Former Ghana international striker Kwesi Owusu passed away on Monday morning, less than 24 hours after another legend of the country Opoku Afriyie died, family sources disclosed.
The former Black Stars captain, who was nicknamed 'Powerhouse', was for a long time Ghana's leading scorer both on the international scene and the domestic league.
He was 72 and captained the Black Stars for more than ten years.
Owusu was the country's leading international goal scorer with 36 goals until Asamoah Gyan recently took over the mantle.
Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kurt Okraku paid tribute to the player who was fully loyal to his hometown club on Bofoakwa throughout his playing career in the Ghana top-flight by playing for just one side.
He played just six matches in the Ghana top-flight before he was called into the Black Stars squad where his most impact was felt when he scored nine goals in a two-legged match against Niger in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
"Another legend has left us - Kwasi Owusu. You played a big part in the history of the Ghanaian game. May the Almighty God give you eternal rest. Rest in Peace Legend," Kurt Okraku wrote on Monday morning.
Despite holding the record for Ghana's top scorer until Asamoah Gyan took over, Owusu never played for any foreign club but local side Bofoakwa Tano throughout his career after joining the club from a lower division side Yara Stars.
He rose to fame after his heroics in the 1970 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Niger by scoring five goals in the first leg and four goals in the return encounter in Niamey in 1969.
The bulky striker affectionately referred to as ‘Powerhouse’ scored nine goals in both ties to hand Ghana qualification.
He captained the Black Stars at the 1970 Africa Cup of Nations held in Sudan.
Owusu was part of the 1968 and 1970 squads that lost the finals to Congo Kinshasa and host nation Sudan respectively, scoring four goals.
Post a Comment