Takoradi, June 10, GNA - The family of the late Isaac Salifu Ansah, former goalkeeper of the national football team the "Black Stars" and Accra Hearts of Oak has expressed disgust about the "shabby treatment" meted out to the family and particularly the former ace goalkeeper by the football administrators of the country.

Madam Kate Ansah, a spokesperson for the family expressed concern about the clear absence of any official from the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Ghana Football Association or the National Sports Council during the funeral and burial ceremony of the keeper at Takoradi on May 28 this year.

Madam Ansah, a sister of the late Salifu Ansah said these at a press conference organised at Takoradi on Friday to express the family's disappointment about the absence of the officials at the funeral and burial of the ace keeper. The family spokesperson said the late Ansah sacrificed his entire life for the betterment of soccer and therefore deserved a better treatment particularly by the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the National Sports Council during 'his time of need and sympathy'.

"After all this dedicated service on the soccer pitch, who would have thought that our brother, father, kith and kin would suffer in shame and neglect in his last days on earth"? Madam Ansah asked. Madam Ansah said that even though the GFA and the Ministry were adequately informed of the death of Salifu Ansah and were invited to the funeral, no representative from any of the institutions turned up. "They failed to turn up to mourn with us, let alone present a national flag for which Ansah defended so gallantly to adorn his coffin to make the entire family proud".

Madam Ansah who is a trader said she had to use all her capital to pay medical bills when her brother was taken ill and to organise his funeral when he died, added that her major problem now is how to cater for the education of the five children that her late brother left behind. "He and his wife have separated and therefore I have to bear all the responsibilities" she said amid shedding of tears.

To expressed concern that even though Ansah was a former national star she was made to pay 1.4 million cedis for land space at the Takoradi cemetery by the Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly for the grave while a receipt of only 150,000 cedis was issued to her. Madam Ansah cited instances when some national soccer heroes were given full honours during their death and burial ceremonies and asked, "Are some more important than others"? Somebody should please answer this" she ended.

The late Isaac Ansah, alias Salifu Ansah died at the Takoradi hospital on April 19, 2005 after a short illness at the age of 45. He featured prominently for Sekondi Eleven wise, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Sekondi Hasaacas, and Accra Hearts of Oak Football Clubs and until his death was the goalkeeper trainer for Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club.