Mahatma Otoo

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}{{Infobox football biography

| name = Mahatma Otoo

| fullname = Mahatma Osumanu Otoo

| image = File:Mahatma Otoo (cropped).png

| caption = Otoo playing for Sogndal

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|02|06|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana

| height = {{height|m=1.80}}

| position = Striker

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Sporting St. Mirren

| years1 = 2008–2009

| clubs1 = Sporting St. Mirren

| caps1 = 50

| goals1 = 27

| years2 = 2009–2013

| clubs2 = Hearts of Oak

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 2010

| clubs3 = → ES Tunis (loan)

| caps3 = 1

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2013–2017

| clubs4 = Sogndal

| caps4 = 83

| goals4 = 26

| years5 = 2017

| clubs5 = Ümraniyespor

| caps5 = 16

| goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2017–2022

| clubs6 = Balıkesirspor

| caps6 = 132

| goals6 = 21

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 = Ghana U-17

| nationalcaps1 = 12

| nationalgoals1 = 5

| nationalyears2 = 2011

| nationalteam2 = Ghana U-20

| nationalcaps2 = 10

| nationalgoals2 = 4

| nationalyears3 = 2011

| nationalteam3 = Ghana U-23

| nationalcaps3 = 19

| nationalgoals3 = 12

| nationalyears4 = 2009–

| nationalteam4 = Ghana

| nationalcaps4 = 4

| nationalgoals4 = 0

| club-update = 20 May 2022

| nationalteam-update = 15 October 2013

}}

Mahatma Osumanu Otoo (born 6 February 1992) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a forward. He was the 2012–13 Ghana Premier League top scorer with 20 goals. Otoo played for Sogndal from 2013 to 2017, scoring 31 goals in 93 appearances in all competitions. He won the 1.divisjon in 2015 whilst playing with the Norwegian side.

Early life

Otoo was born on 6 February 1992 in Mamprobi, a suburb of Ghana's capital Accra. He started playing juvenile football at the age of 10 for Ken Harrison Babes. He attended Ebenezer Secondary School located in Mamprobi for his secondary school education whilst playing for the school's football team.{{Cite book|last=Kitcher (Mrs)|first=Mavis|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yYGoqAZT5EQC&q=mahatma+otoo+ebenezer+secondary+school&pg=PT1|title=Junior Graphic: Issue 262 November 2 -8 2005|date=2005-11-02|publisher=Graphic Communications Group|language=en}}

Career

=St. Mirren=

Otoo began his career in the youth side for Sporting St. Mirren at the age of 16. He signed his first professional football contract with St. Mirren in 2007 when he was 16 and made an instant impact in the team. They were in the Ghana Division One League when he joined them in the 2007–08 season. His key striking abilities and performances qualified St. Mirren to the Premiership for the first time in the club's history.{{Cite web|last=Association|first=Ghana Football|title=Mirren seal last premiership place|url=https://www.ghanafa.org/mirren-seal-last-premiership-place|access-date=2021-07-15|website=www.ghanafa.org|language=en}} His brace against Fair Point on the final day of the league secured the Division One Zone III title and sealed their qualification.{{Cite web|date=13 October 2008|title=St. Mirren qualifies for Premier League|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/St-Mirren-qualifies-for-Premier-League-151508|access-date=2021-07-15|website=GhanaWeb|language=en}} He was the club's top scorer and second top scorer in the National Division One league.

When the team qualified to the GPL for the first time he was registered as one of their senior squad members when he was 16 years old on 30 October 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.ghanafa.org/2008registration/st.%20mir.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=October 9, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203114029/http://ghanafa.org/2008registration/st.%20mir.pdf |archivedate=December 3, 2008 }} He earned the discovery player of the season award in the 2008–09 season after he won five man of the match awards and got 5 goals from 15 games for his club.

