[ 2011-10-11 ]

Forgotten Attuquayefio dying of throat cancer
A few years ago, ‘Sir’ Cecil Jones
Attuquayefio, one of Ghana’s most decorated
coaches at club level, was dominating the
headlines for his feats that put the country on
the continental platform.

However, the national hero has been totally
forgotten after having suffered a throat cancer
that has forced him to cut short his career as a
coach. For those who have not seen him for a while
it would be difficult to make frail looking
Attuquayefio out in his recent state of health.

The crippling grip of throat cancer precariously
oozes health out of him with each passing day.

His legendary achievements include being the only
man to have won the domestic treble with Accra
Hearts of Oak, and going ahead to win the CAF
Champions League and the CAF Super Cup in the year
2000.

The former Accra Hearts of Oak and Liberty
Professionals coach was a member of the Black
Stars team that won the African Cup of Nations in
Tunisia in 1965. ‘Sir’ Attuquayefio, as he is
affectionately called, also qualified the Benin
national team for the first time in their history
to the 2004 continental showpiece.

But he is now a direly sick man. He has been
battling throat cancer for the past two years and
has so far undergone three medical operations.

The authorities appear to have turned a blind eye
to his plight, virtually ignoring the man who
returned Ghana to the African soccer heights after
a long absence.

Unlike Attuquayefio, who told The Globe newspaper
in an interview at his residence in Accra that he
has had no support from the nation in battling his
ailment, the situation is the opposite for some of
his contemporaries who are also battling cancer.

For example, former England and Newcastle manager,
Sir Bobby Robson battled cancer for several years
and was not forgotten by both club and country. He
received support from all sectors due to his good
work and commitment to the sport.

Now a pale shadow of himself, a rather frail
Attuquayefio welcomed the newspaper into his
Kaneshie residence. He had just finished his lunch
that Saturday afternoon. He could only manage a
feeble handshake with reporter Nana Afrane Asante.


The former coach looked weak and spoke with
difficulty. He kept shifting about in his chair to
ease the pangs of pain that struck his nerves
intermittently without warning. Virtually every
sentence he spoke was accompanied by a painful
cough.

“It is unfortunate that in football, we do not
have any future,” he said, adding that “My
main source of surviving is my own personal
savings which I was able to save during my
coaching career.

“Liberty Professionals Football Club has been
very instrumental in paying for my hospital bills,
but the majority of the bill is borne by me. If
anybody will offer me support, I will receive it
wholeheartedly but I wouldn’t ask anybody for
anything because I think that I served my country,
I served clubs and if they deem it fit or
necessary to offer me any support I will be
willing to have it but for now there hasn’t been
anything. ”

The flag bearer of the main opposition New
Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo, who
was a childhood friend of Attuquayefio visited the
former coach at his residence earlier in the year,
to wish him speedy recovery from the ailment that
has kept him at home for some time. Nana Addo at
the time donated some items and cash to him.

“I developed other complications recently and
the medications given to me were very
expensive,” he complained. “What I have
realised is that most of the medications I receive
are not covered by the National Health Insurance.
My treatment is routine which makes the situation
very difficult. ”

He praised the late Alhaji Sly Tetteh, describing
him as “one man who showed so much care. ”

“Alhaji Tetteh aided me consistently with my
hospital bills. He was here with me on the Friday
before he died on Saturday. He visited me more
than anybody else I can think of and was more
concerned with my problem than anybody I can think
of.

“He invested so much in my hospital bills and it
came as a great shock when I heard about his
death,” a sad Attuquayefio said with his head
bowed down.

“Sly was a man of vision and I know his spirit
will live with the team and provoke the interest
of the team. ”

Source - Citifmonline

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