Asante Kotoko’s first African Cup triumph 43 years ago
On Sunday, January 24, 1971, Asante Kotoko won their first CAF Champions’ Cup in the then Zaire, now DR Congo.
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Kotoko, after labouring for years, without the most prestigious African clubs’ title, finally made it a reality exactly 43 years last Friday in soccer history. They beat Englebert 2-1 at the Tata Raphael stadium in Kinshasa.
Report: Kotoko at the gigantic Tata Raphael stadium, in front of the Head of State of Zaire, Mobuto Seseko, succeeded in beating their rivals T.P Englebert 2-1 at their own backyard with splendid attack and solid defence.
Striker Abukari Gariba put Kotoko ahead in the 12th minute, before left winger Tshinabu put Englebert on level pegging in the 19th minute. Malik Jabir, who was in his high element, struck a low grounder to beat Kazadi in post for Englebert in the 80th minute.
Just after Kotoko had finished celebrating their goal, the referee gave a penalty to the home team but Tshinabu, whether scared by the antics of Robert Mensah in post for Kotoko or scared by the large crowd, blew it over the bar to give Kotoko a sigh of relieve.
From this time onwards, it was Robert Mensah who stood between Englebert and victory, as he made fantastic saves to keep the team’s dream alive. What made the victory a sweet one was that Englebert had drawn 1-1 with Kotoko in Kumasi two weeks before the memorable second leg in Kinshasa. What a way to snatch a trophy from a rival.
Kotoko sent the cup to Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, the owner of the club at the time, at the Manhyia Palace after arriving in Ghana
The starting line -up was Robert Mensah, Ben Kusi, Oliver Acquah, Clifford Odame, Ohene Brenya, Ibrahim Sunday, Sule Musah, Yaw Sam, Abukari Gariba, Malik Jabir and Osumanu Orlando.
Players who stayed on the bench of Kotoko were: Essel Mensah, Osei Kofi, Albert Essuman (Baby Pele), Atia Mohammed Musah, Bobie Ansah and Dogo Moro, who was a player cum team manager, while the technical team had Edward Aggrey Fynn as coach, Ben Koufie as assistant coach and Dogo Moro.
It should be recalled that although the final was played in January 1971, it was a 1970 championship and, therefore, Asante Kotoko in the record books were the champion of 1970, with Canon Yaounde as the champions of 1971.
Also, it is that Champions’ Cup which was replaced by the Champions League in 1997.
Congratulatory messages from clubs and club administrators after the victory.
Zac Bentum, the chairman of the Organisation of Ghana League Clubs Association (OGLCA), in a congratulatory messgae, said ‘Kotoko had demonstrated by their victory that a club could only hope to achieve greatness by dedication, perseverance, hard work and discipline.
“Ghana football will once again be on the ascendency internationally if clubs will emulate the shining example set by Kotoko.”
Henry Djaba, chief patron of Abuakwa Susu Biribi, said “The whole Ghana was proud of the achievement of Asante Kotoko and hoped it would inspire other Ghanaian clubs to similar achievements in the future.”
Hearts of Oak’s Steele Dadzie, who was then the secretary of the club, said “On behalf of the entire Hearts of Oak team please accept my warmest congratulations for your outstanding performance in African clubs soccer Championship.”
Interview with Ibrahim Sunday.
The captain of the victorious 1971 Kotoko team and African best player for the year 1971
Freeman: What motivated Kotoko to beat Englebert in Kinshasa?
Sunday: They had previously beaten us in the final through dubious means. After both the home and away matches with them ended in a draw, a toss of coin was done to break the tie in 1967, but when the toss went in our favour, the captain of Englebert, Kalala, confused the referee by booting the coin to turn in their favour and the referee for fear of his life declared them winners.
We protested to CAF and a replay was scheduled, but the GFA, for reasons known to them, never informed us, so Englebert went for the game and they were subsequently declared champions.
That painful defeat was still on our minds, so we motivated ourselves to pay them in their own coin on their home soil.
Freeman: How was the reception in D.R Congo?
Sunday: The reception was very bad. We were refused to train on their pitches and the treatment in our hotel was an eyesore so we had to move to the Ghana embassy in Kinshasa, where we slept on mattresses on the floor.
Freeman: What was the reaction of the crowd after the defeat?
Sunday: They were sure of beating us so when the loss came, the whole place was turned into a cemetery and because the head of state, Mobutu, knew his people’s behaviuor, he warned the defence minister that if anything happened to a single Ghanaian, he would be held responsible.
Freeman: I learnt Mobutu passed a comment on Kalala that “Because of your foolishness, the cup is going to Ghana.” what made him say that?
Sunday: If Englebert had won the cup, they would have been the first club to win the trophy donated by Dr Kwame Nkrumah for three times, having won it in 1967 and 1968, and since it was his aim to buy a new cup to be named after him for the competition, he was furious that the players had caused him to miss such a golden opportunity.