Goodbye, Sir – You have been the HOLY one for us.

Cecil Jones Attuquayefio born on the 18th October, 1944 was a loyal servant of Accra Great Olympics -Hearts of Oak’s city rivals – but it was with HEARTS of OAK that he made his name as a coach.

The ex-Black Stars player, after battling with throat cancer for close to eight years, finally lost the fight on the 12th May, 2015. He fought to the very end of his life…….

FROM STAR PLAYER TO LEGENDARY COACH

Attuquayefio’s footballing career spanned almost 20 years. He started with Ghana Academicals in the early sixties, transferred to Accra Standfast F.C  for a short-stint, later joined Ghana Republicans and finally settled with Accra Great Olympics – where he played from 1966-1974- during their most successful spell in Ghana football which culminated in two league titles in a space of four years. He was a member of the Black Star team that won the African Nations Cup in 1965.

His coaching career kicked off right after his playing days, his first job was with the Accra Great Olympics team in the mid-seventies. He managed the “wonder club” for almost a decade. He was the Assistant-coach of the Black Stars from 1985-1987.

He managed three teams in four years between 1988 and 1993. He was in charge of Okwahu United for a year and proceeded to Cote d’Ivoire where he managed local giants, Stade Abidjan. He was not there for long and came back to Coach Obuasi Goldfields-present day AshantiGold FC- from 1990-1995; the first three years was spent with the senior team and the last two years were with the Academy side of Obuasi Goldfields.

HISTORY MAKER WITH HEARTS

Attuquayefio was appointed manager of Accra HEARTS OF OAK in 1998 after a short stint with his former club Accra Great Olympics. He brought a new dimension to the reigning Ghana League Champions. Attuquayefio’s Hearts of Oak made it into the Group Stages of the CAF Champions league where they placed second in Group A level on points with Power Dynamos of Zimbabwe who had a superior goal difference.

Hearts and Attuquayefio were back in Africa the following year, but after whipping Ela Nguema of Equatorial Guinea 9-0 on aggregate in the preliminary round, the euphoria was quickly subdued when they placed third in their Group, unable to better the record of the previous year. Hearts went on to retain the Ghana league title which was Cecil Jones’ second league triumph with the club.

After those two unsuccessful stints on the African continent, Cecil Jones moulded -arguably- Hearts of Oak’s greatest team. The lessons in the previous fiasco were learned; the shenanigans of away and home games on the continent were understood; the will-power to not succumb was inculcated into the players. The alchemist and leader of men had found his right formula and with it the antidote to dominate the African terrain.

The new, rectified and fortified team Attuquayefio created came to be known as “BATTALION 64.” Some of the notably members of the “64 Battalion” were: Sammy Adjei, Africa’s Best Goal-keeper at Junior level in 1999, took over the goalkeeping reigns from Eben “Dida” Armah and James Nanor; Stephen Tetteh and the veteran -erstwhile midfielder- E. Agyeman Duah were the heart of the defense. They complemented each other perfectly with Stephen Tetteh, the young, energetic and tower of strength; on the other hand, Agyeman Duah brought experience, calmness and composure to the defense. (Sannie Wahab, the best Hearts defender at the time, missed the final. Agyeman Duah replaced him at the back.)

On the right of defense was the mercurial and marauding Yaw Amankwah Mireku; Captain Jacob Nettey: reliable, hardworking, indefatigable and passionate occupied the left flank.

The centre of battle and the hub of the team had the combative, hard tackling, athletic, Lawrence Adjah Tetteh( a mirror-image-of-Edmund Copson) who win the ball and distribute it effectively; and the silent, wily, shadow wall Joe Ansah marshalling the midfield.

Charles Taylor and Charles Allotey occupied the left and right of midfield respectively. The former, a very skillful, quick, left-footed, defense terrorising, slippery and trickery Charles Taylor; the latter, a very small, underrated, hardworking, passionate, gutty and pocket-Hercules Charles Allotey.

Ishmael Addo, the precocious, pacey, and finisher extra-ordinaire, added youthful enthusiasm to the front-line in tandem with Emmanuel Osei-Kuffor – the General- as he was named by the fans.

