KOCHI: When Ghana’s star midfielder Sulley Muntari walked off the field with a second yellow card in their World Cup contest against Germany in Fortaleza on Sunday, he received a message from Kochi.
“Oh brother, we’re gonna miss u. Nice game,” consoled his childhood playmate Wahab Bashiru Mohammed, from a football screening tent in Kalamassery.
Bashiru, who plays for Kochi club Golden Threads FC, knew full well that Muntari’s absence in Thursday’s final group match against Portugal will severely dent Ghana’s chances of making the pre-quarters. But what had concerned him more was his friend’s state of mind.
“When they gave him the second yellow, it was like the world had ended for him. For a player who has football running through his veins and the pride of representing his nation pumping his heart, this is devastating,” he told ‘City Express’ over a cup of tea.
Bashiru met Sulley or Suleyman Ali Muntari when he was 13 years old at the Newtown ground in the Ghanaian capital of Accra, where Sulley used to play for a first division club.
“We started playing with and against each other in local matches. Over time, we grew closer. Sulley was like an older brother to me, always encouraging junior players to take that extra step. He used to tell me to keep fighting and put God first in everything,” said the 24-year old Bashiru.
At the Accra ground, Bashiru also came across other players who would go on to become world famous stars with the Ghana national side - Micheal Essien and the Ayew brothers, Andre and Jordan.
“Most likely, Micheal will fill in for Sulley against Portugal as he is the most experienced among those sitting on the bench. Micheal is more like a friend. Among ourselves, we call him the Boo,” Bashiru said.
“Whenever Andre and Jordan (who play professionally in France) come down to Accra, they make sure to play a game or two with us on our ground,” he said.
Like Muntari, Essien and the Ayew brothers, Bashiru also dreams of playing for a European club and, ultimately, for his country. With the Indian assignment, he said he has moved a step closer to achieving his goal.
“Any international exposure counts. Back home you don’t get personalised attention unless you make it really big in football. But here things are different. Our coach (Alphonse Josi of Golden Threads) is great and, more importantly, he is available to every player,” he said.
Tonight, Bashiru would be staying up late again, cheering for his friends playing their hearts out to keep their country’s flag flying in Brazil.