In a press interview, former Ghanaian winger John Kwansah spoke about the years of pain he endured after his football career ended due to a severe injury from which he never recovered.

Kwansah, who left the city of Obuasi in Ghana for Ajax in the Netherlands at the age of 15 after his talent was discovered, dreamed of becoming a major professional player. However, he suffered a thigh muscle tear during a simple training session, and since then, he has not been able to play as planned, despite repeated treatments.

After the injury, John tried to continue playing with local clubs in Ghana, but he failed to overcome the chronic pain. In his twenties, he was forced to leave football entirely, experiencing a period of psychological breakdown during which he isolated himself from friends and family. He then tried to find other ways to earn a living, working first in food sales and then in construction, enduring hard labor under the scorching sun for a modest wage.

The events did not stop at this point of pain; he and his wife faced an additional tragedy with the loss of their infant children at an early age due to an illness that doctors could not diagnose in time. These successive experiences made him avoid even looking at his Ajax jersey and old trophies for many years.

However, over time, Kwansah decided to confront his past. He hung his awards in the living room and began to walk past them without feeling the same pain. He said he started to feel proud of what he had achieved, even if he hadn't reached what he dreamed of in football. He adds that he is still seeking to find a new purpose in life and believes that what happened to him was not the end, but the beginning of a different path, despite the many challenges he faced.