THE OKESS “LA DECIMA” DREAM AND HOW IT WAS ACHIEVED

“It always seems impossible until it is done”(Nelson Mandela)

Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School(OKESS) has carved a niche for itself in sports in the Ashanti region and Ghana at large. Many national sportsmen and women have been produced from the annals of OKESS. Notable among these heroes and heroines are Sulley Ali Muntari, John Mensah, Ibrahim Tanko, Frank Acheampong, and Vida Anim just to mention a few.

The quest to conquer school sports began early in the 90s, when OKESS dominated school sports in the region and Ghana

OKESS had won 8 titles in the modern-day Boys Soccer Competition and their last trophy came against Obuasi Sec Tech in 2008. 

The Management of OKESS did whatever could be done to get their 9th trophy but it never materialized.

In 2023, the 9th trophy eluded OKESS when they lost to Simms Senior High School on penalties. This defeat of SIMMS was the beginning of good things to come. The Management of OKESS, the Technical Team, and the Sports Committee sat, planned, and plotted on how to get the 9th trophy for lessons were learnt from those painful defeats. New scouting plans were deployed, players were poached, coaches were poached, and ideas were sought. This decision paid off in 2025 when OKESS defeated SIMMS on penalties to win the long-awaited 9th trophy. The ecstasy, euphoria, merrymaking, and the joy that came to AHENEMMA were beyond description.

The dream to defend the trophy started on December 1st 2025 at Prempeh College when OKESS defeated all three schools(St Michaels Shs, Wiafe Akenten Shs, Effiduase Senior High) in their group(Group 23). 

OKESS were drawn against Debutants Esaase Bontefufuo in the round of 32, OKESS defeated Esaase 4-1 to book a game with St Hubert in the round of 16.

The game against St Hubert was a difficult one as OKESS were behind in the first half. OKESS equalised in the second half and eventually won 3-2 on penalties 

In the round of 8, OKESS met Adu Gyamfi(5x Champions of the Competition). OKESS outplayed and scored against Adu Gyamfi 2-0 to qualify for the semi-finals of the competition.

The “La Decima” dream is becoming a reality at this stage. 

OKESS played Our Lady of Grace at the semis, a match that saw an average performance from Team OKESS in the first half. The technical men devised plans after recess and their plans brought 3 goals and that was how the game ended, OKESS 3, OLAG 0

Standing between “The La Decima” dream was Opoku School(1-time winner of the competition)

The game was the hardest for OKESS as Opoku Ware School took the game to OKESS from the blast of the whistle. It was a final to watch. The technical men once again made a substitution in personnel and tactics and that materialised. A headed flip from Joshua Fuseini found Hakeem Kasim who delivered a low cross into the box and it was tapped in by Martin Amoh of OKESS to get the only goal of the game. 

The final whistle was blown and the “La Decima” that started as a dream was now a reality.

The feeling of triumph was beyond description as Old students, students, and staff members came together to celebrate this huge achievement.

In all, OKESS scored 11 goals and conceded 2 in 5 games 

Individual Awards by TEAM OKESS

1. Best Goalkeeper- Latif Suleiman( 3 clean Sheets in 5games)

2. ⁠Top Scorer- Joshua Fuseini(5 goals)

Written by Amponsah-Aduakye Romeo Jr (Sports Journalist; OKESS Sports Team, Member)