Ghanaian midfielder Abdul Rashid Fuseini has disclosed that a language barrier was a major obstacle during his time with Serbian top-flight side Backa Topola in 2022.

The 21-year-old, who now plays for NK Tabor in Slovenia, joined the Serbian club after trials with Brentford. Although age restrictions prevented him from signing with the English side, his move to Serbia came with its own challenges.

"The position they were in—they hadn’t been there for years—and they had an opportunity to qualify for the Europa League. So it was quite hard to break through," Fuseini told Joy Sports.

"I was playing for the B team, and plus the language barrier—it was hard. The coach only spoke Serbian, so it was hard for me to understand his tactics.

“So it didn’t work out very well there, but I had the opportunity to gain experience and learn some things. And after that, I got back home."

Watch Fuseini's full interview below:

Fuseini’s route to professional football has been anything but ordinary. He began in Tamale and was identified by Accra-based Shooting Stars at a national U15 camp.

He later earned trials at Sheffield United, Wolves, Manchester United, and Brentford, but was unable to secure a contract due to age limits. His first professional contract came with Backa Topola before he moved to Slovenia in 2023, where he has spent the last two seasons rebuilding his career.