Augustine Boakye, a rising star in Ghanaian football, has expressed his admiration for former international Sulley Muntari, whose influence has significantly shaped the 23-year-old’s approach to the game.
Growing up, Boakye was captivated by Muntari’s passion and determination on the pitch—qualities that resonate deeply with him.
In an interview with Flashcore, Boakye revealed: “Sulley Muntari was my idol growing up because my mum loved him so much. I watched him and fell in love with him as well. His passion and ambition stood out. I also loved his long-range goals and how he fought for Ghana whenever he played. Even in Europe, he paved the way for young ones like me.”
This inspiration has not only shaped Boakye’s style of play but has also instilled in him a sense of responsibility to represent his country with pride.
As a player, the Saint-Étienne midfielder identifies as a classic number 10, focusing on playmaking and assisting his teammates.
“I am a number 10 who loves to assist. I love it more when I assist my striker because I think that when the striker scores more, it gives the team more confidence. I see the striker as the main man, so when he’s not scoring and gets frustrated, it affects the whole team.”
While Boakye harbors dreams of representing Ghana at the national level, he maintains a grounded perspective on the process.
“For me, I don’t feel the pressure to be in the national team because everyone deserves to be in the team. I just want to enjoy football, so if I’m playing for my club, I’m proud of that.”
Boakye acknowledges that while playing for his country would be a dream come true, he is not fixated on it.
“I’m from Ghana, so it would be a dream to play for the country, but I am not going to force it and say I have to play in the national team.” His focus remains on his club career, emphasizing that “the call-up could come today or tomorrow; I don’t know when, but when it comes, it will be good, and I will be ready,” he added.
The WAFA graduate has played five games so far in Ligue 1 for Saint-Étienne and will be hoping to help them stay in the top flight this season.