opoku Ware School in the 70s gave a different touch to Asante Kotoko as a captain of the club. After taking over the left full back role from Abdul Karrium Zito in 1982, he held unto it till age forced him to hand over to Yaw Owusu in 1993. Samuel Bakai, who inturn took over from Yaw Owusu left the club in a bizarre circumstance before the mantle fell on Godfred Yeboah.
It would take me a whole year to write about the legendary Joe Debrah. His brace against goalkeeper Sampson Appiah of Okwahu United in an FA cup semi-final in 1990 was a delight to watch. Injury was so wicked to him in his career. However, that is one of those things in soccer. I believe Thomas Boakye would be so surprised that no other Kotoko player has been able to win the golden boot award in the league since he last won it 1991.
Asante Kotoko draw players from across the country. Yahaya Kassium, Akwetei Joe Tex, Seth Ampadu, Safianu Musa and Seidu Yussif were all Accra-based with John Bannerman, Salifu Ansah, Kofi Abbrey and Joseph Hendrich coming from Takoradi. Interestingly, ex-Kotoko players comprising Alex Nyarko, Yaw Akoto, Amadu Issaka, Anars Muhamed, Awudu Ibrahim, Nicholas Addo, Godwin Ablordey were either based in Madina-Accra or once played for Madina United, a second division side in Accra. I don?t know whether Dogo Moro and Haruna Yussif are still organising fun matches in Kumasi. I always see this as another way of bringing players together. Names like PMK Kusi, Kwame Sampson, Francis Agyemang, Kwaku Fori and Asare Boateng have totally disappeared from Ghana soccer. Gone are the days.
I was a big fan of Ebo Mends in the 80s. I really fancied his continental goal against Diaraafs FC of Senegal in 1983. In 1984, when all-conquering Hearts of Oak were looking for a double over Asante Kotoko in Accra, having won in Kumasi through Joe Amoateng, Isaac Ebo Mends stole the show by scoring the only goal of the game to save the face of the Porcupine Warriors.
Some of us are of the view that the Kotoko team of 1982 should have conquered Africa hands down. With deadly Opoku Afriyie, Kofi Badu, Francis Kumi, Opoku Nti and Albert Asaase supported by solid defence pivoted arround Ahmed Rockson, Kotoko should not have waited till 1983 before winning their second continental trophy.
I cherish the sweet memories of 93 when Kotoko`s Olli Rahman, Kwaku Duah, Alex Nyarko, Kofi Owusu, Bright Obeng, Akakpo Patron, Joe Okyere and Anthony Osei Kwadwo under coach Malik Jabir gave soccer in the region a lot of steel. They managed to beat glorious Hearts of Oak 1:0 in Accra through a penalty from Frimpong Manso. Since then, the Porcupine Warriors have not been able to win a league match against Hearts in Accra.
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When Charles Alan Gyimah, owner of the Video City Co. deserted Asante Kotoko to launch Mampong Kumapem Stars in 1987, the least did I expected that a popular town like Ashanti Mampong would be without a premiership club many years to come. Abdul Karrium Zito and Kofi Badu all retired with Kumapim. In 1986, when Hearts of Oak off-loaded squad, leaving Santrofie Acquah, Charles Gyimah managed to lure Ofei Ansah into Kumapim whilst Thomas Hamond, Kofi Abbrey and Sampson Lamptey headed for Asante Kotoko. Opoku Agyemang (Aduro) left Kumapim to join Hearts Oak where unfortunate injury situations forced him to retire.
I always feel so sad about the present situation of Cornerstones. I don?t know how the legends of the club comprisng Ackweteh Armah, Kwame Poku, Muhamed Tijani, Frimpong Manso, Kwesi Oti, Nana Frimpong, Tony Yeboah, Kojo Sumaillah, John Ackon, Martin Appau, Abetiah Aryeh would feel about the gradual demise of the club.
I believe there is more to this passage which I not know about. Long Live soccer in the Ashanti Region!
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