FMiG have gathered concrete reports that one of Ghana’s most illustrious footballers, Joe Dakota nicknamed ‘Sakora Man’ or ‘the Big Joe’ has passed on.

The former Hearts of Oak player, died in USA on Thursday April 9, 2020 after battling a short illness.

Confirming the news to footballmadeinghana.com, US-based former Ghana defender George Lamptey said he was informed of the death of Dakota’s death by the wife of the deceased.

“I was very close to Joe, and the wife called me yesterday to inform me about his demise. He died in Maryland where he had lived for many years,” George told footballmadeinghana.com.

“One thing that l know for sure is the late Alhaji Hearts brought him to the US. I don’t know how old he was but he died a natural course (not COVID-19).

“He died in Maryland, US and was the captain of Hearts in the 70’s,” he added.

Joe Dakota joined Hearts of Oak in 1964, a generation which had the likes of Amusa Gbadamodi, Abeka Ankrah, Robert Foli, Joe Ghartey, Prince Amartey, Mike Alhassan, Nii Tei Lartey and others. Big Joe also played for the Agona-Swedru All Blacks.

Ghana’s football legend Osei Kofi described Joe Dakota as “Roger Milla of Ghanaian soccer”.

Joe Dakota, together with former Kotoko playmaker Stephen Oduro, is considered as having played consistently for the longest period in the local scene.

Big Joe stepped into the local game in late 1964 and played until mid July of 1985 when he left for the United States.

At 45years, and playing in Division One in Ghana, he is considered as Ghana’s oldest to be active in the game.

In his international football career, Joe Dakota together with the late John Eshun, and Oliver Acquah were part of Ghana’s team to the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico in which Amusa Gbadamoshi emerged as Ghana’s best player, with Malik Jabir of Kotoko emerging as Ghana’s top scorer.

Kpapko Allotey, Sam Amarteifio, Christian Madus, Robert Folley, and Jones Attuquayefio were part of that team.