Arthur battled extreme cold in his first experience of winter in Europe when he moved from Berekum Chelsea to Serbian club FK Vozdovac.
The teenager had made a huge leap in life, and immediately encountered his first hurdle abroad – being moved to the club’s Under-19 team. He was later reintegrated into the senior team after they were relegated from the Serbian Super League but still didn’t get any playing time.
At this point, it was clear these challenges were just warming up even though he arrived in the winter. He seemed to have run out of luck in a strange land. Battling cold and a place on the bench.
“When I went there [Vozdovac], I was unlucky, I think it was winter. So, it wasn’t easy, very cold, it wasn’t easy but a young boy trying to make a life for himself, I know what I want. So, it was normal for me,” a determined Arthur told Pulse Sports.
He was not going to allow the cold weather to dry up his sweat that easily. Neither was he going to let being homesick hinder him from having something to write home about. His biggest motivation? His manager and agent, Alexander Quaye.
But that was only the beginning of his Balkan tribulations, and whether his manager’s voice was going be sufficient enough to power him through was to be seen.
Good news? A trial at Basel. Bad news? A contract termination at Vozdovac.
More good news? Basel contract offer. More bad news? Terrible thigh injury.
Stagnated by a thigh injury, guess who saved the day? Yes, you guessed right: His manager.
Arthur was initially scared by the possibility of Basel withdrawing their contract offer but that changed quickly. Reason? His manager assured him via text.
When his phone vibrated and the message “Never be scared, we have a solution” popped up on the screen he knew immediately that everything would be alright.
And true to his words, it was. Basel signed the teenage central midfielder before loaning him to another Swiss club, FC Schaffhausen last summer.
Newfound challenge
The Black Satellites midfielder has since found a new life in the Swiss second-tier, the Challenge League, and has taken up the challenge on his sleeves.
Arthur hopes to become a first-team player in Basel and follow in the footsteps of his football idols, Eduardo Camavinga and Fede Valverde, who both fought to become regular first-team members at Real Madrid.
As a central midfielder, he also looks up to Ghana legend and 2010 Champions League winner, Sulley Muntari, who also moved from Ghanaian club Liberty Professionals to Italian team Udinese as a teenager in 2001.
Strengthened by stories of his idols and experiences in a faraway land, Arthur wants his talent to do the talking for him.
His main strengths are his ability to win duels and impressive shot power with his dominant left foot. His dream is to play for Manchester City and also be under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti at one point in the future.
Having battled the biting cold and injuries in Europe, discipline, he believes, is the key to winning these battles for the many other ‘Zongo’ boys who might not have an Alexander Quaye in their corner.
Source link : https://www.pulse.com.gh/sports/football/battling-winter-and-injuries-isaac-arthur-on-life-as-young-footballer-in-europe/vj680bh
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Publish date : 2024-10-28 07:00:00
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