Coach Angelo Dedon discusses his football playing and coaching careers.
He was on Takoradi-based radio program Power Sport on Radio 360, 90.1, which was hosted by Sampson Abban (SHAMMO) on Wednesday, 9th August 2023 in the afternoon.
Angelo was asked if he had any regrets about his football career. He said that he had no regrets regarding the teams he played for, although he is disappointed that he couldn’t play for long.
Angelo said that he began playing football at Sekondi Methodist Park and that he was born and raised in Sekondi. His father knew from the start that he would play football because it was his love as a child.
He began his career in Takoradi’s Colts league with Nartey Babies and Young Kotoko in the late 90’s.
He revealed once more that Joseph Hendricks and Bismark Kobby Mensah used to play for Heart Babies.
He was transferred from Young Kotoko to Sekondi Eleven Wise. Many teams wanted him, but he chose Eleven Wise because he was born a supporter.
He went on to say that the late Emmanuel Quarshie and the late Ekow Daniels were in his house trying to persuade his mother to let him play for Hasaacas, but he chose Eleven Wise instead.
He went to Eleven Wise to meet some great players like Johnson Smith and Kofi Abrey. Despite the fact that he played with these guys, he was given match playing time and was named captain of Eleven Wise.
He departed Eleven Wise to play for Guard Root at Tarkwa for a season after Eleven Wise. He then proceeded to Bafana Bafana.
In the 2000s, he went to Cameroon to play Union Dwala for Bafana Bafana. He appeared in six games and was approached by another German team, but Union Dwala turned down the offer. The team declined the offer because his six games helped the squad rise from 10th to second place on the League log.
After the season in Cameroon ended, he wanted to come to Ghana, but his club refused, but eventually paid for his airfare to return to Ghana. On the other hand, he was unable to return to Cameroon due to the death of his father.
He joined Kotoko after playing justify in 2001. He indicated that he was never pleased at Kotoko, that the expectations from Kotoko were high, and that he didn’t get much playing time. He shared the field alongside Gordon Ablordey, Joe Sam, and Stephen Oduro. He spent a year and a half in Kumasi Asante Kotoko. He was loaned to BA United.
The following season, BA United made him a permanent signing. He was on the squad for four years and served as captain.
From BA United, he returned to his roots to play for Eleven Wise, where he retired.
Coach Afranie invited him to join the Black Stars because of his performance in a friendly against the Western Selected side.
He was a member of the Black Stars team that played against Nigeria and traveled to Egypt for a few games. The Black Stars included John Paintsil and Joe Hendricks. Prince Amoako Jr. was the only professional footballer who played outside of Ghana.
He then went into detail about his coaching career.
He stated that Alhaji Raji got him into coaching. One day, Alhaji summoned him to his home and advised that he enroll in a coaching course. So I called Bismark Kobby Mensah, who told me that I could be Johnson Smith as both a player and a coach. After that, Alhaji Raji paid for his coaching course.
Sekondi Eleven Wise, his boyhood team, was his first coaching appointment. He led Wise to two super middle league championships.
Hasaacas and Feyenoord prevented him and his squad from reaching the Premier League.
Kobby called him from Eleven Wise to accompany him to Nzema Kotoko. Later, they relocated to Samartex and Karela. Kobby left him for the Accra Great Olympics job, and he stayed in Karela until his contract expired in the 2022-23 season.
He intended to stay at Karela, but due to financial constraints, the team was handed over to new management, and he was forced to depart.
Karela United will begin training again in Tamale.
