Tuesday, July 1, 2008

FA TO THE AID OF ADASI-FOFIE (PAGE 16)

EIGHT years after the predicament of former Black Stars player, Ben Adasi-Fofie was made public, courtesy the Graphic Sports, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has finally responded with a quarterly financial assistance of GH¢100 for him.
"I have received the first quarterly allocation and I'm now waiting for that of the second quarter", the 73-year-old former offensive midfielder told this reporter at his residence at Sunyani as he sat in his wheelchair.
Even though the amount looks meagre in view of the services the ex-player rendered to his nation, he says. "It is better than none".
Adasi-Fofie, the first player from the Brong Ahafo Region to wear the national jersey, had his left leg amputated at the Sunyani Hospital after a battle with ischaemia cancer.
On May 5, 2000, the Graphic Sports, revealed his miserable state with a banner headline, "The leg that pulled the crowd now amputated".
Eight years afterwards, this reporter, who broke the former player's story, made a return to his base in Sunyani, and Adasi-Fofie looked cheerful.
He said even though he is now confined to a wheelchair, he was grateful to God that he is still alive.
"This disease could have killed me, so if one of my legs has been amputated, I will give thanks to God who knows best", he said.
He was full of praise for this paper for telling his story for the football fraternity to know his state of health, which led to some few organisations and people responding with various donations.
The ulcer started as a boil in 1998, and according to him he did not take it serious until it became serious, leading to the amputation of the gangrenous leg.
Adasi-Fofie joined B/A United in 1960 and was invited to the Black Stars in 1961.
Between 1961 and 1966, he remained a regular player of the national team which had other players like Wilberforce Mfum, Edward Acquah and Kwame Adarkwa.
He was a member of the Black Stars team that toured Europe in 1961.
Adasi-Fofie retired from active football in 1973.

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