Baba Yara; Legendary Ghanaian footballer

Baba Yara was a legendary Ghanaian international football player who was popularly known as the ''King of Wingers''. Because of his goal scoring skills, he had an unparalleled climb to stardom; nevertheless, a vehicle accident abruptly ended his football career.

Osman Seidu Maada was the original name of Baba Yara. He was named after his father, Seidu Maada and his uncle, who was Osman. He was born on October 12, 1936 in Kintampo, a trading town at the northern part of Ghana (then Gold Coast).

The name Baba Yara was given to him as result of his mother calling him "Baba" which means father because he had his father's name. One day, upon striking a ball hard against a wall, behind which his mother sat, she exclaimed, "Ei, Baba Yara!" She meant to insult him but friends around took it as nickname for him and it stuck with him forever.

Baba Yara was taken to Accra, where he started his career as a horse jockey player as a youngster at the Accra Turf Club between 1950 and 1955.

Yara became a player of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, one of the top professional football club in Ghana. The sporting club signed him in 1955. In a match against Dunkwa Town IX, three months later in March 1955, he made his debut. The final score was 3–3 and Asante Kotoko's three goals were all scored by Yara.

His third match for Asante Kotoko was against the Hearts of Oak of Accra. It was during this match that for the first time, Yara played right-winger adorning the number 7 jersey. The match reuslt was 0-0, but Yara had an excellent performance in that game, making Asante Kotoko counter compete strongly against their arch-rivals Hearts of Oak.

In the year 1960, Baba Yara became part of the team Real Republicans, formed by the government of Ghana. The then president of the first republic. Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah asked the powerful Ghanaian sports chief, Ohene Djan to build a team with the best players from all clubs in the country, to help the senior national team to dominate African football. This led to the formation of unbeatable Real Republicans.

Baba Yara in the Real Republicans team had a good time by teaming up with one of the greatest African goalscorer Edward Acquah. Both of them played well in most games and Yara was the main man suppling Acquah with the majority of his goals.

The combo of Yara and Acquah especially, led to Real Republicans dominating the country's football, reapening success at the continental level.

Baba Yara played his first game for the National team, Black Stars in 1955. In 1961, he won the award for Most Distinguished member of the Black Stars team, regarded as the highest Ghanaian football honor of the time.

Won Most Distinguished Member of Black Stars 1961

Yara was part of Ghana national team that won African Cup of Nations in 1963. He also played for Ghana in their unsuccessful 1962 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. He is regarded as one of the best Ghanaian wingers of all time.

In the year 1963, Baba Yara was injured in a vehicle accident at Kpeve in Volta region when Osagyefo's Real Republicans was returning to Accra from a game against Volta Heroes of Kpandu on March 24. Yara was 26 years of age then. He suffered a spinal injury as a result of the accident and was paralysed, never played again.

He was flown to Stoke Mandeville Hospital in the United Kingdom for treatment for a period of 3 months, but young Yara only returned in a wheelchair.

For 6 years, Baba Yara was bedridden, and eventually died after a very quiet life in a wheelchair. He died at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on May 5, 1969 at a tender age of 33.

Baba Yara was married to Lady Patience, an adoring woman who stayed with him till his death in 1969.

Achievements and Honors

In 1959 and 1960, Baba Yara was handed the then unofficial, Ghana Player of the Year award. He is regarded as one of the best Ghanaian wingers of all time.

In 1961, he won the award for Most Distinguished member of the Black Stars team, regarded as the highest Ghanaian football honor of the time.

He was the African Cup of Nations 1963 among 51 cups for Black Stars, with 49 goals which was a lot of goals for a winger, earning the nickname 'King of wingers'.

In 2005, Kumasi sports stadium was named "Baba Yara Stadium" in his honor.