Ghanaian football icon Mohammed Polo has opened up about the hardships he and his teammates faced while representing the national team, describing their careers as demanding and far from financially rewarding.
Speaking in an interview with Joy Sports, the 1978 AFCON winner revealed that during his era, players often had to play through injuries, sometimes even requiring injections just to get on the pitch.
In 1974, I was the best player in Ghana, so I became a target. Unlike today, where top players are protected to preserve the beauty of the game, we had no such privileges. There were times when I was unwell, but I was given injections just to play. We endured a lot to represent Ghana, Polo recounted.
Despite suffering from persistent ankle and knee injuries, Polo recalled being pressured to play in the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations. At one point, he attempted to leave camp but was tracked down by an emissary of then-head of state General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, who was deeply passionate about football.
I decided I wasn’t going to play anymore, so I packed my bags and went home. But because Acheampong loved football, he assigned someone to monitor us. This person came looking for me in Nima and convinced me to return, even though I wasn’t fully fit, he revealed.
Ultimately, Polo rejoined the squad and played a crucial role in securing Ghana’s third AFCON title, cementing his place in the country’s football history.