ASANTE KOTOKO'S MAIDEN AFRICAN CUP TRIUMPH REVISITED
On January 24 1971 Kumasi Asante Kotoko widely touted as Ghana's most decorated and best supported football club conquered Africa following a 3-2 win on aggregate against Congolese giants Tout Puissant Mazembe in the then Club Championship Final a precursor of the CAF Champions League.
Both sides collided at the same stage in 1967 but the latter won under bizarre circumstances.
Having held Les Corbeaux to a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the first leg played on January 10, 1971 the Porcupine Warriors pitted their strength against the Lubumbashi-based side at Kinshasa's capacious Martyrs Stadium for the decisive clash on January 24 1971.
Buoyed on by President Mobutu Sese Seko, TP Mazembe birthed in 1939 fiel…
[5:13 pm, 24/01/2023] Voda1: SOUTH AFRICA'S NATIONS CUP IN 1996: A HISTORIC AND UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT FOR THE RAINBOW NATION
South Africa's readmission to football in 1992 by FIFA was indeed a blessing in disguise.
The beautiful game unified a nation endowed with suitable climate and abundant mineral resources whose
policy of racial segregation termed Apartheid bred division and anarchy.
Apartheid which was later outlawed in 1990 fostered peaceful co-existence and harmonious living amongst the Blacks and Whites.
The country's first multiracial elections held in 1993 culminated in the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as first Black President on May 10 1994.
The Anti-Apartheid hero and Nobel Prize Laureate was released after twenty-seven years of incarceration on February 11 1990.
In the sporting arena, the Springboks emerged victorious in the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final.
Francois Jacobus Pienaar held the William Webb Ellis trophy aloft amidst joyous scenes in Johannesburg.
Orlando Pirates also defeated Ivorian giants Asec Mimosas in the then African Clubs Championship Final.
The first leg in Johannesburg finished 2-2 setting the stage for a tension-packed decisive clash in a fortnight.
On December 16 1995 at Abidjan's Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Jeremiah Sikhosana nicknamed Legs of Thunder struck to gift the Buccaneers an unlikely 1-0 win.
The Rainbow Nation staged the Nations in 1996 after replacing originally designated host Kenya.
Holders Nigeria withdrew at the eleventh hour and CAF barred them from participating in the 1998 edition.
Fielding a multiracial team, South Africa who were paired in Group A with Cameroon, Angola and Egypt got off to a flying start after thumping the 1990 FIFA World Cup quarter-finalists 3-0.
A morale-boosting win over the Palancas Negras of Angola guaranteed their qualification to the knockout phase despite losing to Egypt in their final game.
They posted a 2-1 win over Algeria at the quarter-final stage and booked a semi-final berth against four-time winners Ghana.
The Black Stars who played without their talisman Abedi Ayew and reduced to ten men following Nii Odartey Lamptey's expulsion were outplayed, outrun, outclassed and outscored.
The 3-0 capitulation remains their worst ever defeat in the history of the biennial tournament.
On February 3 1996 South Africa faced 1965 losing finalists Tunisia handled by Henryk Wojciech Kasperczak from Poland in the Final.
The game played at a packed to capacity FNB Stadium in Johannesburg was officiated by Charles Massembe from Uganda.
Bafana Bafana had the lion's share of possession and came close to scoring but their efforts were thwarted by skipper-goalie Chokri El Ouaer.
After a scoreless first half, the Carthage Eagles played cautiously and stuck to a defensive strategy which frustrated the South Africans.
As the clock ticked, changes were effected by both sides but the pendulum of victory swung in favour of the hosts as
Mark Frank Williams replaced Philemon Raul Masinga and made an impact minutes after his introduction.
The diminutive attacker scored twice in two minutes and South Africa held onto the slim advantage till full time.
The mastermind Clive William Barker who steered affairs from the bench enjoyed support from Philemon Setshedi, John Joseph Byrne of blessed memory and Ephraim Matsilele Sono.
Andre Leander Arendse caught the eye of many with his agility and reflexes in goal.
In defence Sizwe Wesley Motaung, David Sibusiso Nyathi, skipper Neil Robert Tovey, Mark Anthony Fish, Andrew Sean Tucker, Edward Madumetja Motale and Lucas Valeriu Ntuba Radebe were always unruffled before any smashing attacking line.
Eric Tinkler, Linda Innocent Buthelezi, John Lesiba Moshoeu, Helman Nkosiyethu Mkhalele and Theophilus Doctorson Khumalo pulled the strings from midfield.
The scoring duties fell to Mark Frank Williams, Shaun Thurston Bartlett, Philemon Raul Masinga and Daniel Mbulaheni Mudau.
In the presence of the then President Nelson Mandela his predecessor Frederik Willem de Clerk both of blessed memory and Issa Hayatou who headed the continent's football governing body Neil Tovey was handed the gigantic trophy amidst wild cheers.
Interestingly the players who featured in the groundbreaking feat had pseudonyms;
Neil Tovey was nicknamed Mokoko, David Nyathi Going Up, Edward Motale Magents, Lucas Radebe Rhoo, Linda Buthelezi Mercedes Benz John Moshoeu Shoes, Helman Mkhalele Midnight Express, Philemon Masinga Chippa and Daniel Mudau Mambush.
The trio of Sizwe Motaung, John Moshoeu and Philemon Masinga have unluckily succumbed to the throes of death.
Credit: Reuben Addo