Ghana legend Osei Kofi, says he greatly impacted the senior national team [Black Stars] more than three-time African best footballer Abedi Ayew Pele.
Pele, who won the award three consecutive times from 1991-1993 and also won both France Football award and new CAF award in 1992, has been described by some great football icons as Ghana’s greatest talent to have featured for the Black Stars.
But the outspoken former Asante Kotoko star who claims he once rejected an offer to join English side Stoke City, disagrees with those assertions, saying his achievements for Ghana outweighs the former Marseille cult hero.
“Let me tell you the truth, Abedi Pele played in Ghana for only a brief period. His playing career is centered mostly in France, so if we speak of players who impacted Ghana, he doesn’t get close to me,” Osei Kofi told Sunyani-based Akonoba FM.
“Anyone who does a list of all-time best eleven for Ghana will do a mistake. You can only compile this list looking at generation by generation.
“Your trophies won will determine you earn a slot in such a prestigious list.
“Not when you go and play abroad and make a name then you become the best in Ghana.
“Those who stayed here, sacrificed and won laurels for the country are the ones who deserve such mention.
“Someone goes abroad, plays for money and you say he is Ghana’s all-time best. You can only do a generation by generation list,” he concluded.
Osei Kofi won two AFCON titles for Ghana in 1963 and 1965 while Abedi on the other hand won Ghana its fourth continental title in 1982.
