Burly striker Awudu Adama has blamed Ghanaian sports journalists for the cause of the premature player retirement that is associated with Ghana football. In an exclusive interview with Happy FM’s Charles Osei Asibey on “Where are they” on Tuesday, he laid the cause for early player retirement at the doorstep of some Ghanaian sports journalists and club officials. He said this attitude of the media is detrimental to the leather game saying, “There are a lot of charlatans sports journalists, and they make the most noise regarding the player old age problem, such media practitioners should be weeded out from the system.” “The you are too-old syndrome, does not only have negative influence on players, but the country as a whole,” Awudu said in plain words. The call for early retirement notwithstanding, he(Awudu) has resolved not to kowtow to any pressure from sports journalists, club chairmen or the fans, and has urged other players from his age group to follow suit. “I will retire when I realize my body can no longer carry me. I have realized that the longer you stay on the pitch, the better you become as a player and it makes playing easier,” added Adama. Sounding very passionate, he mentioned players like Joe Hendricks, now with BA Stars, Gabriel Opoku Ware, Aduana Stars, Godwin Ablordey, among others as classical examples of players tagged as ‘old players’ but are playing regularly. “If indeed a player like Joe Hendricks is old as perceived and referred to, then the logic should be that his team would have conceded more goals because he is a defender,” Awudu stated. The former Dawu Youngsters/Hearts and Kotoko player who says he is ready to offer his services to any premier club that surfaces, revealed that the old age syndrome by journalists is also the reason for the player exodus confronting the nation. Awudu indicated that the local league is gradually losing its steam for the simple reason that there are no player mentors (senior players) for the young players to learn from. He recalls with fond memories his only goal he scored against Kotoko in their return league clash after Dawu had lost to Kotoko in the first leg. Source: Charles Osei Asibey Br./Happy FM