Former Ghanaian international Augustine Arhinful has shared a fascinating and little-known chapter of his playing career, revealing how he was secretly “smuggled” across the border to play club football in Côte d’Ivoire.
Speaking candidly on Sporty FM, Arhinful recounted the extraordinary circumstances that led to his brief but eventful stint in the Ivorian league.
The former striker disclosed that this unique experience occurred at the start of his career and even required him to change his name.
“Ebo Smith smuggled me to Côte d’Ivoire because he told me there was a club in Abidjan that wanted me. Since we couldn’t complete the transfer, my name was changed to ‘Karku Raymond,’ and I played for Gagnoa SC,” he said.
Arhinful also recalled how referees and officials reacted humorously to his alias but noted that the unusual situation didn’t hinder his performance on the pitch.
“During the inspection, when my name was mentioned and I stepped forward, the referee started laughing. He even asked in French if there was a problem, but it didn’t cause any issues. I performed very well while playing there,” he added.
Arhinful enjoyed a distinguished career, representing the Black Stars. He played at the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
At the club level, the 50-year-old featured for teams in Germany, Portugal, and Turkey, including Borussia Dortmund, Boavista, and Trabzonspor.
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