Black Stars and West Ham United playmaker Mohammed Kudus has revealed that the constant love and support he receives from Ghanaians helps him in remaining focused on his career and doing the best he can.
Kudus, in an interview with NBC Sports as part of its ‘By Way of Africa’ series, said the support of his compatriots lets him know he’s doing something right and encourages him to do even more because he knows people are looking up to him.
“The love and support I receive from Ghana is immense, and it means a lot to me. It shows that I’m doing something right and that there are a lot of people looking up to me. I try my best to set examples and do my best in every situation,” Kudus said.
He added that as humans, we all make mistakes, but the important thing is to try your best. The West Ham star also said the support brings some pressure, but he’s ‘built for it’.
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Kudus also spoke about growing up in Nima and watching his mother sell food to raise him and his siblings. Kudus said the best part of his career was being able to give back to his family and community, particularly in the 2022 World Cup when he was able to have his family watch him play in Qatar.
The Black Stars midfielder also reminisced about his playing days in Nima, encouraging more scouts to visit the place because other talents like himself are there and simply need an opportunity to explode. He said this informs his decision to always speak about his roots, whether in interviews or via shining a light on it with his iconic goal celebrations.
“I try my best to [shine] a light on my culture and where I come from, with my celebrations, in interviews, and talking about where I come from… It’s a way of opening opportunities and shining a light on the fact that there’s a lot of talent there. I come from there, so it will lead to more scouts and agents going to Nima,” he said.
Kudus expressed immense pride in being able to represent Ghana on the international stage. The Black Stars are currently engaged in a struggle to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, leading their qualifying group by 3 points with four games to go.
