Abednego ‘Zlatan’ Tetteh terminates contract with Heart of Lions; retires from football

Abednego Kofi Tetteh, affectionately known as “Zlatan,” has officially announced his retirement from professional football after terminating his contract with Ghana Premier League side Heart of Lions.

Abednego Tetteh, who began his professional journey with Bechem United in Ghana had his breakout season in 2016 when he scored 13 goals in 24 league appearances, playing a pivotal role in Bechem United’s Ghanaian FA Cup victory that year.

Tetteh’s impressive form earned him a move to Sudanese giants Al-Hilal Omdurman in late 2016, where he contributed to their 2017 Sudan Premier League title. He later had stints with Ethiopia’s Jimma Aba Buna and Sudan’s Al-Hilal El-Obeid. In 2018, Tetteh ventured to India, joining Real Kashmir FC and subsequently TRAU FC, showcasing his adaptability across different footballing cultures.

In May 2020, Tetteh returned to Ghana, signing a three-year deal with Accra Hearts of Oak. Despite limited playing time, he was part of the squad that clinched both the Ghana Premier League and the Ghanaian FA Cup in the 2020–2021 season.

The 2022–2023 season marked a significant highlight in Tetteh’s career. Playing for Bibiani Gold Stars and later King Faisal Babes, he emerged as the top scorer of the Ghana Premier League, netting 18 goals.

Speaking Exclusively to Happy Sports, he announced his retirement from professional football, expressing dissatisfaction with the current state of the Ghana Premier League. In his statement, he remarked, “I think it is time to hang my boots because there’s nothing beneficial from playing in the Ghana Premier League. I’m quitting Heart of Lions because I haven’t been to training for the past 3 months and I’m dealing with some family issues I haven’t solved yet so it’s for the best that I terminate my contract”.