RIP Philip Boamah
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RIP Philip Boamah
Except you are a die-hard football fan, a serious documenter of Nigeria’s football history, and above 50 years of age, it is most unlikely that you would know much about a name known in Ibadan football circles as Etu (Yoruba for a Hare) because of his incredible speed on the football field.
Let me start with the bad news.
Two days ago, last Thursday morning, Philip Boamah died in Ibadan. He had made that city his home for the past 50 years since he arrived the shores of Nigeria from Accra, Ghana in 1971.
He was a great friend and football companion. , I am paying him this little tribute as, yet, another point of reference for the army of great football heroes that served the game and Nigeria very well, but languished in the latter part of their lives after illustrious playing carriers in the silence of neglect and forgotten history.
Philip was without question a most unusual by special Eagle.
He was a Ghanaian, a full-blooded Ghanaian, born and bred in Ghana, and honed in the football tradition of Ghana of the early 1970s.
His movement to Nigeria was as a result of the political crisis that engulfed Ghana at the time, and the resultant economic downturn in the country.
At the same time, Nigeria was awash in Petro-Dollars, and the country became the choice- destination for many African economic migrants. Ghanaian football, up till the early 1970s, was superior to Nigeria’s, and Ghanaian players were highly priced commodities in African football.
Some of the best players in the continent were from Ghana – Baba Yara, Sunday Ibrahim, Mohammed Polo, Abdul Razak, Opoku Afriye, Adolf Armah, Opoku Nti, Osei Kofi, and so on.
So, Nigeria, with Petro-Dollars flowing like running-tap water, attracted a whole galaxy of them. Phillip Boamah was one of those that joined the ‘migration train’ to Lagos.
Ghanaian players and some Nigerians that were either born in Ghana or grew up there that also returned ‘home’ brought a new dimension to Nigerian football, enriching it with their Brazilian flair and show-boating, considerably lifting the standard, competitiveness and followership of the domestic game. The players were spread all over the country in different clubs – Stationary Stores in Lagos, Raccah Rovers in Kano, Sharks in Port Harcourt, Asabatex in Asaba, Mighty Jets in Jos, and, of course, IICC Shooting Stars in Ibadan where Sam Asante, Nathaniel Adewole, Sam Abossey, Kafaru Alabi, Amusa Adisa, Joseph Appiah, and Philip Boamah all berthed.
Other Ghanaians/Nigerians in other clubs included Raymond Quacopoon, Annas Ahmed, Sanni Mohammed, Baba Alli, Husseini Suleiman, Yakubu Mambo, Muhammed Lawal. Baba #$% Mohammed, Shefiu Mohammed, John Benson, John Orlando, and so on.
Several Ghanaian players went on to play for the national team of Nigeria, the Green Eagles, only because of their names that sounded very Nigerian, or were disguised by their Arabic origins. Such names included all the Mohammeds.
But there two players whose names were completely Ghanaian, yet, they played for Nigeria purely on the strength of their exceptional talent and ability, qualities that overshadowed their nationality.
Before Leotis Boateng played for the Green Eagles from 1977 to 1980 as a full-blooded Ghanaian, there was Philip Kweku Boamah!
He was invited to Nigeria’s national team in 1974/1975, was given a Nigerian name (Kolawole) and a Nigerian passport by the football federation. He then played for Nigeria for two years.
Following his ‘adoption’ by Nigeria, he cemented his relationship with the country by marrying a young beautiful Egba girl from a renowned family in Abeokuta.
Except for his parents’ and siblings’ burial ceremonies, Philip never returned to his original roots again until he died two days ago.
Philip Boamah was one of the brightest stars in the Shooting Starsteam of the mid-1970s that emerged as a regional challenge to Rangers International of Enugu for the dominance of Nigerian football.
Of all the Ghanaian players that were in Shooting Stars, he was the only one that went on to play for the Green Eagles. That speaks volumes.
Philip was a great winger. Operating from the right side of attack, he flew down the flank with or without out the ball, outsprinting defenders, and lifting beautifully floated, pin-point crosses to waiting heads, including mine.
Philip was the typical fast winger of the 1970s’ style, a major threat to defences. He represents a whole army of former football heroes that spent most of their lives after their careers in football, in the anguish of ignorance, of neglect, of the absence of history and documentation, and the invasion of the football space by those with limited knowledge about Nigerian football history.
Two days ago, Philip Kweku Kolawole Boamah, passed on. He was one of my closest friends during our footballing years with whom I shared many experiences and times in football at club level,
His passage was a devastating blow to me because I did not know that the past one month had been a nightmare for him and his family.
