Sports News of Saturday, 4 July 2020

Source: footballghana.com

I was 'bribed' to miss a Hearts of Oak clash - Derek Boateng

Former Black Stars player Derek Boateng Former Black Stars player Derek Boateng

Former Black Stars player Derek Boateng revealed that he was given a bribe by Hearts of Oak fans before his move to Kalamata in 1999.

The 37-year-old, who was a player for Liberty Professionals, noted that he was on form at the time and those fans were afraid that he would steer Oly Dade to a victory over the Ghana Premier League giants.

He recounted the whole scenario and stated that he already had a move in place before the fans called him.

“We knew Liberty Professionals was the place to start your career so that was why I moved there. You know I played only four games for Liberty. The fifth game I was supposed to play was against Hearts of Oak but I had to go to Greece to sign my first professional contract. I was being played as a number 10 and I was on fire," he told Joy FM.

"Some of the die-hard Hearts of Oak fans called me to give me some money not to show up for that game. I took that money but they didn’t know that I was already scheduled to travel to Greece before the game on Saturday. It was good money. I left on Friday. They thought it was the money that made me stay away but at that time I was already done with Ghana football."

The midfielder made 47 appearances for the Black Stars and scored one goal.