Former Inter Allies midfielder, Richmond Lamptey, has opened up about a challenging period in his career when he considered retirement.
This stemmed from being implicated in a match-fixing scandal against Ashantigold two seasons ago.
The Asante Kotoko playmaker endured a ban imposed by the Ghana Football Association due to these allegations. However, the club's management elevated the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), resulting in Lamptey eventually being exonerated from any wrongdoing.
Following CAS's ruling, the FA has been directed to compensate the player with an amount exceeding $3000.
Reflecting on this tumultuous time, Lamptey shared, "It was very painful. Since the issue came up, I haven't really spoken about it. It was a really difficult time for me. The way my parents were lamenting, it was painful to see," he told Asante Kotoko media.
The experience took such a toll that he even contemplated retiring from the sport.
"It really affected my game, going out became a problem for me and even when you go on social media and see some comments, you get discouraged. There was a point I was contemplating retirement"
Acknowledging the efforts of the management, Lamptey expressed gratitude for their decision to pursue the case with CAS. This legal recourse ultimately vindicated him.
"I want to thank management for taking the issue to CAS and I feel vindicated now."
As of now, Lamptey is fully immersed in preparing for the upcoming Ghana Premier League season while in camp with his team. The challenges he faced have not dampened his commitment to the sport, and he is determined to make his mark in the upcoming season.
