Hearts of Oak legend Emmanuel Osei Kuffour is backing Bernard Don Bortey to excel in the Swedish second-tier Ange IF.
Bortey has been ridiculed by fans for being an age cheat and describing him as ‘old’.
Kuffour, who played alongside Bortey at Hearts, is furious at attempts to retire the one-time Ghana Premier League star from active football.
“It’ about time Ghanaians stop that attitude and support our footballers to every height they decided to take their careers to,†Kuffour told ghanafootballnews.com.
"This madness must stop. It’s only in Ghana that we retire players way before their time. What the Black Stars is going through in terms of not being able to win any trophies, is as a result of some of these things. Indeed, the young ones must be given the chance, but the seniors must also be around them in the team to help them.
"Many of those who are doubting his ability and trying to look for his exact age don’t know Don Bortey like some of us do. Apart from all his faults, he is very disciplined and when he sets out to achieve something, he make sure of it."