How Africa
Former Premier League star Emmanuel Adebayor has insisted that he will not make any donations towards the fight against coronavirus pandemic in his country, Togo.
The French-speaking country has recorded a total of 88 cases including six fatalities since the virus broke out last December.
Despite this development, the ex-Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur forward is not apologetic about his statement, saying he will do with his money what he chooses.
According to Daily Mail quoting Marca, the 36-year-old who recently joined a Paraguayan club is self-isolating somewhere in his home country.
Emmanuel Adebayor:
“For those who say that I do not donate, let me be very clear, I really do not donate. This is very simple. I do what I want to do, eat the food I want, and this is the most important thing. I did not bring the Corona virus to Togo.” pic.twitter.com/ZjAISQ1bwn
— Photos of Football (@photosofootball) April 23, 2020
The publication further highlighted that Adebayor understood clearly some of his colleagues have contributed their quota for the battle against the scourge.
But the former national team captain has shrugged off the notion of responsibility on his shoulders during this COVID-19 season.
Healthcare systems across the African continent are nothing compared with the ones in the UK or USA and Simon Antara, of the African Field Epidemiology Network, said: “We are preparing for disaster.”
“For those of you who say I don’t donate, let me be very clear, I don’t donate. It is very simple,’ Adebayor said in a Facebook Live video, as reported by Marca.
🔴Coronavirus-Togo 🇹🇬 : Emmanuel Adebayor🇹🇬 affirme à travers une vidéo🎥 qu’il ne fera aucun don pour soulager les togolais !
"je fais toujours les choses selon les désirs de mon cœur et non selon les dires des autres…
1/3 pic.twitter.com/kjIBpZOUnl
— MY F⚽⚽TBALL'S B📖K🔎 (@my_tball) April 22, 2020
“I do what I want and eat what I want. Later, there will be people who will criticise me for the fact that I did not make a donation in Lomé (capital of Togo).’
Adebayor joined Paraguay side with Olimpia as a free agent earlier this year but before the global shutdown was initiated, the former Real Madrid maneuvered his way back home.
He was said to have had stopovers at France and Benin before finally making it back home and many believed he brought the virus back home with him from South America.
“Some think that I was the one who introduced the virus in Lomé,’ he added. ‘It is very unfortunate, but this country is like that.“
Meanwhile, some footballers on the continent have stepped up to give their widow’s might in this period of COVID-19.
Daily Mail reports that former Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o has promised about 100,000 people relief materials in Cameroon. He will donate face masks, hand sanitisers, soaps, and food through his Samuel Eto’o foundation.
Meanwhile, former Chelsea star Didier Drogba has offered his hospital in Ivory Coast to be used as a coronavirus treatment centre.
Ex-Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor responds to critics:
"For those who say that I do not donate, let me be very clear, I do not donate. Very simple," he said.
"But it seems that it was me who brought Coronavirus to Lome, Togo," he added. pic.twitter.com/WBmigivJQW
— vumaSPORT (@vumaSPORT) April 22, 2020
“They can compare me to Drogba, they can compare me to Eto’o, but unfortunately, I am not them,’ he concluded. I am Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor and I will always do what I want.”
