Personal tribute to Uncle Kojo King George Gillette of Coronation Street, Cape Coast, Ghana https://youtube/watch?v=bWq2zQc_TLw Captain of Israels host, and Guide Of all who seek the land above, Beneath Thy shadow we abide, The cloud of Thy protecting love; Our strength, Thy grace; our rule, Thy Word; Our end, the glory of the Lord. By Thine unerring Spirit led, We shall not in the desert stray; We shall not full direction need Nor miss our providential way; As far from danger as from fear, While Love, almighty Love, is near Charles Wesley! Tribute to George King Gillette of Cape Coast – Founder of Manchester United Colts Football Club Uncle Kojo was laid in State today at his beloved St Francis Cathedral Catholic Church of Cape Coast, before lying peacefully in eternity among the Saints of Old after a decade of ill-health. He did well, our unassuming unsung hero!!! The tall gangly ebony Black gentleman, was adored by us as our “Captain of Israel host and guide...”. Mr Gillette was the Founder of Manchester United Colts Football Club in Cape Coast, Ghana. He wrote about his Club in his own words below, and as usual: We sought recognition from the famous parent club at Old Trafford, but were asked to request for a personalised message. Mr Gillette worked as Stenographer Secretary and Personal Assistant of the Headmaster of Adisadel College of Ghana. He was serene, genial, respectful man in his trademark clean white shirt, wearing a quiet permanent smile on his handsome face. Unc’ Kojo was always very quiet, at any point in time. He was the Owner of Manchester United Colts Football Club based in Coronation Street in Cape Coast, but signed himself as Secretary of CCMUCFC. He recruited boys through his network of agents who watched 5-a-side or 7-a-side local park football. He recruited on football skills and conduct. You have to go to school and not reported for being rude at any elder or any such indiscipline acts. Uncle Kojo ran a 4’ 11” Junior side called Busby Babes, and Senior 5’ 3” side - Manchester United. It was an unbelievable trip being in this team in early late 1960s and 1970s. Uncle Kojo organised training sessions at Mfantsipim College Park under Coach J B Mensah, with Guest Top Players like Captain Aggrey Fynn, Coach Adabie, Ben Kuofie, Edwin Conduah etc. chipping in. We ran and ran and ran around the big Park, dribbling and man marking, playing man to man football, 2 against 1, to 2 against 3, and upwards to big game tactical play at gruesome training sessions with so many talented natural footballers, all week long. Then the big Day would come on Friday. Uncle Kojo would walk majestically to the Centre to announce the team going to Camp that Friday Night. When you are lucky to be Selected, then you for a sweet ride, with consent and blessings of our parents…In the Camp of about 30 Junior and Senior Players at Philip Quaque Girls School….included at various times and seasons depending on your height, were Emmanuel Quarshie, Gyepi and Kyekye Acquah, Ebow Tandoh, Meedi, Ekow Moore, Kojo Yorke, Cooke Brothers, Etrew, Amuzu, Edzie, Bohams, Ampoful, Bash Shittu, Armah, Charles Nunoo, Joseph Carr, Abaka, Otoos, Coleman, Ewudzies, Addo,, Boaful Nyarko, Gustav, Jomo, Cobbina. I used to go to camp with these great footballers and had real good time of our lives. It was spiritual! He was Catholic and generous…. At dusk his lieutenants would come and serve us sumptuous cups of tea and bread &cheese session, we love most…We would read soccer magazines and Bulletins and mill around to sleep….then…you suddenly hear….he is here…Uncle Kojo, has come, you hear the muttering voices in the dark, as he walked imperiously like a Saint into the Classroom. So quiet. We would stand up and hold our hands in circle…then his sonorous voice would bellow out to our rapturous anchor and chorus thus –“Jesus…Stand Among us…in the risen sun…let this time of worship…”…and then…”Captain of Israel host and guide, All For who see the land above”…..more hymns, incense and holy water, singing, praying with sermon and inspirational messages from the Master himself all in the quiet midnight darkness…. After the Prayer session, we would all strip jerseys and jog quietly with the seniors to the Coastal Beach behind Victoria Park, when it’s all clear…We would chat happily and dip into the sea in turns and chill out back to the Girls school to have a good sound sleep. In the morning we would converge in his Family House in Coronation to have a light breakfast and then go back to sleep…At noon we would have a big meal and get ready for the Afternoon Match at Victoria Park. Uncle Kojo announces the Team playing for both 2 Sides and was always tense…He would take his turn in the middle of the touchline, cross legged for the duration of the Match not saying a word but oozing support and strategy for the wonderful team. We all looked forward to half-time, where we had our biggest treat of having a nice cold milk drink mixed with glucose. We loved that drink!!! It was sweet and refreshing, and the secret of our great come backs. Most of our team members achieved higher qualification in education, largely due to how we comported ourselves. In our time, we played against Real Republicans owned by legendary Sprinter George Daniels from US with his Jerseys, Great Massacres of ‘Buronyi Saad’, and Central Rovers of the Hausa Moslem Community…Indeed, the Colts Football Matches was electrifying in that town of beautiful nonsense. The crowds were huge and talent abound exhibiting high quality football. Many went on to Stardom, some playing for Top Clubs, from where they went to the National Teams – Black Stars, Black Meteors, Academicals…whiles the rest of us used it in school football to run rings around our mates to their shock…Football in the mid-1960s to mid-1970 across the country was well patronised, sponsored by generous men and women of substance, celebrated and well organised culminating in National Football Colts Festival of selected Regional teams. Mr Gillette was one of the philanthropists who spent all his earnings on the development of Soccer at grassroots level. He was ably supported as he narrates well…in his own words thus: I loved him…I always visited him at home, and communicated with him… May He Rest In Peace, King Gillette!
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 21:23:53 +0000
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