Charles Allotey, a key performer of the “64 Battalion” has stated emphatically
that he has more up his sleeves and not contemplating quitting football now.
Speaking to Happy FM’s morning show presenter Charles Osei Asibey on “Where are
they?”, he revealed that his form has not dipped rather, he has gained more
experience and planning a big time come back soonest.
He mentioned that he is now understudying as a team manager with Hearts of Oak’s
juvenile side, ‘Aroras’ but actively and regularly rehearses with the Phobians.
Besides that, he is in constant touch with the Ali Jaraah Academy as parts of plans
to keep himself busy.
The midfielder has observed with regret that Ghana’s system does not encourage
players to undertake coaching courses along side playing like it is done elsewhere.
Allotey, a strong character whose contribution aided the Phobians achieved lot of
feats during his stints with Hearts revealed that if he is giving another chance,
he will replicate the same performance that endeared him to the fans.
The ex-Great Olympics player noted that he has more to offer as a player, and that
he will hang his boots until after four seasons.
Reacting to the standard of the local league, he stated that the least said about
it, the better saying, “The standard is low as compared to our time, even the two
winsome sides, Hearts and Kotoko have not been consistent in performance.”
He also cited the non existence of mentorship and inexperience among the current
generation as one of the factors accounting for the low standard.
“There is no distinction between newly recruited players and the seniors. I was
tasked to tackle and nothing apart from that when I joined Hearts, but the reverse
is the case lately, the players see themselves as equal, and have adopted names of
foreign players but are not living up to the adopted names.”
He admonished the up-and-coming players to take their time and pay heed to their
instructors as they strive to achieve greater heights.
A father of two girls, Allotey, recollects the Ghana-Nigeria where the former
featured only local charges under coach Jones Attuquayefio with nostalgia.
