Is Reverend Osei Kofi, the greatest Ghanaian footballer of all-time?

Some believe that a holistic comparison of players that played in different generations is untenable since it is unfair to do that.

The argument mostly goes against those who played their football several years back, especially in Ghana that there are no footages to support one’s claims.

However, with the availability of data, commentaries, a good research will serve as a guide to inform one’s judgement on the subject.

Ghana over the years have produced talented players such as James Adjei, CK Gyamfi, Aggrey Fyn, Baba Yara, Osei Kofi, Ibrahim Sunday, Mohammed Polo, Abdul Razak, Abedi Pele, Asamoah Gyan, etc.

Asamoah Gyan Pulse Ghana

The above-named players could do a lot of magic with the ball and they gave fans much entertainment during their heydays.

However, being talented is a means to an end and not the end itself.

After a careful study and review of Ghanaian football history, I could say that Ghana’s all-time best player is a straight battle between Abedi Pele and Rev. Osei Kofi.

When thematic areas such as individual brilliance, team work, titles, individual awards and consistency which are usually taken into consideration as factor to settle the best player debate.

Baba Yara Pulse Ghana

Baba Yara was very talented but his football career suffered a major setback when he had to retire during his peak because of an accident which paralysed him, so in terms of achievements, he comes no where close to the likes of Osei Kofi and Abedi Pele

Reverend Osei Kofi in an interview recently said that he has contributed more to Ghana football than Abedi Pele Ayew, the three times African Footballer of the Year.

Osei Kofi Pulse Ghana

His assertion generated heated argument in the Ghanaian media space.

However, undoubtedly, he has contributed more to the success story of Ghanaian football than the Maestro, when his achievement is juxtaposed with that of the former Olympique Marseille player.

Both won the African Cup of Nations with Ghana, but while Osei Kofi was the face of the Black Stars AFCON winning team of Ghana in 1965, Abedi Pele was just a member of the 1982 AFCON winning team.

At club level Osei Kofi was the skipper of the Kotoko team that won the 1970 Champions Cup and

Contributed immensely as the Porcupine Warriors finished as runners-up in three finals in continental football (two of which they should have been champions, if not the fact that they were handed a raw deal AFC (now CAF)), while Abedi Pele was instrumental when Olympique Marseille won the UEFA Champions League in 1993 and before then they had placed 2nd in 1991. The only thing here is that the European club championship is rated higher and more competitive than the African version.

On the individual level, Abedi Pele was voted the African Footballer of the Year on three occasions, while Osei Kofi had none, but it should be noted that the former Kotoko skipper played the best of his football in the era when the African Footballer of the Year award hadn’t been instituted by the France Football Magazine.

Abedi Pele Pulse Ghana

In 1965, he was widely rated as the best footballer on the African continent, so as in 1966 and 1967. Osei Kofi could have won the award on three consecutive years like Abedi Pele Ayew. Even when the award was first instituted in 1970, he was named the 7th best player in Africa. He should curse his stars for missing out on the award, because he failed to participate in the 1970 Africa Cup of Nations held in Sudan. The story would have been different, if he had been part of the Black Stars team that finished runners-up in the 1970 AFCON.

Another factor that went against him was that he got injured enroute to Kotoko African Champions Cup triumph in 1970, which the final took place in January, 1971.

Honours

Club

Hearts of Oak

League: 1961/1962

Asante Kotoko

League:1963/1964, 1965, 1967/1968, 1969, 1972, 1975

Fa Cup: 1976

Africa Club Champions Cup

Champion: 1970

Losing finalist: 1967, 1971, 1973

International

Africa Cup of Nations: 1963*, 1965