Accra, Oct. 5, GNA – Veteran trainer, ‘Sir’ Cecil Jones Attuquayefio has so far received a paltry $1,000 from the organisers of a charity match held in his honour last June.
Though investigation pieced together by GNA Sports indicate that proceeds realised at the gates was in the region of 14,000 Ghana Cedis, Lawrence Opare-Otoo, organizer of the game and owner of Primeval Consult, has dished out only $1000 to the legendary coach.
The game played at the Accra Sports Stadium on June 29, was aimed at celebrating Attuquayefio’s achievements as well as raising funds to support his cancer treatment.
Speaking to GNA Sports at his residence in Bubiashie, a frail-looking Attuaquayefio was the least enthused about the turn of events after his charity game, the first ever organised for a Ghanaian coach.
He poured out that he only received $1000 from the organisers for the match which witnessed cash donations and pledges by personalities including Togbe Afede XIV (Board Chairman of Accra Hearts of Oak) as well as Black Stars duo, Asamoah Gyan and John Mensah.
“On the day of the event, Togbe Afede XIV gave me a cheque for 5,000 Ghana Cedis. After the game, I only received $1000 from Opare-Otoo. Nothing more,” the veteran trainer said in a striking weak tone.
The one-time best coach in Africa corroborated that the $1000 was taken out of a cash donation of $3000 by Black Stars striker Gyan at the stadium.
“Asamoah Gyan gave $3000, from which I was given $1000.”
GNA Sports can confirm that the National Sports Authority (NSA) waived all financial obligations related to the use of the national stadium, enabling Opare-Otoo the luxury to use the facility at no cost.
A visibly disturbed Attuquayefio expressed that his main source of worry was for the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, partners for the game.
‘Proceeds from the match would go to the coach whilst the rest would be donated to the E.N.T. Department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital,’ Opare-Otoo boasted in the build up to the game.
“My main concern is the Hospital, because they were involved and as at now, nothing at all has been done” Attuquayefio stated.
When quizzed further, the trainer who turns 68 on October 14, revealed the non-existence of any formal arrangement with the organiser, Opare Otoo.
“I was here (house) when he (Opare-Otoo) came and asked me to append my signature to give him the go ahead to organise the match in my honour.
“Initially, I didn’t want to do it. But upon second thought, I did because I wanted to know how people will react to my predicament. That is why I gave my consent.”
Three months after the game, Attuquayefio affirmed he has only heard once from Opare-Otoo.
“The last time I heard from him was about one and half months ago. I don’t want to be talking about the game; I feel so sorry about how things have turned out,” he concluded.
It would be recalled that Opare-Otoo, a former broadcaster organised a fund-raising dinner for the Retired National Footballers Association of Ghana (RENFAG) in July 2011 which was graced by Liverpool legend, John Barnes.
Attuquayefio, one of Ghana’s renowned coaches has for the past two years been battling with throat cancer. The illness truncated his illustrious coaching career which saw him chalk several successes as a coach.
He guided Hearts of Oak to the CAF Champions League title in 2000 and the CAF Super Cup the following year. He was also at the helm when the Phobians won the maiden edition of the CAF Confederation Cup in 2004.