Chibsah: I had to choose between education and football

When you are faced with a dilemma of having to choose between education and pursuing your passion and talent of football especially in Ghana, it would have been no difficult thing in general for a typical Ghanaian player because they are always seen as not prioritising education but what if the said player priorities his education?

Then it becomes a huge turning point in life. This challenge confronted former Kumasi Asante Kotoko midfielder Yusif Alhassan Chibsah some years ago when he had to decide staying with the national team or carrying on with his books. Chibsah who will soon be 31 years and currently plays professional football in Turkey nearly abandoned playing professional football on two occasions. On the first occasion he had to choose between going to play in the U20 African Championship in Ethiopia or writing his final exam at Kumasi Polytechnic. He decided to stay and write his exam and Coach Afranie then in charge of the national U20 team complimented him for that wise decision. Afranie said, “That is a very good decision”. Fortunately for him he was recalled to the team when they returned. “It was never easy those days combining football with schooling. I had to be at the national camp at Winneba on Monday to Friday and joined King Faisal weekends. At the national camp while my playing mates were sleeping at night I was up reading my hand outs to make up for lost time in school”, Chibsah recounted. The second scenario happened after seeing a $200,000 transfer to Stade Renne hit a snag, he nearly decided to quit football and pick up a scholarship from Calbaptist University in USA. “I had seen it all in the local league with Kotoko and it was not challenging anymore as no local club was attractive to me. It’s Kotoko or no other club so then I decided to go to school.” Despite all the challenges Chibsah said he was able to continue with his professional football and still kept his love for education alive. He currently plays for Alanyaspor FC in Turkey a team he joined just this season in August after a successful spell at Djurgarden in the Swedish top flight. His love for education hasn’t wavered as he is still pursuing an online degree in Sports Management.

He managed to graduate from the Kumasi Polytechnic with a Second Class Upper Division in Accountancy. He currently manage a foundation that is helping the people of Tepase. Two projects are currently ongoing and he intends making the inhabitants have access to water.

Abdul Majid Warris recently contributed $1000 to help the course but Chibsah intends to keep his humanitarian efforts on the quiet and he feels it is a religious obligation for him.