Watching Heart of Lions play is a unique experience- especially when Etse Dogli touches the ball and the fans starts shouting “Maestro,” then you know an opponent has just been outwitted.
The young midfielder who is making his debut season in Ghana’s elite division deserves all the hype. The uncanny control and whiplash elasticity, his curves and straights, the way he passes the ball at strange and unexpected angles corroborates how talented he is.
At just 21, he has a more subtle or deeper understanding of the geometry of the entire pitch. He is like a chess master, seeing several moves ahead, switching his pieces around the board to produce an irresistible, flowing geometry.
It speaks volumes about Dogli’s potential that some were audacious to liken him to former Manchester City and Belgium great Kevin De Bruyne. There is indeed a spark of De Bruyne in the way he moves the ball and what he can do with the ball.
Dogli was born in Battor, a town in the North Tongu district of the Volta region of Ghana. The town’s inhabitants are responsible for keeping several jobs to simply make ends meet, and because of Battor’s coastal location, it is common for many to work as fishermen and farmers despite the limited income at times.
It is a sharp contrast to a typical day in Ghana’s finest locations, requiring sheer determination to break from the shackles of a disadvantaged lifestyle. This is the starting point for Dogli, one of Ghana’s emerging footballing talents tipped to etch his name in country’s football folklore.
Born into modest beginnings in Battor, Dogli’s early life was marked by struggle and resilience. Following the loss of his father, he juggled several responsibilities — assisting his mother on the farm and selling produce in the township market to help make ends meet.
The plucky midfielder was raised in a devout religious home, and it is certain that his faith would have been relied on to carry through his testing childhood. But no matter what profession Dogli found himself in, he held only one true passion: football.
His talent was visible in his formative years. Little Dogli and his friends would gather on the grassless pitches to emulate the skills of the established footballers they watched on television. From rabona, backheels, elastic, panenka, nutmegs to scooped passes. He always managed to replicate them either on the field or by playing keepy-uppy to and from school.
Dogli and his friends just enjoyed playing the game and were content with tips or being carried on shoulders as a reward for standout performance. That was about all the game had for them.
It was during one of these days that his immense talent was spotted by a football enthusiast who facilitated his move to Akosombo FC, a lower-tier side in Akosombo, a town best known for the iconic Akosombo Dam — a monumental hydroelectric power station that supplies much of Ghana’s electricity and gave birth to Lake Volta, the world’s largest man-made lake by surface area.
During one of Akosombo FC’s matches, a scout from Banana Inn FC — another lower-tier side — happened to be in the area and was immediately captivated by Dogli’s display of skill and composure. Struck by the youngster’s perseverance and his determination to keep control even on the scorching surface, the scout wasted no time in signing him for the club.
The signing marked a turning point for Dogli, offering him the chance to showcase his talent on a proper football pitch with improved conditions — and, more importantly, a real opportunity to break into professional football.
At Banana Inn, his dexterous aptitude attracted admiring glances from across Europe and earned the opportunity to trial with clubs in Norway, Latvia, and Czechia. However, a contractual disagreement between the clubs and his agent caused the deals to collapse, forcing Dogli to return to Ghana to relaunch his career.
Now featuring in Ghana’s top flight with Heart of Lions, Dogli is already turning heads with his immense potential — just four games into the new season. He has registered one assist and earned an MVP award, all while displaying his trademark nonchalant yet effective style of play.
Dogli is stronger than what his frame suggests, and possesses ample strength to go shoulder-to-shoulder with bigger players. He is a central midfielder who enjoys sitting deep and showing off his excellent range of passing. He is always looking forward on the pitch, trying to develop attacks with brilliant through-balls. He is good dribbler too- a true entertainer.
He has a great stamina, and while he looks like Scrappy Doo in certain battles, he does have a resilient way of pressurising opponents and recovering possession. Though 21, he is still a raw product that needs polishing in many aspects, but if he sticks with his current work ethic there is no doubt that he can become a top- class player who will dazzle fans for many years to come.
“The only thing that interests me at the moment is learning as much as possible from my coach and senior colleagues,” he told kickgh.com “I must improve tactically to fit the exigencies of the modern game,” he continued.
Dogli idolises De Bruyne is determined to make a name for himself in the world of football and follow in the footsteps of the greats who came before him. At no point in his short career has he shown any fear or doubt in his capabilities.
However, to get anywhere near where the famous Belgian’s level, he will have to work hard and continue his development. Creative and dynamic at the same time with good ball control, he possesses all the ingredients to become a complete and quality player.
So, while Etse Dogli doesn’t have the world talking about him just yet, if his appetite for a big impact on elite-level football is not sated, it may not be long the world will hear of him.
