Asante Kotoko's beleaguered midfielder, Yahaya Mohamed, has urged fans to look at him with different lenses as he has tuned up his mind to make up for all the lapses and challenges that bogged his performance last season.

In an exclusive interview with Kotoko Express, Yahaya has expressed his worry with the incidences that made him have a poor run last season where he encountered many difficulties.

"I know myself as a very good player who joined Kotoko with a lot of hope and promise and so when I sit back to look at why I could not perform to my optimum last season, it gives me a lot to be worried about. I have done a lot of introspection and I blame myself somehow for the recurrent injuries and several off the pitch incidences that I found myself in. I took too many things for granted and I believe I have suffered for them".

The injuries aside, Yahaya says he also focused too much on unnecessary things and this made him pay less attention to his career.

"It is natural that humans tend to seek excuses for our misfortunes, but in my case, I over relied on the erroneous impression that I was a good player and so had to be featured all the time. I therefore was always having issues with why I was not being featured in games and this led me to always complaining instead of concentrating on training hard to merit a place in the team.

"I feel so sad that I could not make a call up into the National Team. I know myself and know that at peak performance, I should not have any difficulty making it into the national team".

To put a stop to that and also redirect his energies and focus to the important issues on his career, Yahaya is currently doing something that is rare of him; staying in Kumasi when the team is on break.

"Yes I know you are surprised that I am here in Kumasi when the team is on break. This is one of the things I am doing to correct the mistakes I made last season. I am staying away from Tema so as to have the time to concentrate on my career. When the team went on break, I went to Tema for a week and during that period I had discussions with my mother and my wife and told them of the difficulties I encountered during last season. We all came to the conclusion that I had to develop a new attitude by coming back to Kumasi to concentrate on my career.

"I therefore moved and have been in Kumasi since. Whilst here in Kumasi, I have also done a lot of introspection and reflection and have really benefitted. I am tackling all the loopholes in my career and I will be better for it when the next season begins. I have launched a new image with a new life-style, new attitude and even my play on the field would be new".

Yahaya says he has come to this stage of decision because he realizes that he took so much for granted last season and ended up paying the price for it.

"Among the many mistakes I made last season was taking things for granted I do not blame anyone but myself for all the troubles I went through and I have learnt my lessons from it so things will be different in the coming season".

On the news of his purported move to arch-rivals, Hearts of Oak, Yahaya has asked Kotoko fans to disregard that news and channel their energies towards praying for him.

"What I need from fans is their prayers and not them wasting time on what will not happen. I have a contract with Kotoko and that is what my mind is on".

"I respect my contract with Kotoko and so will not do anything that will bring a confrontation. I am committed to Kotoko for the period of my contract and that will remain so till time when Kotoko would say no to me".

Explaining the story behind the news of his supposed move to Hearts, Yahaya admits that he has been contacted by Hearts and that was about it.

"I first received a call from Coach C. K Akunnor who expressed his desire to have me in his team. This was followed by calls from several other Hearts officials all aimed at getting me come to their club. In all the calls I received, I kept referring them to the fact that I was in contract with Kotoko and so if they wanted me, they should go to Kotoko for negotiations. I immediately rested that issue when Kotoko replied to a Hearts request that I was not available for sale. I have not had any discussion with anyone from Hearts since and this should rest speculations that I am leaving the club".

Concluding, Yahaya pleaded with fans to support all his efforts of launching a new personality with their prayers.

"I am a new person with new mindset. I now want to be called "The New Yahaya Mohamed. I know with the support of fans, the coming season will be a big one that we will all live to enjoy" he added.  

By David Kyei