At close to 67 years, Gerald Anthony Freduah-Agyemang (Big Ben), one of Ebusua Dwarfs and Augusco's football legends still reflects the qualities that earned him the college team captaincy in his days.
His attention to detail, commitment to duty and discipline were striking. Unless he was indisposed, Big Ben made it a point to exercise regularly for 30 minutes five days in a week.
Big Ben entered Augusco in September, 1961 and left the sixth form (upper six) in 1968 as the St. Stephen’s house prefect. He succeeded in finding a good balance between his academic work and sports, something that earned him a number of academic and sports awards.
He was an integral part of the all conquering school team that formed the nucleus of Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs, and could be described as Augusco's midfield trail-blazer; setting the pace for the likes of Charles Paintsi,l who played for the Ghana Academicals team and AC Milan's Michael Kojo Essien. He played for Dwarfs from 1964 to 1972.
Some of Big Ben’s Augusco play-mates were: The late Amisssah (Joe Ami), late Douglas Owuo, late Mills (VC 10), late Mingle, Andrews Obeng (Rago), J. B. Mensah (Stormy weather), Atta Doodu (Piccolo), Edward Boye (Gibraltar), Mike Alhassan (Soccer Engineer), Ato Mensah (Romotwe), Atta Mensah (Steeve), Ato (Black Cobra), Alex Nutsugah (Baby Pele), Brefo (Garincha) and Blay Morkeh.
With Dwarfs, his teammates included the late Robert Mensah (Yashin), Wilson Appah, Assani, A. K. Mensah, Edwin Conduah and John Taylor (Lapanto), all of blessed memory.
Not surprisingly, today Big Ben is the President of Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs Old Players Association and, among other things, the Abakomahene of Jenjemirejah in the Brong Ahafo Region.
For starters, the nickname Big Ben was given to him by Coach Asebi Boakye, a Central Regional Sports Coach, because he considered his huge frame and dexterity ahead of the great Ben Akyeampong, who at the time played in the same midfield position for the Republicans Club and Black Stars.
Big Ben recounts a story which underscores his love for Dwarfs. On June 2, 1968, while preparing for his A-Level Exams, he risked travelling to Nigeria with Dwarfs to play Stationery Stores and played the return match at the Accra Stadium.
Freduah-Agyeman pursued a career in Insurance and held management positions both in Ghana and Nigeria, where he retired as Snr. Underwriting Manager at Russel Insurance Brokerage firm.
