My father nearly made me quit football - Ibrahim Sunday reveals

Ghanaian and African Football legend Ibrahim Sunday has revealed his father nearly made him give up on his football dreams at the early stages of his career.

The Ex-Black Stars midfielder had an illustrious time on the green pitch and later transitioned to coaching after hanging his boots.

Sunday, a former player of Kumasi Cornerstones and Asante Kotoko won the Africa Cup of Champions (what is now the CAF Champions League) with the latter in 1970. He made history when he led them once again to continental glory as a Coach in 1983.

He is the first African to play in the German Bundesliga (for Werder Bremen) and also the first Ghanaian to win the African Player of the Year Award (1971).

But all these might not have happened if not for the intervention of a friend of his father. The 75 year old has recounted an episode in his boyhood days when his father wanted him to stop playing football because of its associated pressure and stress.

He narrated this interesting story to Football Made in Ghana’s Tales from the Past Podcast with Sheikh Tophic.

“In the beginning, my father didn’t want me to play football…one day he called me and said he wants me to stop playing football because he thinks there is too much pressure in the game, Sunday told FootballMadeinGhana.

“He was sitting with his friends and my answer was well Daddy, you won’t tell me to do anything that I will say I won’t do, I agree I will stop but me too I want to beg you, to let me stop for one year and then continue.

“And then one of his friends said, Ahh of he is going to stop for one year and then start again, bless him to go and play his football, maybe one day the football is going to give him his daily bread.

“And my father said, is that so and he (his friend) said yes, and he (my father) said okay (my son) May Allah bless you, go and play your football. And you see where it has brought me”, he remarked.

Ibrahim Sunday has credited his parents for the role they played in the achievement he made during his footballing career.