June 12, 2005: Soccer Mecca

A time is coming -- and the time is almost here -- when European soccer powers are going to raid the Prempeh College campus to recruit the players of the future and offer them big contracts.

Prempeh has a sterling record in the game of soccer in recent years and this pictorial depicts a few of those accomplishments.

Our 2005 National Champions team that won the Nestle Milo Football competition final at Koforidua. Prempeh eliminated the defending champions in the semi-final stage and beat Winneba in the finals on penalties 8-7. A record 8 of this current Prempeh team has been invited to the national under-17 team academy, where they would have to "justify their inclusion into the national squad." Most of these players may certainly win scholarships to play for US universities, as has been the case in recent years.

The Headmaster and the 2005 National Champions on tour in Kumasi to present the trophy to various personalities on June 16, 2005. The boys here display their gold medals. Sportsmaster Mr. Lartey is on the left, with Deputy Sportsmaster Mr. Ofosuhene on the right.

Dominic Oduro, a product of the Prempeh soccer team, is a stand-out at Virginia Commonwealth University, where Dominic is a designated All-American. According to the University's official statistics, he scored 15 goals in the total of 20 games last season. That is almost a goal-per-game average. Furthermore, Dominic plays in the Premier Development League (PDL) with the Richmond Kickers Future; he was recently voted Player of the Week by the league.

Then there is the celebrated former Prempeh captain Ricardo Opoku, who is tipped to enter the US MLS (Major League Soccer) and play professionally this year. He is a team mate of Oduro at Virginia Commonwealth.

And this is the great midfielder Yussif Chibsah (number 17 in this Olympics photo), captain of the national under-23 team (the Black Meteors), who led the national team to the Olympic Games in Greece. Chibsah has since won several caps with the senior national team, the Black Stars.

This is Edmund Owusu Ansah of Kumasi Asante Kotoko FC. Known as Owuo (Death), Edmund is also a key member of the National Under-23 team, The Black Meteors, having won many caps from playing in the 2003 All-African Games and the 2004 Olympic games qualifiers. The duo (he and Chibsah) played in the 8th All-African Games in October 2003 and won a medal.

Captain of the 2005 national champions team and winner of the National Best Player award - Ahmed Amoako, who is destined to be a key member of the national team. The band-aid on his forehead only depicts the blood, sweat and tears that were shed before he lifted the national trophy. He is in Form 2.

National Player of the Year, Ahmed Amoako, showing the trophy to the Ashanti Regional Minister.

National Player of the Year, Ahmed Amoako, presenting the trophy to the Regional Director of Education, who is an Amanfoo, at his office at the Ministries.

Last year's captain of the Prempeh team that won the Ashanti Football championship, Chibsah Faisal, Class of 2004, the junior brother of the captain of the national under-23 team, Yussif Chibsah. He received 4 U.S. coaches as visitors this year and was given several offers to play in the USA.

The 2004 Ashanti Champions.

This is Douglas Nyame, Class of 2004, popularly known as Manchester United. Nyame was last year's Prempeh Sports Prefect. He plays for a third division soccer team in Bohyen, Kumasi, called Manchester United. It is highly probable that he may become a great professional soccer star someday. He is good enough to play in any European side.

So, very soon, Real Madrid, Liverpool, AC Milan, Juventus and Bayern Munich may descend down to The School near the Rivoli Cinema and establish their youth recruitment camp there.