Former Black Stars player Nii Odartey Lamptey recounted how former President Jerry John Rawlings played a pivotal role in securing a trophy for one of Ghana’s national teams in 1991.
Lamptey explained that the team, which featured notable players like Abedi Ayew Pele, had a disappointing performance in an international tournament, failing to progress beyond the group stage.
Upon their return, there were talks of disbanding the team. However, Rawlings stepped in and directed the team’s management to keep the squad together for a while longer.
Lamptey highlighted that this decision proved beneficial, as the team, learning from their past mistakes, went on to win the trophy in the following tournament in 1991, bringing pride to the nation.
“In the 1989 tournament, our first game against Scotland ended in a goalless draw. We drew the second match and lost the last game, leading to our exit.
When we returned home, former President Rawlings advised the management to keep the team together because we had performed decently and to prepare us for the next tournament.
“As a result, we worked hard and were able to win the trophy in 1991,” he told Dan Kwaku Yeboah in Twi during the interview.
However, Lamptey did not specify which national team achieved this feat, whether it was the Starlets, Black Meteors, or the Black Stars, nor did he provide details about the specific tournament.