Ex-Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah talks football and the passing away of Cecil Jones Attuquayefio
By Rahman Osman
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Former Black Stars Coach Kwesi Appiah has described the late Cecil Jones Attuquayefio as a born winner and says he was his role model growing up.
Attuquayefio died on Tuesday morning in Accra after a long battle with illness that has seen him stay away from the football pitch for over two years.
The two time CAF best coach of the year holds the proud record of being the first coach to qualify Benin to the Africa cup of nations in their long standing history pulling the remarkable feet in 2004.
He also famously guided Hearts to a memorable CAF Champions League triumph in the year 2000 before successes in the CAF super cup and the maiden confederation cup.
“Jones was my role model and I remember I use to call him very early in career just to listen to him talk about football,” Former Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah told GHANAsoccernet.com
As footballers Attuquayefio played most of his club football with Accra Great Olympics and captained them to their first ever league title in 1970.
He was also a member of the Black Stars squad which won the Africa cup of nations in the year 1965 and was a losing finalist in the next two editions, 1968 and 1970 respectively.
“He was born winner at both club and international level. I am sure most of the younger generations did not see him play but he was a great footballer and that is why I took him as a father to encourage me and advise me on the path to my career.”
Having won laurels as a player and as coach, Attuquayefio departs this world knowing he has left an indelible foot prints and can look back to an endless list of great names that have benefitted from his deep understanding of the modern day football.
“It’s very unfortunate that Ghana has lost such a great man and an unequal coach but we all should remember that God has a way of planning our lives. May his humble soul rest in peace” the SC Khartoum coach concluded
Sir Cecil Jones as he is affectionately known is the first Ghanaian coach to win the CAF best coach award on two occasions.