Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed(born 11 November 1956), popularly known asMohammed Poloand the "Dribbling Magician",[1]is a formerGhanaian internationalandlocal clubfootballplayer. He is considered one of the bestdribblersand Ghanaian player of his generation.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed | ||
| Date of birth | 11 November 1956 | ||
| Place of birth | Accra,Ghana | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1972–1973 | Auroras FC | ||
| 1973–1979 | Hearts of Oak | 232 | (145) |
| 1979–1984 | Al-Wasl | ||
| 1985–1987 | Hearts of Oak | ||
| 1987–1988 | FC 105 Libreville | ||
| 1988–1989 | Shell FC | ||
| 1989–1992 | Hearts of Oak | ||
| 1992–1994 | Great Olympics | ||
| International career | |||
| 1973–1985 | Ghana | 54 | (20) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1994–1995 | Hearts of Oak | ||
| 2003 | Stade Malien | ||
| 2004 | Great Olympics | ||
| 2013–2014 | Hearts of Oak | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
He spent years of his soccer career playing as aleft wingerforHearts of Oakin theGhana Premier Leaguein the 1970s and 1980s, and was also a key player in theGhanasquad that won the1978 African Cup of Nationsheld inGhana.[2][3]
Playing career
editClub career
editEarly beginnings in the 70s
editPolo played football with teams in Accra such as Auroras,Accra Great Olympicsand forHearts of Oak,where along withMama Acquah,Anas Seidu,Peter LampteyandRobert Hammondwere known as the “Fearsome Five”.[3]
Late 70s and 80s at Al Wasl
editFrom 1979 to 1984, Mohammad Polo played for the famous Dubai club,Al Wasl,where he was popular with the fans.[4][5]
Later career
editIn 1985 Polo returned to the league of Ghana forHearts of Oakwhere he stayed for 2 seasons. He returned toHearts of Oakin 1989 for another 3-year spell with the club. In 1992 he signed again forAccra Great Olympicsending his career in 1994, aged 38, to move into coaching.
International career
editHe was first called-up to play for theBlack Starsat age 17.[6]In the1978 African Cup of Nationswhere Ghana won its third AFCON title, Polo scored a goal and was listed as a forward in the CAF Team of the Tournament along 3 other Ghanaian players.[7]
He played 54 times scoring 20 goals for Ghana national team from 1973 until 1985.
Post-playing career
editHe was appointed head coach ofGhana Premier Leagueclub Accra Hearts of Oak in 1994 and then in 2013 for seven months.[8][9]In 2004, Polo was appointed the technical head of the Ghanaian football clubAccra Great Olympics.[10]Mohammed Polo owns the soccer academy Golden Stars Academy,[11]which trained atLegon,however has now been renamed Polo Soccer Academy.[citation needed]
Legacy
editIn 2020, as a speculation regarding Ghana's greatest player of all time had emerged, Polo claimed to be Ghana's best footballer ever[12][13]following a statement byOsei Kofiwho said the same about himself. Polo's statement was also back byAbedi Pele,[14]Kwabena YeboahandKwabena Agyapong.[15][16]On 9 September 2021, Ghanaian-born singer and political activist Kwame Asare Obeng (akaA Plus) stated that Polo is the third greatest player in history, only behindPeléandDiego Maradonapraising his dribbling abilities.[17]
Honours
editPolo has won the following honours[18][19][20][21][22][23]
| Award by | Honour |
|---|---|
| 1978 African Cup of Nations | Champions |
| 1978 African Cup of Nations | Team of the tournament |
| Ghana Football Association (1975) | Footballer of the year |
| France Football Magazine– African Player of the Year (1977) | 4th place |
| UAE League1981–82,1982–83 | Champions |
| Coca-Cola Award on Breaking Barriers (2006) | Awarded |
Notes and references
edit- ^Association, Ghana Football."Preview:" Dribbling Magician "arrives as League re".ghanafa.org.Retrieved7 July2023.
- ^"Ghana FA Boss Kurt Okraku eulogizes legend Mohammed Polo at book launch".ghanasoccernet.17 July 2022.Retrieved7 July2023.
- ^abMartins, Rafael (7 December 2006)."Hearts of Oak: O outono da árvore de Accra"(in Portuguese). Trivela. Archived fromthe originalon 2 January 2007.Retrieved8 April2007.
- ^Mumuni, Lukman (10 August 2023).""Arabs Worshipped Me": Mohammed Polo Claims He is More Popular Than Ronaldo in Arab Football ".SportsBrief - Sport news.Retrieved27 August2023.
- ^"I made Saudi league popular before Ronaldo arrived – Mohammed Polo".GhanaWeb.9 August 2023.Retrieved27 August2023.
- ^"Mohammed Polo, Biography".ghanaweb.Retrieved27 August2023.
- ^"African Nations Cup 1978".rsssf.org.Retrieved27 August2023.
- ^"Confirmed! Mohammed Polo is new Hearts Coach - MyJoyOnline".myjoyonline.25 November 2013.Retrieved29 September2023.
- ^"Hearts of Oak parts ways with coach Polo".Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.25 June 2014.Retrieved29 September2023.
- ^Ghana News Agency (19 January 2004)."Olympics name new technical team".Modern Ghana.Retrieved29 September2023.
- ^"Improving Ghana's football infrastructure for CAN 2008".Panapress. 29 May 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 6 April 2008.Retrieved8 April2008.
- ^Samuel Ekow Amoasi Appiah."I Am Ghana's All Time Greatest Player - Mohammed Polo".modernghana.Retrieved8 June2020.
- ^"I'm Ghana's G.O.A.T - Mohammed Polo - GhanaWeb".ghanaweb.Retrieved8 June2020.
- ^"Pele recognizing me as his idol means I am the best ever - Max".max.gh.
- ^"A Plus, Kwabena Agyapong and two others who believe Polo is Ghana's GOAT".ghanaweb.
- ^"Abedi Pele 3rd on Kwabena Agyapong's list of Ghana's greatest ever player".pulse.
- ^"Mohammed Polo was better than Lionel Messi – A Plus - Pulse Ghana".pulse.Retrieved9 September2021.
- ^"The Club:Personal Awards".Official website.Accra Hearts Of Oak Sporting Club. Archived fromthe originalon 6 June 2007.Retrieved8 April2007.
- ^Pierrend, José Luis (14 February 2000)."African Player of the Year 1977".Football statistics website.Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.Retrieved8 April2007.
- ^"African Player of the Year 1977".rsssf.org.Retrieved29 September2023.
- ^"Soccer News of Friday, 6 January 2006".Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2007.Retrieved8 April2007.
- ^Kumi, Sylvanus (20 January 2006)."Mohammed Polo And Abedi Pele Commended".New Times Corporation.Retrieved8 April2007.
- ^"The World Cup Is Coming To Ghana - Kufuor".Official website.Ghana government.Retrieved8 April2007.
A special award dubbed: "Break Down Barriers" was presented to Ghana's great soccer, the dibbling magician, Mohammed Ahmed Polo for using football to unite the people of Dagbon during the Northern conflict. One of his high points was when he organised a special football friendly match in the heat of the conflict between the Nanumbas and the Kokombas to ease the tension.
[dead link]
External links
edit- Mohammed Ahmed–FIFAcompetition record (archived)
- Mohammed Ahmed Polo Biography
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