How a secret meeting with Nigeria star Stephen Keshi and a fake passport changed the life of Ghana's 'next Pele' forever - 'I won't advise any child to do that again, it was hell'

In the first episode of The Black Stars podcast, Nii Lamptey and Samuel Kuffour detail the very different journeys they embarked on when they moved to Europe as young, teenage players. 

For Lamptey, dubbed the 'next Pele' by the Brazilian superstar himself, it was a voyage that would still haunt him decades later as he recounts his tale of broken dreams and promises as his career spluttered out after being 'treated like a piece of meat' by an unscrupulous agent. 

Samuel Kuffour also came from abject poverty, where he 'lived in a squatter house where anybody can come in and kill you,' but went on to win the Champions League with Bayern Munich. 

Through their stories, the episode examines themes of player exploitation, lack of support systems, and the cultural and systemic barriers that hinder the development of Ghanaian footballers. 

It also highlights the sacrifices and challenges faced by young players seeking to make it in global football.

The Black Stars Podcast is a six-part documentary podcast series by Divicage Productions, in association with GOAL, that investigates the question: why, despite such a wealth of talent, do Ghana's national team, the Black Stars, underperform?

With unprecedented access to the players, coaches, administrators and fans, The Black Stars Podcast brings to life the journey of Ghana on the international stage.  

You can listen to Episode 1: The Parallel Lives of Nii & Sammy here on Spotify, or search for The Black Stars Podcast on your favourite audio platform.  

Episode 2 of The Black Stars Podcast is due to be released on Monday, September 8, and charts 'The Rise, Fall, and Renaissance of the Black Stars' by chronicling the journey of Ghana’s national football team from its early dominance in African football to its struggles and eventual re-emergence on the global stage.  

The episode highlights the critical role of Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, in building a powerful footballing legacy, only for political turmoil and systemic challenges to undermine the team's progress. 

It examines the missed opportunities of the 1966 FIFA World Cup boycott, the impact of the 1966 coup, and the Black Stars’ decline during the late 20th century. 

Despite these setbacks, the emergence of Ghanaian stars in European football laid the groundwork for the Black Stars' historic qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, a moment that reignited national pride and put Ghana on the global football map.