A complete gentleman, In his usual manner of keeping things to himself, not wishing to stir up any recrimination for ‘disturbing’ the peace of other people, he kept his health challenge to himself.
Unfortunately, it deteriorated very rapidly in the past month. By the time he was being taken to the University Teaching Hospital last Wednesday night, there was little that could have been done to help him.
Philip was a solid member of the great Shooting Stars team that won the first continental trophy for Nigeria in 1976. Before then played for the Green Eagles, the national team for almost two years.
Thereafter, he married a Nigerian girl, built his house and a home in Ibadan where he lived for the rest of his life after football with his family of grown-up adults now.
He coached several clubs after his playing career, and only stopped as a result of a freak motor accident he had during one of numerous trips for football matches. He hurt his eyes and his shoulder and both impaired his ability to function well in that field again.
I will surely miss my bosom friend, Philip Kweku Kolawole Boamah, Etu, was 73!
Let me start with the bad news.
Two days ago, last Thursday morning, Philip Boamah died in Ibadan. He had made that city his home for the past 50 years since he arrived the shores of Nigeria from Accra, Ghana in 1971.
He was a great friend and football companion. , I am paying him this little tribute as, yet, another point of reference for the army of great football heroes that served the game and Nigeria very well, but languished in the latter part of their lives after illustrious playing carriers in the silence of neglect and forgotten history.
Philip was without question a most unusual by special Eagle.
He was a Ghanaian, a full-blooded Ghanaian, born and bred in Ghana, and honed in the football tradition of Ghana of the early 1970s.
His movement to Nigeria was as a result of the political crisis that engulfed Ghana at the time, and the resultant economic downturn in the country.
At the same time, Nigeria was awash in Petro-Dollars, and the country became the choice- destination for many African economic migrants. Ghanaian football, up till the early 1970s, was superior to Nigeria’s, and Ghanaian players were highly priced commodities in African football.
Some of the best players in the continent were from Ghana – Baba Yara, Sunday Ibrahim, Mohammed Polo, Abdul Razak, Opoku Afriye, Adolf Armah, Opoku Nti, Osei Kofi, and so on.
So, Nigeria, with Petro-Dollars flowing like running-tap water, attracted a whole galaxy of them. Phillip Boamah was one of those that joined the ‘migration train’ to Lagos.
Ghanaian players and some Nigerians that were either born in Ghana or grew up there that also returned ‘home’ brought a new dimension to Nigerian football, enriching it with their Brazilian flair and show-boating, considerably lifting the standard, competitiveness and followership of the domestic game. The players were spread all over the country in different clubs – Stationary Stores in Lagos, Raccah Rovers in Kano, Sharks in Port Harcourt, Asabatex in Asaba, Mighty Jets in Jos, and, of course, IICC Shooting Stars in Ibadan where Sam Asante, Nathaniel Adewole, Sam Abossey, Kafaru Alabi, Amusa Adisa, Joseph Appiah, and Philip Boamah all berthed.
Other Ghanaians/Nigerians in other clubs included Raymond Quacopoon, Annas Ahmed, Sanni Mohammed, Baba Alli, Husseini Suleiman, Yakubu Mambo, Muhammed Lawal. Baba #$% Mohammed, Shefiu Mohammed, John Benson, John Orlando, and so on.
Several Ghanaian players went on to play for the national team of Nigeria, the Green Eagles, only because of their names that sounded very Nigerian, or were disguised by their Arabic origins. Such names included all the Mohammeds.
But there two players whose names were completely Ghanaian, yet, they played for Nigeria purely on the strength of their exceptional talent and ability, qualities that overshadowed their nationality.
Before Leotis Boateng played for the Green Eagles from 1977 to 1980 as a full-blooded Ghanaian, there was Philip Kweku Boamah!
He was invited to Nigeria’s national team in 1974/1975, was given a Nigerian name (Kolawole) and a Nigerian passport by the football federation. He then played for Nigeria for two years.
Following his ‘adoption’ by Nigeria, he cemented his relationship with the country by marrying a young beautiful Egba girl from a renowned family in Abeokuta.
Except for his parents’ and siblings’ burial ceremonies, Philip never returned to his original roots again until he died two days ago.
Philip Boamah was one of the brightest stars in the Shooting Starsteam of the mid-1970s that emerged as a regional challenge to Rangers International of Enugu for the dominance of Nigerian football.
Of all the Ghanaian players that were in Shooting Stars, he was the only one that went on to play for the Green Eagles. That speaks volumes.
Philip was a great winger. Operating from the right side of attack, he flew down the flank with or without out the ball, outsprinting defenders, and lifting beautifully floated, pin-point crosses to waiting heads, including mine.
