In recent days, I think the most mentioned footballer's name in the country is Richard Olele Paul Frank Kingson born 13 June 1978 in Accra.
He is also known as Faruk Gürsoy which is the name he adopted when he naturalised as a Turk.
'Kakra a yebedi nti', the man had to go through all this just to be able to secure a starting place in the Turkish league.
In Turkey, the man moved to several clubs on loan all in a bid to keep fit.
If my memory serves me right, the Black Stars were struggling with goalkeeping problems at a time when Sammy Adjei dipped in form, it was Olele who came to our rescue before the 2006 world cup and after a dismal performance at the 2006 cup of nations in Egypt.
Since then he has kept the post and delivered for his country without question.
This was after a time when Sammy Adjei was seen to be the all in all for Ghana and went to the world cup as the number one goalkeeper in Ghana supported by George Owu and Phil MaCarthy.
Deep throat sources in the black stars camp will always tell you that Olele commands a certain level of respect in camp and is a key integral factor of our successes.
Today, it is the same Sammy Adjei who is Ghana's number two goalkeeper but I do not hear anybody saying he is an old man or are we waiting for him to be given the chance to be in post for a few matches and then suddenly brand him as old?
I have watched quite a number of local matches and watched the local goalkeepers and quite frankly I do not think any of them is better than Olele, even with his current complacency and avoidable errors.
I do not yet have confidence in the possible replacements and I think the errors Olele is making are errors out of complacency rather than a complete dip in form.
I however respect the fact that we need to have a replacement almost ready and I agree with the technical bench that as I write now, the best replacement is probably Sammy Adjei.
As for the Aduana goalkeeper, no one should be mentioning his name right now. I watched him a lot this season and I am not convinced at all.
Right now Ernest Sowah of Berekum Chelsea's name is bandied around a lot because he won the league.
Before we rush into bringing him on, I would like to see him in action in the Caf Champions League and maybe go another round of a season to convince me that he is ready for the role.
We overplay this age thing so much and use it irrespective of whether the player still has something to offer or not.
I don't look at age at all, I look at ability to deliver.
I know people will say the names I am about to mention are outliers but then is that not the same case with the Ghanaian players where we have outliers? Carles Puyol, Roger Milla, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Lucas Radebe (only retired due to injury), have all played late into their ages and these are outfield players.
With goalkeepers, the examples abound and I need not go on and on but a few like Peter Schmiechel, Oliver Khan, Peter Shilton, Van der Saar (only retiring due to his wife's health).
So my point is that if Olele is delivering, why are we forcing him to retire and be so bitter about a country he has served so well.
Let the coach decide or let the player himself decide but let us not crucify our heroes.
In his career, the man is currently the most capped player in the history of Ghana football or probably any national sport in the country with 85 caps. This remarkable achievement is even with a break he had in his career.
If the statistics are right, he first played for the national team in 1996 but lost his place when at the time, I think he was having difficulties in Turkey.
Whoever scouted for Ratomir Dujkovic and recommended Olele to come back into the posts for Ghana needs to be applauded.
Through his world cup exploits, Kingson was signed on by English clubs who rarely sign on African goalkeepers.
That for me was a mark of his quality. I think strictly speaking he was even clubless at the time of the world cup.
Today because Olele is making errors (I admit there are some serious ones) there is yet again another clarion call for his sacking from the national team.
Why do we treat our heroes like that? I am in full support of the bashing former captain C.K Akunnor is giving to those who are criticising Olele.
That is the same way we keep retiring players before their time and do not get the full benefit of their talents. Also, it makes it very difficult for our stars to retire honourably.
I mean after serving us so well all these years, we have not even been able to see a proper testimonial played for Samuel Osei Kuffuor or even General Osei Kuffuor.
I know testimonials are normally organised by the players themselves but it is through the support of either club or country like just happened for Ronaldo. How many of our players retire properly and are given such a befitting honour.
They end up so bitter as a result of the treatment we mete out to them in the twilight of their careers.
ADDENDUM:
So I am told the league has not ended? Ghana mom paaa. We have finished playing on the field and there is still the game to be played in the corridors of power as well before the league ends?
I know PLB Chairman Abra-Appiah and his team have worked tirelessly to try and make the game as clean and as exciting as possible but as long as we continue to have some of these issues hanging, it does not speak well of the league and this thing must stop.
In today's 21st century Ghana football, we are still having issues of protests, jerseys, unqualified players etc?
Why can't we have leagues where when the league is said to be over then it is truly over with the last round of games that have all been played at the same time.
I hope this is the last time such a thing will happen in Ghana soccer. We are too far behind world standards.
By Kojo Addae-Mensah
Columnist Asante Kotoko Express Newspaper