After 3 months, the Governor of the Gold Coast, Sir Frederick Hodgson(not related to current England manager,Roy) ,himself a sports enthusiast,gave them his blessing by officially  inaugurating the 1st game at Cape Coast. Apparently,the game didn't conform to any existing laws but the locals were more than happy watch a group of young men running after and kicking a round object. 

 

An impressed Sir Frederick, arranged for Excelsior to a group of sailor's from Europe. The match was played on 24th Dec,1903. Excelsior were beaten 2-1 but won the return leg 3-1.

 

Following these matches, football were popping up everywhere at Cape Coast.With my Agric background, I would compare that to mushrooms popping up everywhere. Some clubs including Blankson's XI,Bolton Wanders,Energetics, Evertons, Gardens,Judges, Swallows, Majestics ,Rose XI,Vipers, Titanics etc were formed.

 

FOOTBALL IN ACCRA & TAKORADI 

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Football reached Accra in 1910 ,leading to the formation of INVICIBLES at James  but that was after it gone to places like Saltpond,Elmina,Winneba etc. Accra Hearts of Oak quickly followed at Usher Town in 1911.I must add that,Hearts was formed before Dwarfs and Vipers,both based at Cape Coast,making Hearts the oldest existing football club in Ghana as none of the clubs which pre-date Hearts are still in existence. By 1912,clubs like Energetics, Osu Pioneers, Robert's Standast, Never Miss, Wolves,Africs,Auroras had all sprung up in Accra. 

 

From Accra, football moved to Second - Takorade and this move was greatly helped by the construction of railway lines under  in the Western part of the country under Sir Gordon Guggisberg. Sekondi Eleven Wise was founded in 1919 followed later by Western Wanderers,Mosquitoes,Jerricho

,Railway Apprentices,Ga United etc. In 1925,Fanti United was formed. The team was later reformed and became known as Sekondi Hasaacas.

Almost 20 yrs after the introduction of the game, football reached Kumasi, Oseikrom, my birth place and now the home of the Greatest second cycle school on Earth,OPOKU WARE SCH. Evertons and Royals were formed by the Catholic and Methodist Churches respectively. The inclusion of Brass band music helped attract people to their games. In 1926,the first all Ashanti football club,Ashanti United was founded by a young driver called Kwasi Kuma.This club changed name three times from Ashanti United to Titanics, Mighty Atoms and finally Kumasi Asante Kotoko in 1935. This is what I believe has made us have this long held belief that Kotoko was born in 1935. My other favourite club,Manchester United,was formed as Newton Heath in 1878 and only became Manchester United in 1902 but records show United was born in 1878 so why not Asante Kotoko in 1926? 

 

A group of Fanti Football fans in Kumasi around 1931/32 formed a football called Kumasi Cornerstone. which later became a founding member of the national league in 1958 .Corners in their trademark black & white  strips always gave Kotoko a strong city rivalry. In 1986 for instance, they finished a close second to Kotoko and remained a strong opposition until 1992 when they were relegated. 1995 saw the emergence of King Faisal founded by Alhaji Karim GRUNSAH. Some people believe their emergence might have spelt the end for Corners especially considering the fact that Alhaji GRUNSA had been a long standing Cornerstone backer. King Faisal are themselves  currently in the 2nd tier of Ghana football.

 

From the very first time football was played I  Ghana by Excelsior till the early 1940s, the game was organised on regional basis mainly in Accra, ,Sekondi-Takorade, Cape Coast and Kumasi. Around 1943,another teacher, ,Richard Lion Heart Akwei suggested the idea of organised football under one authority. Akwei, who was by then the head of the Gold Coast Football Union faced problems from John Darkwa of Kumasi who the head of the Gold coast and Ashanti Union. It took the impending national team tour of the UK to force the two groups to come together to form The UGCAFA for sponsorship reasons.At that meeting at Kumasi , John Darkwa of Kumasi became the first Chairman  of the association with Akwei as Vice. During the tour in 1951, the national team played 10 games, won two and lost the rest. On their return, fresh elections were held. Akwei became the Chairman but not for long. The 1st national league started with14 clubs. They were Accra Hearts of Oak, Great Olympics, Accra Standfast, Accra Great Argonauts, Cape Coast Vipers, Dwarfs, ,Hasaacas, Eleven Wise, Asante Kotoko, Cornerstone, Kumasi Dynamos , Kumasi Evergreens,Kumasi Great Ashanti, Obuasi Hearts of Oak and Obuasi Evertons .Kotoko and the other Kumasi clubs boycotted the league and were suspended by Akwei. The rebel clubs persuaded Great Olympics, Standfast , ,Vipers, Dwarfs, and Hasaacas to boycott, which they did. The league had to abandoned but Accra Hearts of Oak who were the league leaders were declared winners with Wise as runners up 13th April, 1957.The man considered by historians as the greatest sports writer in ever ,Mr Kofi  Badu of the Daily Graphic embarked on a relentless battle to have Akwei removed and they succeeded. In an emotional address conceding defeat on 8th Sept,1957, Akwei said "They want me to resign as Chairman of the GAFA. The reason they give is I have had my innings and lost my popularity"

