The central defender had a happy childhood in which he cooked with his friends. At twelve, he chose football over baseball. He is “very good” at table tennis and his idol is Kuffour, ex-Bayern, so one of his dreams is to play for the German club.
He appears on the other end of the video call with a smile from ear to ear, the perfect summary of his character. Because despite having a body that scares her, Joseph Aidoo (Tema, Ghana, 1995) is all tenderness and happiness. He blurts out a few words of Spanish out loud, shy, before replying in English to one of the very few interviews he has given in the four seasons he has been in Vigo. Turned to The rock of the defense of Celtareceive to Benzema y al Madrid.
- It is your fourth year in Vigo, what do you like the most?
- Everything, although sometimes the weather is not quite good. But I came from two countries where it was very cold, so fine. And the food is amazing, I love octopus, it’s my favorite Spanish food.
- In the locker room they call him Jose. Is there any other nickname?
- Yeah… (laughs). In Ghana my friends call me King Boobo, and some of the staff have found out and call me that too. It is to refer to a brave and strong person like a lion.
- How difficult is it to get to Europe for an African footballer?
- Much. There are many talents in Africa and getting a small opportunity is difficult. Mine came when I was in the Ghana U20 team, we played in the African Cup and a team from Sweden took an interest in me. It is a difficult step also because of the cultural issue.
- Have you ever suffered racism? What would you tell people?
- Personally it has never happened to me. It’s something awful. Human beings need to have freedom and above all happiness, which for me is like a medicine. When you smile at someone you are doing good.
- What is the best and worst thing about being a professional footballer?
- The best is when everything is fine and people treat you well. And the worst is when you can no longer walk with some freedom. It happens to me especially when I return to Ghana, in my community, where more people know me and it’s difficult. I wish everything was more normal, like always.
- What hobbies have?
- I like bowling and I think I’m really good at ping-pong, although we don’t have a table in the club… Petition to the president (laughs). And then I love any music that allows me to dance.
- Many are surprised with his body. How many kilos can he lift?
- (Laughter) I don’t lift! I don’t do that because I lift little. People always ask me, but it’s a natural force, it’s not work. Really.
- How’s your Spanish going?
- Better than before. I watch series and movies in Spanish. Now I’m watching The Queen of the South (laughs). In the locker room only Spanish was spoken and it was a bit difficult for me, because I only listen to it here since I speak English at home. In my first years in Vigo it was difficult. I had a teacher who was very harsh, I didn’t understand anything, she didn’t speak Spanish at all, she tried to explain the situation to her and she insisted that she tell her in Spanish. But if I don’t speak it! (Laughter).
- How was your childhood?
- Much love. In the community where we lived, we were many children. We used to go to a friend’s house to cook and it was a lot of fun. I’m good at cooking, huh, I can cook anything from Ghanaian cuisine, continue, waakyerice jollof… I cook a lot for the family.
- How was your family’s finances?
- We didn’t have, but I never needed anything. If he ever asked for something, my father, who is no longer with us, would get it for me. He was a great person and he really helped me a lot. Playing now with my children brings back many memories.
- What goal do you have in your sports career?
- Become one of the best centre-backs in the world.
- Was it your childhood dream?
- Yes, although he was very athletic and also played baseball. He thinks he was good at both sports and dreamed of playing both as a professional, but at 12 he chose soccer 100%.
- Who was his idol?
- Samuel Kuffour. I am a Bayern fan because of him and one of my dreams is to play there. But I am focused on Celta. I liked the passion with which he played, I always tried to watch the videos of him on the internet. I consider myself very passionate, that way you get much more. And now my idol is my mother, who is in Ghana. Whenever she calls her, she starts to sing, like when she was a child (laughs).
- And now, Benzema and Madrid.
- The champions, a great team, but we need the points. Benzema? Do not play in a special way, but as always. That will be the best.
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