MOHAMED ALLIE NGAYENGA –SOCCER HERO GHANA WILL NEVER FORGET- PASSES AWAY
By KABS KANU
Last week , some relations of Mr. Mohamed Allie Ngayenga referred to as me to offer me the dangerous information that the soccer hero, who had been critically in poor health and on life assist in Maryland, will have the machine switched off by the household. Ngayenga’s household stopped in need of declaring him lifeless and we have been ready for an official announcement of his passing by his daughter, Miss Sia Ngayenga.
However, final Friday morning, it was confirmed that, certainly , considered one of Sierrra Leone’s biggest soccer heroes — The inimitable Mohamed Allie Ngayenga— had gone to hitch his ancestors and late soccer colleagues Max Macauley, King Kama Dumbuya, Manneh Peters, Amadu Kargbo, Abu Syrian, Daniel Diamond Toes Koroma, Abdulai Garrincha Sesay , Umaru Din- Sesay and others .
Mohamed Allie Ngayenga ‘s loss of life is a blow to the nation .
Ngayenga began his soccer profession as a schoolboy in Bo within the mid- Nineteen Seventies , together with the scorching dribbler Max Macauley. Both males, after changing into extremely popular in Bo, then moved to Freetown and starrred for MIGHTY BLACKPOOL and the nationwide staff, Leone Stars within the late Nineteen Seventies.
Ngayenga was famously recognized for the humiliation meted out to the good Ghanaian soccer staff, ACCRA HEARTS OF OAK in Freetown in 1979 within the Africa Club Champions Cup , which Blackpool gained 2-0 , with a outstanding second purpose by Ngayenga himself after a beautiful penalty scored by Alusine Terry for the primary purpose.
The consequence surprised Ghana and was the speak of Africa that 12 months. It was an period when Ghana was the Brazil of Africa in soccer . It was not a simple feat to beat an unbeatable staff like Accra Hearts of Oak. Blackpool’s and Ngayenga’s names unfold all through Africa .
The dramatic tie was determined sensationally by a penalty shootout on the Accra Sports Stadium the place Hearts of Oak gained 2-0 within the second leg for a 2-2 mixture rating. Blackpool may have inflicted extra havoc on the Ghanaians throughout open play however missed many golden alternatives to attain. I watched the sport myself in Accra and noticed Hearts barely handle to get rid of Blackpool 4-2 from the postgame spot kicks ( I used to be additionally fortunate to observe Sierra Leone beat Ghana 2-1 on the similar Accra Sports Stadium in 1987 within the Africa Nations Cup ).
Ngayenga got here to the U.S and studied Engineering and had a really affluent and profitable profession. He returned to Sierra Leone and put up a palatial dwelling that he liked and plenty of instances produced pictures of himself entertaining buddies and soccer colleagues there. He lived an excellent life in Sierra Leone the place he was hailed wherever he appeared.
But tragedy hit the soccer icon three or so years in the past when he suffered a large stroke at dwelling, after getting into his automobile. If he had been found earlier, a lot harm couldn’t have occurred. But he was discovered mendacity on the ground hours later by which era it was a lot too late for a speedy restoration. He was delivered to the U.S for therapy by his daughter however he by no means recovered from the stroke. He had lately been on life assist till household determined to take away him from the machine this week.
Ngayenga’s soccer colleagues in America and household are planning a becoming funeral for a soccer ambassador who introduced pleasure to his nation.