Robert Mensah
Robert Mensah ( born 1939 in Cape Coast, † November 2, 1971 in Tema ) was a Ghanaian football player. The 1.83 meter tall and 92 kilogram goalkeeper was recently at the first division club Asante Kotoko under contract and was active in the senior team.
Life
Club career
Mensah began playing football in the first team of the Mysterious Dwarfs from Cape Coast. In 1963 he moved to Ghana Independence from Sekondi; the association of the personal adviser of President Kwame Nkrumah, Ambrose Yankey was dissolved after Nkrumah's overthrow in February 1965. Mensah Then moved back to the " mysterious dwarf ", for which he ran aground four more years. 1969 Mensah finally got a contract with duration of champions Asante Kotoko of Kumasi.
Various sources also give additional stations or any other annual numbers again:
- Jonathan Wilson indicates that Mensah had been fired in June 1971 by his club Dumas Boys of Ghana Textile Printing from Tema. He also mentions two national missions against Liberia ( 3-1 win in April 1971) and Togo ( 0-1 defeat in June 1971).
- The Ghana News Agency reported that Mensah would have begun in 1967 with the football games at the Mysterious Dwarfs and was later changed to Ghana Independence and Asante Kotoko. However, the fact of a change to the 1963 Ghana Independence defunct club in the years after 1967 and the incorrect reporting of the African Cup of Nations in 1970 described as "African Nations Cup in Sudan in 1971 " let the product in a good light.
In January 1970 Mensah stood with his club Asante Kotoko in the finals of African Cup of Champions Clubs; Opponent was the Congolese club Tout Puissant Mazembe. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg (10 January in Kumasi ) ( January 24 in Kinshasa) Mensah could hold a penalty of Etepe Kakoko, making his club to keep the 2-1 lead and the first in the closing stages of the second leg Ghanaian team was able to win the trophy as best African football team.
Career in the national team
With the national Mensah took part in the Africa championships in 1968 and 1970; both tournaments graduated from Ghana as Vice - African champions. At the tournament of 1968, Mensah was used in two of the five games and should have been awarded as " Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament"; in two other games John Bortey Naawu stood between the posts, the statements of the preliminary round game against the Republic of Congo are unknown. Two years later, Mensah played in all five matches of the tournament. In addition, Mensah was at the 1968 Olympic Games in the national squad, but came to no use. In addition, Mensah was used in May 1969 at the World Cup qualifier against Nigeria. In ten ( documented ) internationals Mensah conceded thirteen goals (total: four wins, three draws, three defeats).
Awards
In 1970 Mensah in choosing to African Footballer of the Year along with his compatriot and teammate Osei Kofi and the Moroccans Allal Ben Kassou seventh. In the election the following year he was elected behind Ibrahim Sunday (Ghana, Asante Kotoko ) to second place.
When choosing to Africa's Player of the Century (English Africa's best player of the Century ) came Mensah as the only unlisted goalkeeper on the 39th; so Mensah was behind Abédi Pelé (3rd place), Anthony Yeboah ( 24th place ), Abdul Razak ( 31st place ) and Opoku Nti ( 37th place ) Fifth -placed Ghanaians and let this his countrymen Adolf Armah and Ibrahim Sunday (both 44. Place ) behind.
Circumstances of death and reception
On October 30, 1971, Mensah met with some friends in the Credo Bar in Tema. After an argument between two friends, there was a dispute between Robert Mensah and Isaac Melfah, whereupon the latter left the bar; 15 minutes later Mensah left those as well. Front of the bar there was a dispute of the two and Melfah pushed the goalkeeper a broken bottle in the stomach, thereby Mensah intestines gushed out. Emmanuel Sagoe, a close friend Mensah, the "Black Stars" was leaning member a little later on a wall and had to take him to Tema General Hospital. After surgery first successful Mensah police could give a statement for the record. Robert Mensah succumbed to the age of 32 on November 2nd around 2:30 clock a serious, injury-related infection; He left behind his wife and four children.
The body Mensah was transferred in the following days to Kumasi and finally to Cape Coast. In Accra, a two-day vigil was held. The end of 2003, the body of Asokyeano Cemetery in Victoria Park should be reburied.
The Ghanaian Parliament (English Parliament of Ghana ) held after his death from a two-minute moment of silence; President Edward Akufo - Addo and Prime Minister Kofi Busia Abrefa also laid flowers on grave Mensah.
Five days after Mensah 's death, the African Cup of Champions Clubs semi-final first leg between Accra Great Olympics from and Asante Kotoko should take place. The goalkeeper honor the game was delayed by one week; after a 1-1 draw and a 1-0 win the " porcupines " from Kumasi them eventually to the final, where, after three matches ( 0:3 - 0:1 - 2:0 ) subject to the Cameroonians Canon Yaoundé.
The 31 -year-old electrician Isaac Melfah was convicted of manslaughter in 1972 to eight years in prison with hard labor.
Outside the stadium of Mensah 's last club Asante Kotoko, the Kumasi Sports Stadium was erected a statue in memory of the goalkeeper.
In 2003, the Cape Coast Sports Stadium, venue of the Ebusua Dwarfs was renamed Robert Mensah Stadium.