HUNDREDS of retired footballers, mostly from Accra Hearts of Oak (AHOOPA) and Accra Great Olympics (AGOOPA), on Friday joined other sympathisers to pay their last respect to Ghanaian football legend, Peter Lamptey, aka ‘Goal Thief’ at the Rev. Joseph Thomas Clegg Memorial Methodist Church at Kaneshie, Accra.
• Olympics tribute being read by Mr Dennis Amarkai Amarteifio on behalf of the club and old players
Lamptey was tagged as ‘Goal Thief’ for his scoring prowess. It was quite an emotional scene as relations, playing colleagues and other retired players mourned the departed serial goal king award winner.
For a number of them who have been out of the public’s eye, having advanced in age and others battling illness, the last opportunity to pay their last respect to the ‘Goal Thief’ was one they could not miss out.
Also in attendance were representatives from the Ghana Football Association (GFA) – Mr Neil Armstrong Mortagbe and Nana Oduro Sarfo – as well as supporters of the two traditional clubs he featured for – Hearts and Olympics.
The former Black Stars striker died on October 10, 2025 after a brief ailment, leaving behind eight children.
He featured prominently alongside Mohammed Polo, Mama Acquah, Robert Hammond, and Anas Seidu to form ‘The fearsome fivesome’ that terrorised defences in the Premier League.
He was the captain of the Phobian squad that qualified to the finals of the African Cup of Champions Clubs in 1977. The late Lamptey was invited to the Black Stars for the first time in 1971 and joined the team that participated in the 1972 Summer Olympics football tournament as the youngest player.
He also had stints with rivals, Accra Great Olympics, before and during his latter years in football.
• Thomas Otinkorang reading the tribute for the Hearts oldies at the funeral service
Sharing the sermon, Rev. Ewart Ernestina Musah, the Circuit Minister, stated that one question Christians should be asking themselves was how prepared they would be to meet their maker. Quoting from Psalm 90:12, she said that would help them to prepare for eternity.
“No one knows when a particular situation would arise. It is not about how much one has in his or her bank account or the properties acquired. We strive for all of these but that for eternity, we overlook. This should be the reflection of all,” she explained.
She said death was an appointment for every man, so it would come to all one day. “What matters is where we go after death.”
She urged the mourners to reflect the life of the ‘Goal Thief’ who showed selflessness by playing and giving his all at a time when there was nothing lucrative about football.
Rev. Musah further indicated that every opportunity that comes the way of people must be seen as one to serve humanity, urging all to strive to live at peace with all.
Tributes were read by the family, AGOOPA, and AHOOPA representatives.
BY ANDREW NORTEY
Join our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
Follow the latest videos and updates on the official YouTube channel of Ghanaian Times.
https://www.youtube.com/@ghanaian_times