= Hearts of Oak =

Otoo signed for the 2009–2010 season with Accra Hearts of Oak SC on a 3-year deal. He finished his debut season with the club with 10 league goals in 19 matches and a consecutive individual title winning the Ghana Premier League's best player of the season.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/89/africa/2010/05/22/1937281/hearts-of-oaks-mahatma-otoo-wins-ghana-league-best-player |title=FINISHED: Hearts Of Oak's Mahatma Otoo Wins Ghana League Best Player |website=Goal.com |date=2010-05-22 |accessdate=2016-04-05}}{{Cite web|title=Mahatma Otoo Is 2009/10 Best Player|url=https://www.modernghana.com/sports/276966/mahatma-otoo-is-200910-best-player.html|access-date=2021-07-15|website=Modern Ghana|language=en}} In September 2010, he moved to Tunisian club Esperance Sportive de Tunis on a 4-month loan deal worth $150,000.{{Cite book|last=Tetteh|first=Ransford|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UHcBUIP7E74C&q=discovery+of+the+year+mahatma+otoo&pg=PA63|title=Daily Graphic: Issue 1,8320 September 2, 2010|date=2010-09-02|publisher=Graphic Communications Group|language=en}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kickoff.com/news/17120/mahatma-otoo-heads-to-esperance.php |title=Mahatma Otoo heads to Esperance - News |publisher=Kick Off |date=2010-08-10 |accessdate=2016-04-05}}{{Cite web|date=2010-08-10|title=Hearts confirm Mahatma Otoo move to Esperance|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/hearts-confirm-mahatma-otoo-move-to-esperance|access-date=2021-07-14|website=GhanaSoccernet|language=en}} He was initially set to join the club on a permanent deal for a deal worth $500,000 however it was renegotiated into a loan deal. His time at the side did not go as structured as he was pushed into the reserves side and only made one appearance for the senior side. However he had the opportunity of winning a silver medal when ES Tunis lost the 2010 CAF Champions league final to TP Mazembe in late 2010.

Mahatma Otoo returned to Hearts of Oak in the second round of the 2010–11 season, help the club finish 10th in the league. The following season, 2011–12, he scored 10 goals in the league. Otoo was made captain of side by Charles Akonnor because of his way of playing and fighting spirit.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/4389/ghana/2013/05/14/3977604/the-big-interview-high-flying-mahatma-otoo-knows-what-he-has |title=The Big Interview: High flying Mahatma Otoo knows what he has to do to stay flying |publisher=Goal.com |date=2013-05-14 |accessdate=2016-04-05}} He scored a hat-trick, which was the first in 2012–13 season in the 5–2 win over New Edubiase.{{cite web |url=http://sports.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201210/95482.php |title=Glo Premier League: Hearts rout New Edubiase 5 - 2 | Sports News |publisher=Sports.myjoyonline.com |date=2012-10-14 |accessdate=2016-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214536/http://sports.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201210/95482.php |archive-date=2016-03-03 |url-status=dead }} Otoo scored a brace against Berekum Arsenal.{{cite web|url=http://allsports.com.gh/2012/12/28/mahatma-otoos-brace-hearts-point/ |title=Mahatma Otoo's brace gives Hearts point | Latest Ghana Sports News, Football, Rugby & Interviews | Allsports.com.gh |accessdate=June 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224114830/http://allsports.com.gh/2012/12/28/mahatma-otoos-brace-hearts-point/ |archivedate=December 24, 2013 }} Otoo renewed his contract with Accra Hearts of Oak for another season in May 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/4389/ghana/2013/05/20/3992850/mahatma-otoo-renews-hearts-of-oak-contract?ICID=AR_RS_1 |title=Mahatma Otoo renews Hearts of Oak contract |publisher=Goal.com |date=2013-05-20 |accessdate=2016-04-05}} Otoo scored a hat-trick against Tema Youth on the final game of the season and win the top scorer of Ghana Premier League with 20 goals.{{cite web|url=http://www.accraheartsofoak.com/site/News/detail/601 |title=..:: Official website of Accra Hearts of Oak Football Club :: |accessdate=June 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630044202/http://www.accraheartsofoak.com/site/News/detail/601 |archivedate=June 30, 2013 }}{{Cite web|date=2013-06-23|title=Mahatma Otoo wins Ghana Premier League goal king with final day hat-trick|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/mahatma-otoo-win-ghana-premier-league-goal-king|access-date=2021-07-14|website=GhanaSoccernet|language=en}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ghanafa.org/pages/premierleague/201306/8599.php |title=Mahatma wins goal-king after hat-trick on last day | Premier League |accessdate=June 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626214918/http://www.ghanafa.org/pages/premierleague/201306/8599.php |archivedate=June 26, 2013 }} At the end of the season, he was adjudged the Ghana Premier League best player for the second time and the SWAG Premier League player of the year. File:Mahatma Osumanu Otoo (white shirt) and Andreas Hanche-Olsen.jpg

