Fred Osam-Duodu who led Gambia to African U-17 Championship and the Youth World Cup has passed away.
The former Ghana coach died at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra after a brief illness Tuesday evening.
The technical brain who won his homeland the Nations Cup in 1978 and coached in several African nations, is highly credited for stamping Gambia’s football supremacy in the continent at cadet level with a rambunctious journey beginning in 2004 before winning the nation the CAF U-17 title the following year.
On that occasion, Dodou led a darling Scorpions side comprising Ousman Jallow, Tijan Jaiteh Ousman Koli, Ebrima Sohna and Momodou Ceesay that sent his nation runners-up Ghana packing in the final at the Independence Stadium.
Pic: The Gambia U-17 team Osam-Duodu led to the African title and the Youth World cup
Described as the most successful youth team, coming at a time when Gambian football was headed for the doldrums, Fred nurtured the U-17s –majority of whom owe their careers to him – who would later graduate to become the country’s current national team setup.
Osam is the first to qualify Gambia to a Youth World Cup –Peru in 2005 beating Brazil 3-1 in the opening stages.
Current Gambia Football Federation boss Kabba Bajo, upon hearing news of Osam’s demise, told Foroyaa Sport yesterday afternoon: [perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]‘Is a great loss. We are already sending our condolences to the Ghana FA. He contributed a lot not only football in Ghana but in Gambia as well. (He) Is a great lost. He will always be in the good books of GFF and football as a whole’[/perfectpullquote]
Fred won the 1993 African U-20 Cup of Nations and a silver medal at the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship.
He was also Ghana’s coach during the 2002 African Cup of Nations, held in Mali.
Photo: Osam- Duodu died after a brief illness
