Dodzie is a hot cake in Sudan

13th July 2007

Correspondent:  David Kyei  Khartoum, Sudan

A lot of Kotoko supports may have written him off for the fact that he had lost focus and therefore lost his position in the starting line up of the club, but thanks to the Sudan trip of Kotoko last week, Kwabena is seeing the fire back into his playing career.

After two matches against Al-Marreikh where he came on as a substitute in the first match and played the full ninety minutes in the second, Dodzie has all of a sudden become the name on the lips of the supporters and the management of Al-Merreikh Sports Club.

At the time of leaving Sudan for Ghana last Friday, officials of Merreikh through the organizer of the trip, Mohamed Jamal were seriously seeking the consent of the player to enable them open dialogue with Kotoko.

The man in the centre of this whole dialogue, Kwabena Dodzie, in an interview with Kotoko Express was happy with the development and talked of what that meant to him.

“It has not been easy for me in the past, but the success here in Sudan has given me a ray of hope and assurance that all was not lost on me. I will need some time to deeply reflect on the proposal by Merreikh and come out with a respond that will bring the ultimate benefit to me”

“My joy with the whole thing is not only about the expression of interest in me, but that I was able to adhere to the coach’s instruction to his satisfaction”

The almost always over-hanging ‘dust cloud’ coupled with some times extreme heat situations will not make the place the ultimate choice for many Ghanaian footballers, but Dodzie has his own plans.

“In life, I never say never and so haven seen the club and their very professional running of the club, who knows, I could be the first Ghanaian player to ply my trade there”.

“The fact that the team is made up of captains of the Zambian, Sudan and Togolese national teams, and also the fact that they have other nationals such as a Brazilian, Nigerian and other foreigners who say they are happy there tells me there are opportunities that I can explore to my advantage”

“In the mean time, my intention is to regain a position in Kotoko and move on from there for whatever God in his infinite wisdom will b ring my way. I remain a committed player to Kotoko and will always work hard towards achieving my set objectives in the team”

At the time of living Sudan last Friday, the organizer, Mohamed Jamal, hinted that another Sudanese side, Al Hilal, had joined in the fray for Dodzie and another player in the team.

He however told this paper that he was going to put the latter club’s request on a hold until Merreikh had fully exhorted all the interest they have in any of the Kotoko players.

“Since Merreikh and Kotoko now have a memoranda of understanding of forming stronger bonds of friendship, I think it will not be fair on our part to allow any one deprive them the benefit of their investment in bringing Kotoko here”