Goalkeeper Sammy Adjei has added his voice to the recent revelation by Ghanaian international Laryea Kingston about receiving racist attacks from fellow players.
According to Laryea, Arsenal midfielder Andriy Arshavin, then with Zenith Saint Petersburg, called him a monkey three times during a match between both Clubs.
Adjei laughed at the revelation adding that “he is talking about a mere insult like monkey. I was given a banana on several occasions during my time with fc Ashdod a team I was playing so well for prior to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.”
Adjei said “it was that bad, and can you believe that sometimes when we were at training, some of my colleagues would connive with the fans to throw banana at me?
“There were times when they (both supporter and some members of the team) would come to my window or door and start making monkey noises, an action that simply meant that you were a monkey.
These developments really affected my performance and apathy for the Club that is why I returned to Ghana.”
Adjei said with the kind of mentality he has at the moment, he doubts if any of such acts against him will affect him.
“The kind of person I am now will not allow for me to be affected by such an act. I’m tougher mentally and though I pray that it never happens to me, I don’t think it will get under my skin like it did last time.”
Hearts goalkeeper Sammy Adjei has
revealed that the continual snub by the Stars’ technical team has left him in a
state of frenzy adding that he sometimes feels like crying when he watches
Black Stars matches.
Arguably the most experienced
goalkeeper on the local scene has been snubbed by the technical team for some
time now with Chelsea’s Enerst Sowah and Daniel Adjei of Liberty professionals
being the favorites in recent call-ups.
And this according to the ace
goalkeeper is an indictment on his career and person. “If I remember the
sacrifices I had to do for my country in the past, tears swell in my eyes. It
was my love for the national team that made me lose my position with my club as
they warned me not come for a particular international match and I disobeyed
them. That is where my woes started.”
The player was of the view that
experience cannot be bought, but it was something that is acquired after a
period of time hence the need to infiltrate some of them back into the Stars as
they embark on journey to conquer Africa once again.
Sammy who was very emotional in
his interview mentioned that “they say ‘Olele’ is clubless so they won’t call
him. Was he not clubless when they took him to the 2006 World Cup in Germany?
Am I also clubless? Well I leave that decision for the fans to judge. I’m not
saying I’m better that those who get callups day in day out, but what can they
offer that I can’t?
Former Black stars defender Samuel Osei Kuffour last Tuesday held a press soiree at his plush residence in Accra, East Legon and as usual your authoritative and informative sports journalist Samuel Adotey Boakye-Buckman (SUNDAY OLISEH) was present and managed to quiz the ex-footballer about a host of issues concerning his past present and indeed the near future. Below are some excerpts.
SO: On behalf of my paper 90minutes I want to welcome you to the big interview.
SOK: Thank you very much. I’m most delighted
SO: Who would you say is Samuel Osei Kuffour
SOK: Sammy Osei Kuffour is a retired Ghanaian footballer who is dedicated to making sure that his legacy in both the national team and the other Clubs he featured for is well remembered and documented in the history books. Also I would say that Sammy Kuffour is a humble person, very respectful, down to earth and above all disciplined. I have heard so many things about me in the past but I don’t really worry myself over them, because reputations are not controlled by you but by people who you come into contact with, so the best you can do to create a good reputation is to have a good character, and so far I guess that is what Sammy Kuffour is doing.
SO: You mentioned about character. Many have tagged you as very quick tempered and unfriendly. What can you say to that?
SOK: I don’t know where they got that perception from but I guess it has to do with my footballing days where I had no patience for mediocrity and was one player who would openly voiced out his feelings about issues that I felt where not being done right. And this led to a few problems with some coaches, of the national team, some of my colleagues and some fans. But hey I’m human and am bound to make mistakes, so if my actions has not gone down well with some people, I’m sorry but I’m only human. Indeed sometimes when I sit down to recollect some of my actions, I accept some wrongs I did in the past and pray for forgiveness, but like I said I’m a man who does not really dwell on the past. It’s behind me now and I’m focusing on the future and that is what I can control now.
