By: Jerome Otchere

Date: 08-07-11

In football and indeed as it is generally in life, it is not always that one’s projections and expectations come true.

There is bound to be fulfilment of dreams sometimes and of course disappointments at other times.

For 16-year-old Kotoko winger, Hariff Mohammed Alidu, the sweet and sour spots of life both came his way in the 2010/2011 football season because he started on a bright note, hoping to be impressive at the end of the day but sadly things took an undesirable turn.

The former Great Warriors FC player joined Kotoko full of promise nearly two seasons back. Considering his age and stature, many Kotoko supporters wondered how long it would take for the young, innocent-looking Hariff Mohammed Alidu to break into the senior team.

That was not an entirely a correct opinion particularly under the technical directorship of Coach Ebo Mends, Hariff was fielded in most of the trial matches prior to the start of the 2010/2011 football season. Harif Mohammed enjoyed himself, performing in his favourite left-wing position and essentially teaming up with his colleagues to do what he knows best.

The league season opened and the confidence former Technical Manager, Ebo Mends had reposed in him had not waned. Hariff was thus part of the team for eight Glo Premier League matches in the first round of the season. He however lost his place neither because he was deliberately sidelined nor because he was continually underperforming. His case bothered on injuries and ill-health – two things which has since kept him out of the regular and even the reserve team of Kotoko even up to this time.

According to Hariff his battle with injuries started at the Adako Jachie training ground. A ball hit his head and consequently rendered him unconscious. The Kotoko medical team immediately attended to him, passing him fit for training sessions and matches. Hariff resumed training sessions perform well, impress and ultimately ‘catch’ the eye of Coach Bogdan Korak.

He made significant progress yet never broke into the team. Just when all seemed well, Harif Mohammed was again knocked out for nearly four months by what he described as a painful waist injury. “I was out there, not training, not doing anything; just receiving medication, sleeping and relaxing” he told me as I engaged him in a length chat on Wednesday morning.

He shared deep insights on footballers and injuries saying that “Injuries are part of football but when you get injured at the time you seem to be picking up your form, it is painful. This summarizes my experience this season. Things were not good; I have told you. I am praying things will go well for me next season” he said.

“I have missed so many chances because of injury but I am not really disappointed because next season, I will bounce back” he said with confidence. The left-winger currently has one more season to play and regarding his age, he is very young and could play for a lot more years. I asked him whether he would want to renew his contract if it expires after the next season. The response he gave was unmistakable.

“My life at Kotoko has been up and down. I have not really enjoyed the two seasons I have spent. I have been largely inactive but I want to be active next in the 2011/2012 season.

“If I get more playing time, I will love it. It will help me. I am not going anywhere” said Harif Mohammed who referred to the constructive advices he receives from Coach Bogdan Korak when I asked him on his relationship with the coach.

“I could have had the chance of playing but for injury. The coach speaks to me. He tells me to work hard and he talks to me nicely. He is like a father to me” added the young footballer.

His plight at Kotoko irrespective of how unpalatable it might have been, notwithstanding, it did not affect his national team chances. He went to the national U-17 camp but could not make it to the team that played their qualifiers for their tourney.

Asked for his thoughts on the team’s performance in the recently ended Glo Premier League, Harif commended his colleagues for their fortitude before predicting that all things being equal Kotoko will win the 2011 MTN FA Cup. “I think we will respect our opponents but we will not be afraid of them. Let us beat All Stars on Wednesday and we prepare well Nania FC to beat them in Accra. I am highly confident that Kotoko will win the FA cup” he Harif Mohammed.