 

 A 33yr old Nsawam based cocoa merchant and former school teacher, Ohene Djan succeed Richard Akwei. 1957 was also the year Sir Stanley Matthews came to Ghana. Fans of Hearts claim Stanley Matthews brought them football boots making them the 1st club in Ghana or the Gold coast to play in football boots. I shd say that it was actually Excelsior of Cape Coast who first wore football boots as far back as 1903.Even the National team played in the UK in 1951 without football boots.

 

1958 HEARTS WIN MAIDEN LEAGUE 

----------------------------------

After the fiasco of 1957,a better organised league was launched in March,1958 by the Ohene Djan GAFA. The clubs were Hearts and Olympics from Accra,Kotoko and Corners from Kumasi, Hasaacas and Wise from Sekondi - Takorade and Dwarfs and Vipers from Cape Coat. The proverbial traditional rivalry between Hearts and Kotoko has its roots here. Their very 1st game was ABANDONED on 24/8/1958 when Hearts were leading 4-3 in Kumasi. Hearts had taken a 3-0 lead by half time.In the  2nd half with the score at 4-3 to Hearts, there was a clash of heads between Hearts keeper Addoquaye Laryea and Kotoko defender Morocco Gago, this brought fans onto the pitch. Hearts won the replay 5-2 at the Jackson Park in Kumasi on 2/11/1958. Kotoko however beat Hearts 4-2 in Accra through Baba Yara and Fred Akuffo. Scorers for Hearts included Aggrey Fynn. Kotoko players needed police protection as Hearts supporters charged at them angrily. The match was played on 16/11/58 ,five days after Hearts' 47th birthday. The most outstanding players were Aggrey Fynn,Duncan and Kotoko's Kwame Adarkwa.  Vipers failed to win a single game,having played 14 of them. 

 

 

1959-60 FABULOUS 

------------------------------------

 

There were two champions at the start of the season , Hearts the league winners and Kotoko, the 1st  FA cup winners having beaten Hearts 4-2 in 1958. Kotoko lost to Hasaacas and Corners but beat 4-2 again in Accra and 3-2 in Kumasi. 1959 was the year Kotoko earned the tag FABULOUS. It was the same year Hasaacas also got the  name  GIANTS OF THE WEST after beating Kotoko.At Gyandu Park, Kotoko took a 2 nil lead within the 1st 15mins through Awuah and   Salisu. Just before half time, Ali scored for Hasaacas. Salisu scored again the 2nd half to make it 3-1. In the 80th min,Aggrey - Fynn scored a penalty to make it 3-2 to Kotoko followed by a quick one by Ali to make it 3-3.Baba missed a penalty for Kotoko. Just a few minutes left,Kotoko keeper, Baffoe conceded two quick goals through Arthur and Aggrey -Fynn again to make it 5-3 to Hasaacas. The most outstanding players were Aggrey Fynn and Kotoko's Mohammed Salisu. Kotoko still won the league but Dwarfs became the 2nd team not win a league game all season. Another Cape Coast club.

 

 

 

1960/61 THE RISE OF  THE WESTERN SHOWBOYS 

----------------------------------------

Eleven Wise having finished bottom of the league the previous year bounced back. Led by the  Sputnik, Edward Acquah, they were suddenly fighting Kotoko for the title. Wise beat Kotoko 3-0 at Gyandu but lost 0-2 in Kumasi. During the season, Kotoko beat Dwarfs 12-1 in Kumasi on 2/1/1961.