SO: What do you think about the present crop of players of the Black Stars?
SOK: I think they are very young and full of life. If you life at the minimum age of the entire team, it tells you that this is a team for the future and not the present. Look at the likes of the Ayew brothers, Kojo Asamoah, Agyemang Badu, and Samuel Inkoom among others. They are very young and playing very good football for both the country and their clubs, and that to me is a good sign of a team growing. One thing I like about this team is that instead of the past where senior players are just thrown out of the team because they are claimed to be ‘old’, this team has respect for senior players and the technical team manages to mould similar players before the senior ones are eventually left out of the team.
SO: Talking about the Black Stars, they have been touted as favorites to win next year’s Cup of Nations following the failure of giants like Nigeria, Cameroon Egypt and South Africa to qualify. How realistic is this assertion?
SOK: Indeed I don’t blame anybody who thinks that Ghana is the overwhelming favorite to win next year’s Nations Cup and I share in that belief too. At the CAN 2008 Ghana was third and at the last edition Ghana was second so definitely if it were to be mathematics, the only answer will be Ghana, the next winners. But we must be wary of complacency and trying to put pressure on the team. Indeed we have a wonderful squad which is being bolstered everyday with equally good players from all over the world. Ghana can win the next Nations Cup if Ghanaians allow the players to move with the flow. I think for now, we are putting too much pressure on them and that in a way might affect their performances at the tournament. Like I said, they are a very young and vibrant side who have a lot to offer, so even if they don’t win it next year I’m hopeful that they can win in the following ones, and who knows go to the finals of the next World Cup. My only advice to the technical team is that they take one match at a time like they have been doing in recent times.
SO: Still on the Black Stars, you might have heard of the issue of resignation by Kevin Prince Boateng no too long ago, what is your take on it?
SOK: Kevin is a player we all admire, if not for anything, for his ability to go in for what he wants irrespective of the opposition that he is faced with. When I first heard about it, I asked myself, why is this boy quitting after just nine matches and one goal? Then it occurred to me that there is more than meets the eye on this issue. I believe he is a grown man and had his reasons for taking such a decision at this time when Ghanaians have grown so much on love with him. He said he took the decision with his family so I guess we should respect it and give him the benefit of the doubt.
SO: Should the GFA try to coax him back into playing for the national team?
SOK: Well I think if the right people are sent to him, maybe he will change his mind. I always use myself as an example. I also once resigned from the national team because of a few problems I was having with some officials and technical members and even swore not to play for Ghana again. I was in my house one day when a powerful delegation from the then government knocked at my door. I remember very well that the late former Minister Kojo Baah Wiredu was part of that delegation that came to talk me into rescinding my decision. After a heated discussion from both parties Baah Wiredu asked me a question that immediately made me change my mind. He said ‘Sammy’ if you don’t want to play for Ghana, who would you want to play, me? You know am old I can’t play, if I can I would wholeheartedly’. That inspired me to return to the Stars once again and I played till I retired after the 2006 World Cup. So like I said if the right people are sent to him; I mean people of integrity and who are good orators, then who knows, he might return, because for me I think he is a great player.
SO: About your kids, would you want them to take after you in playing soccer?
SOK: Can I let you in on a secret? (He asked our reporter). I envy Abedi Pele because of the way his boys are playing football at the highest level and I wish that my kids will take after me. Already both of them are actively into soccer although I will not give the names of their teams. Sammy Kuffour junior is doing very well and tough only eight years, he is playing with ten and eleven year olds and just yesterday (Monday) I received a call that he scored a goal. As a father I’m happy, but I won’t force them into it though.
SO: About the upcoming testimonial match in December, tell us about it
SOK: Yes I’m excited about it because so much planning and preparations has gone into it and I’m happy to say that on the 23rd of December 2011 the much talked about Sammy Kuffour testimonial match will come off live at the Baba Yara stadium in Kumasi. This will be the final curtain call on my successful career at both club and national team level. I have invited many of my friends’ way back at Bayern Munich, some from Roma and some others across the continent like Nwanko Kanu whom I started from the scratch with. I took notes when I went to Nigeria for Kanu’s testimonial match and I hope to improve on it with mine here. All I pray for is a bright and sunny day unlike the ones we experienced in the Kanu match.
