The funeral arrangements for former Black Stars captain Emanuel Awuley Quaye, who passed away earlier this week after battling illness, have been set for May 3-4, 2024.
This information was conveyed by the family during their visit to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) on Wednesday to officially inform them of Quaye’s passing.
Awuley Quaye, who led Ghana’s victorious 1978 Africa Cup of Nations squad, left behind a legacy of remarkable contributions to Ghanaian football.
The family, led by his son Awuley Quaye Jnr, a former defender and member of Ghana’s U-17 World Cup-winning squad in 1997, discussed the circumstances leading to his father’s passing and outlined plans for his burial with GFA President Kurt Okraku.
Expressing heartfelt condolences, President Okraku praised the significant impact of the late football icon and assured the family of the GFA’s support during this difficult time.
“I will start by expressing my condolences and that of the Football Association to the family. Awuley Quaye Senior was a veritable pillar. It’s unfortunate but that’s the reality of life: The Holy Book tells us that we’ll all be gone at some point in our lives,” Okraku said.
“The time we’ll depart this earth is not in our hands. Fortunately, he lived his life and lived it well. On behalf of the FA, we want to express our condolences to all of us. Like I said, Senior has played his part and contributed immensely to the success and forward march of Ghana football,” the FA President stated, as he honoured the memory of Awuley Quaye Senior.
“This funeral is our funeral and we’ll work closely with you (the family) to ensure we give him the respect that he deserves. You can always count on us. We’ll inform Government, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, about the unfortunate news of his passing and ensure we give him a befitting burial.”
The celebrated defender was also a legendary figure for Ghanaian Premier League club Great Olympics, playing a pivotal role in the team’s domestic successes during the 1970s.