I No Longer Have �Emotional Connection� With My Children Who Were Born Out Of Wedlock

Former Ghana international Nii Odartey Lamptey has confessed he no longer has “emotional connection” with his children, who were allegedly born out of wedlock.

The 41-year-old is currently embroiled in a divorce case with his ex-wife Gloria Lamptey after DNA tests allegedly uncovered the fact that the couple’s three children were not indeed fathered by the former World’s best juvenile player.

It will also be recalled that there was an allegation from a highly placed source within the Lamptey family, claiming the ex-footballer caught popular fashion designer Elikem Kumordzi flirting with his wife on three different occasions in their matrimonial home.

Speaking on Starr FM on Wednesday, Lamptey said naturally he felt “hurt” about the issue, but life goes on.

However, he admitted that the fatherly love he used to have for his children had petered out, but was quick to add that, “I don’t have anything against the kids.”

Lamptey noted he is optimistic about the outcome of the court case, but remains resolute until the legal tussle is over.

Nii Odartey Lamptey (born 10 December 1974) is a former Ghanaian professional footballer.

During his career, he played as a striker from 1990 until 2008 notably for Aston Villa, PSV Eindhoven, Coventry City and the Black Stars.

He also played for Anderlecht, