Don Bortey: Former Black Stars and Hearts of Oak attacker retires from football
- Ex-Black Stars forward Don Bortey has retired from football
- Don Bortey played for Ghanaian giants Hearts of Oak
- Bortey has capped 27 times for Ghana and scored nine goals
Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in
Former Black Stars and Hearts of Oak player Bernard Don Bortey has finally decided to hang his boots after a blistering professional career.
Bortey has expressed some regrets after taking the decision to retire from football.
"I’m not God. Maybe where I reached was the stage God wanted me to finish it for someone to come and continue. I have pain in me but it’s past," the former winger said as he decided to call it quits.
Source: Original
READ ALSO: Stephen Appiah flaunts his mansion at East Legon (Photos)
"I have to put it behind me because I have three kids who are all playing football, so I have to focus on pushing them. I could not do it but maybe they can do it for me.
"I want to be a coach now. I’ve retired. I was not 100 percent sure but I have done it.
"I’m still playing football but not competitively. I don’t want to play any more competitive leagues like the Ghana Premier League because I have made the name already.”
READ ALSO: Richard Kingston opens up about Asamoah Gyan's penalty miss against Uruguay at 2010 World Cup
The 37-year-old one-time golden boot winner in the Ghana Premier League added that he is leaving the field for the young talents coming up.
"Everybody knows my name in Ghana football. So I have to leave for the young ones to take over. Now, I’m a coach. I’m not a footballer anymore. I’ve retired."
The speedster was a household name at Hearts of Oak during his nine-year stint with the Accra giants.
READ ALSO: Asamoah Gyan flaunts his fleets of cars in his mighty mansion (Video)
He established himself as a household name in the Ghana Premier League but failed to replicate that success abroad.
Bortey played for Al Wasl FC of the United Arab Emirates, Bnei Sakhnin of Israel, Vietnamese side CLB Song Lam and The Panthers of Equatorial Guinea in a series of brief, unsuccessful stints.
He won four league titles with Hearts of Oak as well as the CAF Super Cup and the Confederation Cup in 2001 and 2004.
The pacy winger also clinched the Ghana Premier League goal-king in 2002.
He capped 27 times for Ghana scoring 9 goals in the process.
Meanwhile, Ghana and Newcastle United winger, Christian Atsu has refuted claims of retiring from the Black Stars prematurely.
On Friday, April 3, 2020, reports went haywire that the former Chelsea and FC Porto winger has communicated to the head coach of the team, CK Akonnor, that he was no longer interested in playing for the country.
Only God can save Ghana from the Coronavirus outbreak - Pastor declares | #Yencomgh
Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition?
Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page
Source: YEN.com.gh
