Sulley Ali Muntari has opened up about the struggles he faced during his childhood, particularly dealing with the challenging condition of bedwetting, which caused involuntary urination during sleep.
The former Ghana international revealed that bedwetting was a severe problem for him, occurring at any time, even during afternoon naps. He shared a poignant incident from his childhood when he was around 11 or 12 years old, visiting his aunt in Kumasi. During this visit, he unexpectedly wet the mat on which he slept, which had a deep emotional impact on him.
“My mom took me to my aunt at Abuabo in Kumasi. I was around 11, 12 years, but then I was wetting the bed a lot. It came unknowingly at any time. We could just sleep in the afternoon, not in the evening, then I would just wet the mat; it wasn’t even a bed,” Muntari shared during an interview with Dan Kwaku Yeboah TV.
Bedwetting became an embarrassing and frustrating issue for young Muntari, significantly affecting his self-esteem. Unable to cope with the situation, his aunt eventually sent him back to his hometown, Konongo, which deeply hurt him.
“My aunty sent me back to Konongo, I was really hurt. It was some time that my mom told me that was why I was brought back,” Muntari shared.
Despite the challenges he faced during his childhood, Muntari found his breakthrough in football during his formative years, and with time, his bedwetting issue stopped.
Throughout his career, Muntari had an impressive run for Ghana, participating in three World Cup tournaments, including the country’s first-ever appearance in Germany in 2006. On the club level, he achieved success, winning the Champions League and other domestic trophies in Italy and England while playing for Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Portsmouth.
Despite the struggles he endured in his early life, Sulley Ali Muntari’s dedication and talent led him to become a football icon with remarkable achievements both on the international stage and at the club level.