.... to handle one of the national teams

Cape Coast, Aug. 4 GNA - The Chief Executive of Cape Coast Venomous Vipers FC, Mr Kweku Tandoh has appealed to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to appoint coach James Kuuku Dadzie to handle one of the National Juvenile football teams.

Mr Tandoh said the appointment of Kuuku Dadzie who was a dedicated ace defender of the Black Stars would be in recognition for his significant contributions towards the development of football in the country.

Speaking to GNA Sports in Cape Coast, Mr Tandoh hoped with the significant contribution of Kuuku Dadzie to the success of the Stars and development of football in the country as well as his vast experience in coaching, he can rise to the occasion when given the chance. The 55 year Kuuku Dadzie's carrier spanned 18 years during which he excelled and helped various Clubs and the national team to achieve laurels.

Kuuku Dadzie started his football career with Cape Coast Great Massacres Colts club and later joined Sekondi Hasaacas before joining Kumasi Asante Kotoko in 1973 and was a member of Ghana Academicals 'Students' national team, which won the Gold medal in the Ghana/Nigeria Friendship Games held in Nigeria in 1973.

It was while he was with Kotoko that his skills were recognised for the Ghana Football Association to invite him into the senior national team and went ahead to win the SWAG Best Defender of the Year award for which he defended in successive years.

Kuuku Dadzie was a member of the Black Stars which won the African Cup of Nations for keeps in 1978 and was appointed captain of the Stars in 1979 and also won the bronze medal in the All African Games held in Algeria.

He also captained the national team to the Cup of Nations in Nigeria in 1980 and the squad which qualified for the Moscow Olympic Games in the same year.

Kuuku Dadzie was also the Assistant Coach for the National "Under" 17 team, the Black Starlets between 1998 and 1999 that featured Michael Essien of Chelsea F/C that won bronze in New Zealand and Gold in the African Cup of Nations in Guinea.

Among the coaching courses he attended were the CAF Instructors Course in Libya, CAF Instructors GFA/University at Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence at Prampram and CAF intermediate coaching course at the Winneba Sports College.

Kuuku Dadzie who is currently the coach of Cape Coast Venomous Vipers has also coached Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs and Tema Youth F/C and was a resource person for the "GFA 5-year Football Development Plan".

In another development, the mortal remains of former Class One Referee, Joseph K. B. Acquah was laid to rest at Asokyeano cemetery, near Cape Coast, on Saturday, August 1. The late Acquah, 70, died after a protracted illness and was survived by a wife and six children. Among the gathering at the grave side were soccer fans and old students of his alma mater, Aggrey Memorial Zion Senior High School. 04 Aug. 09