Hearts of Oak's trip to the Western Region of Ghana has offered a dyed-in-the-wool fan of the Phobians a lifetime opportunity to watch his boyhood club from close range for the first time in more than ten years.
Antwi, a vestige of those olden days when your fingers, lifted over your head, had to touch your ear, to prove you are of age enough to be in school, remembers that’s when he fell in love with the Phobians.
Now half-a-century-plus-one years of age, Antwi was head over moons when Hearts drove through his town and lodged at a nearby hotel. The players and technical team were busy undergoing their shake up exercise when an elderly man ran unto to the pitch dressed in Hearts colours.
The volume went up and loud cheers followed his every move. Overjoyed, he just dived and fell to the bare ground. Those watching said he was the staunchest Hearts fan in Asankragwa. And his action after catching a sight of the team was enough to confirm that.
Pulled to the side of the pitch, and urged to calm his hysteria down, Antwi could still not hide his emotions. He jumped, sprinted, shrieked, and finally bellowed, “PHOOOOOOOOOOBIA!!!” before agreeing to have a small chat.
“Why are you so happy, Kojo?” we asked. “I used to come to Prestea to watch Hearts play Mine Stars and that was the closest I got to the team. I was there when they pelted Sammy Adjei with lemons in goal and I was there when we beat them 2-0 at their home.
"Osei Kuffour and Osmanu Amadu scored for us. But I have never seen Hearts this close. I am 51 years old and I have five children, but I cannot describe how happy I am today. Ayeeee. Phooooooobia. ‘Me wu,’” Antwi, who returns to his bouncing up and down, recounts.
When he finally calmed down again, he shared his experience of what it is like for him in Asankragwa when Hearts loses a game.
“Football is fun but when we lose, I never give up. I find it hard to eat when we lose, and I felt pains in my heart when AllStars beat us. I did not eat that night.”
We did not ask what happens to Kojo Antwi when Hearts win games because we had seen enough hysteria and would want another demonstration.
Antwi says Hearts will do wonders this season. “I am confident we will do something great this season,” he assures us. “It is a conviction and once the belief is there, it will happen.”
The staunchest Hearts fan in Asankragwa has not seen the Phobians live in action in 13 years. On Saturday, the Phobians will take on Samartex FC in the nearby town, in Samreboi. And guess who wouldn’t want to miss the game? Kojo Antwi.
“I am going to wash my jersey and I will not miss this match. This is a golden opportunity for me. God you are truly wonderful. I thank you for bringing Hearts to my town.”
It is only the magic of the FA Cup that can bring us this far. 400-km from Accra, 9 hours from the Accra Sports Stadium and Hearts have made the dream of a lifelong fan come true.
Source: Anwar Umar Larry (Hearts Social Media Officer)