= Sogndal =

His performance attracted European clubs, with Club Brugge and Sogndal being front runners to land his signature. He moved to Sogndal on a

three-year contract for a reported fee of 300,000 euros in the summer transfer window of 2013.{{cite web|last1=Ajumane |first1=Francis |title=Otoo completes Sogndal move |url=http://en.starafrica.com/football/otoo-completes-sogndal-move.html |website=Star Africa |accessdate=18 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222140239/http://en.starafrica.com/football/otoo-completes-sogndal-move.html |archivedate=22 February 2015 }}{{Cite web|title=Mahatma Otoo seals deal with Norwegian side Sogndal {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/4389/ghanaian-football/2013/08/07/4171137/mahatma-otoo-seals-deal-with-norwegian-side-sogndal|access-date=2021-07-14|website=www.goal.com}}{{Cite web|date=2015-10-19|title=EXCLUSIVE: Mahatma "The Beast" Otto happy to be back to Norwegian top-flight with Sogndal|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/exclusive-mahatma-the-beast-otto-happy-to-be-back-to-norwegian-top-flight-with-sogndal|access-date=2021-07-14|website=GhanaSoccernet|language=en}} On 18 October 2015, during the 2015 Norwegian First Division, he scored a brace against Hønefoss BK to help Sogndal win the 1.divisjon and gain promotion back into the Norwegian top flight at a canter, for the 2016 Tippeligaen after spending one season in the 1.divisjon.{{Cite web|title=Progress: Mahatma Otoo grabs brace to send Sogndal into Norwegian top flight|url=https://www.modernghana.com/sports/650058/progress-mahatma-otoo-grabs-brace-to-send-sogndal.html|access-date=2021-07-14|website=Modern Ghana|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Hønefoss vs. Sogndal - 18 October 2015 - Soccerway|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/10/18/norway/1-division/honefoss-ballklubb/sogndal-idrettslag/1976346/|access-date=2021-07-14|website=int.soccerway.com}} He ended the season as the club's second top goal scorer with 13 league goals and 15 goals in all competitions trailing only to Kristian Opseth who scored 16 league goals and 17 goals in all competition.{{Cite web|date=2015-12-04|title=EXCLUSIVE: Sogndal open contract extension talks with sought-after Mahatma Otoo|url=https://tv.ghanasoccernet.com/exclusive-sogndal-open-contract-extension-talks-with-sought-after-mahatma-otoo|access-date=2021-07-14|website=GhanaSoccernet|language=en}}

He left the club on 1 January 2017.{{cite web|title=Alle Eliteserie-overgangene i januar|date=4 January 2017|url=http://m.nettavisen.no/sport/alle-eliteserie-overgangene-i-januar/3423298621.html|publisher=m.nettavisen.no|accessdate=4 January 2017|language=Swedish}}

International career

= Youth =

Otoo played formerly in the Ghana national under-17 football team,{{cite web|date=2006-10-01|title=GhanaDot.com...Sports .. Starlets win first match 8th African U-17 championship|url=http://www.ghanadot.com/sports.083108.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924022041/http://www.ghanadot.com/sports.083108.html|archive-date=2015-09-24|website=Ghanadot.com|accessdate=2016-04-05}} he was later promoted to the Ghana national under-20 football team in 2011.

In September 2011, Otoo played for the Black Meteors of Ghana in the 2011 All-Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique. He was a top goalscorer of the tournament with 4 goals in 4 games helping Ghana to gold by scoring South Africa in the final.{{Cite web|title=Mahatma Otoo - Soccer Player - Umraniyespor.|url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/soccer/player/648/mahatma-otoo|access-date=2020-05-26|website=GhanaWeb}}{{cite web|date=18 September 2011|title=Ghana beat South Africa for Gold|url=http://www.kickoff.com/news/24336/ghana-beat-south-africa-for-2011-all-africa-games-gold-medal.php|publisher=Kickoff.com}}

In March 2013, Otoo was called up to the Ghana national football team by coach Kwesi Appiah.{{cite web|title=Mahatma Otoo full of thanks for Black Stars' call up | Latest Ghana Sports News, Football, Rugby & Interviews | Allsports.com.gh|url=http://allsports.com.gh/2013/03/15/mahatma-otoo-full-black-stars-call/|url-status=dead|accessdate=June 25, 2013|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725175457/http://allsports.com.gh/2013/03/15/mahatma-otoo-full-black-stars-call/|archivedate=July 25, 2013}} Appiah described him as a “special player”.{{cite web|date=2013-05-23|title=Appiah: Mahatma Otoo is a 'special player' & the best in Ghana now|url=http://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/4389/ghana/2013/05/23/3998414/appiah-mahatma-otoo-is-a-special-player-the-best-in-ghana|publisher=Goal.com|accessdate=2016-04-05}}

