Mohammed Ahmed Polo

Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed (Polo) (sometimes referred to as Mohammed "Polo" Ahmed) and popularly known as the "Dribbling Magician", is a former Ghanaian international football player and arguably the most technically gifted player ever to emerge from Ghana. He was in the Ghana squad that won the 1978 African Cup of Nations held in Ghana. He was a left winger and played for Hearts of Oak in the Ghana premier league.

Playing career

Polo played youth football with Auroras in Accra before signing for Hearts of Oak. Along with Mama Acquah, Anas Seidu, Peter Lamptey and Robert Hammond, they were known as the “Fearsome Five” and formed the backbone of the team.^[1] He was invited into the Black Stars at the age of 17 years.^[2] He also once played for Great Olympics football club, also in Accra. Mohammad Polo has also played in the 1980s for the famous Dubai Club, AlWasl where the fans bonded with him and his skills instantly, and still remember the magic 20 years after his departure. Polo still visits Dubai and AlWasl Club every now and then, and is seen wearing its yellow shirt in Ghana.

After playing career

He was appointed the Technical head of Great Olympics in January 2004.^[3]

Mohammed Polo now owns a soccer academy which trains at Legon.^[4]

Currently works as Assistant Coach from All Stars F.C..^[5]

He considers himself a better player than Lionel Messi.^[6]

Honours

• 1978 African Cup of Nations - champions
• Footballer of the year - Ghana Football Association (1975)^[7]
• African Player of the Year 1977 - Came 4th in voting for this award^[8]
• 2006 - Coca-Cola Award on Breaking Barriers^[9][10][11]

Notes and references

1. ^ Martins, Rafael (7 December 2006). "Hearts of Oak: O outono da árvore de Accra" (in Portuguese). Trivela.com. http://www.trivela.com/default.asp?pag=ExibirMateria&codMateria=2074&coluna=23. Retrieved 2007-04-08. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ "MOHAMMED AHMED POLO HONORED AT PRESEC !!!". Ghana Home Page. 1 July 2005. http://www.discussions.ghanaweb.com/viewtopic.php?t=20318&highlight=&sid=b232b1e5cea74496fcd26bc59423f308. Retrieved 2007-04-08. 
3. ^ "Olympics supporters up in arms with IMC". Football news (Modern Ghana Homepage). January 24, 2004. http://www.modernghana.com/GhanaHome/SportsArchive/sports_details.asp?id=VGtSbmVFMTZZejA9&menu_id=1&sub_menu_id=0&gender=Football%20News. Retrieved 2004-04-08. 
4. ^ "Improving Ghana's football infrastructure for CAN 2008". Panapress. 29 May 2006. http://www.panapress.com/mondial2002/infghanaeng.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-08. 
5. ^ All Stars Technical Team on www.waallstars.com
6. ^ "I was better than Argentina & Barcelona’s Lionel Messi". Official website. Goal.com International Edition. http://www.goal.com/en/news/89/africa/2011/04/04/2426342/i-was-better-than-argentina-barcelonas-lionel-messi-ghana-legend-. Retrieved 2011-04-04. 
7. ^ "The Club:Personal Awards". Official website. Accra Hearts Of Oak Sporting Club. http://www.accraheartsofoak.com/club/personalawards.php. Retrieved 2007-04-08. 
8. ^ Pierrend, José Luis (14 Feb 2000). "African Player of the Year 1977". Football statistics website. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/afrpoy77.html. Retrieved 2007-04-08. 
9. ^ Soccer News of Friday, 6 January 2006
10. ^ Kumi, Sylvanus (20 January 2006). "Mohammed Polo And Abedi Pele Commended". New Times Corporation. http://www.newtimesonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1068&Itemid=213. Retrieved 2007-04-08. 
11. ^ "The World Cup Is Coming To Ghana - Kufuor". Official website. Ghana government. http://www.ghana.gov.gh/news/article.php?id=0000013260. Retrieved 2007-04-08. "A special award dubbed: "Break Down Barriers" was presented to Ghana's great soccer, the dibbling magician, Mohammed Ahmed Polo for using football to unite the people of Dagbon during the Northern conflict. One of his high points was when he organised a special football friendly match in the heat of the conflict between the Nanumbas and the Kokombas to ease the tension." ^{[dead link]}

External links

• Mohammed Ahmed – FIFA competition record
• Mohammed Ahmed Polo Biography

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Name	Polo, Mohammed Ahmed
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