Posted by Former Hearts of Oak and Black Stars player Sam Johnson has revealed how pressure from his family and friends forced him to ditch signing for Goldfields, now Ashanti Gold in 1993.
Sam Johnson in the early 1990’s was enjoying his best years as a footballer. His performances caught the attention of Goldfields, a club which was revamped by a mining firm in Obuasi in 1993.
Ashanti Gold at then were looking to sign every best player and dominate the country’s league. It was during that time that they won the league on three consecutive occasions (1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96), they also played in the CAF Champins league final in 1997.
”The money was very huge. I think 15 million [old Ghana cedis]. I got to Obuasi at around 5am but the person sat with the negotiation called the people at Hearts of Oak to inform me I was there to sign,” Johnson disclosed on GTV Sports +
”People in my neighbourhood [Accra] got of the news and there was pressure on me to stay at Hearts.
”I could feel the pressure when I visit my mum at Cowlane. People would go to my mother to persuade her to talk to me.
“I remember Tommy Okine will come to my house to convince me and i had to avoid him. But the pressure was so much so i had to back off the deal.”
”I had wanted to leave Hearts becauase the club was not treating us [players] well. But after my injury, Hearts took good care of me”, he added.
Johnson played for Hearts of Oak between 1991-1995.