Dodzi’s secret inspiration exposed!

Correspondent: David Kyei, Abura Batanyaa  

18th September 2007

Success, it has been said comes only through hard work and perseverance. However, to be able to have the right frame of mind to persevere, one needs the right motivation and encouragement.

It is therefore not a surprise that the man who responds to many names and accolades, Kwabena ‘wicked for satan’ Dodzi, finds his motivation and encouragement from the power of God and the support of his beloved girlfriend, Safia ‘Ronaldo’.

Though not a South American or a Hispanic, Dodzi says he personally christened his beloved Safia for a reason.

“Ronaldo to me has been the best striker that I have seen in football, and looking at the kind of encouragement and inspiration I get from Safia, I thought it wise to add Ronaldo to her name”

“This means that she is the best of all the women in my life. I know my mother will be angry with me for this statement but that is indeed the fact. She gives me the peace of mind that I need for my job and I am grateful for that”.

To ensure that the name and thoughts of Safia ‘Ronaldo’ does not in anyway depart from his mind and heart, he has decided to rebrand all boots he wears for matches.

“That is the reason why I have decided to call all boots I wear Safia ‘Ronaldo’. So don’t be surprised to see the name on the boots I wear”.

Touching on his career and the fact that it took a deep in time past, Dodzi says he was happy to be getting back into his form after periods of what he will call turbulence.

“I thank God for my life and for the inspiration I found in Safia at the time when pressure from all around had eaten me up and was therefore not of a sane mind to effectively ply my profession. I really had turbulence in my life that affected my performance on the field”

Though he admits that his performance dipped in a way, it was blown out of proportion and so was looking for every opportunity to prove to people that he was not as finished as people had tempted to make others believe.

Despite the fact that he had not been able to solve all the problems, “Safia gave me enough reasons to forget about the problems and rather concentrate on my career”

“I therefore saw the Sudan trip as the perfect opportunity for me to spring the surprise that I had up my sleeve. What people did not know was that, I was even not fully fit and yet I did what I did”.

“My target was effectively achieved in Sudan and so was not surprised that but for the fact that the registration window was closed in Sudan, I would have instantly landed a lucrative contract with Al-Merriekh”.

Having to wait for the Sudanese window to be opened in December for his transfer to be materialised, Dodzi says he is not going to turn back on his rise to the peak of his form and career.

“Though no footballer can forever be on top of his career, I am working hard to ensure that I hit the top form and remain there for a minimum of six years. Ghana will soon be hearing more about me than they are doing now, and it will be for all of us as a country”

On the current training tour across the country that the team is undertaking, Dodzi says he is amazed at the results and the fact that it opening his eyes to more things about Ghana football that he did not know before.

“Having played in all known league centres in the country, I think going on this trip is indeed opening up the country for me to see more things and also take time off the tension with league matches to fraternize with the fans of the club”.

“This is the major training tour I have embarked on in my career and I must say that we of the playing body are enjoying every bit of the exercises”

“I can feel renewed strength and a high level of the sense of brotherliness in the team and I think it is good for us all. Kotoko at the end of it all is the winner and we are happy for it”.

A toast of the fans, Dodzi says the fans do not cease to amaze him with an unalloyed kind of supporting that is difficult to find with other teams.

“I have at least played for three other clubs and I will say that Kotoko supporters command a different sense of supporting that is not seen anywhere before”.

“I love them and will always work hard to stay committed to their love for me and their club. I love them and always will,” he ended.