The former Real Madrid forward has been criticised for his stance in his home country of Togo and says that he should not be compared to the likes of Drogba and Eto’o.
The coronavirus pandemic is killing many lives, but it is also devastating the finances of thousands of families, and more so in countries that are already experiencing difficulties. And in the absence of a sufficiently solvent government system to deal with this crisis, donations are proving to be essential.
The clearest examples of these have been seen in countries in Africa. There have been several football players that have wanted to make the situation back home less painful, including Ivory Coast legend Didier Drogba and Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o. But one former African star, Emmanuel Adebayor, who is in Togo’s capital of Lomé is being criticised for not donating.
The former Real Madrid player decided from very early on that he was not going to use any of his own assets to help in the fight against coronavirus. A personal decision that is causing him problems in his native country.
“For those of you who say I don’t donate, let me be very clear, I am not donating. It is very simple,” he said before appealing for him to have freedom to do what he wants with his money.
“I do what I want and eat what I want. After, there will be people who will criticise me for the fact that I did not make a donation in Lomé.”
Adebayor had a long trek to reach Togo after leaving Paraguay, where he appears to be ending his career as a footballer with Olimpia. He had to make two stops (France and Benin) before arriving in Lomé to spend fifteen days in quarantine.
“Some think that it was me who introduced the virus to Lomé. It is very unfortunate, but this country is like that,” he continued.
“They can compare me to Drogba, they can compare me to Eto’o, but unfortunately I am not them. I am Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor and I will always do what I want.”