Emmanuel Osei-Kuffor, the erstwhile right-back, had been converted to a striker by Cecil Jones Attuquayefio. Osei-Kuffor was creative as a playmaker, and had a strikers instinct in equal measure but his greatest attribute was his composure and calmness-personified in front of goal – Emmanuel Osei Kuffor was the top-scorer in the 2000 CAF Champions League.

As the saying goes, ” A team is as good as its bench” and so the equally talented men were the backbone of the team: J. Nanor, Eben Armah; Justice Ampah, James Zoglo, Emmanuel Donkor, Emmanuel Adjogu, Ali Kwame, Dan Quaye, and man-mountain Osmanu Amadu.

HEARTS OF OAK and Attuquayefio were making history, sweeping all before them on the domestic stage thanks in no small part to the trilogy of Osei Kuffor, Ishmael Addo and Charles Taylor. They were unplayable at times and rightly regarded as one of the continent’s finest combinations. The pair registered more than 15 goals between them in the CAF CL.

Attuquayefio’s artistic team, the 64 battalion, went on to win the CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE in 2000 -defeating Esperance in Tunis (ending a close to 30 years home invincibility record of the North Africans in continental football) and winning the return leg 5-2 on aggregate at Accra

Jacob Nettey kisses Hearts’ first ever Africa Champions League in 2000.

. The appurtenance of their success was the sweeping of all the domestic trophies in the year 2000. The icing on the continental cake was the 2-0 win over African giants, Zamalek SC of Egypt, in the Super Cup the following year.

Attuquayefio’s team had rigour at the back, finesse in the middle and panache in front of goal. But of all the qualities that got them through -and distinguished them from the Hearts of Oak team of old- was the we-shall-not-be-over-awed never say die attitude. This conviction was accentuated when they came from a goal and a man down, to beat Esperance 2-1 in Tunis.

Attuquayefio had succeeded where Charles Addo Odametey had failed twice; the battalion 64 had laid down the gauntlet for the legendary “fearsome-five” squad which comprised Robert Hammond, Mama Musah Acquah, Peter Lamptey, Anas Seidu and Mohammed Ahmed Polo. They had -in effect- threatened the very existence of the afore-mentioned quintessential “fearsome-five” squad in the pantheons of Accra Hearts of Oak Legends; they had marked their claim, rejoiced where the erstwhile deities had mourned, and had usurped all the HEARTS OF Oak sides before them as the greatest side ever assembled in the then 93-year history of the Oak tree.

Yes, they were guided, regimented, drilled, indoctrinated, mollycoddled and masterminded by the great CECIL JONES ATTUQUAYEFIO – Accra Hearts of Oak’s coach of the century.

The football world celebrated Cecil Jones Attuquayefio in June, 2012. Well, we will forever celebrate the man and his impeccable achievements.

Accra Hearts of Oak Board Chairman, Togbe Afede XIV, presenting a cheque to Cecil Jones Attuquayefio during his testimonial match.

1. J ATTUQUAYEFIO: MAJOR HONOURS WITH HEARTS OF OAK

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE STATS: 1

1998*: P4 W3 D0 L1 GF4 GA3 – Group Stage

1999: P10 W5 D3 L2 GF20 GA7 – Group Stage

2000: P12 W8 D3 L1 GF25 GA 12 – Winners (Champions)

2001: P2 W1 D0 L1 GF4 GA 6 – First Round

CONFEDERATION CUP: 1

2004**: P10 W6 D3 L1 GF13 GA 7

*Attuquayefio’s first game in charge of Hearts was the 1-0 defeat away to Eagle Cement.

**Ernst Middendorp had managed the team till the last round before the group stages. Cecil Jones took over and won the maiden trophy

Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio returned to Hearts to make it a hat-trick of continental trophies by pipping Kotoko to the Confederation Cup.

.

SUPER CUP: 1

2001: winner

2005: runner-up

Ghana Premier League Champion: 5

1998, 1999 (double), 2000 (treble), 2001 and 2004/2005 (double)

Ghana FA Cup: 2

1999 (double), 2000 (treble)

Attuquayefio, Accra Hearts of Oak, Ghana and Africa is grateful for the years of service to HUMANITY. Ayekoo.

Goodbye, Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio – You have been the HOLY one for Accra Hearts of Oak. We shall never forget our Jones…..

