Osei Kofi : Money first before nation – Chastises FA, Govt

Ghanaian football legend, Reverend Osei Kofi, says he "wholeheartedly" supported the decision of the Black Stars to demand their bonuses before playing Portugal in the 2014 FIFA World Cup because the nation has persistently failed to honour promises made to the various national teams.

Rev Osei Kofi in an interview with the Graphic Sports last Friday at the launch of the golden jubilee celebrations of Ghana's triumph in the 1965 African Cup of Nations in Accra, lamented how the promise of houses made by Dr Kwame Nkrumah to each member of the victorious 18-man 1965 AFCON squad remained unfulfilled 50 years after he and his teammates defended the AFCON trophy in Tunisia.

He said, "I feel very bad because I know that a country that forgets to honour its heroes is not worth dying for, that is the reason why present members of the Black Stars charge the nation before playing.

"I supported them (Black Stars) wholeheartedly for their action in Brazil, I remember Kotoko playing Vita Club a while back, Kotoko players were promised track-suits while Vita Club players were promised houses. The question is which of these players will God listen to?.

"We defended the AFCON in Tunisia in 1965 and we were promised houses by Dr Kwame Nkrumah but unfortunately he was overthrown by a military government who set aside the constitution.

"But, it has been 50 years since then and when President John Mahama decided to fulfill the promise last year he told us plainly that he could not fulfill the actual promise of houses, so he gave us a token of $ 5,000 which we accepted".

Rev Osei Kofi said he was disappointed with the persistent failure of government and the Ghana Football Association to celebrate anniversaries of milestones achieved by various national teams.

He continued, "I blame the GFA because they should have informed the government of our golden jubilee but they themselves don't have any records on us. So what can we say?"

The 1965 AFCON golden jubilee celebrations will start on December 3 with a fundraising dinner at the Sun Lodge Hotel and end on December 4 with a game between Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Ghana's 1992 AFCON silver medal-winning team at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Surviving members of the 18-man squad that defended the AFCON trophy include; John Bortey Naawu (Accra Great Olympics), Ben Kusi (Kumasi Asante Kotoko), Ben Acheampong (Kotoko), Wilberforce Mfum (Kotoko), Kofi Pare (Republicans), Osei Kofi (Kotoko), Frank Odoi (Olympics), Salami Ganiyu (Accra Hearts of Oak), Barnier Senior (Brong Ahafo United), and Ben Koufie (Assistant coach).