Philip was the typical fast winger of the 1970s’ style, a major threat to defences. He represents a whole army of former football heroes that spent most of their lives after their careers in football, in the anguish of ignorance, of neglect, of the absence of history and documentation, and the invasion of the football space by those with limited knowledge about Nigerian football history.
Two days ago, Philip Kweku Kolawole Boamah, passed on. He was one of my closest friends during our footballing years with whom I shared many experiences and times in football at club level,
His passage was a devastating blow to me because I did not know that the past one month had been a nightmare for him and his family.
A complete gentleman, In his usual manner of keeping things to himself, not wishing to stir up any recrimination for ‘disturbing’ the peace of other people, he kept his health challenge to himself.
Unfortunately, it deteriorated very rapidly in the past month. By the time he was being taken to the University Teaching Hospital last Wednesday night, there was little that could have been done to help him.
Philip was a solid member of the great Shooting Stars team that won the first continental trophy for Nigeria in 1976. Before then played for the Green Eagles, the national team for almost two years.
Thereafter, he married a Nigerian girl, built his house and a home in Ibadan where he lived for the rest of his life after football with his family of grown-up adults now.
He coached several clubs after his playing career, and only stopped as a result of a freak motor accident he had during one of numerous trips for football matches. He hurt his eyes and his shoulder and both impaired his ability to function well in that field again.
I will surely miss my bosom friend, Philip Kweku Kolawole Boamah, Etu, was 73!
I am happy
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Re: RIP Philip Boamah
...true but by who?Silver-Shadow wrote: ↑Mon Dec 25, 2023 1:00 am May his gentle soul rest in peace. That was a well written article.
Re: RIP Philip Boamah
Segun Odegbami, Mr Mathematical 7mcal wrote: ↑Mon Dec 25, 2023 1:28 am...true but by who?Silver-Shadow wrote: ↑Mon Dec 25, 2023 1:00 am May his gentle soul rest in peace. That was a well written article.
Good Ode to his colleague and friend
Re: RIP Philip Boamah
May his soul Rest In the Perfect Peace of Christ.
I'm so sorry to hear that he stopped coaching on account of a motor accident. I wasn't aware of that.
I'm so sorry to hear that he stopped coaching on account of a motor accident. I wasn't aware of that.
Re: RIP Philip Boamah
Read about it a few days ago. The man loved Nigeria and served us well as player and as club coach.
His family has decided to bury him in Nigeria. May the Lord comfort and strengthen them.
His family has decided to bury him in Nigeria. May the Lord comfort and strengthen them.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life"
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
Re: RIP Philip Boamah
...figured, very eloquent, thanks.
Re: RIP Philip Boamah
A beautiful tribute. Thank you Danny for blessing this forum with it.
RIP Philip.
RIP Philip.
-------------------------------------------
MY NAME IS WAKA-MAN, and YES, I AM A CHELSEA FAN. Please don't hate me - I was fan when David Ellery dashed Cantona two penalties as Man U beat us 4-0 in the FA Cup final. So I've paid my dues.
MY NAME IS WAKA-MAN, and YES, I AM A CHELSEA FAN. Please don't hate me - I was fan when David Ellery dashed Cantona two penalties as Man U beat us 4-0 in the FA Cup final. So I've paid my dues.
Re: RIP Philip Boamah
Great write up Dammy. Don’t forget Kennedy Daroah and our boy at Right back Joe Appiah.
For a brief period, I was hoping that we would get Joseph Carr at Shooting. I saw him at Liberty on several occasions after the 1980 Nations Cup and recall the efforts of late Chief Salami to recruit him.
I also recall, Mathematical going on holiday to London after the 1980 AFCON and being wooed by Spurs and another club.
Sege said “ Dis people de craze”. Obviously his reference to not being able to drink his two bottles of Gulder 20 minutes to the start of the match and one at half time. He also said “No Amala, o tutu yen ti poju”
Naija sweet back then o.
For a brief period, I was hoping that we would get Joseph Carr at Shooting. I saw him at Liberty on several occasions after the 1980 Nations Cup and recall the efforts of late Chief Salami to recruit him.
I also recall, Mathematical going on holiday to London after the 1980 AFCON and being wooed by Spurs and another club.
Sege said “ Dis people de craze”. Obviously his reference to not being able to drink his two bottles of Gulder 20 minutes to the start of the match and one at half time. He also said “No Amala, o tutu yen ti poju”
Naija sweet back then o.
Re: RIP Philip Boamah
Let’s not forget Sam Ashante and Sam Saka Abossey. The other Ghanaians in Shootin
Re: RIP Philip Boamah
The guys that I was scared of were the ones at Raccah Rovers. Anna’s Ahmed, Shefiu Mohammed and Baba #$% Mohammed. Those were some ballers o.
