Former national team coach Samuel Hemans Arday has been laid to rest, following final funeral rites held on Friday at forecourt of the State House.
Funeral services began on Thursday, April 6 at the St Peter’s Catholic Church at Osu, Accra, where a pre-burial service was held.
After the final rites, Coach Arday was interred at the Osu Cemetery.
The ‘Multi-System man’, as he was affectionately called, died on February 12, 2017 after a short illness.
He was survived by two children and four grand-children.
Arday won Africa’s maiden medal in a senior men’s football tournament at Barcelona, Spain in the 1992 Olympic Games.
Ghana’s Black Meteors won Bronze in men’s football in the multi-sport event.
Three years later, he led Ghana’s Under-17 team, the Black Starlets, to conquer the world at Ecuador 1995.
He coached the Black Stars as well as major clubs Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak.
He was one of the coaching scouts who aided Ratomir Dujkovic in Ghana’s maiden qualification to the world cup in 2006.
He also served as part of the technical support for the Stars in their subsequent world cup appearances in South Africa (2010) and Brazil (2014).
His funeral was graced by Former President Jerry John Rawlings, under whose presidency Coach Arday chalked the feat of winning the U-17 world cup.
Government was represented by Minister of Youth and Sports Isaac Kwame Asiamah.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had expressed condolences a few hours after Coach Arday died.
Saddened by the news of the death of Sam Arday. Undoubtedly, one of the most brilliant coaches Ghana has produced. (1/2)
Until his death, Coach Arday was the Technical Advisor for Ghana Premier League club, West Africa Football Academy, WAFA.
The Ghana Football Association was heavily represented at the funeral ceremony. The Association’s delegation was led by Vice President George Afriyie, who also serves as Chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee.
Some past and present players of the Stars were also present.
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