After reading your tribute, I just felt compelled to pen my own. I have sent a message to Dumba's (as Abeam and I affectionately called him because of his desire to be like that goal-keeper) mother that I will write a personal tribute to him.
Risky "adopted" me when he came to lower six. No one outside my family has ever been as fond of me as he was. We ate and moved together, and he, Paul Cooper and I even shared their cubicle! In form 5, I stayed with his family at Tafo for two terms, where he taught me Math because I struggled in that subject. I have never known an individual so giving and selfless, and he did all this with such a humble attitude. He had such high standards in everything that he did and he had integrity! It all had to do with his upbringing, for if you know Risky's mum, you'll understand why he was such a star!
God in his infinite wisdom sometimes puts certain people in our lives. We may immediately recognize who these people are, sometimes it takes a while. But the good Lord always ensures that we recognize these individuals, and through him we see His good works in our lives. This is how I view goalkeeper Dumba!
What made Risky so special? It is the difference he made in people's lives, how he treated them, the little things he did. He was always moved to help those in need, such compassion has to be God-given and directed. I could go on and on but I am sure everyone who came in contact with him knows.....I hadn't seen Risky in a while when I heard the terrible news, but if there is one thing that I remember about him, it was the brotherly shadow that he cast over my life and his smile. His empathy, compassion, generosity and civility surely set him apart. The mark of a great man is the way in which he treats others. Dumba showed me tremendous kindness. I still remember a young wide-eye Risky boarding the flight for his maiden trip to Russia. Abeam, myself and a few others flowed him fans....
In our hearts, he will continue to live FOREVER! I will probably think of him daily for the rest of my life, remembering his sense of humor. Risky came and ate my mother's famed Abenkwan soup and never stopped raving about it. He loved "I wonder if I take you home" by Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam, and whenever I would sing that song, he would always laugh and sing alongside with me. God is good, and will watch over his widow and three young kids. Grandma, bro Kwame, Sister Afia and Otwiwaa, the great comforter Himself will comfort you. May the good Lord bless and keep his soul!
