How Richard Kingson played through pain during 2008 AFCON

Black Stars goalie Fatau Dauda has made some interesting revelations about former goalkeeper Richard Kingson during the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations which the country hosted.

Olele as he is fondly called was the leader of the goalkeeping department and kept all five matches as Ghana saw its host and win mantra turn into host and third.

Ahead of the third-place play-off match against the Ivory Coast, it was widely speculated that Olele and then second choice goalkeeper Sammy Adjei had picked up injuries and thus ruled out of the game.

Olele however recovered miraculously from his injury and helped Ghana wallop the Ivorians 4-1 to pick the third place spot.

More than ten years after that match, Fatau Dauda who was the third choice goalkeeper then has opened up on the pre-match talk that ensued between him and the legendary goalkeeper at the team’s camping base.

Commenting on his relationship with some former and current Black Stars players, Fatau said that he had a hearty conversation with Olele who asked him to psyche himself for the game because he and Sammy Adjei were nursing injuries.

According to Fatau, he relished the opportunity of making his Ghana debut in front over 35,000 fans but his dream could not come through as Olele opted to play through pain to save Ghana from further embarrassment after the semi-final defeat to Cameroon.

Fatau said on Sports Check that he maintains a cordial relationship with Richard Kingson and other national team goalkeepers.

He also refuted reports of using black magic on fellow goalie Adam Kwarasey at the 2014 World Cup.

He added that as practicing Muslim, he at every point in time seeks God’s guidance in his career but does not to destroy other footballers.

“I remember CAN 2008, the third place play offs. Olele was injured and Sammy Adjei too was injured. So Olele called me into his room and asked me Fatau I want you to catch in this game, can you? I said yes but maybe because he thought that it was my first time he managed and sacrificed for Ghana”.

“For me, I pray a lot and I do so not because I want to perform better but for God to protect me from injuries. Without training and hard work your prayers for better performance will not work so for me, it’s about working hard.”