Going into the final round of matches, Wise had 21points  with Kotoko on 20. Wise were playing local rivals  Hasaacas while Kotoko were also playing neighbours, Cornerstone. Hasaacas scored in the 84th min but Acquah levelled for Wise a minute later. It ended 1-1 but Kotoko's  game was still going on. Corners beat Kotoko 2-0 to hand the title to Wise. That quick turnaround earned Wise the name "The WESTERN SHOWBOYS ". Edward Acquah was the player of the year.

 

 

 

1961/62 CONTROVERSIAL REPUBLIKANS BORN 

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Ohene Djan had by now taken control of Ghana football. To give the game a national appeal,8 new clubs were added. They included All Blacks and Real Republikans(Swedru), Republikans was a team made up of the TWO TOP PLAYERS of each of the clubs. The players selected were:A Odametey and Ofei Dodoo  (Hearts),Dodoo Ankrah & E O Oblitey(\(\(\(Olympics),Dogo Moro & Baba Yara(Kotoko),Edward Acquah& Cromwell(Wise),Bob Neizer &George Appiah(Hasaacas),Joe Aikins &Kojo Appiah(Corners)Thompson Nunoo(Vipers),Edward Boateng(Standast ),Osei Kwasi(Grt Ashanti ) and Franklin Crentsil(Independence ).

 

Ohene Djan's vision wad to have the top players play regularly together so that Ghana could have a strong team ever ready for competitions. He was proved right when Ghana won the African Cup of Nations in 1963 and 65. Ghana beat Sudan 3-0  in Accra to lift the  1963 trophy and beat host nation Tunisia 3-2 after extra time for the 1965 trophy. The players were mainly from  Republikans. 

 

Kotoko was the most outspoken club against the formation of Republikans and threatened another boycott .The authorities hurriedly formed KUMASI UNITED CLUB to replace Kotoko. Kotoko agreed to play the league but for daring to rebel, they were made to play all their 1st round league matches at Nkawkaw. Republikans played the league on non-scoring basis. In a match between Hearts and Republikans,Hearts needed a win to be Champions of Ghana, anything other than that,Kotoko would be champions. Apparently, Republikans allowed Hearts to win 2-1 to deny Kotoko the title. Football historians claim that match was the first match - fixing  in Ghana, and it was officially sanctioned. For the first time, teams were relegated. Adansi United,Denkyira United and Kumasi United were the relegated teams.

 

 

1962/63 MODIBO TOE,HASAACAS AND BABA YARA 

-------------------------------------

Ohene Djan decided that Republikans should now play the league for points and so continued poaching players for his pet team.A Liberian man playing for Hasaacas, MODIBO TOE  was the player Ohene Djan wanted for Republikans. Hasaacas refused Ohene Djan and so were expelled from the league but Ohene Djan still got his man. Republikans went on to win the league with 58 points, Kotoko had 55. 

 

The season also saw the tragic car accident involving Baba Yara(King of Wingers ).This coming Tuesday, 24th March will be exactly 52 years since that fateful day. On 24th March 1963,Republikans were on their way back to Accra after beating Volta Heroes 5-0 at Kpando when their vehicle got involved in an accident at Kpeve in the V/Region. Baba Yara was paralysed. He received treatment at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in the UK.He returned to Ghana after treatment and initial reports suggested he could be playing again within 6 months. It however wasn't to be. 6 years after the accident, Yara, the King of Wingers died on 5th May,1969.

 

Olympics had lost a number of very key players. These players were mainly from the Ghana Army, therefore, when Defence Stars were formed,Olympics naturally lost those players. Many had predicted relegation for Oly and so when they finished 3rd, 6 points behind Kotoko and 1point behind Hearts at the end of the '65 season,they earned the name the WONDER CLUB. The 1965 FA cup couldn't produce a winner as  Republikans who had won it the last 3 times failed to beat Cornerstone. The two sides drew 1-1 on 2 occasions so the GFA declared both sides joint winners.  Jones Attuquayefio and Agyemang Gyau both of Republikans were the most oustanding players. Lawyer Gyau, are you related to Agyemang Gyau?

