Burkinabe National Goalie joins Kotoko

Correspondent: David Kyei, Oseikrom

16th August 2007

Kotoko’s pedigree as the club that seeks only the best in and around the continent has been brought to bear with the signing of the captain and also the number one goalkeeper of the Burkina Faso national team, Soulama Abdoulaye.

Considered  the safest pair of hands in Burkina Faso at the moment,  the twenty-seven year old goalkeeper who stands over six feet tall says he has joined Kotoko with a mission, and so was going to work hard to make that ambition a reality.

Seriously poised for action, Soulama has already in the country with his baggage to fully settle with his new club.

In an interview with Kotoko Express, the goalkeeper who has seen three African Nations Cup Appearances and still going stronger says his mission at Kotoko is cut out clear for him., and that is “to fight for a first team place and eventually take up the number one position like I have done at all the clubs that I have played for since the start of my career”

“I believe in hard work and so makes sure that I use it to achieve whatever I have set to achieve for my self. It is a difficult endeavour though, but I have always been a success story”

Describing Kotoko as a great club on the African continent, the goalkeeper who was in post of ASFA Yenega of Burkina Faso when his sides lost the final match of the Otumfuo Invitation Cup to Kotoko some years ago says he fell in love with the club from there on.

“I have played on many big stages of football, but the little that I saw of Kotoko supporters during that tournament really confirmed the news that I have been hearing about the club and the fact that her supporters are one of the most passionate that I have ever seen”

“Besides that, I think my pedigree as an accomplished player on the African circles require that I always be with the best clubs and I am glad I came here to play for the team”

“I may be sounding over confident in stating my case here, but the truth is that, I have confidence in my abilities and so I am not the least afraid of competition. I work hard, and my input in matches has always been my trump card. Confidence is what every good footballer should have and so sees no wrong in my sounding too confident.,” was his response when he was asked whether he was not sounding over confident.

According to him, his major preoccupation in Kotoko would be to make it into the African competition and hopes to bring his wealth of experience to bear on his association with Kotoko.

Many Burkinabe players like Clovis Kambou, Rashid Compoari and quite recently Ali Ouedraogo have had mixed stinks with Ghana football and their performance ratings may be considered as not the best. However, Soulama says he is a different person with a different script in hand.

“It is a pity that my contemporaries could not hit the mark that they wanted to achieve here in Ghana. However, I am a different person and therefore comes to Ghana and Kotoko especially as a person with set goals and targets to achieve”

“At the end of it all, my performance will show weather I would be like them or not. As far as I am concerned however, I am a hardworking person and hopes that my hard work here will bring good dividends to me and the club I am playing”

His agility and imposing physical presence as his trump cards, the captain of the Burkina be national team, Les Stallion, says he would not make his prestigious position back home affect him in any way.

“I am the national captain first because I have gained a lot of experience understudying former national goalkeepers and more importantly because I am disciplined and a true professional”

“I occupy that position on merit and so will do everything in my capacity to stay on top of whatever I do. That is me, and that has always been my motivation”

Describing the Burkina national team’s chance of qualifying to CAN2008 as a slim one, he says he and his colleagues are however keeping their hopes alive to capitalize on any opportunity that will make them qualify for the prestigious competition.

“Since it is however very difficult for us to qualify for CAN 2008, my preoccupation now is to concentrate on my club level football and wait to see what divine providence will have for us”

Being the toast of Kumasi fans during the Otumfuo Invitational Tournament, Soulama had a special message for them

“I feel happy to be back in Kumasi this time as a part of their great tradition. I call on all supporters to be patient with the team and work around the clock to ensure that we achieve whatever we have set for ourselves in unity. I hope and pray that they make my stay in Ghana a happy one”