They are back. After five seasons in the lower Divisions, Accra Great Olympics are back, and back to play against their fiercest rivals, Accra Hearts of Oak in the league.
The last time they met, in March, 2010, Samuel Afum
got the only game of the goal to cap a league double for Hearts in the 2009/10 season. Tuah Khemiz and Mahatma Otoo were also on the score-sheet in a 0-2 victory in the first encounter.
Olympics have been gone for so long, half a decade to be precise, and it is the longest interval of quiescence in the history of the derby. The Dade Boys have been relegated three times in the 21st century, having been founding fathers of the Ghana League in 1958.
But they are back, again, and they want to claim the city from Hearts.
The Olympics Formation
Accra Great Olympics was formed in 1954, after breaking away from Hearts of Oak’s pre-Independence rivals Accra Standfast.
Standfast were the bogey side of Accra Hearts of Oak pre-Independence, having challenged and threatened the dominance of the Phobians in the Guggisberg Shield for several years. And Olympics morphed into the role by being a thorn-in-the-flesh of the Phobians post Independence.
But Hearts had a serendipitous hand in the formation of Accra Great Olympics when they invited Standfast for a friendly match at the Owusu Memorial Park in the 1950s. Hearts had gone several games without victory over Standfast and had sought the help of a Bishop for ways to end their poor streak.
Indeed, the Bishop [Engloben] told them they could only beat Standfast if they could make the heavens open on any day they play their rivals. It was a very difficult solution, but soon Hearts found the answer.
So when the two squared at the Owusu Memorial Park, the Phobians ran riot, beating Standfast by 6-0! The shock of the defeat began the chain of conflicts which culminated in the disintegration of Standfast and the formation of Accra Great Olympics.
Standfast were paralyzed by the resignation of almost the entire players and executive who moved away to form the Great Olympics in 1954. [culled from: The Saga of Hearts pages 45,48]
The Memorable Games
*Speedy way to a speedy exit
In 1961, Hearts won her third league title (1956, 1958, 1961) with the help of star player and ex-Hasaacas captain Aggrey Fynn, but the season is most remembered for the 4-0 trouncing of Olympics in the FA Cup. A report from the Ghanaian Ties of August, 21, 1961 tells of all the drama which gave Hearts their 4-0 victory:
“One goal up in thirty-six seconds: A hat trick by Aggrey-Fynn in the final quarter-hour!
“That is the dramatic story of the dramatic victory of Accra Hearts of Oak over Great Olympics in their National Cup quarter-final replay at Accra Stadium yesterday.
“It was a match that will long live in the memories of the near-capacity crowd.
“Olympics as confident as a bantam cock, drove their van onto the playing field to an unprecedented burst of cheers. It was a speedy way to a speedy exit.
“Kobina Agyiri Fynn [not to be confused with Aggrey Fynn] kicking off for Hearts, passed a short one to inside left Aggrey Fynn. A square pass found right winger Osei Kofi racing close to the Olympics touchline. Wee! Osei chipped the ball back to [Amadu] Akuse who beat a defender and passed it on to Agyiri Fynn.
“The stocky centre forward let fly a thunderous shot but as goalkeeper Ollenu dived to meet it, right back Ago Laryea got his foot to it and deflected it into the net.
“Only 36 seconds gone. Not one Olympics player had touched it beside Laryea. And Hearts were one-goal up……
“And so to half time with Hearts clinging to their lone goal lead. There was no letting up in the second half.
“Olympics continued their constructive football but were subdued by a solid Hearts defence, ably backed by Addoquaye Laryea in goal.
“It lasted for half of the second half and then Hearts struck their pulverizing form. Four times centre forward Agyiri Fyn shot over the bar or just missed the upright.
“But the pressure was on and Hearts could not be denied. A low cross from left winger Akrong to Akuse was redirected to Aggrey Fynn who hit the corner of the net with a beautiful low drive.
“Seven minutes later, Hearts got a corner kick, Aggrey Fynn was on hand again to bang it home for the third goal.
“Three minutes to full time, Aggrey Fynn completed a personal hat-trick with Hearts’ fourth goal against a weary, dissipated but gallant Olympics.
“It was a conclusive defeat, but you can say this for Olympics. They played good football and kept their heads to the end”.
*Three goals in five minutes
On July 14, 1968, Hearts devastatingly surged from a 0-2 setback to a memorable 4-2 triumph over Great Olympics in a knockout match. In that match, Hearts created history by scoring three goals in five minutes (80th-85th minutes) after getting their first goal in the 49th minute; the rainbow-shirted boys then delighted the crowd with artistic slow-motion soccer.
Just like Olympics had entered the field with a new bus some years down the line, Hearts entered this game in a new set of jerseys donated by ex-Hearts player, and then Head of State, J.A Ankrah, but it was Olympics that started the game on the front foot.
The Dade boys took a commanding two-goal lead before the break. At halftime, captain Charles Addo Odamteng instructed the players not to leave the pitch for the changing room. They stayed on the field [Black Stars end of the stadium goalpost – now score-board end of the stadium] whilst he asked why they wanted to disgrace J.A Ankrah because he knew the man was watching the game on TV. He charged the players and told them, they would rather die than leave the pitch with a defeat.
Then ominously, the heavens opened up before the start of the second half. Rainbow appeared on the coast line, and Hearts got into their elements.
