Former Ghana International, Awuley Quaye Junior, has explained why he had to drop his birth name during his football career.
Awuley Quaye Junior indicated that he started with the name Evans Lartey Quaye.
According to him, when he joined Great Olympics there was a player called Evans Quaye who also bears the same name thus he was not really recognized for his efforts.
He stated an incident whereby he scored a goal in an international game that was credited to the other player.
“My actual name is Evans Lartey Quaye. When we went to Great Olympics there was a striker there who bear that same name called Evans Quaye. So in 1996 we played an international friendly game against Togo, I scored a goal but it was attributed to the other player in the papers and he was more famous than me. So I came back to tell my father to change my name because I could not labour in vain”, he told Ohene-Bampoe Brenya on Happy 98.9FM.
“Changing the name was a bit difficult. So I adopted the name Awuley Quaye Junior. So when I came home, I swore an affidavit and changed my name. With the Awuley Quaye, I got the exposure easily. It was also my father’s name.
“I got a call up to the national U-17 team, played at the World Cup and was even the top scorer”, he added.
Awuley Quaye Junior also advised those playing actively to consider their careers after football since it will determine if they will be happy or not in life.
“Those actively playing now should consider saving money for their retirement. Most footballers can play up to the age of 40 but after that age, they should ask themselves if the monies they have can sustain them for the rest of their lives”.
