Former Black Stars attacker Odartey Lamptey has advised black footballers to stay focused on their objectives amid calls against racism.
The Black Lives Matter Movement, which intensified this month after George Floyd, an unarmed black man, died while being pinned down by a white police officer, has been carried across by clubs and players to kick out racism.
In the Premier League, players' names have been replaced on the back of their shirts with 'Black Lives Matter' for the first 12 matches of the restarted season. Also, players take the knee before every match.
Reacting to the trending issue, Odartey Lamptey, who spent the majority of his 18-year playing career abroad, revealed he was racially abused by some of his teammates, opposition players and fans.
However, he didn't allow it to bother him because he was focused on his main task of playing football and achieving his goals.
“[I suffered] a lot [of racist chants]. From Belgium to Germany and all that but I always say that I believe in one thing. I went to Europe due to football so I put those things behind me," he told Nathaniel Attoh on Joy Sports' Link, Saturday.
"None of those things intimidated me. I mean sometimes you score a goal and you start celebrating and the opposition fans will throw bananas at you. With my teammates, sometimes I enter the dressing room and greet but no one would mind me."
Odartey Lamptey, who made over 30 appearances for Black Stars, played for 13 clubs including Anderlecht, PSV and Aston Villa.
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