By Patrick Akoto
Ex-Ghana international Samuel Osei Kuffour will pay homage to the King of Ashanti Otumfuo Osei Tutu II on Friday.
The courtesy call on arguably the most powerful king in the West African country is to officially inform him of his impending testimonial match to be played at the Baba Yara stadium on 23 December.
Born in Kumasi, Kuffour played for local side King Faisal before moving to Italian side Torino after he was spotted playing for the Black Starlets in 1991.
A galaxy of world stars including ex-Manchester United duo Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole, Oliver Kahn and Samuel Eto Fils, Jay Jay Okocha, Rigobert Song, Shaun Bartlett, Daniel ‘The Bull’ Amokachi, Mark Fish and ex- Sierra Leone captain Mohammed Kallon are billed to grace the occasion.
"I will be paying a visit to my King and inform him about my testimonial match," Kufour told GHANAsoccernet.com in a recent interview.
''That's my home and he is our cherished King and so I will need his prayers and support.
''That’s where I grew up and as you know Kumasi is 'sweet' with wonderful people and so they deserve to share in my glorious football career and the successes that I chalked.''
He added that: ''I owe it to them and all Ghanaians and so I believe they will turn up in the numbers to witness some of the finest stars we talk about."
Kuffour spent 11 seasons with Bayern, raising from the youth teams to be a prominent first-squad member who lifted the Uefa Champions League with the club.
He was an integral part of the Bayern squad that won the 2000–01 Champions League.
Kuffour scored the winning goal in the 2001 Intercontinental Cup, being subsequently named man of the match.
Also in that year, he finished second in African Footballer of the Year's voting, repeating the feat accomplished in 1999.