Ben Nunoo Mensah Foundation, a charitable organization, presented on Thursday, December 21, 2023, assorted items from Twellium Industrial, including some exciting products such as American Cola, Verna Natural Mineral Water, Bubble Up, Planet Drinks, It’s BIGoo, Easy Flavored Drinks, bags of rice, and cooking oil, as well as an undisclosed amount to some sports heroes of Ghana.
The first recipient of the Yuletide gifts was former Black Stars and Accra Hearts of Oak team manager Saban Quaye at his residence in Ablekuma.
He is not well, but I asked Accra Hearts of Oak and Manchester United not to make him sad. He advised players of Hearts of Oak to be loyal and will reap the results when he is no longer playing.
He was surprised about the visit because it was unannounced, and he thanked all who remembered and supported him in his trying moments.
“Welfare and psyching of players is what I always deal with because if the players are happy, they deliver and make fans also happy,” he noted.
At Fadama Race Course, Nii Noi Thompson, who played for Hearts in the late 70s and 80s and coached the club, winning the league at the end of the 2008–2009 season, was also amazed and thanked the Foundation. He had coaching stints with Liberty Professionals, Bechem Chelsea, and Accra Hearts of Oak.
Now finding discomfort in a wheelchair, he advised the youth to live worthy lives so that they could be favored.
Former Goal King of Ghana in 1973, Peter Lamptey, 77, who is based at Bubuashie, was so happy to be remembered and poured his joy and blessings on the GOC capo. He displayed some old newspapers and magazines that he was featured in.
He advised Hearts of Oak directors to listen to the grievances of the supporters and put the club on a winning path. He sang the famous ‘Arose’ song.
At Soko, Joe Tex Odoi, a defender who won the prestigious SWAG Footballer of the year in 1984 commended the Foundation for the gesture. After he won the SWAG award there was no winner until Abedi Pele emerged in 1989.
The former captain of Ghana U20, U23, and the Black Stars was not happy with the performance of the current Black Stars and urged them to step up their game. He consistently played for Ghana for ten years, from 1984 to 1994. He is a B-licensed coach but cannot work due to his health situation.
In Dansoman, Mr. Abeka Ankrah, 80, who has been blind for some time, expressed that a country that does not honor its heroes is not worth dying for, and with the gesture of the BNM Foundation, talented and skilled people must be supported to shine for the nation.
At 17, he played for the Real Republicans and joined Accra Hearts of Oak in 1967, which remains the club of his heart.
He also revealed how he got the nickname ‘Why Worry’ and gave some coaching techniques on goal scoring.
Octogenarian Theophilus Saka Addo, who is staying with his wife at Gbegbesei, Beach Road, was one of the beneficiaries who also advised the current Directors of Hearts to go with the style of the late Tommy Thompson to achieve results.
Madam Vicentia Deku of Hearts Ladies, a member of the Foundation prayed for good health, prosperity and long life for the living legends.
Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah was a former management member of Auroras and Accra Hearts of Oak and former President of the Ghana Weightlifting Association (GWA), serving also at the African Weightlifting Federation (AWF).
He is currently President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), an insurance broker and businessman, and the CEO of Directline Risk Consult and Barari DV Ghana Ltd and a past student of saint Augustine’s College.
He was born in Accra, Ghana, and has been a fan of the Accra Hearts of Oak since he started watching matches at the Accra Sports Stadium when he was six years old. Another football club the man from Winneba loves is Liverpool FC in England.