 

 

 

1963/64/ 65 KOTOKO DOMINANCE, OLY'S WONDER CLUB 

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Kotoko finished the 1st round winning all their 16 matches new National record. '63/64 was also the season Great Olympics earned the name WONDER CLUB. New clubs included Ghana Army, Hurricanes, Fankobaa, BA Stars, Adansiman. Hungarian, Joseph Ember was Kotoko coach. Wilberforce Mfum was the leading player.The league was however abridged to enable the national team prepare for the 1964 Olympic Games. Kotoko won the league with 45 points and Hearts 2nd with 37,Olympics on 36 points.  Two years after their expulsion, Hasaacas were invited back for the 64/65 season. There were 20 clubs this season and Kotoko were winners again.Wassaman were one of the new additions.

 

 

 

1966-THE COUP & B.A UNITED 

----------------------------

The 24th February coup which toppled the Nkrumah government delayed the league. Republikans,known as Osagyefo's Own Club(OOC) was immediately disbanded. Sekondi Independence was also disbanded.As I have already stated, the 1963 and 65 cup wins by the national team were by players mainly from Republikans. Since its dissolution, it Ghana 13 years for Ghana to win the African Cup again. That was 1978 when Ghana hosted and won,beating Uganda 2-0 in Accra. 14 clubs started the league but was cancelled about 8 months later .Kotoko,Great Ashanti and Corners sparked off the cancellation citing unemployment problems. On 1st September, 1966,the entire playing body(\(\(\(40 ) of BA United, led by international star, Agyemang Gyau resigned from the club. Their reason was the six month jail terms given to their team mates Kwaku Adjetey, Isaac Kofi Adjei, Moses Hinneh and Oteng Baah for assaulting Ref Appiah Kubi during 0-4 loss to Corners. The players were released  5 days later and fined 24 cedis each by a Kumasi high court. The league was cancelled on 15 December. BA United were leading at the time of the cancellation on 33 points. Kotoko who had already withdrawn had 32 points. Outstanding players were Frank Odoi of Olympics and Dribbling Wizard, Osei Kofi of Kotoko.

 

 

1967/68 LONGEST SEASON BUT .....

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Without the Nkrumah government and with Ohene Djan's near - absolute power over Ghana football coming to an end,every district wanted to  have a team in th national league. This led to the addition of 6 new clubs to make it 20.They included Akim United, Ho Sunset, Fankobaa etc. Curiously, there was none from Northern Ghana. At the end of the 1st round, Kotoko were leading with 33 points followed by an unbeaten  Great Olympics with 29.

     

Due to administrative problems,it was soon realised that Ghana might not be able to  meet the deadline to submit a champion club for for the Africa club cup.The GFA planned to organise a competition for the teams that played in the '66 league. Kotoko refused to participate because of the controversy surrounding the abortive Africa club championship final with Englebert of Zaire .Kotoko had drawn 2-2 with Englebert in the final in Kinshasa in December 1967 but were declared losers by the Zambian referee through a dubious  coin toss. Days after the match ,it was revealed the coin had the same image on both sides to win it for Englebert. A replay was ordered but Kotoko failed to turn up for the match . Apparently,the GFA headed by Nana Fredua Mensah refused to inform Kotoko of the new date because it would have clashed with an international match for Ghana. The absence of Kotoko players would have weakened the national team for that particular match.  Kotoko however won the national league again with 47 points, Hearts on 41 followed by Dwarfs on 41 points.

 

 

1969-SUSU BIRIBI'S GOLDEN CHANCE 

-------------------------------------

Newcomers, Susu Biribi surprised everyone. They lost only 3 games all season. They went 16 games unbeaten until they lost 0-2 to Hasaacas. They drew nine games but beat both Hearts and Kotoko away. The surprise result of the season was Dwarfs beating Kotoko 5-0 .It was on Kotoko's 34th birthday. Towards the end of the season,Susu Biribi were the league leaders and everyone was tipping them for victory but somehow allowed Kotoko to win the league beating them by just one point.

 

 

1970-OLY'S YEAR, KOTOKO, AFRICAN CHAMPIONS 

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The season's league format was considered a complete departure from anything that had been seen over last 12 years of league football in Ghana There were 50 clubs, 9 from the Greater Accra alone. The GFA therefore grouped the teams into 8 zones :Greater Accra,Eastern Zone,Central zone,Western zone, Ashanti zone,B/A zone, Volta zone and Northern/Upper zone.Top two from each zone qualified for a "SUPER LEAGUE " ,the northern/Upper zone provided only one club.

