Why Augustine Arhinful is nicknamed 'neatest Black Stars player'

Footballers often earn nicknames based on their most exceptional skills but former Black Stars striker Augustine Arhinful earned his nickname for reasons other than his distinctive footballing abilities.

He received his affectionate name in a rather unexpected manner: a journalist's accusation that led to the creation of a false narrative, ultimately giving birth to his reputation as the neatest Black Stars player.

The nickname implies that Arhinful was recognized for his cleanliness on the field, avoiding the common occurrence of getting his shirt stained during his prime playing days.

In the world of football, getting one's shirt stained is almost inevitable, even on modern-day pitches. Therefore, Arhinful's nickname is intriguing, sparking curiosity about how he managed to keep himself tidy on the muddy pitches of the '90s.

In an interview with Dan Kwaku Yeboah, Arhinful revealed that his nickname originated from a sarcastic accusation made by journalist Fiifi Banson.

Banson had accused him of dodging tackles, swiftly getting back on his feet, and checking his shirt after challenges, following a lacklustre performance against Côte d'Ivoire in the 2000 African Cup of Nations qualifiers.

"I got injured against Cameroon in the first game; I had a groin injury. I didn't play the next game against Togo, but Giuseppe Dossena (then Black Stars coach) wanted me to play against Côte d'Ivoire at all costs. They injected me and iced me. Due to the sheer pressure from him and my love for wanting to represent the nation, I said, 'Okay, maybe I will play.' But any other coach probably wouldn't have played me because Yaw Preko had played a good game against Togo," he said.

"In that match against Côte d'Ivoire, I couldn't do anything. I couldn't run because, as you know, a groin injury gets worse when you try to stretch it. So, when we lost that match, Fiifi Banson said on his show on Peace FM that it looked like I didn't want to play. Like, I didn't even want to fall. He meant it in a jovial way, but that comment has stuck in the heads of Ghanaians. People who did not even see the game say the same thing and call me that," he added.

Arhinful emphasized that the nickname does not bother him, as it is unrealistic to expect a player to emerge from a football match without any stains.

"I don't know, but it also doesn't bother me. Because you can't tell me somebody would play football at Caradan Park without getting stained. It's not possible."

Having played for Assin Fosu Soccer Missionaries and Ashanti Gold in the Ghana Premier League before moving to Europe, Arhinful is best remembered for his time with Ashanti Gold and Black Stars.

Watch Augustine Arhinful's interview below



EE/OGB