Robert Mensah was a Ghanaian footballer who played as a goalkeeper. As a player, he was best known for his exploits at Asante Kotoko F.C. where he won the African Clubs Cup in 1970.
He was also a runner-up with the Ghana squad for the 1968 African Cup of Nations and represented Ghana at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
Robert Mensah was largely controversial in Ghanaian football and would mock opposition players by reading a newspaper whilst goal-tending.
He often wore a cap during football games causing some opposing players to physically remove it from his head believing it was bringing them bad luck through the use of juju.
This cap also earned him the nickname “Yashin”, in homage to the Russian keeper named Lev Yashin, who also sported a cap during games.
In 1970, he was voted as the 9th best African football player by French football publication France-Football. A year later he was runner-up in the African football player of the year award.
His final game for Ghana was in October 28, 1971 where Ghana was knocked out 1-0 on aggregate by Togo.
The legendary goalkeeper Robert was stabbed and passed away at age 32 after he was rushed to the Tema General Hospital.
According to eyewitness accounts, Mensah was stabbed while separating two friends who were fighting at Credo drinking bar at Community 7, Tema, on October 30.