[This article first appeared on June, 29th 2012, on modernghana.com, written by @HeartsEleven….. TITLED: CELEBRATING CECIL JONES ATTUQUAYEFIO – The First Conquest of Africa with HEARTS OF OAK

— http://www.modernghana.com/sports/403750/2/celebrating-cecil-jones-attuquayefio-the-first-con.html%5D

Article by: @heartseleven

Cecil Jones & David Duncan – THE FATHER & SON

Happy Belated 70^th Birthday Cecil Jones… Happy 51st Birthday David Duncan

Accra Hearts of Oak’s greatest coach of all-time and Ghana football’s most successful Club manager, Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio (born 18^th October, 1944 ) opened up his doors for an in-depth interview on his 69^th birthday (last year); and since, Cecil Jones Attuquayefio and David Duncan (born 25^th October, 1963.) were born in the same month (a week separates their birthdays), HEARTSELEVEN.wordpress.com will like to bring you excerpts of an interview we did with Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio, which was published in Hearts News last year 18^th October, 2013.

The legendary coach, Cecil Jones Attuquayefio, won 10 major trophies with Accra Hearts of Oak in 5 years and in two spells. In his first spell, Cecil Jones Attuquayefio won four consecutive league titles, two FA Cups, one African Champions League, and the Super Cup in a space of four years. He returned to his darling Club in 2004 to win the maiden CAF Confederation Cup beating bitterest rivals Kumasi Asante Kotoko, and he wrestled back Hearts of Oak’s league crown from the same opponents who hitherto had ended the Phobians’ six-year stranglehold on the Ghana Premier League title.

Cecil Jones Attuquayefio is convalescing after undergoing treatment for throat cancer. The affable, eloquent, charismatic, sociable, and gregarious veteran spoke on his improving conditions, on the team’s course for success, on David Duncan and the need for him to be supported. He also congratulated the Black Stars on their historic win over Egypt.

Even before we could kick-start the interview, Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio magnanimously left his seat and went inside his bedroom. He came back with a vintage shirt and a trademark cap for David Duncan. Read the excerpts below.

HeartsEleven.wordpress.com: Good afternoon, sir.

Cecil Jones Attuquayefio: Good afternoon, gentlemen. Welcome to my home.

This is one of the luckiest and the last of the luckiest uniforms for Accra Hearts of Oak bench and it is for the coach. I am presenting this to him, as a sign of good omen, and the sign to help him. When he wears it, he will have the feelings and the spirit of the PHOBIA that will help him to go through thick and thin of every situation. So this is from the bottom of my heart to Duncan.

Heartseleven.wordpress.com: We wish you a happy 69^th birthday on behalf of every Hearts of Oak fan in the world. How are you feeling, Sir?

CJA: Thank you. Well I think I feel stronger and stronger every day. But there is a side effect; and of course I have not stopped visiting the hospital so I always visit the hospital for check-ups and observation. But I can see that I have got much strength; my strength is coming back. Hopefully, I will probably have a change of voice. And I think that I believe that will give me the opportunity to mix up with people.

Heartseleven.wordpress.com: We are very honoured to be part of your 69^th birthday. We pray that God grants you long life, good health. How does it feel to reach another milestone, Sir?

CJA: I am glad that I am able to reach the 69^th birthday. I am very happy and I will give thanks to the Almighty for keeping me all this while. And I hope that, the Lord God will guide me and protect me and give me some more life.

Heartseleven.wordpress.com: How do you see the work of David Duncan in the new season and do you believe he can lead Hearts of Oak to the ultimate this season? [Duncan was still in charge of Hearts when we conducted the interview]

CJA: I think I know David Duncan very well, and I have followed his exploits. Duncan is capable of achieving honours for Hearts of Oak. He has shown it last year, and this year, I think he has started again. I know he can do it. All that we need is to offer him the support, from the rank and file of Accra Hearts of Oak. I wish everybody will offer him the support. There are bound to be rough times but I believe that he can sail through. All that he needs is our prayers and support and I am sure Hearts of Oak will get back to its glorious days.

Heartseleven.wordpress.com: What are Hearts’ chances of winning the 2013/14 Premier League?

