Kudus Mohammed: The heart of a Black Star

“Talent,” world football governing body, FIFA, tweeted at 16:39 Doha time, 13:39 GMT, on Monday.

The caption had the image of Mohammed Kudus, drenched in water, mouth widely opened, ears standing, chains of sweat dripping down his neck.

Within the same picture, his arms were opened, hands lowered, and fists tight.

Goal number 2 for Ghana from this rare star.

Kudus is not one you see often after 90 minutes of football.

The nucleus of a Black Star, the brain supplier, and the finisher.

A silent assassin of this spherical object called football, an assassin of opponents.

His touch, vision, and final ball defy football belief.

Five years ago, the Ajax boy was not known in Ghana’s football circles, not even among his colleagues that competed at the 2017 U-17 World Cup in India.

This boy, born in Nima, groomed in Right to Dream Academy, and living a dream in Doha, Qatar on the biggest stage of global football, could not even earn a starting role against India in the U17 tournament in the South Asia country.

Emmanuel Arkoh Mensah of then Ghana premier league club, Wa All Stars now Legon Cities, Gabriel Larveh formerly of Division One League side, Tema Youth, and Mohammed Iddriss, a product of Cheeter FC, were all rated above Kudus in their ranks.

This was a bunch of talents with incredible substance; individually and collectively, these boys wowed even neutrals off their feet.

Intricate play, delicious touches.

Kudus, the star of this group that has had football fans gaping was on the periphery.

Paa Kwesi Fabin, the man who assembled these boys, and would be seated in the stands to watch a boy he’s had a hand grooming, saw little of him, but Tom Vernon, owner of Right to Dream Academy, knew the jewel he had.

A little over five years ago, when he invited a group of journalists to the Academy in Akosombo, he pointed out Kudus as the next big thing to happen to Ghana football, but many of us had eyes on other players who appeared more talented from our layman’s view.

Tom was right.

A boy filled with arrogance of talent has wowed football-loving fans and continues to let them accompany his elegance and artistry with raucous applause and whoops each time, each moment, each match day.

Black Stars assistant, Didi Dramani described his rise as “transformative” in an interview with Joy Sports two years ago.

“At Nordsjaelland, Kudus got his major education in football, where he developed various aspects of his game by playing in different positions as a central midfielder, false nine, wide midfield, and wide attacker.”

That transformation has groomed a jewel whose contribution to this Black Stars team since former coach, Kwasi Appiah gave him his debut three years ago against South Africa had been epic.

In 20 appearances, he has seven goals.

https://t.co/iCJWyoeKrM

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 28, 2022

The dynamic young midfielder is a star.

“He is on the right track to be a great, great player,” Otto said of his hero on Monday.

Erik ten Hag, his former manager at Ajax and now at Manchester United, saw enough in their time working together to label him a “player with incredible potential.”

What excites Ghanaians most about Kudus is his ability to influence games in different ways – win the balls, caress it with class, and finish them like a maestro.

So, what would excite Ghanaians on Friday afternoon when 12 years of emotional pain and torture is reloaded, not at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, but at the Al Janoub stadium in Doha, would be a day Kudus in his element would drive Ghana past Uruguay and book them an early flight home.

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Tags:   2022 FIFA World Cup Black Stars Mohammed Kudus Muftawu Nabila Abdulai