On behalf of football lovers around the continent of Africa I would like to pay tribute to the memory of Robert Mensah of Kumasi Asante Kotoko fame, one of the greatest goalkeepers Ghana has produced who died on Nov 2 1971.

Robert had been stabbed at a drinking bar at the port city of Tema on Oct 30 1971. Eye witness accounts said he was stabbed in an attempt to separate two friends engaged in a fierce fight at CREDO drinking joint at Community 7 Tema. He underwent a major surgical operation at the Tema General Hospital where he died three days later.

The circumstances surrounding Robert’s death remained a talking point for a long time. The puzzle was his other colleagues were in camp in Kumasi preparing for the Africa Cup of champion clubs semi finals against Accra Great Olympics. This incident critically called to question the disciplinary record even though he was known to be an affable character.

In view of Robert Mensah’s untimely death the first leg semi final of the Africa Cup match scheduled for Accra on Nov 7 was put off for a week. It ended in a pulsating 1-1 draw Jones Attuquayefio who would be an outstanding national coach, scored first for Olympics in the 50th minute and Abukari replied for Kotoko five minutes to time.

The decider on Nov 27 in Kumasi turned out to be tension packed following wild allegations doing the rounds that Olympics supporters might be behind the events leading to the death of Kotoko’s number one goalkeeper Robert Mensah. Secuirity had to be extremely tight on match day at the Kumasi Stadium and the match itself was a real thriller. It looked all the way a goalless draw when Sunday Ibrahim got the match winner for Kotoko a minute to full time.

It was a red letter day for Olympics international star Jones Attuquayefio who sustained a career threatening knee injury midway through the second half. He was substituted and that marked the end of his illustrious career as a great midfielder.

He however found solace in a coaching career that has seen him winning several honours at both club and national levels.

What Kotoko supporters will never forget is the fact that Robert Mensah, generally accepted as the best goalkeeper in Africa, had barely 10 months earlier in the year Jan 24 1971 inspired Kumasi Asante Kotoko to become the first Ghanaian club to win the Africa Cup for champion clubs with a splendid 2-1 win over Englebert of Congo Kinshasa. The first leg in Kumasi. On January 10 had ended 1-1.

In the final match Kotoko took the lead on 12 minutes through Abukari.but Englebert quickly pulled even through strongman Kalala before powerful goal-getter Malik Jabir restored the lead once more before the recess.

What Congolese soccer fans will remember Robert Mensah for was his antics that scared Englebert penalty expert Kakoko to throw away a last minute penalty that could have fetched the home team the vital equaliser.

May the soul of Robert Mensah rest in perfect peace and may his exploits in the pots inspire the new generation of Asante Kotoko to aim at another Africa Cup triumph as the club prepares to mark its Diamond Jubilee in August 2010.

Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.