The ‘Dribbling Magician’ Mohammed Polo has revealed a secret on how he nearly hanged his boots when he was playing an active football due to horrific injuries.
The former Accra Hearts of Oak forward who also played for the Black Stars between 1973 and 1985 disclosed how he sacrificed his life for the national team and the Rainbows with a career threatening injuries but was not taking care of.
The highly talented forward played his youth football with Auroras in Accra before signing for the senior side, Hearts of Oak. Along with Mama Acquah, Anas Seidu, Peter Lamptey and Robert Hammond, they were known as “Fearsome Five” and formed the backbone of the team.
Polo had his first call-up into the Black Stars at the age of 17. The ‘Dribling Magician’ also played for Accra Great Olympics and featured for the famous Dubai Club, Al Wasl where the fans bonded with him and his skills instantly, and still remember the magic 20 years after his departure.
While speaking in an interview with Accra-based Original 91.9FM ahead of his book launch on Thursday, the 65-year-old retired footballer recalled the pains he passed through during his time with the FA Cup record winners and the national team.
“I nearly stopped playing football due to injuries. For the money that today’s boys are taking, is their time and I will not pray for someone to go through the pains I passed through. I played from 1972, 73 and 74 coming. I became the target when I started showing my dribbling prowess. I played with some career threatening injuries and pains at both Hearts of Oak and the national team where I was not taking care of.
“I played with ten generations and I adore them because they made me who I am today especially players who supplied me with passes to score. They helped me and I also helped them. It was painful and the book I am about to launch tells much about it,” Polo told Gideon Okyere Anim Gatusso on the Super Sports Morning Show.
Mohammed Polo, the Ghanaian legend will launch a book, titled ‘Polo’ The Magnificent on Thursday, 14th July, 2022 at the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT, located near Ridge in Accra.
The Story of the Dribbling Magician,’ was written by Nii Odai Laryea and published by DAKpabli & Associates.
The 106-page book chronicles Polo’s life, career, and legacy as a member of both Hearts of Oak and the Black Stars.
After winning the Ghana Football Association’s Footballer of the year in 1975, he Ghana to win the 1978 African Cup of Nations.
