Hearts of Oak legend, Bernard Dong Bortey has rated himself as the greatest Ghanaian footballer ever.
Bortey began his career in 2000 with Ghapoha Readers in Tema. Three years later, he moved to the then Champions of Africa, Hearts of Oak SC and became an integral part of the “64 Battalion” and a deadly force alongside Charles Taylor, Ishmael Addo, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour.
In 2002, he won the league and shared the Top Scorer award with Charles Taylor. Nicknamed “Dong Dada Diouf” a reference to Senegalese forward El Hadji Diouf due to similar style of play and his dyed hair is a four-time Ghana Premier League winner and won the CAF Confederation Cup in 2004 with the Phobians over Asante Kotoko.
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He scored some of the greatest goals that have been scored in the Ghana Premier League for both Tema GHAPOHA and Hearts of Oak with such nonchalance that it developed into a myth that he had given himself to the dark arts to achieve his level of consistent excellence.
Bortey believes his magical feet on the field of play makes him the greatest Ghanaian footballer ever above the likes of Abedi Pele and Asamoah Gyan (Ghana’s all-time top scorer).
“I am the greatest Ghanaian footballer ever. Abedi Pele has won the African Best award but if Dong Bortey had the opportunity as he had, I would have been crowned as the World Best footballer,” he avered in an interview with Television CK on Youtube.
The 38-year-old was then asked if he is greater than Asamoah Gyan and he said “Gyan himself is aware of my greatness. He [Gyan] in his own way, he has achieved a lot in his life and career unlike Dong Bortey but in terms of football, I am greater. Asamoah Gyan is aware because he is my son.”
Bernard Dong Bortey played several times for the Black Stars during his prime; the latest game being in the qualifying stage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. He also represented the country in the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championship in New Zealand, where he played 6 games and scored 3 goals.
Do you agree with the ‘serial killer’? Your comments are welcomed.
Watch video from 44 mins…
