The
exemplary role and commitment of Lord Zico Opoku Nti to football
in general and Tarkwa United in particular was last Monday
rewarded with an impressive football match and a Kente cloth in
Tarkwa.
The match
which was dubbed ‘The Opoku Nti Challenge Cup’ saw the two clubs
he played for Asante Kotoko and division one campaigners, Real
Tarkwa Untied (R.T.U) locking horns in a match for a magnificent
trophy donated by the latter.
At half
time during the match, which Kotoko won 3-0, Lord Zico Opoku
Nti, was presented with a citation and rich hand woven Kente
cloth.
Reading
the citation, the Vice President in charge of Marketing and
Communications of Tarkwa Utd, Mr. Mike Blankson, traced the
history of the Ghanaian football icon through the great strides
he made at the club and how his national honors always had a
shadow of success on their club.
“Whilst
you were out there churning out great football especially for
the national team, the name ‘Tarkwa Polo’ kept making waves and
we are proud as a club to have had you in our fold as a player
and the originators of the name”.
“…for
your tremendous honor done us as a club and the discipline you
have shown even many years after your retirement, we honor you
with this citation and a cloth as our token of appreciation for
your service to the club and football”.
Receiving
the presents, Lord Zico Opoku Nti expressed his deepest of
appreciation to the chiefs and people Tarkwa and club officials
of Real Tarkwa United for the honour done him.
“I am
humbled today by the great occasion such as done to me today and
I want to tell you that I will never forget this great day in my
life”.
“This is
a piece of history that I tell to my children, grand children
and even great grand children,” he said.
Humbled
and almost speechless by the honour, he took a time to advice
young and up-coming players of the game of football.
“As I
stand here, I never imagined even a month back that there was
going to be such a great day as we are all witnessing. I only
came to Tarkwa to ply my profession as a footballer and here we
are today observing my honour”.
“This
should tell you that whatever goes around comes around and so
when you are doing anything, make sure you do it to the best of
your abilities and capacity, for you do not know who will be
watching you and when you would be judged based on what you
did”.
“I
therefore leave you with this piece of advice. Seek successful
people and find out how they were able to achieve success and
also look out for those who did not succeed and ask why they
have ended where they are”.
“As
footballers, your surest bet to success is hard work, but I will
like to add that good character will also take you far, so think
about it,” he ended.
As part
of the honour, he was made to do the presentation of the match
trophy to Kotoko as they emerged winners by beating Real Tarkwa
United by 3-0.