= Senior =

After his successful first season was called up for the Ghana national football team for the friendly game on 1 October 2009 against Argentina national football team{{cite web|title=Ghana News :: Accra Mail : Ghana News source|url=http://www.accra-mail.com/sports/local-football/2333-black-stars-away-in-argentina.html|url-status=dead|accessdate=October 9, 2009|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20111004061412/http://www.accra-mail.com/sports/local-football/2333-black-stars-away-in-argentina.html|archivedate=October 4, 2011}} and played in the game to mark his international senior debut. In January 2015, he was named on the Ghana squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.{{Cite book|last=Barclay|first=Simon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t1VpCQAAQBAJ&q=mahatma+otoo&pg=PA151|title=2015 Africa Cup of Nations: Complete Tournament Record|date=2015-02-13|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=978-1-326-18525-1|language=en}} He made one appearance after coming on in the 78th minute for Jordan Ayew in their second Group C match against Algeria. The match ended in a 1–0 victory for Ghana.{{Cite news|last=Ian|first=Hudges|date=23 January 2015|title=Ghana 1-0 Algeria|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30843625|access-date=2021-07-15}}{{Cite news|last=Burnton|first=Simon|date=2015-01-23|title=Ghana 1-0 Algeria: Africa Cup of Nations 2015 – as it happened|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/jan/23/ghana-v-algeria-africa-cup-of-nations-2015-live|access-date=2021-07-15|issn=0261-3077}}

Personal life

On 4 March 2020, he lost his mother Love Habibatu Ankrah after battling with a short illness. Two days after her death, Otoo scored a goal in a match against Adanaspor and was seen crying and raising his hands to the skies and later going down in celebration whilst his teammates surrounded him to console him. He later took to both Twitter and Facebook to dedicate his goal to the memory of his late mother. He posted “I dedicate today’s goal to my mum, May Her Soul Rest In Peace.”{{Cite web|title=VIDEO: Mahatma Otoo breaks down in tears after scoring for Balikesirspor following his mum death - Kickgh.com|url=https://www.kickgh.com/more/ghanaians-abroad/9182-video-mahatma-otoo-breaks-down-in-tears-after-scoring-for-balikesirspor-following-his-mum-death|access-date=2021-07-15|website=www.kickgh.com|language=en-gb}}{{Cite web|last=Asare|first=Nana|date=2020-03-06|title='Teary' Mahatma Otoo scores for Balikesirspor, dedicates goal to late mum|url=https://footballmadeinghana.com/2020/03/06/teary-mahatma-otoo-scores-for-balikesirspor-dedicates-goal-to-late-mum/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715123756/https://footballmadeinghana.com/2020/03/06/teary-mahatma-otoo-scores-for-balikesirspor-dedicates-goal-to-late-mum/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=15 July 2021|access-date=2021-07-15|website=Football Made In Ghana|language=en-US}}

Career statistics

{{updated|6 November 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nifs.no/personprofil.php?person_id=22376 |title=Ulrik Flo |language=Norwegian |work=nifs.no |publisher=A-pressen |accessdate=18 March 2013}}

rowspan="2"\|Season !rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Division !colspan="2"\|League !colspan="2"\|Cup !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
2013 \| rowspan="4"\|Sogndal \| rowspan="2"\|Tippeligaen \|10	1	0	0	10	1
2014 \|27	9	3	3	30	12
2015	OBOS-ligaen \|26	13	3	2	29	15
2016	Tippeligaen \|20	3	3	0	23	3
colspan="3"\|Career Total !83	26	9	5	92	31

Honours

St. Mirren

Ghana Division One League Zone III: 2007–08

ES Tunis

CAF Champions League runner up: 2010

Sogndal

1.divisjon: 2015{{Cite web|title=Ghana - M. Otoo - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/mahatma-osumanu-otoo/140470/|access-date=2021-07-14|website=int.soccerway.com}}

Ghana U23

All-Africa Games: 2011{{Cite web|date=2020-09-17|title=Today In History: Black Meteors win historic gold at the All African Games|url=https://www.pulse.com.gh/sports/football/today-in-history-black-meteors-win-historic-gold-at-the-all-african-games/h0dznm4|access-date=2021-07-14|website=Pulse Ghana|language=en}}

Individual

All-Africa Games Top scorer: 2011
Ghana Premier League Discovery Player of the Season: 2008–09{{cite web|date=2009-09-08|title=Hearts Dominate PLB Awards | Xfm 95.1 NewsCenter|url=http://ghanavoices.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/hearts-dominate-plb-awards/|website=Ghanavoices.wordpress.com|accessdate=2016-04-05}}
Ghana Premier League Best player of the season: 2009–10, 2012–13{{Cite web|title=Mahatma Picks Double Award|url=https://www.modernghana.com/sports/615736/mahatma-picks-double-award.html|access-date=2021-07-15|website=Modern Ghana|language=en}}
Ghana Premier League Top scorer: 2012–13
SWAG GPL Player of the Year: 2012–13{{Cite web|date=2013-06-30|title=Mahatma Otoo wins Sports Writers Premiership Player of the Year|url=https://ghanasoccernet.com/mahatma-otoo-wins-swag-premiership-player-of-the-year|access-date=2021-07-14|website=GhanaSoccernet|language=en}}