Richard Karikari journey home fires up Stamp

Richard Karikari s refocused after visiting home in Ghana. Photograph by : Leah Hennel, Calgary Herald

Karikari returns to action with new attitude

For years, Richard Karikari wanted to visit his homeland. Despite the best of intentions, though, he'd never gotten around to it.

Till this past winter.

Karikari returned to Ghana, and he did it in style. After all, he's the picture of success -- professional football player, all-star nods and championship matches, business owner.
For two scorching weeks in Western Africa, he rekindled relationships with dozens of family members, undoubtedly making an impression on them.

But Karikari's eyes were opened, too.

He came back a different man.

"Yeah, it changed me,'' says Karikari, a new face on the Calgary Stampeders defence, "because it made me understand. If those people had an opportunity to do what I was doing?''

Heavy sigh.

"They'd do it.''

Of course, the contrast is striking. Karikari is talking about folks rising at the crack of dawn for another day of labouring for little money. Meanwhile, he plays for a living.

"If they could do what I do, they'd go at it 110 per cent . . . and not take any plays off,'' says Karikari. "Stuff that we take for granted -- and it's not even about poverty -- they would appreciate, right? So that's how I'm approaching this season. I'm going with a clean slate. I've got to put the grind in.

"If I make the team and I play well, then I'm happy. I'm not going to cry no more or get all emotional, because there's more to life than football.''

With his immediate family, he'd departed Ghana when his father landed a job with IBM in Toronto. Karikari was only one year old at the time.

Which necessitated the recent re-introductions -- "Grandparents, aunts, uncles, I had no idea who they were'' -- and required a few futile stabs at his own job description.

"They don't understand the game of football -- football to them is still soccer,'' says Karikari. "They just know that I'm doing something that I'm on TV for. I think the fact that I'm doing well here in the States -- they call everything over here the States -- is exciting for them.''

In a way, Karikari decided to go home again, football-wise, as well.

After spending last summer in Hamilton, he jumped at a chance to join his old coach, Chris Jones.

The two had spent productive years with the Montreal Alouettes, an overlap that included more than one Grey Cup appearance.

Now Jones, as the Stamps' defensive co-ordinator, is here. Meaning Karikari is, too.

"Going into my sixth year, I've learned that you have to be comfortable with your coaches, right?'' he says. "You can get paid a million dollars and go to a team -- it might not be the right scheme for you, it might not be the right personnel -- and you end up being screwed at the end.''

Not that he expects to be the teacher's pet now.

Another savvy veteran, Wes Lysack, is vying for full-time work at safety.

"Me and Wes came (into the league) at the same time, so we're giving information to each other,'' says Karikari. "We're good friends. I told him, 'Anything you need from me . . . we're going to help each other.' I really don't care if I'm starting or coming in as the (extra defensive back) in the nickel (formation), I'm going to try to make an impact.''

Secondary coach Corey Chamblin acknowledges the advantage of being familiar with Jones's philosophies, but he's not handing out free passes, no matter how hefty the resume.

"No one's played for me and I haven't coached them,'' he says. "I don't care if you were an all-star -- this is a whole new year. This is a brand-new team. Everything's fresh. The vets will tell you -- I push them just like I do rookies. What you did last year was last year.''

Karikari, an all-star in 2005 after collecting nine interceptions, is OK with that approach. Because it's his, too. "My reputation's done,'' he says, laughing. "I'm at the point now where I just want the rings. It sounds bad, but there's nothing else, really. Accolades and all that, they don't mean too much. People forget who the MVP was from the previous year.

"So for me to get that ring, it's something I can hold on to after I leave the game.''

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