Robert Mensah facts for kids
Mensah in 1970
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 12 June 1939 | ||
| Place of birth | Gold Coast | ||
| Date of death | 2 November 1971 (aged 32) | ||
| Place of death | Tema, Ghana | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1957–1962 | Mysterious Dwarfs | 150 | (0) |
| 1962–1964 | Sekondi Independence Club | 100 | (0) |
| 1964–1967 | Asante Kotoko | 50 | (0) |
| 1967–1971 | Tema Textiles Printing | 40 | (0) |
| 1971 | Asante Kotoko | ||
| Total | 340 | (0) | |
| National team | |||
| 1962—1971 | Ghana | 38 | (0) |
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Robert Mensah (born June 12, 1939 – died November 2, 1971) was a famous Ghanaian footballer. He played as a goalkeeper, which means he was the player who protected the goal. He was very well-known for his amazing skills with the club Asante Kotoko.
With Asante Kotoko, he helped his team win the African Clubs Cup in 1970. He also played for the Ghana national team. He was part of the Ghana squad that finished second in the 1968 African Cup of Nations. Robert Mensah also represented Ghana at the 1968 Summer Olympics, which is a huge achievement for any athlete.
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Robert Mensah's Football Career
Robert Mensah had an exciting and sometimes unusual career in football. He was known for his unique style and strong personality on the field.
Playing in the African Clubs Cup
In 1967, Mensah played in the final of the Africa Clubs Cup. The game ended in a 3–3 tie, so a second match was planned. However, his team, Asante Kotoko, did not know about the replay. Because of this, they could not play in the second match. The trophy was then given to the other team, TP Engelbert from Zaire.
His Unique Style and Nickname
Robert Mensah was a very interesting player in Ghanaian football. He sometimes did surprising things during games. For example, he would sometimes read a newspaper while he was guarding the goal! This was his way of teasing the players on the other team.
He often wore a special cap during his matches. Some opposing players thought this cap brought them bad luck. They even tried to take it off his head during games. Because he wore a cap, he earned the nickname "Yashin." This was a tribute to a famous Russian goalkeeper named Lev Yashin, who also wore a cap when he played.
Awards and Recognition
Robert Mensah was recognized for his talent across Africa. In 1970, a French football magazine called France-Football voted him as the 9th best African football player. This was a big honor for him. The very next year, he was almost named the best African football player, finishing as the runner-up for the award.
Challenges and Final Games
Playing football at a high level can be tough. In April 1970, during a game against the Liberia national team, some fans threw objects at him.
Later that year, in June, his club team, Tema Textiles Printing, had an issue with him. He did not show up for their training. However, he was actually training with the Ghana national team at the time. They were getting ready to play a friendly match against the Ivory Coast.
His last game for Ghana was on October 28, 1971. Ghana lost that game to Togo by a score of 1–0. This meant Ghana was out of the competition.
Robert Mensah's Legacy
Robert Mensah passed away in 1971. He died after an incident in Tema, Ghana. His death happened shortly after Ghana's national team did not qualify for the 1972 African Cup of Nations.
Honoring a Legend
Even after his death, Robert Mensah's impact on football was remembered. A sports stadium in Cape Coast was named in his honor. This stadium is the home ground for the Mysterious Dwarfs team. This is special because Mysterious Dwarfs was the first team Robert Mensah played for in his career.
He is also remembered in a folk song. A song was released in 1972 that talked about Robert Mensah.
