Image of Kwame Nkrumah exchanging pleasantries with Black Stars players
An unidentified elderly man has recounted how late president, Kwame Nkrumah, transformed the Black Stars and Ghanaian football during his tenure.
He reflected on Nkrumah’s rejuvenated football, shaped the national team, and arranged a historic friendly match against then-European champions, Real Madrid.
Recalling the “good old days,” he explained how Nkrumah’s passion for football led him to set up a friendly between Black Stars and Real Madrid.
“Kwame Nkrumah was a football enthusiast. He invited Real Madrid from Spain to play a friendly with the Black Stars in Ghana. I was at the Accra Sports Stadium, and we drew 3-3. Nkrumah was very passionate about football, and the Black Stars were delivering,” he said in a video sighted by GhanaWeb on TikTok.
He continued that the Black Stars’ performances led to the formation of Nkrumah’s formidable club, Real Republicans.
“So, he decided to form a club team based on the Black Stars’ performances. He selected two players from each club, making 22 players, and used Ghana Academicals, a student team, as their reserves.”
The man further narrated that Nkrumah’s Real Republicans were a dominant force, regularly defeating other teams.
“If you faced Republicans, your best result would be a 3-0 loss. They didn’t have many supporters because of how the club was formed.”
He added that Republicans were dissolved after Kwame Nkrumah was overthrown by General Afrifa and General Kotoka after the 1966 military coup.
“Afrifa and Kotoka dissolved Republicans after toppling Nkrumah. They shared the club’s jerseys among other teams.”
Nkrumah’s Real Republicans FC hold the record for the most consecutive FA Cup victories, winning the title five times in a row from 1961/62 to 1965.
Meanwhile, the Black Stars’ historic 3-3 draw against Real Madrid remains a significant moment in Ghanaian football history, boosting the team’s international reputation.
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