SPORTS By George Abosi, Butler '87, Health prefect "IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WE WILL......" proclaimed the Headmaster and the whole school completed for him, "......WIN!" And with just that the victory was already won. It was Thursday, 12th December 1985, we were to vacate and pack home and it was at Closing Assembly that the Headmaster repeated his well-adopted slogan. he had really found the secret of winning, which most leaders leaders have missed in the past and are still doing today. IN THE NAME OF JESUS!.

Friday, and here it was, coming sooner than we had expected. As I prepared for the stadium, I found myself smiling for I figured that every Premconian was just the same. This was the D-Day, finals of our Inter-Schools Football Competition. My dearest friend, Young, came down from Nhyiaeso to my place at Afful-Nkwanta with two others and after a hearty lunch at home-made "kekee" and beans, we made our way for the stadium. At the gate, we met the school team in the faithful "Bone Shaker," also entering, like knowing what was ahead of us all.

Soon, their people were trotting unto the field and behind them, our gallant men galloped. In real contrast, they were men and our people were only small boys. The KUHIS boys reached the field first and after we had won the toss and both teams had taken their sides, all that we saw was some strange red handkerchiefs flying from the hands of their eleven players and releasing some white powder. A hush fell on the whole stadium. Immediately the whistle went, another set of this time, white, were also released, producing the same "jujutic" white powder. This time, we realised that we were really in for something.

Shortly, they were in control of the ball and for a few minutes we were given some real heat before our boys found their feet in the game. They seemed to be saying, "we have really "meant" this match," but who else could have "meant" this particular match so much more than us? When did we ever get so close to the trophy? By hook or crook...No! in the name of Jesus.

I glanced at the VIP stand and the Headmaster R.T. Sackey was faithfully there with several other masters and even one or two mistresses. Occasionally, his white handkerchief went up and especially, when the going was tough, it waved even stronger. That's the spirit! Soon, the first half was gone with a lot of sweating but no goal to either side. It was lecturing time and R.T. also got in with some words of inspiration for his boys.

Once more, the ball was rolling and our boys seemed to be playing better but things were still tough since, apart from all jokes, the team we were playing against was nothing smaller than the champion for many years (to be precise).

So we were all there, watching and singing as much as we could to wish our team only the best; but deep down within many, I knew there was some stains of fear for when things went really dangerous, in a few occasions, the singing stopped altogether and in our tension, the players were left alone to battle things out by themselves. How wicked of us! After one of such lapses, I heard someone shouting, "Chrife boys, where are you?" and I told myself, "So people really know how differntly special we are and the power behind us." But we were singing all the same. Maybe it wasn't enough.

Just then, I saw the Samanmo leaders beckoning to me, "me?" I asked back. "Yes, you," they pointed and when I got down, it was only that they needed some Chrife songs. I gave them some which soon got exhausted. The second time it was the same and when they called a third time, I realised that it was not the songs that mattered but the singing, "I might as well get down and take over," I told myself. I was really needed and I had to gather in my wits and get moving!

But here came the dilemma. Do Chrife boys lead "Nsamanmo"? I had never seen one before since I came to Form One (Agyaaku only inspired the boys but he did not lead them in singing). As far as I was concerned, I had never dreamt of such a situation in my life. All the same, time was running fast out and I had to decide and act. What if I did not go and we did not win? And if I went and we won? So it was just a brisk "tete-a-tete" with Young and Paul and all that Irealised was that I was on the platform, in the middle of the "Nsamanmo" leaders. amanfoo were amazed and others, surprised. The rest marvelled. today is today. Here was a Chrife boy, climbing the nsamanmo platform. All was quiet and all attention was on me. I was looking into nobody's face but my mind and and my whole system concentraed on God above. I had to take possession. I did some sort of introduction with a few inspiring words and then we were off!

"Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Osee-yeeee!
Yee! Yee! Jesus-O-Yee! Jesus-O-Yee, Yee"!

