Sports Minister, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye paid a courtesy visit to the family the former FA Chairman, late Ben Koufie yesterday at their residence in Dansoman.

Mr Vanderpuye, who led a delegation of football administrators to sympathize with the late FA Chairman’s widow and family yesterday said it was painful and sad that Koufie’s stature and immense technical gift would be taken away.

“However, his life was a life well lived and we can only pray for his gentle soul to rest in peace,” Vanderpuye said in reaction.

“Mr Koufie was instrumental in transforming the CAF instructors unit and his death will create a huge vacuum. Even in his old age, when he seemed to have slowed down physically, his contribution and in-depth knowledge was appropriate.

Nii Lante Vanderpuye praised the late Koufie for his legacy in the development of juvenile football in the country.

The late FA chairman who passed on last Monday after a short illness, was “a complete and total football person” whose greatest legacy was a five-year comprehensive football development plan for Ghana.

Mr Vanderpuye told the media yesterday that the blueprint for developing coaches, referees, footballers and administrators throughout the country, which underpinned the development plan put together during Koufie’s administration between 2001 and 2005, was his unmatched gift to Ghana football.

“One thing I got to know about him was that he was a visionary who planned for the development of the game ahead of time. As two-time coach of Hearts, he convinced the administrators to establish the Hearts Rolands (Hearts 85) that produced the 90 per cent of the Musical Youth of 1986,” said Vanderpuye.

He later stated that the late Ben Koufie will be given a state burial.

Culled from htt: adomonline.com