"There is no greater sorrow
Than to be mindful of the happy time
In misery."
-H. W. Longfellow, Inferno, v, line 121
Mr. Obeng Odoom with 2001 Prefects during
the handing over ceremony. The most effective
Senior Housemaster in recently memory is missed
The latest revelation that Prempeh athletes competed at the far
away Obuasi on "empty stomachs" illustrates once again how colossal
the immediate-past Senior Housemaster, Mr. Obeng Odoom, was.
Food crisis was never an issue in the time of the man fearsomely known as O-Square,
who is now based at Tema Secondary School.
Owing to the Kumasi-Obuasi distance, Prempeh athletics team had to leave campus by 6:30am
in order to make it for the start of the track and field championships which began at 8am on Day 1 and
9am on Day 2.
Because the food (brunch) that was prepared for them was served approximately
around 6:30am, the food was extremely hot to be tasted. Those who attempted to taste any risked burning
their tongues.
The yogurt these athletes are holding here were all that they had, which
is UNPRECEDENTED in Prempeh history
Consequently, the boys left without eating and competed without eating in Obuasi.
The onus therefore fell on the shoulders of Prempeh students, who supplied our
athletes with yogurt on the field.
Since he was a visionary by nature and ideas ocurred to him instantaneously,
O-Square would have arranged with matrons ahead of time and had them finish the meal by at least one
hour before departure.
This is one of the many reasons why the football team is refusing to defend the national football
trophy next month. Only 3 players turned up for the first day of training on Saturday.
