Former Black Stars goalkeeper, Richard ‘Olele’ Kingson, has revealed how he was offered US$ 300,000 to concede two goals in Ghana’s clash with Czech Republic in the 2006 World Cup held in Germany.
Giving his testimony at the Synagogue, Church of All Nations, the retired goal stopper told a room filled with congregants of Prophet T.B Joshua’s that prior to the Black Stars’ game against Czech Republic, he was led by a Ghanaian to some people to strike a deal. He would be rewarded a whopping US$ 300,000 should Ghana lose by two goals to nil.
“In 2006 World Cup in Germany, we were about to play against Czech Republic. Then, they were the second best in the world and we had lost a game already. A Ghanaian led me to some people to take a bribe. It was this woman who delivered me and Ghana from it. The money was US$ 300,000”, Richard Kingson confessed.
Richard Kingson admitted that he was confused since a win meant that he and his teammates would have to settle for just US$ 8,000 or US$ 10,000. However, he stated that he received a morale boost to perform well from his wife’s reassuring words after he confided in her.
“I was very confused. I did not know what to do. Very luckily, she was there with me in a different hotel. So I called this woman and said, ’My wife, this is what has happened. I don’t know what to do. What do I do? If we were to win the game, we were to receive US$ 8,000 or US$ 10,000. But if we were to lose the game by two goals to nil, I would take US$ 300,000. I was confused. Before the game, I called my wife and she said ‘Richard, I don’t love you because of your money or properties; I just love you as a human being. I was everywhere in the post. I was playing like I had been injected with the blood of Jesus,” he added.
Refuting claims that his wife was a witch, Richard Kingson posited that Ghanaians rather need to applaud her because her advice saved him and the entire country from disgrace.
“This woman is a blessing to me. This woman took away the shame that was coming to Ghanaians,” he intimated.
Richard Kingson’s confessions come in the light of the latest expose by investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, on the Ghana Football Association. The expose, dubbed ‘Number 12’, revealed various corrupt acts by some top officials in the GFA as well as some referees in the local league.
Ghana’s debut campaign at the 2006 World Cup was marred by a two-goal loss to Italy in the group stages. A 2-1 win over USA and a 2-0 win over Czech Republic guaranteed Ghana’s qualification to the round of 16.”
