Emmanuel Adebayor giving his speech at his foundation launch

By Ameenu Shardow

Emmanuel Adebayor officially launched his foundation in a grand event at his plush Trasaco Valley Mansion on Friday night.

The Togolese superstar’s passion to help the poor and needy by bringing collective reliefs to society across the African continent became apparent while giving his speech at the well attended event.

“I saw a little boy cry outside my house and I thought to myself I know what he needed, money,” he recounted during his speech.

“But after going inside for some time I was told he (strange boy) was still crying outside and so I decided to go see what was wrong with him.

“It was there he told me his mother has just passed away and immediately I became emotional.

“And that there was no money to put her mother in the coffin and to bury her.

The people's man, Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor

“It was during this emotional revelation that the boy’s self phone rang and the message was that his dad has also just passed away and there he was on the floor in my garden in uncontrollable tears.

“At a point in time I didn’t want to believe, because this is Africa and people will do anything for money.

“So I had him take me to his house where we saw her mother dead with many wailing at the compound.

“And he also took me to his father’s place where the place was virtually empty and the corpse was just on the floor because people thought there was a problem with both mother and father dying within a space of three hours.

“I then decided to help with everything and take care of the boy. This story has been with me till today where we are gladly opening this foundation.”

Adebayor’s foundation has been operational for some time now.  He last year brought massive joy to the people of Sokode in the northern part of Togo by providing thousands of dollars towards the enhancement of infrastructure.

He also opened two water projects in the twin cities of Hamile and Koro in the Upper Wsest Region of Ghana also last year.

Stephen Appiah taking an award on behalf of Nii Odartey Lamptey

Awards were also given on the night to Ghana FA boss Kwasi Nyantakyi, ex Ghana international Nii Odartey Lamptey Adebayor’s publicist Foussena Djagba, Ghana FA Communications Director Ibrahim Sannie-Daara amongst others for the salient roles played in the formation and operationalisation of the foundation as well as their contribution towards the development of football across the African continent.

Day two of the launch will be at the Labadi Beach Resort where a football match will be played between the African Media and  an Adebayor select side in the afternoon.

The evening session will see the event head back to the Trasaco Valley Mansion for a big party where most Ghanaian musical icons will be performing.