SPORT connects people in so many ways, even those a world apart.
So while it sounds fanciful to say a Mildura family is directly connected Ghana’s national football team coach, it’s 100 per cent true.
Brothers Oppong and Asare Amoafo, who play for Nichols Point Soccer Club locally, are related to former Borussia Dortmund player Otto Addo, who is the cousin of their mother, Eileen.
The brothers will compete in this weekend’s AMES Australia Multicultural Cup in Mildura, which is aimed at encouraging those from a migrant or refugee background to play the world game.
Addo, after retiring from his playing days in 2008 after almost 300 appearances and 15 matches for his country, has been part of the coaching set-up for a number of German clubs. As well as national team coach, he holds dual roles of first-team assistant coach and talent scout at his former club, German giants Dortmund.
Following Ghana’s early exit from the 2021 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), Addo was promoted to first team coach and will lead the Black Stars into the Qatar World Cup next month. Ghana face a tough challenge in a group containing Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay.
Oppong and Asare’s father, Boama Amoafa, said the family is proud to have a direct association with the Ghana national team.
“I think they will do very well, they have a good strong team and 90 per cent of their players are based in Europe, pretty much like Otto was,” he said.
“I’ve got high hopes that they will do very well. They are in a tough group with Portugal, South Korea and Uruguay.
“The boys and Eileen do keep in touch with him and talk to him whenever they can.”
The Amoafo family emigrated from Ghana to New Zealand, where Oppong and Asare were born, before relocating to Sunraysia for work.
Boama said this weekend’s Multicultural Cup, which will be attended by former Socceroos captain and human rights activist Craig Foster, is a fantastic concept.
“It will definitely let people know where Mildura is and it will bring the youth and the people taking part a lot closer together,” he said.
“Economically too it’s good, but I think it will expose Midura to more people outside Victoria.
“Culturally I think it’s good, because Mildura is a melting pot for different cultures and a tournament like this get them together and let people talk and interact a lot more.
“If you have a look at most of the Sunraysia teams and their structure, most of them are multicultural.”
AMES Australia Multicultural Cup is at Soccer Park at Aero Ovals on Saturday and Sunday from 10am, with teams playing across a number of junior and senior divisions.
Former Socceroos captain Craig Foster will be the special guest at the event.
