Sports
Any help for Abu Imoro?
The name Abu Imoro may not ring a bell to many of today’s domestic football followers. Interestingly, ever since Abu hanged his boots, we have not had any player by that name in the national premier league. One stands to be corrected on that assertion though.
Even if we had it on our blind side, that player may not have glittered to win the hearts of many, particularly in the 80s and early 90s, as the REAL (cap mine) Abu Imoro did so naturally and effortlessly.
Of course, he may not be a player of the first water, but his poise and confidence on the ball coupled with a crazy obsession to strip bare the most-feared players, was always a gorgeous spectacle.
Indeed, he was a sweet blend of ruggedness and adroitness; but not extremely flamboyant in his midfield role. With his sturdy and solid frame – robustly recognised by a ‘fiery’ face, you need to possess some incarnated physical ability and brains to disarm him of the ball.
That is not all; aside from being a ‘spoiler’ particularly in midfield, his supreme ability to control an aerial ball on his chest – regaining his balance and pirouettes early enough to tame it onto his feet, easily makes him the crowd’s favourite.
Abu first played alongside football legend Abedi Ayew Pele at RTU in Tamale, before coming down south to feature for Great Olympics.
According to the President of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG), Kwabena Yeboah, the story of Abu Moro cuts bones – describing him a huge talented star.
“I remember him vividly when we went to Liberia in 1987 for the SCSA Tournament. My goodness, he was something else. Indeed, Abu was mainly the reason Ghana won the trophy beating Liberia 2-0 in the final with George Weah and James ‘Salinsa’ Debbah, then featuring for the Lone Star.
“Hopefully, the media spotlight will bring some redemption,” he remarked.
Forlornly, the Accra New Town-born Abu Imoro did not blow out or mushroom into the kind of player Ghanaians had hoped for as he regrettably got hooked into drug addiction that eventually tore him up and left him staggering into poverty.
Today, the former midfield dynamo still reels from the ‘bad side’ of his past and survives solely on the benevolence of friends and loved ones.
On many occasions, he had been supported by former teammate Abedi Pele and other sympathisers with regard to rehabilitation. Sadly, Abu is always quick to go back to his ‘vomit’ anytime his situation appears to improve.
Indeed, if you set eyes on the player, known in Ghana football as Tigana (named after the great French midfielder), you might break down in tears – after recollecting his halcyon past.
Before he got ensnared into hard drugs, Abu had his own house, car, wife and children. When things got out of hand, the wife had no choice than to leave. His house and car were reportedly sold and his riches all evaporating into thin air with the speed of lightening.
On hearing his latest plight, some of his contemporaries and other ex-players of Great Olympics including George Alhassan, Godwin Attram, Isaac Acquaye, Awuley Quaye and John Naawu, last week paid him a visit to solidarise with him.
At present, Abu is looking for a new window of opportunity to turn a new leaf. He says he wants the nation to help him get over his drugs life. He pleads earnestly!
Any help?
By John Vigah
Attention will be at the Golden City Park in Berekum tomorrow as Hearts of Oak lock horns with Berekum Chelsea FC in a Ghana Premier League Matchday 6 game that promises an electrifying atmosphere.
Lying sixth on the league table with two wins and three draws, the Phobians visit a ground that has been favourable to them in recent times. In their last three visits to the Golden City Park, Hearts have amassed seven out of nine points, putting them in strong contention to win.
Head Coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani says, “The team is making progress in its tactical identity despite the lack of goals, and this is something we are working on ahead of this game.”
Hearts will come face-to-face with former coach Samuel Boadu, whose side lies a distant 13th on the league table with a win and a draw from four games. Coach Boadu is yet to celebrate a victory over the Phobians since joining the Berekum lads and would hope this fixture marks a turnaround.
Ninth-placed Vision FC would trek to the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park in Bechem to play Bechem United, while new boys Hohoe United host Aduana FC at the Hohoe Sports Stadium.
Returnees Swedru All Blacks will welcome Basake Holy Stars to the Swedru Sports Stadium, with defending league champions Bibiani Gold Stars staying put at their backyard, the Dun’s Park, to welcome second-placed Heart of Lions FC on Monday.
Today at the TnA Stadium in Tarkwa, Medeama SC will clash with Samartex FC in a Western derby. Other games scheduled for today would see Eleven Wonders FC host Karela United at the Swedru Sports Stadium, while Dreams FC face Nations FC at the Tuba Astro Turf.
By Raymond Ackumey
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Ghana coach Otto Addo may not command the kind of fear and respect like Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Luis Enrique and others in the modern game, but in his small corner, he is gradually climbing the ladder to greatness in Ghana, Africa and the world at large.
The aforementioned coaches attained greatness with club sides and, therefore, open an argument over whether one is not comparing apples to oranges. But no matter how one looks at it, they are all coaches harbouring similar ambitions to attain greatness in their fields.
Otto Addo is one of the young and upcoming coaches holding a lot of promise and was getting experience with his association with Borussia Dortmund in Germany until his path was directed by a Ghana call.
Although he was born in Germany, Otto Addo’s association with Ghana football dates back to 1999, spanning a period of about seven years; commencing with a 5–0 rout of Eritrea on February 28. He gained international prominence when he joined the squad for the 2000 African Cup of Nations. He featured as a midfielder in the team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
But like it’s often said, a prophet is not recognised in his own home and his efforts partially went unnoticed. He’ll go into the annals as one of the Black Stars coaches to have been fairly or otherwise criticised not just by ‘football people’ but fans who doubted him.
His sack has been discussed at various platforms by people whose knowledge and tactical acumen about the game remains questionable. Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Mr Kofi Adams, at one point openly stated his doubts over Otto Addo’s ability to actually deliver.
No coach would feel secured in such turbulent times, but coach Otto Addo kept his calm and composure. On the corridors of his employers, however, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) president, Kurt Okraku, openly rallied support for him, though a few ‘doubting Thomases’ still questioned his credentials.
That painted a picture of a people that forget easily and are quick to crucify. In a brief moment of adversity, Ghanaians forgot how Otto Addo was brought in to pluck qualification for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup from the jaws of the Super Eagles of Nigeria with a solitary goal over two legs.
The upshot of that feat was not one any Nigerian would want to remember. The scenes after the match were awfully chaotic, as fans vented their anger on facilities at the stadium. Back in Ghana, it was partying all night and day.
Otto Addo was labeled the football magician. He achieved something no Ghanaian coach had ever accomplished; a feat which Ghana with her all-time best teams could not attain. That was the climax to which Otto Addo took Ghana football, generating calls to start believing in the Ghanaian coach.
Following that to the World Cup proper was another story altogether. It was, or may have been, our poorest show at any of the four World Cup appearances. And just as it was stipulated in his contract, he bowed out after the Qatar World Cup to mind his Borussia Dortmund business with peace.
But as fate would have it, nature found a way to renew his romance with Ghana football after an unconvincing start to the America, Canada and Mexico dream World Cup under special advisor turned coach, Chris Hughton.
Ghana started the qualifiers on a winning note but not a convincing performance. It was saved by an Inaki Williams goal scored on the sixth minute of additional time against Madagascar at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. The Black Stars then slumped to a 1-0 defeat at the Stade de Moroni to Comoros to heighten calls for a new technical direction.
Then stepped in Otto Addo when Ghana occupied the fourth position in Group I with three points but with the countries in the group evenly matched.
By Andrew Nortey