Abeka Ankrah followed up with a firm header beyond goalkeeper Naa Awu, who had fisted the ball back into play, for Hearts’ first goal of the game.
George “Ga Mantse” Alhassan restored parity in the 80th minute. Then it happened again. Abeka Ankrah – alias why worry – found Robert Foley deep in the Hearts half after intercepting a pass. Ankrah raced into the half of Olympics on a counter to receive a return pass from Foley, but ball deflected off an Olympics defender before falling kindly towards the Hearts man. He controlled beautifully with his chest to go past Naa Awu, before walking the ball into the net where he blasted into the roof and got tangled in the net. The fans rushed to field. They all fell on the striker. He could not breathe. Slowly, they lifted him out, and in the picture below, he is being asked by Joe Ghartey and Robert Foley whether he could continue
.
Stop playing after that comeback? Hell no. Ankrah continued but Amusa Gbadamoshie got the last laugh, scoring a fine goal with the angle against him, to complete a memorable comeback for Hearts. 2-0 down at halftime; 4-2 winners at full-time.
HEROES and VILLAINS
The rivalry has seen its fair share of pitch-side duels, with goalkeepers and strikers slanging it out for the heroic crown or clown on the day.
Once-upon-a-time, Thomas Otenkorang, facing the great goalkeeper Lantey Duru, scored straight from a corner kick to hand Hearts a 1-0 win over Olympics.
Richard Kingson, who has returned to the club, never had fun playing against the late Shamo Quaye. The Shamo ‘leather’ has some of his best goals coming against Olympics, and Kingston had been on the end of many.
Sammy Adjei
, on his local debut, picked up two goals in the opening 45 minutes against Accra Great Olympics, but his blushes were saved by Dan Quaye and Osmanu Amadu, who leveled the scores in the second half, in a thrilling 2-2 draw.
But the keepers were not always the villains; the strikers were not spared in those days. Peter Lamptey was sacked, by the fans, from Olympics after missing a golden opportunity against Hearts. The ‘goal thief’ was accused of playing it soft against his prophesied beloved club though he had on many occasions been the thorn-in-the-flesh of the Hearts defense.
Chased home and humiliated the following day at training, Peter Lamptey switched camp and joined Hearts in 1972/73. The rest became history.
However, the greatest individual to come out of the two clubs, is without a shadow of doubt, Cecil Jones Attuquayefio. The only ‘sir’ in Ghana football made his name playing for Accra Great Olympics, but he entered coaching folklore with his achievements with Accra Hearts of Oak: five league titles, three continental trophies, and many more.
The GOLDEN ERA
There is a long history of players switching camps from Hearts to Olympics and vice-versa. The acquisition of Peter Lamptey could be the finest move by Hearts for an Olympics player. Lamptey went on to help Hearts win its first ever double in Ghana football in 1973. In fact, the Phobians were masters of all they surveyed, winning all the trophies on display in 1973 – only failing to make a mark on the continent.
In recent times, Charles Taylor
has had a similar effect, joining from Olympics to help Hearts to an unprecedented treble in Ghana football in the year 2000.
Great Olympics have also benefited from snatching players from Hearts into the camp, but the duo of Christian Madus and Abeka Ankrah, have had a more telling effect for Olympics.
The duo helped Olympics to win their last league title in 1974, after they were declared surplus to requirements at Hearts.
The 1970s was a golden era for the two Accra Clubs. Olympics won 2 league titles (1970 and 1974), whilst Hearts won the league five times (1971, 1973, 1976, 1978, 1979) in that period.
The New REALITY
Great Olympics have not been able to recapture the golden decades of the 1970s, but they were the first of the two clubs to play a continental competition, reaching the semi-finals in 1971, before Hearts ventured into Africa the following year.
The Dade Boys have been relegated three times in the last 15 years, and that has gone a long way in diluting the rivalry
.
Hearts have excelled, and many times at the expense of Olympics, snatching their best talents and making them champions. The Phobians have won 14 league titles since Olympics’ last triumph on the domestic stage; won three continental trophies within the period.
And this has made the derby, no longer a fight for supremacy, but a fight for only three points and bragging rights for the city.
Olympics are back this time around; back to make the loudest noise in the capital. Yet, Hearts will say to them, “Be Quiet and don’t be Silly.”
Recent Meetings (last 20 games): P20 W9 D8 L3
1997/98 Hearts 1 – 1 Olympics
Olympics 0 – 1 Hearts
1999 Hearts 0 – 1 Olympics
Olympics 2 – 2 Hearts
2000 Olympics 0 – 3 Hearts
Hearts 1 – 2 Olympics
2001 Olympics 1 – 1 Hearts
Hearts 0 – 0 Olympics
2002 Hearts 2 – 0 Olympics
Olympics 2 – 2 Hearts
2003 Olympics 1 – 1 Hearts
Hearts 2 – 1 Olympics
2004 Olympics 0 – 3 Hearts
Hearts 2 – 3 Olympics
2005 Olympics Relegated
2006/7 Hearts 2 – 1 Olympics
Olympics 1 – 1 Hearts
2007/8 Hearts 0 – 0 Olympics
Olympics 0 – 1 Hearts
2008/9 Olympics Relegated
2009/10 Olympics 0 – 2 Hearts
Hearts 1 – 0 Olympics
2010/11 Olympics Relegated
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