Veteran Togolese footballer Emmanuel Adebayor has revealed why he is not keen on donating to the coronavirus relief effort in his country. The legendary goalscorer says he is not going to be pressured into giving just because other footballers are doing so.
Adebayor explained this in a Facebook Live video, saying, “For those of you who say I don’t donate, let me be very clear, I don’t donate. It is very simple. I do what I want and eat what I want.”
“Later, there will be people who will criticize me for the fact that I did not make a donation in Lome (capital of Togo). Some think that I was the one who introduced the virus in Lome. It is very unfortunate, but this country is like that.”
“I’m sorry that people compare me to Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba by asking me why I don’t have a foundation or why I don’t donate; as if I was the one who brought the coronavirus to Togo”, Adebayor quipped.
“I am neither the one nor the other. I am me, Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor, and I will always do what I want. A word of advice for the guys regarding donations, I will not do that. Everything is clear and very simple. Thank you and good day.”
Adebayor earned as much as £175,000 a week while at the Etihad Stadium; amassing millions across the span of his professional career.
African athletes giving back
On the other hand, top African football stars have already donated relief materials and packages in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Samuel Eto’o has donated relief packages to his home nation of Cameroon; with items such as food, soaps, sanitizers and protective equipment handed out in the country’s economic capital of Douala.
Didier Drogba joined Eto’o in roundly lambasting French professors for suggesting using Africa as a testing ground for a vaccine; due to developing nations having little protection to begin with.
The former Ivory Coast international also donated the Laurent Pokou hospital; which is currently under construction. His Drogba Foundation is in charge of delivering the hospital to his home nation’s government as a facility to screen for the disease.
