Richard Ofori: Ghana keeper recounts challenging end to Orlando Pirates contract
- Adamu Muftawu
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Ghana goalkeeper Richard Ofori has shared some insight into his struggles during the 2023-24 season with Orlando Pirates where he played only a handful of games at the beginning of the campaign.
The AmaZulu shot stopper experienced a challenging moment in the final part of his stay with the Buccaneers where he took part in only three games due to injuries.
The 31-year-old helped Pirates lift the MTN 8 cup competition on two occasions, with a final victory over Bloemfontein Celtic in 2020 to end a six-year trophy drought for the club before winning it again in 2022 with a clean sheet against current club AmaZulu. Having battled for game time in the 2023/24 season, Pirates dispensed with the services of Ofori after the expiration of his contract.
The former Maritzburg United keeper signed for AmaZulu in 2024 as a free agent and he has shared more on his harrowing experience with Pirates to Kickoff.
"Yes, that (not playing) also happens in football. It's normal. In addition to the mental strength. Firstly, I will say, check your surroundings, that's very key. You are not playing, and you are injured; it's easy to slip into a negative mindset," warned the 31-year-old.
"You could start believing someone is using something on you (muti), or things like that. So, that's where the problem starts. You have to protect your mind; if you can protect your mind, you have already protected yourself from so many things.
"Most of the time, when we players go through those stages, we lose our focus and instead of focusing on how to improve, we focus on things that don't help us.
"Every player wants to play, but it is about the team, not the individual. If you want to play an individual sport, then you should play, maybe, tennis. It's about the team here," he added.
"So, for me, it was just a case of whether you are playing or not, you have to support your teammates. It is a team sport. Your teammate is not the coach. That's what players need to remember.
"The teammate is not a member of management, your teammate is your teammate, and you are fighting for one goal.'
"So, if you are not getting the chance to play, it's not because your teammate is blocking your opportunity. If you start fighting your teammates, you will end up destroying what you have built for years. If you want to be a leader, you have to be selfless.
"I was at Pirates, I would go to the national team, come back from the national team and still not play but the team was always more important than the individual."
Ofori played 19 matches, conceding 16 goals with nine clean sheets as AmaZulu finished 6th in the Betway Premiership table last season and a secured a spot in next season's MTN 8.
