Vice-President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, former President Jerry John Rawlings, ministers of state and the Ghanaian football community and hundreds of other mourners paid their last respects to football icon Cecil Jones Attuquayefio who was laid to rest at the Awudome Cemetery after a state funeral held at the forecourt of the State House in Accra yesterday.
Attuquayefio, one of the country’s foremost players, administrator and coach of exceptional achievement was given a fitting send off at a ceremony that brought together some of his playmates and contemporaries, proteges, referees and colleague coaches, including the legendary Nana Gyamfi Kumi (C.K. Gyamfi) who handled the 1965 Africa Cup of Nations-winning Black Stars team, which included the late Attuquayefio.
There was strong representation by Accra Hearts of Oak where the celebrated tactician achieved his finest moment as a coach by guiding the club to the 2000 African Champions League, 2001 African Super Cup and 2004 Confederation Cup, as well as four Premier League titles and two FA Cups. Among the prominent Hearts officials present were the Managing Director of the club, Gerald Ankrah, former chairmen Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe and Harry Zakkour, former board chairman Ato Ahwoi and Frank Nelson Nwokolo, a director of the club, Hearts Ladies support group, among others.
Attuquayefio’s greatest exploits as a footballer was achieved at Accra Great Olympics, who also sponsored his coaching course in Germany, and he returned to handle the club for a decade.
Olympics’ presence at yesterday’s state funeral was less prominent, except for the presence of their board chairman and a former Secretary of Youth and Sports, Amarkai Amarteifio, a director of the club, Fred Pappoe, and former chairman, Joseph Ade Coker.
Tribute after tribute eulogised the man who served the country with distinction as a player, coach and administrator who once rose to the ranks of vice-chairman of the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr Mustapha Ahmed, laid a wreath on behalf of the government, while former Black Stars defender, James Kuuku Dadzie, laid one on behalf of the retired national footballers association.
