Dreaming Of Cincinnati

Baba Mohammed, Ghana

Baba Mohammed, known to family and friends as Zaidan Tunchi, is from Aboabo, Ghana and an aspiring professional football player.  At 8 years old Zaidan left school to help care for his family due to his father’s illness, at which point he says football became his school.  Now 20 years old, he is a huge fan of MLS club FC Cincinnati, with dreams of visiting the club and one day playing for them. He runs Kumasinati - Supporter Group of FCC in Ghana. When asked what hashtags we should use to accompany his photos, Zaidan responded #ZaidanToCincinnati.  We hope to be able to help him achieve his dreams!

This story has been told in collaboration with The PASS Project, an organisation committed to creating positive change through soccer. The project partners with other grassroots organizations to provide free clinics to underserved youth (particularly refugee communities), creates new and free playing spaces, and donates soccer equipment as well as personal hygiene items to those in need in Cincinnati and across the world.

Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your current football life?

My name is Baba Mohammed but most people call me Zaidan Tunechi. Zaidan is my grandfather’s name, Tunechi is my soccer name. I am 20 years of age and I have loved football since I was young. I was born and raised in a small community in Ghana called Aboabo. I stopped schooling at the age of eight due to my Dad becoming ill, and football became my school. I now live in a city called Kumasi, which is a football loving city, where every little boy or girl living in my community automatically loves football. 

What has been your football journey up until now? 

In Ghana, when you choose to play football, on the way to success some people get injured along the way without proper help at the hospital. Some get to travel overseas to greener pastures, but only a few are able to get the chance to play football and be professionals. I love football and I have done well in it. Since I didn't go to school, I do anything to perform well when given the chance. I've played lower league soccer so I am not under contract at the moment, but there is no day I wake up that I go without training to maintain my playing skills.

What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?

In the photos, you can see young and energetic guys who I always train with in Aboabo, which is where I mostly do my training and everything concerning football.  Football life in my community is very tough - it is hard to become successful due to the poor attention we get from the outside world. 

My favorite photo is one where I am having fun with my friends on the pitch. We are poor yet making ourselves happy through football - a special riches given to us by God. In some photos you can also see some of us holding FC Cincinnati scarves. I am the President of the fanbase here in Ghana and we pay to go and watch all of FC Cincinnati's games.

How did you become a FC Cincinnati fan?

FC Cincinnati was established on 12 August, 2015. I was notified on my phone about the establishment of the team on 14th August. I gave the team some attention. I was soon one of its biggest fans. One player who made me love this team was Omar Cummings - he was a good attacker and I wanted to make him my role model. I take a taxi and go to a bar on every match day when FCC is playing. I go there with my best friend Ahmed every game. I never miss a single match.

How has Covid-19 affected football in Ghana and your community?

Covid has negatively affected our everyday activity, especially football. I was playing for an academy which collapsed because it was owned by an Italian. They stopped sponsoring the team because Covid forced them to move back to their country and we haven’t seen each other since. Young people do all they can here to learn football and succeed through it.

What does football mean to you? What ambitions do you have for the future?

Football means everything to me. Right now I have no working skills other than football. Other people want to play for Barcelona, Chelsea, Arsenal and all big clubs you can think of, but for me FC Cincinnati is where I would want to sacrifice my life for.

What is the future of football in Ghana? What do you want to change?

Football is very important to the people of Ghana because of some of the players the country has produced. Every family's ambition here in Ghana is to see one of their own playing in the professional leagues and football is one of the things that our people watch to have fun. 

The future of football in Ghana looks promising but it's hard for the less fortunate ones. I want to become a professional footballer and leave a blueprint in my community, because it's hard for someone living in Aboabo to get opportunities overseas. I would like to help kids who didn't get the opportunity to go to school, with fees, books and uniforms so they can be whatever they dream of. The future is bright.