Legendary Ghanaian footballer and winner of the 1963 and 1965 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), Rev Osei Kofi has clarified the reasons behind his absence from the 1972 AFCON tournament in Sudan.

Contrary to popular belief that he led a boycot of the competition due to disagreement with officials over bonuses, his decision was not related to a dispute over bonuses but stemmed from a lack of respect and understanding from officials.

"The truth - the Bible says that God is the truth and God is the spirit so those that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. If I tell you the truth at 6 am, by 6 pm, it will be the same truth," he said on Prime Take with Muftawu Nabila Abdulai, setting the tone for his revelation.

The 84-year-old, who had long served as the team's spokesperson, recounted the events leading up to the 1972 AFCON.

"Sudan 1972. We had qualified [for the AFCON]. I had been the spokesperson for the team for a long time," he began.

The crux of the matter lay in a meeting that Kofi did not attend, where fellow teammates Malik Jabir, Kwasi Owusu, and Ibrahim Sunday discussed their concerns about their treatment as amateur players in Ghana.

"Because we were amateurs in Ghana, we used to have long periods camping so we were not promoted at our workplaces," the former New Horizons captain explained.

"I was asked to go and tell Katey Caesar [then Deputy Sports Director] that we were going to win the Cup, but when we come back, would he help us get a salary increment."

However, the interaction with Mr Caesar who later became GFA Chairman did not go as hoped.

"Kartey Caesar asked me, 'Are you a graduate?' I verbally abused him and questioned if he had seen any graduate playing football. Football is for 'kubolors'. You are from Winneba, so who are you? So you don't respect footballers," Kofi recounted, expressing his frustration.

The "Wizard Dribbler" as he was nicknamed compared football to other professions, insisting that it should be managed peculiar group of people.

"That's why if you haven't gone to a law school, you can never be a lawyer, but what about football? A carpenter can be a member of the technical team of a football team."

According to him, he felt disrespected and undervalued, hence his decision not to participate in the tournament.

"That's the reason why I told him, because of what you have said to me, I am not going because if we win, you'll get honour so I won't go. That's why I didn't go," he recounted.

He refuted claims in a recent publication by celebrated journalist, Elizabeth Ohene on Daily Graphic where she suggested the former Black Stars winger led a player revolt in the 1970s due to financial disagreements.

"It was never true that [I was fighting for money or bonuses] before going to the AFCON. People didn't know the story and said their own things," he lamented, specifically addressing journalist Elizabeth Ohene's erroneous report.

"Elizabeth Ohene did that story, but she got it completely wrong. Elizabeth Ohene, God should have mercy on her.

"She had no idea what happened and because they don't feel what we feel as footballers. Why are footballers paid heavily in Europe?" he quizzed.

Rev Osei Kofi played played for the Black Stars between 1961 and 1972.