I had the inner feeling that this particular match was ours for though the newspapers had tipped KUHISS as "favourites," we had the upper hand already in that they had shamefully displayed themselves of having gone in for "juju" and we were sticking firmly to God Almighty. "Prempeh College, Yenko Mallam ho." You know what? In Psalm 1, the Bible likens we Christians to trees and those of the world to mere chaff. What great contrast! And if you are a tree and I am but a chaff and we had a fight, what were the chances that you will not win? Negligible. All you needed was to take control and you are done. Even the difference between david and Goliath was not that great. So Prempeh boys need not have had any fear. The only thing was that most did not know the secret. have you heard of Solomon's Great Temple? Just read II Chronicles 6 & 7 and you know what great things singing praises to God can do.

I did not know for how many minutes I'had been standing there and we had been praising God, in songs; neither did I know how many minutes we had gone in the second half, for it had not even occured to me to check. Again, i did not know the actual circumstances that led to it for my back was turned to the field but all that I heard was an excited and exciting "G-O-A-L!" And I knew it was there!

Now, I could not count on the number of people who rushed on me just to hug me, as if I was the one who'd scored the goal. if I had not got down in time from the platform, I would have fallen. I was torn between my own feelings and that of others whether to stare in them or mine. the excitement lasted for several moments moments and when things cooled down, the people had gained enough apetite to continue praising God and another batch started with "Jesus Oseeyee" again, then "Da n'ase" and then I heard "Dee Blue" and "Kai" requesting for hymns, Hymns. I told myself, "That's the spirit" and we went on with Headmaster's "Sunsum atre' favourite. "Just as I am" and a whole stream of others. At times, I ran short but those around me helped. We sang no other songs, this second half.

All that we needed to do was to keep up. Either to score more or to disallow any ball from entering our post at all. Earlier on, we should have scored a goal to increase our winning power and even more.

Forgive me if I'm not satisfying your taste as a sports fan for I'm not much of a sports writer.

The time after the goal till the final whistle seemed like eternity but by God's grace the time did come to pass and when the final whistle sounded, O what joy! I am even exhausted for words. I cannot express the great waves of positive feelings that swept across all well-wishers of Prempeh College around. Okay, let me try. Blazing feelings, excitingly happy feelings, sugar feelings, glaringly glorious feelings, highly victorious feelings, relieved feelings and I might as well add, mixed feelings, for to some it all looked like a dream! O praise the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me; for He deserves to be ever glorified!

For all Premconians this could only be an extraordinarily special day; for they had seen the power of God really at work even in football and someone commented that if we had not won, he would never have believed in God anymore. For the KUHIS boys, they had only seen a great and far more powerful juju at work. By the end of the match, as many of four of their balls gad hit our posts and they could have all been sure goals. As for those residents in Accra, I pitied them for it was only going to be hearing with ears and not seeing with their eyes.

Well, it might have meant several things to many different people but to me, it meant one thing--a new way of life--The first Christian Nsamanmo Leader--a real great record; God should reign everywhere. I just prayed that God will remove pride and self-praise from me and make me more sensitive to this spirit as to when to yield when called upon or when not.

I knew that henceforth I couldn't escape being called upon to lead "Nsamanmo," but wait a second. Let everyone know that it's not me who has the LUCK but God Almighty who has Life and Power. Give Him all the glory.

The footballers have done well but they themselves will bear with me that God was their absolute strength. I even heard that the night before the D-Day, they had spent a lot of time praying. More grease to their elbows.

So we came to school the following term and people came to learn more of the GREAT 13TH DECEMBER FOOTBALL VICTORY from eye witnesses.

And now, O! my dear Premconian brethren, here's an announcement and let it not be news to you--that WE HAVE HIT THE JACKPOT and it is just up to us to exploit it. One of the last words of Jesus was "hold fast what you have, that no one may snatch it away from you."

As we waited for our cup that glorious Friday, I think I also had some last words to share before I led them in a few more songs of praises and all set off again for school.

"IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WE HAVE..........!" and I expected everyone to respond, "WON!" but there were a few who were tempted to say, .........WIN!"

Anyway, wait a minute! I don't think we could blame them for they might have been thinking far ahead of us of the impending Super-Zonals Athletics Competition.

In the name of Jesus, we will always win!!