The mentioning of the fixture brought joy, excitement, rivalry, enthusiasm and eagerness. It was the clash that divided families, friends, households, marriages, cities, villages and Ghana in toto. This fixture used to divide teachers and students as the build-up on the radio was extraordinary.
The Super Clash was the fixture that was popular in many people’s diaries. People couldn’t wait for the 3 pm kick-off on Sundays as the fixture was full of drama and suspense.
Hearts of Oak lock horns against Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara Stadium as the home team on Sunday 10 December 2023 in Week 14 of the Ghana Premier League.
This is extremely unheard of as it takes away the shine, the value, and the admiration once associated with this huge fixture. Probably once the most exciting and most mouthwatering clash on the continent, this fixture is nowhere to be found in the football books of African football.
Dubbed the Super Clash, the clash of the Titans and Ghana’s El Classico, no one even recalls the name of the clash.
Football fans across the country used to have the dates of this game in their diaries and would discuss it 3 weeks before kick-off but now no one even remembers the exact day and date for it.
Phobia family used to prepare towards their home fixture against Asante Kotoko at the Accra Sports Stadium with a series of meetings among their Chapters across the nation. The story is the opposite now as the fans have lost hope and forgotten all their primary duties.
The late Kwaku Adusei Kanawu had this extraordinary way of uniting and alerting the fans ahead of this huge fixture. Alhaji Ali Maradona on the other hand was a special PRO for Asante Kotoko who used to counter Kanawu on all fronts in a lovely and masterful way.
The media had their way to make sure this huge fixture got to the doorsteps of the Average Joe of Ghanaian football. Joe Laka’s advert on the radio mixed with Kwabena Yeboah’s ‘Oluwaa’ mantra alongside the great Awal Mohammed’s historical facts backing the game.
Both clubs had legendary footballers that fans were dying to watch every minute, every hour and every day,
On the rainbow side; Ishmael Addo, Emmanuel Osei Kuffuor, Amankwah Mireku, Dan Quaye, Charles Taylor, Bernard Don Bortey, Adjah Tetteh, and Sammy Adjei were real crowd-pleasers.
On the red side from Oseikrom, Godwin Ablordey, Micheal Osei Emba, Stephen Oduro Tiko-Tiko, Joe Hendricks, Osei Boateng, Joe Louis, Micheal Asante, Yusif Chibsah was the apple of the eyes of the famous Fabolous fans.
On 21st July 2002, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour ensured AccraHearts of Oak beat Kumasi Asante Kotoko 3-0 in the Premier League in a Week 16 fixture at the Accra Sports Stadium. In an interview on Fox FM with Charles Taylor the following morning, he scored the opener, when quizzed about his excitement and his vision in football, he said, “I want to play like Zidane”.
This fixture was once full of stars who dreamt of being at the top of the football’s top echelon.
People from across the country will visit Kumasi a day or two before the game. Those in the Ashanti Region start organisation a week before the game but there is no preparation on the part of the fans now.
The tables have been turned for quite a long time and no one gives a little care about the game.
The NSA has irresponsibly forced the game to be played outside Accra due to the Christmas festivals. We all know that Accra is the soul and heartbeat of Accra Hearts of Oak.
Fans have seen the two most glamorous clubs parade GRADE A players in the 90s and early 2000s. The Chapters and Circles are nowhere to be found as they were vibrant and vociferous in the 2000s.
The Super Clash has lost its allure on all fronts as it is wailing for a huge lift and attention. It is quite bizarre to see Hearts of Oak host Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
On Sunday afternoon, the super clash will even struggle to fill one-third of the Baba Yara Stadium. Time for Ghanaian football stakeholders to revive our club football and restore the pride and seriousness once attached to the Super Clash.
