Ghana football legend, Karim Abdul Razak Tanko a.k.a ‘Golden Boy’ has showered praise on Uganda Cranes EX-International Phillip Omondi.
Razak lists Omondi among the African greatest players ever seen to grace the field of play.
From the Ghanaian side, I can mention Opoku Afriyie, Kuuku Dadzie, Adolf Armah, Mohamed Polo, George Alhassan amongst others.
Nigeria had Segun Odegbami, Christian Chukwu, Emmanuel Okala, Baba Out Mohamed and the likes.
On the part of Tunisia, they had Sadok ‘Attouga’ Sassi, Tarak Dhiab, Témime Lahzami. Ahmed Farras (Morocco), Phillip Omondi (Uganda), Papa Camara, Bengally Sylla, Abdoulaye Keita, Chérif Souleymane, Petit Sory (all from Guinea).
I still hang out with my playing mates during my days with Asante Kotoko and the national team.
A few have also passed away including Ofei Ansah, Justice Moore and Emmanuel Quarshie.
He has also revealed the five favorites he expects at the AFCON 2017 finals in Gabon.
Razak, who is one of the Ambassadors for the TOTAL Africa Cup of Nations Gabon 2017 believes all the countries at the championship are worthy the hype but there remains five favourites.
Ghana is always one of the favourites, Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, and Senegal too. I may add Egypt despite being in a transitional period with a new team after the retirement of the generation that won in 2006, 2008 and 2010.
The former Ghana and Asante Kotoko legend of the 60’s gets another opportunity for yet another experience in the Africa Cup of Nations, a competition he won in 1978.
Razak scored the two goals when Ghana defeated Uganda at the 1978 finals in Accra.
For the feat, he was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
He shared the fond memories with cafoline.com;
The semi-final against Tunisia, and I scored the only goal.
They (Tunisia) had qualified for the 1978 FIFA World Cup (in Argentina) and had renowned players like Sadok ‘Attouga’ Sassi, Tarak Dhiab, Témime Lahzami etc.
In the build up to the goal, there was a long pass from Isaac Acquaye (defender), and I slid the ball past Attouga who had come off his line.
The headlines after the match was “Golden Boy scores golden goal”.
This is a match I will never forget. Then we beat Uganda 2-0 in the final. I scored two goals in the tournament and was named Best Player.
I played in two, 1978 (in Ghana) and 1984 in Cote d’Ivoire.
It could have been more. I played in the qualifiers for the 1982 edition (in Libya), but missed out on the final tournament as I was playing abroad.
Razak is one of the appointed Ambassadors for the TOTAL Africa Cup of Nations Gabon 2017, and together with Senegal legend Khalilou Fadiga and ex-Gabonese defender, Francois Amegasse, and will assist CAF General Secretary Hicham El Amrani in the draw process on Wednesday, 19 October 2016 in Libreville.
