I am sure it took him quite some time to come to terms with his indiscretion. The incident like a hot record must have replayed several times in his mind.
It was at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi on 9 February 2008. Ghana’s Black Stars played against the Elephants of Ivory Coast for the third-place at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.
Though the Black Stars won 4-2, he was least excited; the disappointment of missing out on the trophy on home soil was compounded by a moment of madness.
Claude Leroy, then in charge of the Black Stars, had motioned him to warm up, ostensibly to replace Richard Kingson after the latter sustained a knock.
In the full glare of cameras, he refused to warm up and only got off his seat after a great deal of persuasion from the officials.
His body language spoke loudest.
The goalie lying prostrate on the pitch wasn’t going to come off. Indeed, he was proven right, so right that he gesticulated to affirm his reluctance.
The incident which lasted barely two minutes was clearly an act of frustration. He had been first choice and was on his way to keep the post for Ghana at the 2006 World Cup in Germany when a certain Richard Kingson returned from the wilderness to wrestle the position from him on the eve of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
After the world cup he barely saw action as Kingson was fielded in almost all friendly matches in the lead up to the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.
After that tournament, he declared that he would not play for the Black Stars again citing club commitments.
Though that was the official reason, it was open secret that Leroy’s reluctance to field him as well as his belief that Kingson deliberately avoided competition by hiding injuries fuelled his decision.
For him, the Kumasi incident was the last straw. He packed bag and baggage and headed back to his Israeli club Ashdod.
But what he did not know was that by that singular act, he lost the goodwill he enjoyed amongst Ghanaians.
Fans who had grown fond of him and even nicknamed him ‘Barthez’ after the legendary French goal keeper Fabien Barthez, were quick to see his back and effectively buried him mentally, or so they thought.
An act of courage:
In a sharp twist of events after he returned to his club, Ashdod made away with his services and rendered him clubless.
He was then left to face the reality of going back home to look for a new club or perhaps rejoin his penultimate team, club Africain of Tunisia.
Inspired by the story of the prodigal son, he decided to go back home and relaunch his career with Accra Hearts of Oak, the team he helped win the African Champions League in 2000.
The transition was not that smooth. While issues concerning his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) were being sorted out, he continued to bid his time until the beginning of the 2010/2011 season when he was made first choice goalie.
Gradually, he warmed his way back into Ghanaian hearts with his assured performances week in, week out.
He put in a very convincing performance when Hearts engaged arch rivals Asante Kotoko in Ghana’s version of ‘El-Classico’ in Kumasi on October 31, 2010.
His saves ensured that Hearts kept a clean sheet and eventually won 1-0. A couple of weeks earlier, he had written to the Ghana FA confirming his availability for the Black Stars.
On November 3, 2010, when stop gap coach Kwesi Appiah released a 19 man list for a friendly against Saudi Arabia on November 17, 2010, he found his name among illustrious company.
The journey back home was complete; the dream had finally metamorphosed into reality.
It was a huge relief, the support offered by Ghanaians was overwhelming and as he trod on the red carpet, he must have resolved quietly in his mind to make the most of his return.
Beyond the red carpet:
Getting recalled into the Black Stars was the easy part. He comes back at a time when fans have been calling for competition for Richard Kingson and a decent goalie to fill Kingson’s shoes when the veteran goalie finally calls time on his Black Stars’ career.
He would however not be oblivious of the weight of expectations on his shoulders as he makes a comeback.
He would be expected to build on his improving form, bring his vast experience to bear and eventually become substantive first choice.
He would expect both the fans and the technical team especially to give him a run of games to prove himself, offer him support and not dump him when he fluffs a couple of games.
At 30, he has a lot of goal keeping years in him, once he keeps his form at Hearts of Oak and works on his nerves and sense of positioning, he would be in good stead for a stellar international career.
Though quite late, he would have realized more than ever that he needs the Black Stars more than it needs him and would be slow in making any kneejerk reactions.
Thoughts like these are bound to flood his mind but when he takes a cursory glance at his competitors, he would find strong competition from his ‘friend’ Richard Kingson, Isaac Amoako, Daniel Adjei, Stephen Ahorlu, William Amamoo and potentially Adam Kwarasey.
I am sure at that point Sammy Adjei would smile again knowing that his international career would last and not rust.
Nii Ayitey Tetteh