Re: RIP Philip Boamah
Great thread, May his soul RIP.
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Re: RIP Philip Boamah
He did. 1974/75 before Awesu.
Re: RIP Philip Boamah
Rest in Peace (RIP). It is sad that his ailment was not made known to the wider public.
Boamah was a fast winger down the right. After his career, he also coached for a while. Phillip Boamah made six (6) appearances for Nigeria and averaged 87 minutes (Played 90 minutes in all but one game). He had no goals scored. He debuted on January 22, 1975 v Cameroon and ended his NT appearances with a game June 1975 v Senegal.
Boamah was a fast winger down the right. After his career, he also coached for a while. Phillip Boamah made six (6) appearances for Nigeria and averaged 87 minutes (Played 90 minutes in all but one game). He had no goals scored. He debuted on January 22, 1975 v Cameroon and ended his NT appearances with a game June 1975 v Senegal.
Last edited by Enugu II on Wed Dec 27, 2023 3:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
The difficulties of statistical thinking describes a puzzling limitation of our mind: our excessive confidence in what we believe we know, and our apparent inability to acknowledge the full extent of our ignorance and the uncertainty of the world we live in. We are prone to overestimate how much we understand about the world and to underestimate the role of chance in events -- Daniel Kahneman (2011), Winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics
Winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics
Winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics
Re: RIP Philip Boamah
Why did his international career end so soon? Was it because was Ghanaian? He was one of the best right wingers in the Nigerian league and went on to conquer Africa with Shooting Stars in 1977Enugu II wrote: ↑Tue Dec 26, 2023 7:07 pm Rest in Peace (RIP). it is sad that his ailment was not made known to the wider public.
Boamah was a fast winger down the right. After his career he also coached for a while. Phillip Boamah made eight (6) appearances fort Nigeria and averaged 87 minutes (Played all minutes in all but one game). He no goals scored. He debuted on January 22, 1975 v Cameroon and ended his NT appearances with a game June 1975 v Senegal.
I am happy
Re: RIP Philip Boamah
Odegbami took over his spot I think.Dammy wrote: ↑Tue Dec 26, 2023 7:46 pmWhy did his international career end so soon? Was it because was Ghanaian? He was one of the best right wingers in the Nigerian league and went on to conquer Africa with Shooting Stars in 1977Enugu II wrote: ↑Tue Dec 26, 2023 7:07 pm Rest in Peace (RIP). it is sad that his ailment was not made known to the wider public.
Boamah was a fast winger down the right. After his career he also coached for a while. Phillip Boamah made eight (6) appearances fort Nigeria and averaged 87 minutes (Played all minutes in all but one game). He no goals scored. He debuted on January 22, 1975 v Cameroon and ended his NT appearances with a game June 1975 v Senegal.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life"
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
Re: RIP Philip Boamah
Dammy,Dammy wrote: ↑Tue Dec 26, 2023 7:46 pmWhy did his international career end so soon? Was it because was Ghanaian? He was one of the best right wingers in the Nigerian league and went on to conquer Africa with Shooting Stars in 1977Enugu II wrote: ↑Tue Dec 26, 2023 7:07 pm Rest in Peace (RIP). it is sad that his ailment was not made known to the wider public.
Boamah was a fast winger down the right. After his career he also coached for a while. Phillip Boamah made eight (6) appearances fort Nigeria and averaged 87 minutes (Played all minutes in all but one game). He no goals scored. He debuted on January 22, 1975 v Cameroon and ended his NT appearances with a game June 1975 v Senegal.
The reason was the sudden form displayed by Baba Ottu Mohammed at the same position. Baba Ottu took over and exploded at the AFCON in Ethiopia in 1976. But even Ottu was not there for long because Odegbami was converted from a No. 10 to the right where he put Mohammed on the bench and the rest became history. It had nothing to do with his Ghanaian heritage, if I recall. Baba Ottu was Ghanaian, according to some but there are also stories that he is Nigerian. Leotis Boateng, who was also Ghanaian, played for the Eagles years after that period.
The difficulties of statistical thinking describes a puzzling limitation of our mind: our excessive confidence in what we believe we know, and our apparent inability to acknowledge the full extent of our ignorance and the uncertainty of the world we live in. We are prone to overestimate how much we understand about the world and to underestimate the role of chance in events -- Daniel Kahneman (2011), Winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics
Winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics
Winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics
Re: RIP Philip Boamah
Thanks Dammy. Did Philip Bomah ever play for Nigeria??
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