P.S.K. Paha
Personal information
Place of birth Ghana
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Sekondi Eleven Wise
Great Ambassadors
International career
1978–1979 Ghana
Medal record
Representing  Ghana
Men's football
Africa Cup of Nations
Winner 1978 Ghana
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

P.S.K. Paha is a Ghanaian former professional footballer and manager. During his playing career Paha played as a defender specifically as a right-back[1] for Sekondi Eleven Wise and Great Ambassadors. At the international level, he is known for being part of the squad that won the 1978 African Cup of Nations.[2][3]

Club career

Paha played for Sekondi Eleven Wise[4] and Great Ambassadors FC.[5]

International career

Paha played for the Ghana national team.[6][4] In 1976, he was a member of the Ghana Olympic squad[7] that boycott and withdrew from the 1976 Summer Olympics the International Olympic Committee (IOC) refused to ban New Zealand, after the New Zealand national rugby union team had toured South Africa earlier in 1976 in defiance of the United Nations' calls for a sporting embargo of the country whilst they were in apartheid.[8][9][10][11]

Paha served as the assistant captain[4] and was key member of the squad that played at the 1978 African Cup of Nations helping Ghana to make history as the first country to win the competition three times and for keeps after scoring Uganda 2–0 in the finals.[2][3][12] In 1980, he was the assistant captain along with Adolf Armah to Kuuku Dadzie the captain when the team withdrew from their training camp ahead of the 1980 AFCON. The trio being the leaders of the team, advocated on behalf of the entire team and sent letters entitled '' Grievances of the Black Stars'' to the GFA and National Sports Council communicating to them on the withdrawal. Their withdraw non fulfillment of the a promise made by the late Ignatius Kutu Acheampong's government to offer an estate house each to playing body of the 1978 AFCON winning squad.[13][14]

Coaching career

After Paha retired, he went into football coaching, becoming the head coach of Sekondi Hasaacas in 1985. He led Hasaacas to defeat both Asante Kotoko by 2–1 to win the 1985 Ghanaian FA Cup. He later led them to also win the Ghana Super Cup after defeating league champions Hearts of Oak in 1986.[15] In 1997, Paha was part of the technical bench of Sekondi Hasaacas, alongside fellow Ghanaian internationals Kuuku Dadzie and Emmanuel Quarshie.[16] From 2000 to 2002, he served as the head coach of the Ghana women's national football team.[17] He led them to a third-place finish during the 2000 African Women's Championship.[18] In July 2007, Paha was part of the 30 selected coaches who were taken through a re-classification course by CAF and the GFA for the award of a professional coaching license "C".[19][20]

Personal life

Paha is the older brother of fellow professional football Isaac Paha, who also played for the Black Stars helping them to also win the 1982 African Cup of Nations, the 4th title for Ghana.[21]

Honours

Player

Ghana

Manager

Sekondi Hasaacas

Ghana Women

Individual

References

  1. ^ Safo (Mrs.), Margaret (2005-08-06). The Mirror: Issue 2642 August 6 2005. Graphic Communications Group.
  2. ^ a b "Today In Sports History: Ghana wins third AFCON title after beating Uganda 2-0". Happy Ghana. 2020-03-18. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
  3. ^ a b "A day in history - March 18, 1978: Ghana wins African Nations Cup for keeps". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  4. ^ a b c Abayateye, Felix (2005-10-04). Graphic Sports: Issue 2340 October 4-6 2005. Graphic Communications Group.
  5. ^ "PSK Paha: Legendary Black Stars defender honored by colts club Great Ambassadors [VIDEO]". kyfilla.com. 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  6. ^ "RARE VIDEO: Emotional Footage Of Ghana's Iconic PSK Paha". 442 GH. 2020-05-30. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  7. ^ Nkrumah, I. K. (1976-08-18). Daily Graphic: Issue 8034 August 18 1976. Graphic Communications Group.
  8. ^ "Football at the 1976 Montreal Summer Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  9. ^ "African nations boycott Montreal Olympics – archive, 19 July 1976". the Guardian. 2021-07-19. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  10. ^ Cady, Steve (1976-07-20). "OLYMPIC GAMES LOSE 17 NATIONS". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  11. ^ "1976: African countries boycott Olympics". 1976-07-17. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  12. ^ "Only the 1978 Black Stars squad were promised estate houses-Kuuku Dadzie - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. 23 December 2013. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  13. ^ Baiden, John (8 February 2021). Aidoo, George (ed.). The Mirror: Issue 1,365 February 8 1980 : THINK AGAIN BLACK STARS. Accra, Ghana: Graphic Communications Group.
  14. ^ Ohene, Elizabeth (1980-02-09). Daily Graphic: Issue 9,113 February 9 1980. Graphic Communications Group.
  15. ^ "1985 FA Cup Champions: Hasmal players jubilate after 2-1 win against Asante Kotoko". Sekondi Hasaacas Football Club. 2020-10-05. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  16. ^ Abayateye, Felix (29 December 1997). Aryeh, Elvis D. (ed.). Daily Graphic: Issue 1,4633 December 29 1997. Accra, Ghana: Graphic Communications Group.
  17. ^ "Ghana's Queens poised for victory". GhanaWeb. 9 November 2000. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  18. ^ a b "Africa - Women's Championship 2000". RSSSF. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  19. ^ Association, Ghana Football. "Schooling session for coaches". www.ghanafa.org. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  20. ^ "Schooling session for coaches". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  21. ^ "The most successful fathers, sons and footballing families in Ghana". Pulse Ghana. 2017-11-17. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  22. ^ "Veteran footballers honoured in Sekondi - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. 7 March 2007. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  23. ^ "Veteran footballers honoured in Sekondi". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2021-07-22.

External links

Ghana squad – 1978 African Cup of Nations winners (3rd title)
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