Accra, June 2, GNA - Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club have noted with regret the absence of the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and National Sports Council (NSC) at the funeral of the late Salifu Ansah, a former national goalkeeper which took place last Saturday at Sekondi.

The Club said it is therefore necessary and opportune for the various sporting bodies to join hands and give the departed hero a fitting burial.

Mr Ashford Tettey Oku, Administrative Manager of Hearts in a statement copied to the GNA Sports, said even though the Club dutifully announced to the nation of the death and funeral arrangement of the former Hearts player but for unknown reasons none of the above mentioned bodies attended.

It said is in this vain that Hearts wants to protest in no uncertain terms to the Ministry, GFA and NSC for their glaring and discriminatory stance towards the event.

It said close to a decade now, the late Salifu Ansah served the nation devotedly as the first choice goalkeeper of the Black Stars till he retired from the game.

"Even in retirement, he contributed in the training of young goalkeepers some of whom rose to national prominence such as Ali Jarrah, George Owu, Saani Mohammed and Sammy Adjei to mention a few". Salifu Ansah who made his first division debut with Sekondi Eleven Wise also played with other Premier League Clubs including Sekondi Hasaacas, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Obuasi Goldfields and Accra Hearts of Oak.

"As the nation struggles to raise the fallen standard of the game, it should be noted that motivation is not only monetary and should include everything that would make a player feel that even after death, the living would posthumously appreciate his effort. "After all a nation that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for", it added.

The statement said it is therefore respectfully reminding the three bodies that it is not too late for them to remedy the situation.