Asante Kotoko and Kwame Nkrumah team The Republicans fought over Baba Yara
Ghana is a football loving nation. The country has produced numerous players who have left a lasting impression in the country, Africa and world football. We can talk of players like Osei kofi, Dogo Moro, Offei Ansah, Mohammed Polo, Abedi Pele, Tony Yeboah, Samuel Osei Kuffour, Opoku Afriyie, Stephen Appiah, Micheal Essien and many others.
One player whose football career was cut short but left an indelible mark in the history books of Ghana is the legendary Baba Yara.
Baba Yara also known as “the king of wingers” played for Asante Kotoko ,Kwame Nkrumah’s own club (Real Republicans) and the Black stars.
He is regarded as one of the best players that have emerged on the local turf since the inception of football in the country. Baba Yara started sports as a horse racer at a tender age.
He quit the horse racing and and went for trials at Asante Kotoko and was picked because of his exceptional talent. He became a household name in the local game and was invited to the Black stars.
Real Republicans also known as Osagyefo’s Own Club was established by Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkumah with the help of Ohene Djan, the then Directer of sports.
Two players were selected from each team to form the Republicans. Although the teams were not happy that their star players were taken away but they could not do anything about it because of Kwame Nkrumah. Dogo Moro and Baba Yara were the two players selected from Asante Kotoko.
Kotoko protested bitterly because Baba Yara was their star player at that time. This brought a lot of tension in the Ghanaian game between Kotoko, Kwame Nkrumah and Ohene Djan.
This incident made Kotoko to even boycott the league at a point in time. Baba Yara eventually joined Republicans. He won two league titles with them and emerge as the most valuable player.
Baba Yara retired from football very early because of an accident. The Republicans team were involved in an accident when they were returning from a league match. He became paralysed due to a spinal injury. He died at the age of 33. Because of his immense contribution to the game, the Kumasi Sports stadium was named after him.
Content created and supplied by: Toronto-man (via Opera News )
