Togolese star Emmanuel Adebayor to play testimonial match in Lome
By Hans Ngala
Togo’s former striker, Emmanuel Adebayor will be playing a testimonial match on Sunday October 27th, an opportunity to thank God and give back to his community.
The event in the Togolese capital, Lome, will see the attendance of other football greats such as Samuel Eto’o, Nigeria’s Jay-Jay Okocha, and the Toure brothers.
“It’s now I realise that helping a human being is even better than scoring a beautiful goal in the Premier League or Champions League” Adebayor said as he plans to hang his boots for the final time after Sunday’s match.
The 40-year-old who announced his retirement from football in 2023, now plans to focus on supporting the next generation of upcoming footballers in Togo and across Africa, to fulfill their own dreams.
Little known to the public is the fact that Adebayor though healthy, was unable to walk from infancy up to the age of five and his family sought help from pastors. While praying for him and during a church service in neighbouring Ghana, a ball from a nearby football game bounced into the church and when the young Emmanuel Adebayor saw it, he suddenly started walking towards the ball.
His illustrious 20-year-career has seen him lead the Togolese team to the 2006 World Cup which to date, remains Togo’s only appearance at the World Cup.
Highlights of Adebayor’s career include being signed for 3 Million Pounds to join English club Arsenal where he scored his first goal for the team just 21 minutes into the match.
He later signed a 25 Million Pound contract with Manchester City in 2009 and also played for Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace, French side Metz, Monégasque team Monaco and Spanish team, Real Madrid.
Since retiring from football, Adebayor has focused his attention and resources on the Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor Foundation which he set up nearly 10 years ago to support underprivileged schoolchildren, an inspiration which was informed by his own difficult childhood.
