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Sports News of Monday, 8 October 2012

Source: GNA

Attuquayefio's charity fetched over 27,000 Ghana Cedis

Organisers of the Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio charity game played between a select side and the Black Stars fetched over 27,000 Ghana Cedis.

Though the veteran Coach benefited a paltry $1000 from the entire game organised to celebrate him and support his throat cancer treatment, GNA Sports can confirm the game grossed in the region of 27,500 Ghana Cedis.

The amount which included 14,000 Ghana Cedis as gate proceeds from the game played at the Accra Sports Stadium on June 29, also include a further 13,500 Ghana Cedis from donations.

The donations which saw an Accra-based radio station, Joy FM, raising 7,000 Ghana Cedis from the 13,500 Ghana Cedis was meant for the celebrated trainer who ruled Africa in 2000.

GNA Sports can confirm that Black Stars striker, Asamoah Gyan doled out $3000 on the day of the game to the coach’s cause while captain John Mensah gave 500 Ghana Cedis as his contribution.

While Gyan was the highest donor, personalities such as Kennedy Agyapong, former Management Member of Asante Kototo, gave 3000 Ghana Cedis, comprising $1000 dollars and a further 1000 Ghana Cedis when Joy FM hosted the coach and his former players including Amankwah Mireku, Ishmael Addo and Emmanuel Osei Kuffour ahead of the game.

The breakdown of the donation that came through the radio station also include a 1000 Ghana Cedis each from Minister of Communications, Haruna Iddrisu, Randy Abbey and famed lawyer, Ernest Thompson.

Ace broadcaster, Kwame Sefa Kayi and Egbert Faibille Jnr, Managing Editor of the Ghanaian Observer newspaper doled out 200 Ghana Cedis and 500 Ghana Cedis respectively to compliment a further 300 cedis donated by listeners identified as Fiifi and Thomas.

The organiser, Lawrence Opare-Otoo, who in the build up to the game said part of the proceeds would be given to Attuquayefio and the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Department at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, had so far given the former trainer a paltry $1000 and nothing to the plum hospital.

Information pieced together by GNA Sports indicates the National Sports Authority (NSA) waived all financial obligation related to the usage of the national stadium enabling Opare-Otoo the luxury of using the arena without a cost.

Opare-Otoo, a former broadcaster, it will be recalled was behind the fund- raising dinner for the Retired National Footballers Association of Ghana (RENFAG) in July, 2011, which was graced by Liverpool legend, John Barnes.

Attuquayefio, one of Ghana's renowned coaches, has for the last two years battled with throat cancer which has truncated his illustrious career which saw him chalk several successes.

He guided Hearts of Oak to the CAF Champions league title in 2000 and the Super Cup a year on. He was also at the helm when the Phobians won the maiden CAF Confederations Cup in 2004.