Ghana’s U 17 goalkeeper Ibrahim Danald has revealed he was “I was once a defender” before being converted into a goalkeeper.
According to the Asante Kotoko short stopper, he wasn’t a naturally gifted like other goalkeepers until he ceased playing as a defender was operated from right flanks.
The 14-year-old goalie is one of the fast-rising young goalkeepers following his outstanding performance at the 2017 Africa Youth Championship and the recently ended FIFA U17 World Cup staged in India
“It is true that I wasn’t a goalkeeper when I started my football career at age five but was converted into a goalkeeper four years later,” Danlad is quoted as reported by Kickgh.com.
“I was once a defender operating from the right flanks during my days at Alakoso (an Academy which was based in Sunyani). I wasn’t lazy with my training at Alakoso because I wanted to be one of the best defenders in the country.”
He continued “In this world, everything happens for a reason, our goalkeeper at the Academy was always absent from the training but comes during our matches,”
“He was always absent ahead of a big matches which made most of very sad because we had no one to be in the post. On that day, I wasn’t in the starting lineup for the match,”
“I elected myself to be in the sticks for my team where I made brilliant saves to help my club beat our opponents 2-0 after the game,”
“My teammates and the fans cheered me up for the great performance, later the club owner told me he will never sell me to any if I decide not to be a shot-stopper which I opted because I wanted to be a superstar in future,” he smiled.
“It has been a great moment for being a goalkeeper but let me thank Mr. Ansah who trained me and to the late Ahaji Alakoso for his motivation and unflinching support,”.