CJA: So far the only match they have lost is the one against Asante Kotoko; and they are leading, Hearts of Oak is close behind them. What we are saying is that, “this is a marathon, not a race” and we still have the room to achieve our objectives so having lost in the early stages of the competition makes no difference. We are to move forward. Forward ever and we don’t look back. Give him [Duncan] the support and I believe he will achieve all he wants to achieve.

Heartseleven.wordpress.com: What do you think the players need to do if Hearts is to return to its glorious past?

CJA: I heard one of the players say how much they respect and trust Duncan. What the players need to do is that all of them should realize that they should give respect to their coach and the support. Well, there are times where there will be differences, but it behooves on every player to know that this is a coach who wants honours for the player, for himself, and for the club. And therefore, sometimes he needs to drive them on. It is their responsibility to accept and absorb the drive. All the players need is the support and respect for their coach.

Heartseleven.wordpress.com: What role can the fans play in helping the Club to reach its objective for the season?

CJA: I remember my early days in Hearts of Oak. The first match I lost was against Accra Great Olympics, the club that I played for. Before going to Hearts, people did not think I was going to enjoy any support because of my relationship with Olympics. But when I lost the match, I enjoyed sympathy from the rank and file of Hearts of Oak when I thought people were going to capitalize on that to say all sort of things against me. But they rather came and sympathized with me. They encouraged me to achieve more honours. So I am saying that if this thing can be done to Duncan, I am sure the sky will be the limit. In view of this, I always remember how much I respect the supporters of Hearts of Oak. How much I know they can achieve for the Club. Their support alone has helped us to win all the honours that we achieved in Hearts of Oak. I wish they will continue to give that same support to Duncan and the management so that victory will crown our efforts.

Heartseleven.wordpress.com: What have you missed most from the fans of Accra Hearts of Oak and one of your fondest memories of your relationship with the supporters?

CJA:  Whilst I was in Hearts of Oak, I remember my belief in some of the uniforms which had so much luck and that in every match that we played, I had to wear them. And I think the supporters saw me always in that “top colour”. I had two trousers, blue and white, and I used them throughout my time in Hearts of Oak on a weekly basis. But the Hearts of Oak supporters wanted to know if they were the only things I had in the world (laughs and smiles with the flashback). So they asked in Ga, “meni,  Jones, Atarley e oonye ocha kay?” Which literally meant: “So Jones, you cannot change attire or what?”

This is what I remember and I still laugh everyday it comes to mind. I think that I enjoyed my stay with Accra Hearts of Oak. I want the same to be done with Duncan. He is getting a similar treatment and so he should know that this is what brings the excitement and honours for Hearts of Oak so he should carry on.”

Heartseleven.wordpress.com: What do you make of the Black Stars showing against Egypt? [Local Coach Kwesi Appiah’s side had just pummeled Egypt in the first league of the play-off for the 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP; and Cecil Jones asked to get his view included as part of the interview in recognition and respect for Kwesi Appiah’s salient achievement]

CJA: Well, the recent achievement [of the Black Stars] I will like to say, and people are saying it is an unprecedented achievement. But I will like to add that it is historic! I wish to tell Kwesi Appiah that this is an issue [local coaches qualifying Ghana for the World Cup] none of us had been able to do. We have not been able to achieve that and he is in the process of achieving history and I believe that he can do it. He has been able to lead the team to this extent so far and we hope that the sky will be the limit for him. He has our backing, he has our support, and he has blessing, and I hope that God will help him to achieve his aim. I wish him the best of luck.

Heartseleven.wordpress.com: We wish you a happy 69^th birthday. We hope to see you back on the field very soon.

Cecil Jones Attuquayefio: Thank you very much. I hope I will be back on the field before I will finally go to my ancestors.

[David Duncan was sacked on the 8^th November, 2013, just 22 days after the interview with Sir Cecil Jones Attuquayefio. We wish new Olympics coach, David Duncan, a happy 51st birthday. You can forward David Duncan birthday his messages via @Ddun1025 (twitter)]

*David Duncan has gone back to Accra Great Olympics, but do you foresee him ever coming back to Accra Hearts of Oak as coach to complete his mission?

Tells us more @HeartsEleven ; facebook page coming soon. [Picture: Top-Right – Duncan ponded by his players on his birthday, last year at the ATTC Park]