Soulama Abdoulaye – A Porcupine, A Phobian, And Perfect Professional…..

It has been three years since Soulama Abdoulaye left us. The morose news of his demise reached us on the eve of our FA CUP game with his ex club Kumasi Asante Kotoko in 2017.

Months before we had heard of his plight but there was not much we could do to avert the Qadr Allah had decreed for our brother.

When Soulama came to sign his Hearts deal, I was the only person who’s not happy with his acquisition. I had argued that if we wanted to go for an experienced keeper, we should have gone for an ex Phobian; but Soulama, on the other hand, had been a sworn-enemy of our club for all the years he had spent at Kotoko.

I was naive. And I was proven wrong within a short time. He had played for Kotoko but he’s not born for them. He’s a professional player. When he got to Hearts, he did not take any potshots at Kotoko; he did not insult anybody from their camp. That’s the first sign of maturity. He left Kotoko unceremoniously and unhappily too, but he came not bearing any grudge.

Today, when one player moves to the opposite direction, as part of their initiation, they are given free radio time to take digs at the hands that used to feed them. I digress.

Anyway, Soulama knew he had a lot against him because of his affiliation with his former club, but he showed he’s a true professional. And within a short time had won not just the confidence of his colleagues but the entire Hearts family. He mentored Seidu Mutawakil and always came to the defense of the young goalie whenever he committed a blunder.

Soulama always said a keeper is only remembered for the goal(s) he let in not for the ones he prevented. And as if presaging his end at the club, it happened to him in the end. Today, he’s remembered for that own goal against Kotoko in Accra.

But for me, it’s way more than that. He had saved Hearts so many times that I could not remember. He had saved that decisive penalty against AS POLICE in Benin in the CAFCC. When we had a goalkeeping crisis, it’s him who stepped UP to restore the defense. When we nearly got relegated, he’s amongst a handful of players whose contribution came to the fore.

Continue to Rest In Peace, Soulama. Gone, but certainly not forgotten.

By Anwar U. Larry