   

Before the season could start, Dwarfs accused Kotoko of luring their top two players, ROBERT MENSAH and EDWIN CONDUAH. Zac Bentum ,Dwarfs' rep accused Kotoko of offering Robert Mensah 2000 cedis and a  VW car. Robert Mensah eventually joined Kotoko but had a terrible debut. They lost 0-3 to Corners. He however helped Kotoko win the African clubs championship the same year.It was Olympics though who crowned Champions of Ghana. Gbewaa United became the 3rd club to complete a league season without a win after Vipers (1958)and Dwarfs(1959).

There was no relegation this season.

 

 

I970 - KOTOKO AND OLY CLASH IN AFRICA,TRAGIC ROBERT MENSAH 

------------------------------------

After not winning the league trophy for nearly 10 years, Hearts bounced back in style, winning the league with 60 points on their 60th birthday. Defending champions Olympics only finished in 12th position with Kotoko,the African champs in 7th. Both Olympics and Kotoko were playing in Africa. Kotoko were competing as the defending African Champions while Oly were representing as the Champions of Ghana. The two sides met in the semis of the African clubs championship but just some 5 days before the 1st leg in Accra,a big tragedy struck Ghana football . Robert Mensah was stabbed while trying to separate two friends who had got involved in a fight  with some people at CREDO,a drinking bar at Tema. It happened on 2nd November 1971 when he shd have been in camp with his team mates preparing to face Olympics. He passed away 3 days later Tema Gen Hospital. John Melfa was jailed for 5 yrs for manslaughter.The 1st leg had to be played at a later date. It ended 1-1 in Accra but Kotoko won 1-0 in Kumasi. Essel Mensah was in goal in the absence of Robert Mensah for Kotoko. 

   

Kotoko however lost 1-0 in the final to Canon Yaounde controversially. The final had ended 3-3 on aggregate. A one - off replay was abandoned due to crowd disturbance. Canon were leading 1-0 at the time and we're declared Champions of Africa for 1971. Robert Mensah died tragically, finished in 7th in the national league and lost our title under some dubious circumstances. I would say, for Kotoko ,1971 was nothing but ANNUS HORRIBILIS, I can only imagine how my Dad was feeling.

 

 

1972-1976

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The education and sports minister under the new Acheampong government ruled there were too many teams in the league(20) and  ordered that the last 8 clubs of the previous season be relegated so that there would be only 12 teams .Bofoakwa Tano, led by the "Powerhouse" Kwasi Owusu gave Kotoko a stern opposition but Kotoko triumphed at the end of the season. Bofoakwa finished only 2 points behind Kotoko .Defending champions Hearts were 3rd. Hearts put the disappointment of 1972 firmly behind them to win the 1973 league in style. They had 42 points, Cornerstone finished 2nd with 33 points. K Owusu of Bofoakwa and Peter Lamptey of Hearts were the most exciting players for 1973.

       

Hasaacas returned to the 1st division in 1974 after a year out but the season belonged to Olympics. Rising star Mohammed Polo scored both goals for Hearts when they beat Oly 2-1 but couldn't stop Oly from winning the league. Hearts finished in 2nd place. Dan Owusu and Kwasi Owusu were fantastic for Bofoakwa who came 3rd. Dan Owusu was the goal king for 1974.

Kotoko came back very strongly in 1975 ,losing only 3 out of 34 games .Led by a 20yr old Opoku Afriyie(we are not related),Kotoko scored 76 goals in 34 games. The scored 7 goals in at least matches. Dan Owusu scored 28 times to retain the goal king award as against 27 by Opoku Afriyie. 

Hearts were the 1976 league winners finishing 6 points ahead of Kotoko who got 43 points 2nd followed by Akotex, Dumas etc. 1976 saw Defence Stars change their name to SS74. They finished in 13th place.

 

 

1977-HASAACAS WIN NOVELTY LEAGUE 

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Ghana was going to host the 11th AFCON in 1978 so it was decided only the first round if the league would be played so that the national team could prepare adequately. Hasaacas won the league and there was no relegation. 1977 was the year Hearts lost 2-4 to Hafia Club of Guinea.It was the finals of the 1977 African  clubs championship .

