Odartey Lamptey not perturbed by ‘Ghana’s finest’ snub

Former Ghana international Nii Odartey Lamptey says he is not worried after he was omitted from a provisional 55 man list of ex-players adjudged to be some of the finest players to have played for the Black Stars since independence.

The provisional 55-man list is the opening phase of an awards scheme dubbed “Ghana’s finest” and targeted at rewarding outstanding players of the senior national team.

Speaking to Asempa FM, Odartey Lamptey said even though he would have loved to be part of the list, he is aware that some players played better than he did in the past and thus has no bitterness towards the organisers of the event.

“I am not worried that I did not make the list. In fact each day I look back and say I am grateful for the opportunity to have played football. There were many who were more talented than I was but didn’t get to play at the top level like l did. I know that there were great players before me and during my time, so there is no need for me to be worried that they didn’t select me for this award scheme”.

Lamptey burst onto the scene as a 14-year-old at the 1989 FIFA U-16 World Championship in Scotland. After a brilliant performance in the opening game against the hosts at Hampden Park, the attending Pele hailed the tricky and explosive midfielder as his natural successor.

Two years later at the Under-17 version of the tournament in Italy, Lamptey became a global phenomenon. He outshone the likes of Alessandro Del Piero and Juan Sebastian Veron to lead Ghana to the title, winning the Golden Ball and scoring four goals in the process – including a stunning strike over favourites, Brazil, in the quarter-finals.

He was smuggled out of his homeland on a fake passport posing as the son of Nigeria captain Stephen Keshi so that he could sign for the defender’s club, Anderlecht, as a 15-year-old. Such was his God-given talent that age limit rules in Belgium were changed so that Lamptey could debut for the club at 16 – the same age at which he became a regular for his country’s senior side.

Lamptey lit up the Belgian league, scoring seven goals in 14 games in his first campaign alone, while he also enjoyed an exceptional loan spell at PSV, striking 10 times in 22 games. All this while still a teenager and continuing to star in various international tournaments – including the Barcelona Olympics and Africa Cup of Nations of 1992 in which Ghana claimed bronze and silver, respectively.

The ‘Ghana’s finest 22’ event is an awards scheme put together by Primeval Media and F&B under the auspices of the ‘Ghana 60 years On’ secretariat. The event is geared towards selecting 22 of Ghana’s greatest footballers to have played for the Black Stars since independence.

There will also be awards for sporting heroes in other disciplines such as boxing, athletics, and hockey.

A Committee headed by ace sports writer Mr Ken Bediako, Lepowura M.N.D Jawula, Kudjoe Fianoo, Karl Tufuoh, Fiifi Banson and Jeffery Asare have selected 55 players (5 players for each position), and is asking the general public to help prune that number down to a final list of 22 players (two for each position).

The general public can help select the final list by voting for their favourite players via short code number 1458 on all networks.

The public will have 40% stake in the selection process while the Committee will have 60% stake in the selection.

The final 22 players will then be rewarded during an awards gala/diner later in the year.