The Hearts of Oak experience that killed my passion for football - Joe Louis narrates

Former Hearts of Oak player, Joe Louis has stated that he lost the urge to do anything football-related after retirement due to an at the club.

Joe Louis, in an interview with Dan Kwaku Yeboah TV, recounted that during his final years at Hearts, he clashed with management over his decision to leave with a year on his contract.

"I first informed Alhaji Hearts about my decision because he was very nice to me during my time. He told me to take it easy and that they would sort things out. Then I went to Harry Zakour (former Heart of Oak CEO) and told him 'I'm giving up my one-year salary, I want to leave' but he also said no. It was from that point I lost my passion for football," he said.

Joe Louis asserted that the struggles local players and coaches go through before getting money due them made football unpleasant to him.

He said he was cheated by clubs, stating that he was not rewarded for his dedication to the clubs he played for.

"To be honest, I don't have the urge to become a coach. While I was playing football, I saw a lot of things. I played football wholeheartedly but didn't get the incentives I deserved. I feel our leaders didn't look out for us well enough. When I look back, there was a lot of cheating."

"And it wasn't only me, about 98% of Ghanaian players. And it exists among all the teams in Ghana.

"I loved football. Aside from playing, I liked football. I used to watch second-division and first-division games. But because of what I went through after I retired, I didn't have the urge to become a coach or do anything football-related."

"Nothing has changed. They will employ you as a coach but you won't get your salary and it becomes a problem. You will have to fight for it. I love football but I don't have the urge to do anything football-related, to be honest.

Watch Joe Louis' interview below from the 2nd minute



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