Magical Uriah Asante gone

One of Accra Hearts of Oak’s exciting midfielders in history, Uriah Asante, is no more.

The youngster, who delighted football fans with his delicate touches between 2007 to 2009, passed away last Monday after a cardiac arrest at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital at a young age of 24.

The youngster was rushed to Korle Bu last Monday after complaining of bodily pains but could not make it, plunging his family members and many football lovers into a state of mourning.

Uriah joined Hearts  at the begining of the 2009/2010 season from Pure Joy, a Division One League side, on loan. A raw talent with lingering doubts about his capacity and capability to trade his skills in the turbulence of the Premier League, the youngster managed to survive.

The Phobians gave him the chance and by his second season, he had captivated the Ghanaian football world with sheer magic on the ball and together with striker Mahatma Otoo managed to resucitate the Phobians from near oblivion back to contention in the Ghanaian league.

According to Ashford Tettey-Oku, current Chairman of the Professional League Board (PLB) under whose tenure as General Manager of Hearts Uriah began his career at the big stage. Uriah displayed exceptional qualities both on and outside the field at a tender age.

“He was one of the few players who believe that players must be respected and given their due.

Perhaps this is where sometimes people see him as uncompromising, but certainly as a graduate of the University of Ghana, he had a deeper understanding of issues”, he contended.

 Rather strange sometimes, it was the same Uriah who calmed the nerves in camp even when the difficult ones such as Osei Bonsu, Phillip Boampong, Moro Abubakari were uncompromising,” he added.

Indeed, very early in their career, the late Jones Attuquayefio, the legendary Hearts coach had prophesised that he( Uriah) and Mahatma would one day become successful managers. Uriah did not live to see that day.

“But unknown to many, Uriah was undertaking several courses while he was playing,” Ashford revealed. 

The late Uriah also played for Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel and other clubs in Romania. He was a key member of the national U-23 side that won gold at the 2011 All Africa Games.