As the entire universe is going through turbulent times due to the gradual extermination of lives of inhabitants, several globally renowned sports personalities have been massively donating in one form or the other to curtail the spread and further expansion of the corona virus code named Covid ’19. From football to boxing, athletics to basketball etc, super stars both new and retired are giving out what they could afford to support the governments of their countries.
But sadly, in Africa only few names have cropped up amongst those whose immense wealth were derived from sports. Some of the names that have appeared in the media in this regards as firmer Chelsea stars Samuel Eto and Didier Drogba both donating handsomely to Cameroon and Cote d’ Voire respectively while other soccer legends like Christiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez, boxers Floyd Mayweather and Tyson Fury including some others also spread their humane tentacles for the fight against the deadly disease. Additionally, some football clubs in Europe have also cut the wages of their playing staff to about 50% in order to contribute financially against the scourge, but one man that vehemently ignores any call for donation by his fans and countrymen is former Togo captain and Arsenal striker, Emmanuel Seyi Adebayor.
The gangling striker who netted many goals for the then Arsene Wenger side and captained Togo to her first ever world cup appearance in Germany 2006 was said to have given the below response to a question thrown at him by an interviewer, he was alleged to have said “I’m sorry that people compare me to Eto’o and Drogba by asking why I don’t have a foundation or donate, as if I brought coronavirus to Togo. A word of advice for the guys regarding donations, I won’t do that…..”.
However, this response sounds so disgusting and amazing coming from a supposed legend and hero of Togo. The words of Adebayor did not however come as a surprise to sports enthusiasts who knew the role he played before Nigerian-born then Togo coach, the late Stephen Keshi was sacked after qualifying the country to her first ever senior soccer mundial. Adebayor as the captain of the team then, allegedly persuaded the football authorities and President of Togo to relieve Keshi of his job. Adebayor has always been a rebel who will never change, one of his close fans attested.