Yet another national soccer hero has departed this earth and tomorrow he will be laid to rest in Aburi, his hometown.
Like those before him, Coach Herbert Addo’s contribution to the development of Ghana football cannot be gainsaid.
For the greater part of the 66 years that he lived, he was in the trenches honing the rough edges of our young footballers, some of whom developed into national stars and represented the country in various tournaments.
Apart from handling the local Black Stars in later years, Addo was also famous for his readiness to “go over to Macedonia” when teams in technical distress called.
Arguably, he handled more club sides in the country than any coach that we could think of, yet, for most, his services remained unrewarded financially.
Indeed, he was one single coach who many clubs continued to owe till his death and there will be no lasting tribute to his memory without the acknowledgement of his kindness, affability and good naturedness.
Among the clubs that had the privilege of hiring his services as a coach at one time or another was Sekondi Hasaacas, with whom he won the WAFU Cup in 1982, after which he moved on to repeat the dose with Kumasi Cornerstone in 1987.
Other clubs worth mentioning that had come under his tutelage were Obuasi Goldfields (now Ashantigold), Hearts of Oak, Asante Kotoko, Great Olympics, Okwawu United, Ghapoha, Gamba All Blacks, Aduana Stars, Inter Allies, Wassaman, Samartex, Pure Joy, among others.
With this array of clubs that had benefitted from Coach Addo’s technical leadership, Ghana football must have been the gainer, for which reason all must be grateful to this man, we dare stress.
Just as we mourned his peers who preceded him in recent years, namely, C.K. Gyamfi (Nana Gyamfi I), Ben Koufie, Jones Attuquayefio, Fred Osam Duodo, E.K. Afranie and Sam Arday, so we expect the football family, as well as the entire sporting public, to give Coach Addo a befitting farewell.
It is against this backdrop that the GRAPHIC SPORTS wants to appeal to the Ghana Football Association to ensure that a minute’s silence is observed at all Premier League centres this weekend in memory of the departed coach.
Coach Addo was, indeed, every club’s coach. May his soul rest in peace.