Ishmael Addo, a former striker for Ghana, has disclosed that during his first call-up to the national team, he was told not to wear the Black Stars’ no. 10 jersey.
He claims that when he received his first call-up in 2000, he was shocked to see players like Stephen Appiah and CK Akonnor pass on the no. 10 jersey.
He said that although Hearts of Oak teammate Jacob Nartey had instructed him to avoid it, he had wanted to take the number.
After some Hearts supporters finally intervened, according to Ishmael Addo, the no. 10 jersey was soaked in salt water before the player wore it for the match.
The 47-year-old went on to say that, despite his strange entrance into the national team, he managed to score on his Black Stars debut.
“When we arrived in the dressing room, the senior players had their team, and coach Dossena asked me to join the first 18. Everyone picked and left the jersey no.10,” he said in an interview with Dan Kwaku Yeboah.
“There was Stephen Appiah and CK Akonnor who both wore the no.10 but in that particular game against Sierra Leone, everyone left the No. 10.”
“Minutes later, Jacob Nettey came and instructed me not to pick it. Why would the senior players leave it and allow you to wear it? Coach Dossena arrived and asked why then I narrated it to him.”
Addo added: “Jacob Nettey then went to E.T Mensah who was then the Sports Minister and he together with the late Alhaji M.N.D Jawula who was then the FA President and they all stopped me from wearing the jersey.
“Nettey later came and said he has been asked by fans of Hearts to soak the jersey in salty water before I wear it. I wore it and I was scored in that particular game as my debut goal for the Black Stars.”
With the treble of the Ghana Premier League, FA Cup, and CAF Champions League in 2000, Ishmael Addo was a member of the final Hearts team to rule the continent.
