Former Hearts of Oak player Dong Bortey was speaking on GTV Sports when he revealed, he was a household name in his neighborhood and other surrounding areas.
He disclosed that he wanted to play for the national table tennis team, but football fans forced him to change his mind to play football.
He said he was fond of bringing entertainment and style into the game and was the first local player to dye his hair after the Senegal maverick star to get the name 'El Hadji Diouf.' Bortey was also affectionately called 'Dada Don' by football fans especially phobians who chanted his name from the stands.
Bortey was part of the Starlets '99 team that won bronze at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Some of his teammates were: Michael Essien, Ishmael Addo, Ibrahim Atiku, Anthony Obodai, Stephen Tetteh, Ibrahim Razak, Stephen Oduro, Razak Pimpong, Kwame Pele Frimpong, Seth Ablade and Nathaniel Lamptey. They were coached by the late coach Jones Attuquyefio.
Bortey, who won the 2004 African Confederation Cup with Hearts of Oak, and starred for the Black Stars under coach Dossena, recalled how Kumasi Asante Kotoko wanted him when Mr. Herbert Mensah was president, but he swerved them after collecting money, causing his arrest and being taken to court.
He won the league with Hearts of Oak on four occasions and won a joint goal king award with Charles Taylor in 2002.
Bortey also said he has a son at the University of Ghana, Legon who combines education and football.