Today marks exactly 15 years Hearts of Oak legend Emmanuel Ofei Ansah passed on at the Ridge Hospital in Accra. The former Ghanaian international defender collapsed after Hearts beat Liberty Professionals.
One of the most decorated players in the club died a day after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over his former boss and mentor, the late Cecil Jones Attuquayefi in the then Ghana Telecom (GT) Premier League.
The match known as the "father and son" affair, Ansah was then a caretaker coach for Hearts of Oak as they beat Liberty Professionals led by Jones Attuquayefio.
The jama and jubilation were rather cut short as the former Ghanaian international defender collapsed following a hard-fought league win and was rushed to the Ridge Hospital.
News emerged the following day that Emmanuel Ofei Ansah has passed. Hearts of Oak and Ghana football were thrown into a state of shock.
Having served the club for years, Emmanuel Ofei Ansah enjoyed an illustrious career winning lots of trophies as a player and coach.
He won six ghana premier league titles between 1973 and 1985, as well as 4 FA cups.
Ofei Ansah was part of Hearts of Oak team that won silver in the 1977 and 1979 Africa Club Champions series.
Since retiring from active football, he joined the club’s coaching setup that went on to win a number of titles between 1997/98 and 2001 including the champions league and CAF Super cup.
The late Ofei Ansah was a member of the 1978 Black Stars squad that won the African Cup of Nations trophy.
He will forever be remembered as a staunch Phobian and a legend in Ghana football.