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Asante Kotoko's Ivorian striker Ahmed Toure has made a chilling revelation about how he nearly gave up playing football due to accusations by Egyptian Premier League side El Gouna that he had tested positive for HIV/AIDS. In December 2012 last year, there were widespread rumours in Egypt that Al Masry Club had refused to sign the 28 year-old attacker because he was HIV/Aids positive. But El Gouna signed Toure, later to confirm that the player indeed had tested postive for the deadly virus after Toure had fled out of Egypt. But Toure vehemently denied those allegations and claimed he had passed the medical. Two years on, the enigmatic Ivorian has returned to Ghana to sign for Asante Kotoko, a club he departed acrimoniously. Toure has however revealed that he nearly called time on his young career because the HIV allegations and the fear of being stigmatised occupied him psychologically. "I nearly stopped playing football, because if people had taking that issue seriously there's no way I could play football again" Toure told Egyptian site Yallakora "I nearly stopped playing football after HIV rumor, I realised that in life there are ups and downs and as man you have to be always brave", "It was my mother who played a huge role in my life during that time but now I wish also to thank my team general manager Opoku Nti" "I encouraged myself because I know its wasn't true and wasn't based on fact and wasn't base on science and law" He added.