E. K. Afranie Foundation seeks £30,000 for projects

The Coach Emmanuel Kwasi Afranie Foundation is appealing to corporate bodies and individuals to help raise £30,000 to assist the stroke units of the Korle Bu and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospitals.

For children of the late coach, who suffered a mild stroke and later died in a vehicular accident two years ago at Suhum on his way to the hospital, assisting these two medical facilities will be a befitting memorial for the man known in football circles as “Coach Hene” (King of Coaches).

The late coach’s children are in talks with Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak -- two sides Afranie coached at different times -- to commence what the foundation hopes to become an annual charity match between the two traditional giants.

The initial plan was to play the senior national team, the Black Stars ahead of their AFCON preparation in Dubai but it could not materialise.

Last week, the late coach’s children and his widow, Hannah, presented $4,000 worth of equipment and clothing to the Maternal and Child Unit of the Mankranso Government Hospital in the Ahafo Ano South District of the Ashanti Region. The medical equipment presented included a Glucometer, Digital BP apparatus, Doppler, Stethoscope and breast watches for the nurses.

The next donation by the family will be at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital where they will present medical equipment to assist stroke patients.

One of the late coach’s children, Emmanuel Afranie Jnr, disclosed after the presentation that the proposed clash between Hearts and Kotoko was to help raise money to support needy football talents till they become self-reliant.

He revealed that the children had so far raised over £3,000 to support the foundation and intend also to fall on proceeds from the launch and sale of an autobiography on the late “Coach Hene” to augment the fund.