Before becoming Ghana’s number one goalkeeper for the Black Stars and a key figure for Accra Hearts of Oak, Benjamin Asare lived a life far removed from the glamour of football.

The shot-stopper’s rise to the top has been built on years of struggles, sacrifices and survival, with the goalkeeper taking on several difficult jobs to make ends meet long before his breakthrough in the game.

Speaking on The Delay Show with Deloris Frimpong Manso, Asare opened up on the harsh realities of his early life and how he constantly moved from one hustle to another in search of a better future.

“Football wasn’t something I thought I would end up doing,” Asare admitted, as he reflected on the many jobs he took on just to survive.

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The goalkeeper disclosed that he once worked as a mason, but the irregular nature of the job forced him to look elsewhere for income whenever work slowed down.

“I started with mason work, but because the work wasn’t coming every day, I didn’t go all the time and I used the free time to do other jobs,” he added.

According to him, he was determined to follow any opportunity that could help him earn a living.

That mindset pushed him into learning steel bending, while he also spent time working as a carpenter, helping with roofing and ceiling projects.

“I also learned steel bending because I was following anyone who said he could help me. I’ve also become a carpenter before, working on roofing and ceiling projects,” he recalled.

His hustle extended beyond construction work. Asare revealed that he also worked as a trotro mate around Darkuman Station, directing passengers and assisting drivers through the busy transport routes in Accra.

“I was also a trotro mate around Darkuman station. But before that, I was selling polythene at Kaneshie market when I was in class six. I was also a head porter at Kaneshie,” he added.

Despite the struggles, Asare believes every stage of his life happened for a reason.

“But as a man in life, things happen because God knows what He is doing,” he said.

Today, the once-struggling hustler has become one of Ghana football’s inspiring stories.

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