Former Hearts of Oak and Accra Great Olympics defender, Emmanuel Ashong has shared insights on some distressful experiences with injuries as a sports man.
According to the ace Accra Lions captain, injuries can derail a player from a successful career.
He believes that most injured players get deep into their own thoughts when their goals are cut short by unpredicted circumstances.
In an exclusive interview with Ohene Bampoe Brenya on the #WhereAreThey edition of Happy98.9 FM’s ‘Happy Sports’, Emmanuel Ashong said, “Injuries makes you fall short in some aspects of life, your usual up and downs are uttered. It makes you static and put you through deep thoughts. Also because the injury has hindered you from achieving your goals and getting to where you wanted to see yourself. If you don’t encourage yourself to be strong enough, you’ll end up miserable.”
Ashong earlier revealed he has been home for almost three years without any contact sports. He indicated that he sustained an injury in a friendly encounter between former players of arch-rivals, Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko.
“I’ve been injured for the past three-four years so I’m currently at home. I played in a friendly match between former players of both Hearts of Oak and Kotoko at the Accra Sports Stadium, which was about three years ago on 6th March. I dislocated my leg but I have successfully undergone surgery, which was well catered for by the organizers,” he shared.
He further advised young talents to heed to the counsel of their respective coaching staff, mentors and other old folks in order to have a fulfilled career.
“I almost completed a major move to a French side after I left Hearts of Oak. The move was delayed for a while and I became frustrated so I joined Aduana. The day I signed I signed the contract was the exact time the contract came from France. I was earlier advised to remain calm by my agent. So after I got the contract I pleaded with Aduana to release me make the move and promised them a cut from my contract but they refused. They told me they also needed my services. Sonny personal decision I took out of frustration landed me in a different path,” he added.
Emmanuel Ansong began his career with Great Olympics and later signed a contract with Heart of Lions in 2008, where he was named captain. Ansong was also a member of the Ghana Black Starlets (under-17) who played in both Africa under 17 Championship and the FIFA U-17 World Championship in Peru, 2005.
