The True story of ABU A.K.A Total 90,"
Samuel Armah, our Director, explains what inspired him to work with James Kwame Peprah (President) to launch BREAK FREE FROM DRUG ADDITION BFFDA
Abu, known affectionately as "Total 90," was one of the most promising young talents I had ever come across. From the very start, his skill and flair on the field made him stand out, and I believed wholeheartedly that he would rise through the ranks and become a star. He had the dream, the energy, and the passion, and I was sure that with time, he’d make it to the international stage.
For a while, Abu's future seemed bright. He was still playing football in the neighborhood, vibrant with the boundless ambition of youth. At one point, his talent earned him a call-up to the National U-17 trials. Though he didn’t make the final cut, we all still held onto hope, knowing he had the potential to reach the highest levels of the game. But dreams, like fragile flowers, can wither if not carefully tended.
It was around this time that Abu began to drift, pulled by the lure of the wrong crowd. He started drinking, first casually, then more regularly. We spoke to him and pleaded with him to stop before it was too late, but the lure of alcohol was a seductive whisper he couldn’t ignore. Instead of coming to training, he began to follow the local drunkards. In our community, the drinkers were generous to a fault; they’d buy drinks for you even if you had no money. By the time you will leave the drinking spot, you’d had your fill, courtesy of these misguided companions.
Before long, Abu’s passion for football was replaced by his growing dependence on alcohol. It wasn’t long before the damage started showing. He was diagnosed with kidney disease, and we poured everything we had into his treatment. For a moment, there was hope. He responded well, and we thought he might make a full recovery. But the moment he felt a little better, he went right back to the bottle.
Life, it seemed, had other plans for Abu. He fathered a child, but didn’t bother to find work to take care of the baby. The once-bright future he held in his hands was slipping away, drowned in alcohol. And then came the final blow. One night, after another round of drinking, Abu was hit by a car. The streets that once echoed with the sound of his football dreams now bore witness to his untimely death. He died with his potential still untapped, leaving behind a child, a grieving wife, and a legacy of what could have been.
His wife, unemployed and struggling, was left with the heavy burden of raising their child alone. A few of us friends who had once cheered for Abu’s success now do what we can to help, but the weight of his absence lingers.
Abu’s story, a tragic waste of talent, is not just a loss to us but to the whole community and country. The gifts he possessed could have brought joy and pride to many, but instead, alcohol and poor choices stole him away. His death left a hole in our hearts and a burden on our shoulders.
It was Abu’s story, the heartbreak of watching someone with so much promise fall that woke me up. It opened my eyes to the devastating grip alcohol and drugs have on our youth. That’s why I joined BFFDA, to fight this menace and to ensure that others don’t follow in Abu’s footsteps. His story is my motivation, a reminder of why this fight is so important.