Farewell ‘Too Gentle’

Coach Sam Arday would shout “too gentle” whenever we met. The story behind this “too gentle” appellation was in 1992 when I was a member of the Black Stars and Meteors Management Committee headed by the late Prof. John Atta Mills.

Prof Mills who would go on to become President of Ghana, assigned me specifically to the Black Meteors handled by Coach Sam Arday.

 I must say it was exciting to work with coach Arday.

Having led the team to qualify for Barcelona in the final qualifier in Mauritius, I took it for granted that my inclusion in the official contingent for the Olympic Games was automatic, I was in the team all night, but it was at the Games Village that Coach Arday disclosed to me that somebody wanted to ditch me at the last minute.

He disclosed that at a crucial meeting at the Ministry of Sports to approve the final squad, a faceless fellow raised an objection describing me as ‘too gentle’ to lead the team. Of course, the objection was dismissed as trivial and the phrase ‘too gentle’ became a standing joke for the two of us whenever we met: ‘Too gentle’ and I will also reply the same.

You need to get as close as I did to appreciate the true character of Coach Arday. He had an amazing sense of humour, quietly religious, tactful, disciplined and had exceptional warm attitude to the players and a huge respect for sports journalists.

His usual mode of operation in camp was to ask for both Christian and Muslim prayers after each training session. On match days, final selection is announced at a gathering of all the players and officials after breakfast and jerseys distributed amidst clapping by the players.

There was this incident in Barcelona on the day when the Meteors were going to face Australia for the bronze medal. After the selection had been announced and the players had dispersed into their various rooms, regular goalkeeper Anthony Osei Kwadwo surprisingly returned to inform Coach Arday he did not feel like keeping the post that day.

Shocked but displaying amazing bravery, Arday swiftly called a mini-conference comprising yours truly, Dr Fordjour, the team doctor, and Isaac Paha, assistant coach during which reserve goalkeeper Ibrahim Dossey was quickly alerted and he confidently agreed to take up the mantle.

Indeed he was quite impressive on the day and he contributed a lot to the victory over Australia that won Ghana her first Olympic football medal.

Arday showed a lot of leadership qualities. He was extremely careful about his life-style especially in the company of his footballers.

The Black Meteors historic trip to that wonderful island Mauritius in the Indian Ocean gave me the opportunity to know the true gentility of coach Arday.  Due to flight complications, the return trip to Ghana took the team through Nairobi, Kenya and Douala in Cameroun where we spent a night each.  The entire contingent was in a joyous mood having qualified for the Olympic Games but Coach Arday was not interested in any funny distractions and was determined to protect the players from the skirmishes of the prowling call girls much to the appreciation of Dr. Martin Engmann the team doctor and yours truly.

Ghana has lost a real gentleman sporting Hero.

On behalf of the Barcelona squad Anthony Osei, Ibrahim Dossey, Simon Addo, Frank Amankwah, Odartey Lamptey, Maxwell Konadu, Ablade Kumah, Yaw Acheampong , Mohammed Gargo, Kalilu Dramani, Yaw Preko , Sammy Adjei, Sammy Osei Kuffour , Isaac Asare, Shamo Quaye (deceased), Bernard Aryee , Kwame Ayew. I say farewell to the multi system man.

Rest in perfect peace.