My seven years at Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast coincided with what I consider the golden era of inter-schools and colleges athletics. Those were years when schoolboy sport carried national intensity—when reputations were forged on cinder tracks and rivalries were as structured and disciplined as the institutions themselves.
The Standard Bearers of an Era
Mfantsipim’s athletics programme during that period was formidable. We had an assembly of talent that commanded respect across the Central Region and beyond. Among them was Doku—nicknamed “Carl Lewis” for his explosive sprinting and effortless stride. Alongside him were Farouk Issaka and Diaka, athletes whose names became synonymous with podium finishes.
In later years, the tradition continued with athletes such as Papa Yooyo, Fayaa, Mahatma, Prince T, Chris Mo, Shubee, Paul Acquah, Serbecoe, Pajalo, Aziz Zakari, Bonya, and Mozart. They were not merely participants; they were disciplined competitors who understood the mechanics of preparation, race execution, and team representation.
Doku remained my all-time favourite of that era. His sprint mechanics, acceleration phase, and finishing discipline set him apart. Yet I also admired Yaa Baby of St. Augustine’s College for a different reason: his artistry on the 200-metre curve during relay races. He attacked the bend with calculated aggression while maintaining balance and velocity—a technical nuance many overlooked, but one I deeply appreciated.
Rivalry and Respect
Our fiercest competitors were our traditional rivals. St. Augustine’s College (AUGUSCO) fielded national-calibre athletes such as Augustine Nketia, Felix Andam, Yaa Baby, and Agabus. Their presence elevated the quality of competition. Adisadel College also produced formidable athletes, including Show Bula and Billy Ocean.
Inter-schools’ athletics at the time was far from casual competition. It followed a structured progression—Triangulars, Zonals, and Super Zonals—each stage demanding tactical preparation, squad depth, and psychological resilience.
Leadership: My Appointment as General Team Manager (1992/93)
When I entered Sixth Form in 1992 for the 1992/93 academic year, I was appointed General Team Manager of the Mfantsipim Athletics Team. It was both an honour and a test of administrative discipline.
The role extended far beyond race day. It involved coordinating dawn training sessions, monitoring athlete welfare, enforcing punctuality, and liaising directly with the Sports Masters—Mr. Hope and Mr. Larbi.
At the start of the season, Mr. Hope formally introduced the new athletes to me. Among them, was “The Bower”, who had joined us in Sixth form. Mr. Hope described him as a promising javelin thrower. Given that endorsement, I took particular interest in ensuring Strongbow adhered to the training programme.
The “The Bower” Episode
Ironically, each dawn training session became an exercise in excuse management. Whenever I went to wake “The Bower”, there was always a reason—fatigue, discomfort, or some prior engagement. Yet he unfailingly appeared at the athletics table in the dining hall.
On the fourth morning, I made a managerial decision: he would accompany me to the senior field, or I would not leave his side.
What followed was startling. “The Bower” displayed neither technique nor basic throwing mechanics. His release angle was inconsistent, his footwork absent, and he could not project the javelin. To make matters worse, he attempted to correct the technique of George Bonyah—the Central Regional Champion and a junior national athlete.
This was more than underperformance; it was a breakdown in discipline and self-awareness. Mr. Hope acted decisively. “The Bower” was dismissed from the team that very day. He never returned to training, nor did he appear again at the athletics dining table.
The episode reinforced a principle that defined Mfantsipim athletics: reputation never substituted for performance, and discipline was non-negotiable.
Breaking the Drought and Consolidating Dominance
The 1990/91 and 1991/92 academic years marked a historic turning point. After a prolonged drought, Mfantsipim reclaimed glory by winning the Triangulars, the Zonals, and the Super Zonals in successive seasons. That victory restored belief within the athletics fraternity and re-established the school’s competitive authority in the region.
During my tenure as General Team Manager in the 1992/93 academic year, we did more than defend those titles—we won the Triangulars, the Zonals, and the Super Zonals for the third consecutive time.
Retaining all three competitions after breaking a long drought was strategically significant. It transformed what could have been a single triumphant season into the beginning of a sustained resurgence.
These victories were not accidental. They were the result of structured preparation, disciplined athlete management, and a culture that demanded accountability at every level.
Legacy
As Mfantsipim celebrates its 150th Anniversary, I reflect on an era defined not only by medals but by mindset. The tracks taught us leadership, resilience, and integrity. Rivalries sharpened us. Responsibility matured us.
We inherited a drought, witnessed its end, and ensured that victory was not fleeting.
That, to me, remains the true significance of those years.
- Read also
- Mfantsipim School @ 150 and Creech’s Mfantsipim Diaries: My First Shock
- Mfantsipim School @ 150 and Creech’s Mfantsipim Diaries: My second shock
- Mfantsipim School @ 150 and Creech’s Mfantsipim Diaries: Shock Number Three
- Creech’s Mfantsipim Diaries. My final shock
The writer is Philip Creech-Jones of MOBA 1992 (Mfantsipim Old Boys Association).
