Sports News of Wednesday, 20 May 2020

Source: ghanasoccernet.com

Form a team like Nkrumah’s Republicans - Osei Kofi tells govt

Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah

The passion and belief of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in football as a tool for inspiring change and unifying the continent led to the formation of Republicans, a team made up of talented local boys assembled together.

1963 and 1965 Africa Cup of Nations winner Rev Osei Kofi wants the state to follow a similar strategy used by the country's first president.

Republicans also are known as Osagyefo’s own club won the Ghana Premier League title in the 1962/63 season.

The team was more successful in the Ghanaian FA Cup than the league, winning four consecutive tournaments in the 1960s, which proved to be a great decade for the club.

The team was disbanded in 1966 after a coup d'etat that overthrew Dr. Nkrumah the team's patron.

Rev Osei Kofi in an interview with West 87.9 FM advised the state to use the same strategy in bringing successes for the country.

“Our state can form a team just as Kwame Nkrumah’s Republicans,”

“Now our local league has lost its attention because, during our era, we played with passion and with quality Players. I remember we took GHS 2.50p as winning bonus in Hearts game during my stay at Kotoko,”

“The low standard of our league always bring the early exit of our clubs from Africa competitions It’s wrong to use Normalisation Competition to play Africa competitions,”

“Brazil and some other countries used their league to prepare their national teams,”

Rev Osei Kofi also urged mothers to encourage their kids to play football.

"Mother’s should also add their voice by motivating their children to play while in school, ”