Wowoah
finds fame and happiness at DIF
By Chipp Reid
STOCKHOLM,10-28-2003 Sweden – As civil war tears apart his home
country, Liberian-born Samuel Wowoah tries to keep his focus on
football.
“That’s what I do,” the Djurgården forward said. “I don’t follow the
news that much, but I know things are very bad in Liberia. I try not
to think about it.”
Wowoah came to Sweden when he was nine. He said he thinks of himself
now as being more Swedish than Liberian, although he is proud of his
African heritage.
“I am of course very happy to see so many African players in
Sweden,” he said. “I think it’s good for Swedish football, but for
me, I feel like I am more Swedish than Liberian.”
The 27-year-old forward’s first instinct is to speak Swedish and
said he does the same things any other Swede does.
“I don’t see myself as a role model for other African players,” he
said. “I really do feel more Swedish than Liberian. Of course when
someone has a question about daily things, where to find something
or how to do something, I am happy to help. But I don’t think that
makes me a role model.”
Wowoah was actually surprised to hear about a move to get him on the
Liberian national team. Liberian football fans have posted several
messages imploring the Liberian Football Association to call up
Wowoah.
“Really? I didn’t know anything about that,” Wowoah said. “I’ve
never been on the national team, so that really is a surprise.”
While he has no idea how or why fans in his native country want him
on the national team, Wowoah said he felt on much firmer ground at
Djurgården. Wowoah returned to DIF last year after moving to
Halmstad in 2001. His return coincided with the arrival of Swedish
international Johan Elmander from Feyenoord in Holland. The two
quickly gelled up front and helped lead Djurgården to the 2002
Allsvenskan championship as well as the Swedish Cup.
“I really like playing here,” he said. “I feel like I can develop
more as a football player here than I can somewhere else. It’s fun
to play at Djurgården. There is a big supporters’ club and that
makes the experience so different. I feel like I belong here.”
Wowoah’s teammates feel the same way.
“He’s a good friend,” said defender Mikael Dorsin. “He’s a good guy.
He’s a little quiet except when he gets mad. Then it’s kind of funny
because he starts shouting, ‘Hey, what are you doing and why are you
doing it?’ All the players like him.”
Wowoah is one of the Djurgården’s main playmakers. Although big and
fast, he said he likes taking on the role of setting up his
teammates. With Elmander returning to Holland, Wowoah’s skills will
be even more important to DIF.
“He’s a very good player and he likes being here,” said DIF head
coach Sören Åkeby. “He can play on the wing or in the center, so
that makes him a tough player mark. Now, he will be the main
playmaker up front.”
Wowoah said even though Elmander left, he doesn’t think that will
put any more pressure on him.
“We are different players and have different roles,” Wowoah said. “I
think there will be more pressure on the club to find a player like
Johan than there will be on me."
One aspect of his fame Wowoah enjoys most is working with children.
He said the charity work Djurgården conducts at the Huddinge
Hospital child cancer ward is something he believes the rest of the
Allsvenskan should also do.
“That to me is very important,” Wowoah said. “We can bring a lot of
joy to many children and that is the best feeling. I think many
athletes will begin to get involved when they see how happy they can
make the children.”
Wowoah also said despite losing Elmander and Dorsin to bigger clubs,
he believed Djurgården remained the team to beat in Sweden.
“We are still the best team,” he said. “No matter what, I think we
will win the championship.”
Chipp Reid
creid@spray.se
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