EXCLUSIVE: The owner of the only Ghanaian restaurant in the World Cup city of Boston jokes: ‘Our jollof rice is better than your Declan Rice’
The owner of the only Ghana restaurant in Boston warned England today: “We’re going to beat you.” And he said that: “England may have Declan Rice but we’ve got jollof rice.” Will Yakah, 30, was referring to his country’s popular national dish.
And the Manchester United fanatic invited any of the tens of thousands of Three Lions supporters to come and visit his fast food restaurant RedRed to enjoy a beer and some traditional Ghanian food.
He said: “When the World Cup draw was made – we were so excited. You can only dream of drawing England, with all their Premier League stars, in the World Cup – not only in the US but here in Boston.
“We’ve been looking forward to this for months. Ghana has never lost the second group match of any World Cup tournament we have ever played in! “Watch out England – we’re going to win. Jollof rice is much more popular than Declan Rice in Ghana – even though he plays for Arsenal … one of Ghanians favourite teams!”
England play Ghana at Boston stadium in the town of Foxborough on Tuesday evening.
Both the Three Lions and Ghana won their opening matches – which ever side wins is guaranteed a coveted place in the knockout stages.
Will’s restaurant serves up traditional dishes like jollof rice, waakye, kelewele – spicy fried plantain – and puff puff at the restaurant in Nubian Square in the suburb of Roxbury. The area has a powerful murals on the walls paying tribute to civil rights heroes like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King.
He said: “There are so many Ghana players with links to the Premier League. Members of the current squad include manchester-city-fc>Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo, Mohammed Kudus who is with Tottenham Hotspur and Andre Ayew who played for Nottingham Forest and West Ham United. “And of course our new manager is Carlos Queiroz who was Alex Ferguson’s number two at Man United for so long.” He said many Ghanians have an English team. “I’m Man United but many of my friends are Arsenal,” he said. “And there are lots of Chelsea fans because of the great former Ghana player Michael Essien.” Will was born in the capital Accra but moved to the US 12 years ago He is co-owner of the restaurant which has been open for three years.
He actually has a stand inside the Fifa Fanfest in central Boston but is only allowed to serve food there. here’s a reason for that – Fifa makes the money on the drinks. A coke is £5.50 and a beer £10 there but just £1.50 and £7 at Will’s place a ten minute journey away.
The town of Worcester just outside Boston is home to the second largest population of Ghanians in the United States.
