The Board of Directors and Management of Accra Hearts of Oak SC Limited have received with great shock the heart-rending news of the death of ‘Sir’ Cecil Jones Attuquayefio. The tragic incident happened early this morning, at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra after a protracted illness.

The entire Phobian fraternity, and, indeed, the world of Ghana football, has lost a rare gem of a technical brain whose achievement with a local club is matchless.

‘Sir’ Cecil achieved his legendary status not only in Hearts of Oak but Ghana football when he built Accra Hearts of Oak’s all-conquering team affectionately named the ‘Sixty-Four Battalion’ and led them to that authoritative CAF Champions League conquest in 2000, the CAF Super Cup in 2001 and the maiden CAF Confederation Cup in 2004. He was also the mastermind of four (4) of our Club’s six (6) consecutive Premier League triumphs- an unprecedented feat in Ghana’s league history.

Indeed it is a painful irony to lose ‘Sir’ Cecil Jones Attuquayefio at this historic moment when his beloved club is billed to replay the epoch-making Champions League-winning match against Esperance Sportive de Tunis in some few days’ time. One can imagine how commentary on this match would have brought some welcome cheer to the heart of the old technical brain who has been battling ill-health for some time now.

On behalf of the entire Hearts of Oak family; the Board, Management and all members express our deepest condolences to the family of ‘Sir’ Cecil Jones Attuquayefio and the entire football fraternity.

We pray for the blissful repose of his loving soul in the bosom of the Almighty. Sir Jones, a true legend of the Rainbow Club and devoted servant of Mother Ghana, rest in perfect peace!

GERALD ANKRAH

Managing Director