Ghana was in Group A based in Accra alongside Nigeria, Zambia and Upper Volta ( Burkina Faso ). Ghana beat Zambia 2-1, drew 1-1 with Nigeria and beat Upper Volta 3-0. In the semis played on 14th March ,Ghana beat Tunisia 1-0. On 16th March ,Ghana beat Uganda 2-0 to win  cup for the 3rd time having won it in 63 and 65 .Opoku Afriyie was the scorer of both goals for Ghana.

 

 

1978HEARTS AND GHANA ARE CHAMPIONS 

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Having not won the league for a few seasons,Hearts won the 1978 league beating defending champions, Hasaacas by 3 points but all the talk was on only team,the Black Stars. Ghana hosted the 1978 AFCON and won it for the 1st time since 1965.There were 8 teams and two host cities, ACCRA and KUMASI.

 

 

1979-HEARTS RETAIN TITLE -JUST 

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Challenge for the title was even stiffer for Hearts than the last season. Their challengers were Kotoko. They both won 22 matches  out of 34. It was Hearts though who won the race with 51 points,just 1 point ahead of Kotoko followed by Dumas and Hasaacas. At the bottom of the table were BA United, Bofoakwa and Susu Biribi.

 

 

1980-83:KOTOKO DOMINANCE AND 2ND AFRICAN TITLE 

------------------------------

Hearts had won last two title if the last decade so Kotoko ensured the new decade,at least the first 4 season would be for them . Kotoko had players like Papa Arko,Kennedy(\(\(\(not Berkoe),Opoku Nti,Albert Asaase, OPOKU Afriyie, Francis Kumi, Sam Ampeh  (keeper),Charles Oppong (not Jasco ) For the first time there were 7 factory clubs including GIHOC stars,Akotex, Juantex, Tarkwa Gold Stars, Mine Stars etc.

 

Kotoko won the league with ease finishing 7 points ahead of  Hasaacas who were 2nd.

In 1981,the national 1st division league was renamed THE PREMIER LEAGUE. Asante Kotoko fine performance from last season as they retained their  title finishing 8 points ahead of Hearts. 

   

Back in 1980,former National Director of Sports had taken up the position of Special advisor to Kotoko Chairman Simms Mensah. Ohene Djan's statement was "just as Okomfo Anokye from Akuapem helped Osei Tutu build a strong Asante nation,so will I ,an Akuapem help Simms Mensah to rebuild Kotoko into a fearsome side again",and so he did as Kotoko the league again 82 and 83 making it 4 league titles in successive season.

1982 was the year both Kotoko and Ghana were champions of Africa. The 1982 AFCON was held in Libya and Ghana paraded a team of young players including Kwasi Appiah Who later took Ghana to the 2014 Fifa world cup in Brazil. The Black Stars were handed a very tough group comprising Libya the hosts, Cameroun and Tunisia. Ghana drew 1st match 2-2 with Libya,played 0-0 against Cameroun before beating Tunisia 1-0.

 

Ghana beat Algeria 3-2 after extra time in the semis and went on to beat host nation Libya 1-0 in the final to win the tournament for the 4th and the last time so far. That 4th title was the continental record at the time but Egypt has 7 wins.

 

One date we can not avoid when talking about the history of football in Ghana is 9TH MAY 2001.I believe most Ghanaians would like to forget about but it is unforgettable. It was during a league match between Hearts and Kotoko when trouble started in the stands. Police were reported to have thrown canisters of tear gas into the crowd. This reportedly caused more fear,panic and disorderliness among the spectators. To sum it all up,there were about 126 fatalities. This number remains the an African record, albeit an unwanted one. This unwanted record puts Ghana 4th on the global list behind 

A.  590 Happy Valley      

     Racecourse in Hong 

     Kong 26th Feb 1918

 

B. 328 football  Lima, Peru

     May 1964

 

C.  200 football 

     1980,Colombia.

 

MAY THEIR SOULS REST IN PEACE.

 

 

Many of  us here who are football fans support either Hearts or Kotoko so I will be providing some statistics on them as well.

 

STATISTICS

 

Previous winners of Ghana's elite league...