Nii Odartey Lamptey will never regret playing for Kumasi Asante Kotoko even if he had to endure the embarrassment of constant verbal attacks from fans during his time with the Porcupine Warriors. Odartey has exclusively told 90 MINUTES that playing for Kotoko was a fulfillment of a lifetime dream and he will forever pride himself for realising it.

“Playing for Kotoko was a dream and I’m glad I achieved it so no matter of insults affected me, I wasn’t worried. When I was growing up in Kumasi, a lot of people did a lot of good things for me and they are all Kotoko fans so playing for Kotoko was a way for me to thank them,” Odartey confessed. The former Anderlecht and Aston Villa midfielder continued:

“I also didn’t play in Ghana because I only played for Corners U-20 before going to Europe so I also wanted to play in the local league and I’m happy I did.

“And I’m also proud because I won the league, President’s Cup and Otumfuo Cup during the time I played for Kotoko. It was an eventful period.”

Reacting to recent reports that former international teammate and lifetime Kotoko fan Sammy Kuffour didn’t return to play for Kotoko because of insults he (Odartey) suffered whilst at the Kumasi club, Nii Lamptey cautioned local football fans to stop that.

“It’s not fair at all that fans we play to satisfy will be insulting players, it’s very bad. I look at Ransford Osei and Eric Bekoe who have come back to play in the league and I’m happy but in Ghana, it’s very difficult,” Odartey told 90 MINUTES.

The hero of Ghana’s maiden U-17 World Cup triumph in 1991 added: “Look at Emmanuel Clottey, hasn’t he gained immensely from returning to play for Chelsea? We have to encourage our players to come back and play in the local league again because they will add quality to our league.”