Hearts legend ‘Super’ Supey laid to rest
Hundreds of mourners and sympathisers on Saturday paid their last respect to Accra Hearts of Oak goalkeeping legend, ‘Super’ Sam Supey, at a ‘celebratory’ funeral held at the Accra Sports Stadium.
It was attended by a host of mourners from the Ghana football fraternity consisting of players, coaches, administrators, members of the Duncans Keep Fit Club in Osu and members of the Accra Hearts of Oak Old Players Association (AHOOPA).
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) was represented by its General Secretary, Mr Prosper Harrison Addo, with Mr Kudjoe Fianoo and Mr Oduro Nyarko representing the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA).
The ceremony marked a departure from the usual mourning and wailing observed at such funerals as members of AHOOPA paid glowing tribute to their colleague by singing several of the Hearts of Oak songs and anthems with a section of the mourners joining in the celebration.
The highlight of it was the introduction of the veteran players present at the funeral.
It was met by thunderous applause and cheers from the mourners, a lot of who have heard their names but have not met them in person.
Among the surviving playing colleagues in attendance were Paul Annan, Evans Y. Aryee-Quaye, Hesse Odamtten, Nii Noi Thompson, Sarpei Nunoo, Adolf Armah, Baba Gambo, Tanko Ayuba, Peter Lamptey, Mohammed Ahmed Polo, Bismark Odoi, J. Commey Bortsie, Nii Aflah Kakaban I aka Douglas Tagoe, Seth Wilson and Shaibu Fuseini.
Others like Lante Duru Frans, Tony Micah, Offei Ansah, Addo Quarcoo, Mamah Acquah, Robert Hammond, Bashiru Gambo and Anas Seidu are deceased.
In their tribute to the late Supey read by Mr Evans Aryee-Quaye, the late Supey was described as the one of the most active members and advisor of the group.
He said Hearts’ association with Sam Supey dates back to 1975 when Hearts encountered Brong Ahafo United in a league match in Sunyani.
“He was in post for BA United on that day and his exploits in that match caught the eyes of the management of Hearts led by the then Team Manager B.B Bismark who immediately arranged and signed him on board the Phobia train.
Supey featured in the famous ‘Miracle of Elwak’ in 1977 when Hearts, down by three goals in the first leg in Lusaka, needed to beat their opponents, Mufilira Wanderers, three nil to qualify for the African Cup Club Championship final.
After a barren first half with 20 minutes left to end the match, Hearts scored three unanswered goals to beat Mufilira Wanderers to qualify for the African Cup final against Hafia Club of Guinea.
He also manned the post to win league trophies in 1977, 78 and 79, and was invited to the Black Stars in 1975 and 1979.
Preaching the sermon, Rev. Evans Christian Nii Nortey Ocquaye of the Jesus Is Alive International Church urged the mourners to have a relationship with God in order to have eternal life and reminded them that there would be judgment after death
BY ANDREW NORTEY
