I was pleasantly thrilled to watch on TV a forthcoming golden anniversary of Okwawu United FC. I thought the “Asase Aban soccer artistes from the mountains were dead.
I have a sentimental attachment to anything Okwawu because I spent almost all my teenage years in that enclave schooling in four different towns as I followed my itinerant school head teacher father the venerable Alfred Lawrence Angua Bediako of blessed memory.
I will forever cherish the wonderful experience gained at Abetifi Presbyterian Boarding school in the early fifties.
As already disclosed I am interested in Okwawu affairs, and incidentally, being a sports journalist, my interest in Okwawu United Football Club is justified. Honestly since their demise from the Premier Division in 2006 I have not followed their progress in the wilderness with any serious attention. I almost regarded them as dead with the only consolation of not yet buried.
This reminds me of a cartoon I saw in the famous international magazine, Newsweek, some decades ago. The cartoon depicted “Middle East Peace Talks” in a coffin on its way to the cemetery. The pall bearers of “Middle East Talks” heard loud shouts from the coffin. One “of them quickly hit back saying “Shut up, we have not buried you yet”.
In a somewhat similar situation, many weak hearted lovers of football may think Okwawu are dead but die hearts like Nana Dankwa and Co strongly believe the team may be presumed dead but they are in fact alive and kicking.
These die hard supporters don’t want all the brilliant efforts of devoted club administrators like Richard Kwame Appiah, Kwame Ofosu Bamfo Sikkens, Nana Abrah Appiah and Co to end in ruins.
It is hoped Okwawu United will be a beneficiary of the renascent Okwawu Business Forum and enjoy a spirited revival of the club on their golden jubilee celebration.
On this note it may be appropriate to recall the history of the famous Okwawu United Football Club chronicled more than 39 years ago by the late veteran sports journalist Nana Ampomah affectionately called “Sankofa”.
The story goes that little did Alhaji Osei and others expect that their efforts to merge two local rivals clubs, Okwawu Stores and Super Obooma would, within a relatively short time, yield such fruits. Looking back at the days of struggle in 1975-76 one cannot help congratulating Alhaji Abysinia and Mallam Gbewa of Nkawkaw for their unity of purpose.
Starting as Eastern Regional second division campaigners in 1968, Okwawu United shot into the limelight in 1979 when they qualified from their zone for the middle league only to find that a probe has been set into circumstances that led to an incredible 17-0 victory over Goku Heroes of Akuse in a crucial Eastern Regional second division league match.
The probe was chaired by GFA member Frank Apeagyei. Club chairman Mr E O Boateng and founding member Alhaji Osei were critically quizzed at the probe. Okwawu however came out unscathed. They proceeded to play in the middle league which saw Fankobaa and Prestea Mine Stars gaining promotion.
The following year Okwawu and Standfast were promoted into the top league.
Mr Ofori Boateng and his management comprising Alhaji Osei, Capt Abankwa, Alhaji Abyssinia and Nana Ntiri Dankyi found things tough and the club escaped relegation narrowly.
The following season Okwawu made serious recruitment including Owusu Mensah hero of 1982 Afcon triumph in Libya. Other top recruitment included Afcon goal king George Alhassan, Seth Wilson, Peter Akromah, Joe Awuletey and Tanko Ayuba.
Those were the days when Mr S.K. Darko; Mr Kwame Ofosu Bamfo, Managing Director of Bamson Co Ltd in Kantamanto and local representative of Sikkens BV of Holland and other sports enthusiasts joined to assist the Boateng administration.
After another escape from relegation in 1982-83 season tragedy nearly hit Okwawu when Mr Ofori Boateng voluntarily quit the chairmanship. But massive support from people like R. K. Appiah, G.A.K Abankwa, Opanin Pusuo Abankwa Safari, Dr Osafo Mensah and Nana Abra Appiah joined some of the old brigade to support in the smooth running of the club.
The club had to be salvaged from integration by appointing highly respected businessman Mr. R. K Appiah as executive chairman.
The club was bent on avoiding what had happened to clubs like Susu Biribi, Akotex, All Blacks, Rovers, Dumas, Volta United, Gt Ashanti Adansiman, Gbewaa
United, Fankobaa, Obuotabri and others.
Okwawu had to mobilise all forces to keep afloat.
Mr Appiah therefore picked a strong team comprising Nana Odame Asiateh, Beponghene as first vice chairman, Alhaji Abdulai Walahene of
Nkawkaw as second vice-Chairman; Kwabena Addo, Director of Operations; Oduro Nyarko, Secretary; Ampem Dankwa, National Treasurer; Nana Ntiri Dankyi, Publicity officer Accra Rep Kwasi Poku, national organiser with Hogu Debrah as captain.
It is on record that Okwawu United is the most successful football club in the Eastern Region. Top stars like Tony Yeboah, Mohamned Odoom, Alhaji Bello Ibrahim Merigah, Joe Acheampong, Edward Opeele Aboagye, Kwaku Manu and many others have once featured for Okwawu since they faced relegation at the end of the 2005-2006 season.
This is the brief history of Okwawu United FC.
It is hoped the Golden Jubilee celebration will revive the dying spirit of the “Yente Gyae” boys from the Odweanoma mountains.
Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.
