Ghanaians regard Robert Mensah as their best goalie, ahead of Edward Doodo Ankrah, John Naawu, Joseph Carr, John Baker and Richard Kingston. One man who found a way round the goalie was Christian Madu, a Nigerian born in Kumasi.
Madu’s salad days in the Gold Coast were spent with his parents, Herbert and Ezinne, who relocated from Ndiama Oka – Ugiri in the Isiala, Mbano area of today’s Imo State. Soon the boy moved from Adenisimiah to Accra Hearts of Oak.
Mensah, from Cape Coast, rose through Mysterious Dwarfs to Sekondi Independence before landing at Kumasi to join Asante Kotoko. He also featured for Tema Textile Mills when Madu had joined Accra Great Olympics.
While Madu was lifting Accra Hearts, Mensah was solidifying the Kotoko rear. A game between both teams was like Enugu Rangers against Shooting Stars or Arsenal versus Manchester United. Mensah was always the centre of attraction with his saves. The only player who always rattled him, was the penalty specialist.
Mensah became an idol after Kotoko won their first continental title, the CAF Champions League in 1970. It happened in far away Kinshasa, against the great TP Englebert ( now Mazembe). The Congolese earned a 1-1 draw in the away first leg and were tipped to win the returned leg.
It did not turn out as predicted. By the 89th minute, the Ghanaians were 2-1 ahead thanks to goals by Malik Jabir and Abukari Gariba. Then in the very last minute, the referee awarded a penalty to the hosts. Skipper Pierre Kalala, the leading scorer, with four goals, stepped forward.
Kotoko, captained by the Nigerian, Ibrahim Sunday, planned to walk out. That was what eliminated Stationery Stores in the second round when they left the field in Kumasi against the Porcupines. Mensah knew the implications.He encouraged his team mates to stay put.
Englebert fans insisted that there was juju in Mensah’s cap which prevented their team from scoring more than one goal in the match. The goalie removed the cap and quietly walked back to the net. As Kalala moved to fire, Mensah maintained gaze on the taker. The ball flew over the bar.
Madu never missed a penalty against Mensah even when they trained together in the Black Stars Camp. Both were in the team that lost 2-1 to the Green Eagles in a Mexico 1970 World Cup qualifier decided at the Liberty Stadium ,Ibadan in 1969.
While Mensah was not beaten by Kalala from the penalty spot in 1970( the game was actually decided in January 1971 ), Madu beat another legend, Thomas Nkono of Canon Sportif, from the spot, in the first leg final of the 1977 African Winners Cup.
Mensah was so good that at the Sudan 1970 African Nations Cup, the Golden Boot winner and Player of the Tournament, Laurent Pokou could not beat him. Ghana defeated Cote d’Ivoire in the semi finals. Pokou had scored five times in the previous game against Ethiopia ending up with a total of eight goals.
Madu later left Ghana to join Enugu Rangers in 1975. The Flying Antelopes had beaten Great Olympics, home and away, in the first round of the 1975 African Winners Cup. Oly had a formidable side, led by Black Stars captain, Awuley Quaye.
Joseph Nartey, and the Hammond brothers, Obley and Sabban, were overwhelmed. Keeper Emmanuel Okala was fantastic. Patrick Iluno, scorers Alex Nwosu and Kenneth Abana, Ernest Ufele, Stanley Okoronkwo and Harrison Mecha played their hearts out.
One account said Madu was on his way to Alyufsalam Rocks, when Rangers cornered him. Proprietor of the Ilorin side, Alhaji Yusuf Salami had gone to Korley Park, in the Sabon Zango area of Accra to recruit players. Madu frequented their and spoke fluent Hausa.
When he eventually settled for Rangers, the newcomer found company in Hausa speaking players like Ogidi Ibeabuchi, Sam Onyeaka, Nwabueze Nwankwo, Emeka Onyedika, Stanley Okoronkwo and Abana. In the 1976 GA Cup grand finale, Rangers beat Alyufsalam 2-0.
There were sad stories. On October 30, 1971, Mensah was stabbed at Credo Bar, Tema. It was believed the goalie would have left the country on November 2, for greener pastures overseas. That was the day he died. The next day, his wife was delivered of a baby.
Madu was buried in November 2017, three months after his demise in August. The man died in penury. He was sacked by Enugu State military governor, Col Sule Ahman who forced non indigenes out of Enugu State Civil Service. His wife, Vera, was also affected.
How strange that a man who was spared by Ghana when the Kofi Busia government sent Nigerians parking in 1968, was not spared by his country men. Contrary to reports that it was because he changed his surname from Madumere to Madu, the truth is that the Igbo who lived in Ghana were not asked to go because they were seen as Emeka Ojukwu’s people.
Ojukwu was popular in Ghana. He taught at the Military Academy in Teshie. His half sister, Esther, had a Ghanaian husband named Davies. Living in exile, the Biafran leader, opened an office in Accra and chose a name, Dr. Kofi.
Peduase Lodge, offered Nigeria lasting peace in 1967. Yakubu Gowon lost it.
Mensah has a stadium named after him in Cape Coast. He was cousin to former President John Atta Mills, one of the backers of Accra Hearts. Madu played for Green Eagles. His younger brother, Ransom also did. They had a cousin in Takoradi. Another cousin, Boogaloo, created waves in Ghana as a musician.
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