Legends-2.jpg

Theophilus Tettey Aryee,70 sits in front of his house at Mamprobi in Accra ,Ghana wearing the jacket he wore in 1954 whilst with the Ghana’s national team on November 3,2009.” I sometimes get bored with the football being played in modern times, I think we played better in our time” he said.Modern soccer, it is said, has become a lucrative business but the legends of Ghana football in decades past were motivated by a sense of nationalism and patriotism. They dedicated their service to the country. It was a great privilege to don the national jersey and it was the wish of every young player to be invited to join the national team, the Black Stars.Some of these heroes declined attractive offers to play for European clubs just for the love they had for their local clubs and country.”We were made to feel a sense of pride and prepared to die for the nation and not for money.” they said.Some of these heroes played bare footed and refused to wear boots in Great Britain whilst on tour.Most of them have become destitute, sick, bed- ridden and isolated whilst others died as paupers.Among these past soccer heroes are Sam Anum Okai, Edward Acquah, Rev. Kofi Pare, Reverend Osier Kofi, Joe De Graft, Mohammed Polo, Akuetteh Armah, John Naawu,and Oman Mensah.The others are Ibrahim Sunday, Opoku Afriyie, Cecil Jones Attuquafio,James Kpakpo Allotey,Edmund Adjetey Obadzen, Theophilus Tettey Aryee,Abdul Karim Razak and Leite Lartey .