SO: What do you hope to achieve with this testimonial match?
SOK: Well as you might have heard, in Europe, many sportsmen and women organize such activities once in their lives to bring to an end their respective careers. I’m hoping to send a message across to the youth as well as other footballers that indeed once you have a good career it will be good to end it with a celebration with your folks around and that alone will be a blessing. So far the response has been great especially from our sponsors, i.e. Vaniado, ZoomLion, Extra fruit juice, First Allied Bank and Savings Bank among others. And not to talk of the media who have embraced it and are concertizing the people on the event which will officially be launched on the 23rd of November 2011 in Kumasi.
SO: Why did you wait for so long to come out with this testimonial match?
SOK: Like I said earlier, a lot of planning has gone into it to even come out with the date. My team and I sat down and pictured when it will be best for the people to feel happy at an event like this and we felt December 23 will be the right time so I guess that’s it. We want to set the precedent in testimonial matches in Ghana, since nothing of that sort has ever happened here before. Basically we are going to have fun.
SO: About your mother, where is she right now and how close are you to her in recent times?
SOK: Wherever I go I talk about my mother because of the love I have for that woman. I have mentioned severally that she sold our only television to buy me football boots when I was just staring my football career. She had faith that I would succeed as player and here I am. We talk from time to time and she will always occupy a special spot in my heart. She will definitely be part of the testimonial match next month and everyone who wants to see who this great woman is should come to the Baba Yara stadium on the 23rd of December.
SO: Your colleagues, Mohammed Gargo, CK Akunnor, Abedi Pele have all taken to coaching. Do you have any plans of joining the fray someday?
SOK: No definitely not. I’m not going that way like they have done. Football is a very difficult job and it entails a lot both on and off the field of play and I’m not ready to go through that again. I want to relax and enjoy my life and also be a good father to my kids as much as I can. I had a lot of distractions during my hey days as a footballer, so now that I’m retired I hope to make it up to them. But I’m into football consultancy and my doors are always open to anyone who wants advice on players, coaches or anything football within and outside Ghana.
SO: Finally before you go, tell us about life as a shoe-shine boy before switching to football.
SOK: There’s nothing much to say really, just that indeed I was once a shoe-shine like you said combing the streets of Kumasi looking for people with dirty shoes to polish and by God’s grace I managed to get myself into football and today here am I. I always say it, I’m not the least shy of saying it, and it only goes to show that no matter how big your dream is, you can start small from somewhere and with perseverance you will reach your goal.
SO: Thank you Sammy Kuffour for you time
SOK: Thank you too and in hope to see you in Kumasi.
Cameroonian international Samuel Eto’o has mentioned that money though a very good thing to follow is not always a guarantee of happiness to a footballer adding that players need to chase after trophies before money.
Eto’o who now plies his trade with Russian side Anzhi in a documentary on Supersport was of the view that the reason for many African players to make it into the FIFA World player of the year list is because of their follow for money.
“Many of my African brothers do not play football for trophies all they think about is money, and don’t get me wrong money is very good, but in my experience choosing to win trophies for a your club or country is the best and they need to get that before we (Africans) can make another impact at the World stage. After retirement the only thing a player can show for his efforts is the medals and trophies he won.”
“I recently heard that young Ghanaian midfielder Ayew is on his way here and I said to myself, what he is coming to do here. He is young and fresh and needs to be with a team which can mould him into the kind of player that we all believe he can be. Anzhi is now fresh and indeed the monetary gains of playing here is far greater that most of the big teams in Europe, but that should not be the yardstick for his coming. I will like to see him continue at Marseille or join any of the Clubs that want him, like Bayern Munich and Arsenals.”
