Being given the name ââ¬ËGolden Boyââ¬â¢ could create quite a lot of pressure for a player to live up to. Karim Abdul Razak never had such an issue, recognized by the Confederation of African Football as in 2007 as one of the top 30 African players of the previous 50 years.
Born on the 18thà April 1956 in Kumasi, he would attend the Asemà Boyââ¬â¢s Elementary School with his brother Abukari. Even at an early age it wasnââ¬â¢t long before Razak was singled out for his ability. He would continue to catch the eye at youth level until in 1972, at the age of 16 he signed for the Kumasi Cornerstones. Three years later he would move to the club for which he appeared to have and on/off affair with â⬓ Asante Kotoko SC.
His first spell at 1975-79 would see The Porcupines win the Ghana FA Cup [1978] and reach the quarter finals of the African Cup of Champions Clubs and establish Razakââ¬â¢s reputation as a midfielder. At the time his no nonsense approach, slightly fearsome demeanor earned him the name ââ¬ËOjukwuââ¬â¢ after the Biafran leader [said to always wear a serious frown]. This period would also see Razak come to attention for his performances in the 1978 African Cup of Nations.
à During the tournament Razakà would score two match winning goals â⬓ in the opening match against Zambia as the Black Stars came from behind to win 2-1 and in the semi-final against Tunisia as Ghana won 1-0. Razakââ¬â¢s score was known as ââ¬ËThe Golden Goalââ¬â¢. The Black Stars would win the title beating Uganda 2-0 in the final, Razak dominant which led to him being voted African Player of the Year and the name ââ¬ËGolden Boyââ¬â¢.
à Unsurprisingly his performances brought attention from abroad and in 1979 departed for the New York Cosmos to play alongside Johann Neeskensà and Carlos Alberto in the razzamatazz of the North American Soccer League. After only two years the ââ¬ËGolden Boyââ¬â¢ returned home to The Porcupines for the 1981-2 season, winning the league and finishing runners-up in the African Cup of Champions. A year at Al Ain FC was followed by a move to Arab Contractors SC in Egypt where he would win the league title and be named Player of the Year in 1983-5 at a time when the Egyptian league was recognized as one of the strongest in Africa.
In 1985 Razakà returned again for a three-yearà spell at Asante Kotoko SC and two more league titles before finishing his career with a two-year spell at Africa Sports dââ¬â¢Abidjan and a Côte Dââ¬â¢Ivoire league title and two domestic cups. By the end of his career ââ¬ËGolden Boyââ¬â¢ had amassed 70 caps for the Black Stars scoring 25 goals.
Razakà understanding and ability to read of the game coupled with [as written by Iwedià Ojinmahà of Supersport] ââ¬Åabsolute ball control and the ever rare gift to make average teammates unquestionably superior if not borderline greatââ¬, arguably rises him to one of the best midfielders Ghana has seen.
GREATEST SQUAD â⬓ STARTING XI [4-3-3]
â⬔â⬔â⬔â⬔â⬔â⬔â⬔â⬔â⬔â⬔â⬔â⬔â⬔à à à à à à à à à à ROBERTà MENSAH
â⬔â⬔â⬔-à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à à SAMUELà KUFFORà â⬔â⬔â⬓DOGO MORO
EDWARDÃ BOYEÃ Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã HESSEÃ ODAMETTEN
MICHAEL ESSIEN
KARIMÃ ABDULÃ RAZAKÃ Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã ABEDIÃ PELE
IBRAHIMÃ SUNDAYÃ Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã Ã MOHAMMED POLO
TONY YEBOAH
GREATEST SQUAD â⬓ RESERVES
GK: JOSEPHÃ CARR
GK: RICHARD KINGSON
CB: JAMES KUUKUÃ DADZIE
CB: JOHN ESHUN
SWP: CHARLESÃ ADDOÃ ODAMPTEY
CM: SULLY MUNTARI
CM: OSEIÃ KOFI
CM: STEPHENÃ APPIAH
LW: YAW SAM
RW: JOHN NKETSIAHÃ YAWSON
ST: BABAÃ YARA
ST: CHARLESÃ KUMIÃ GYAMFI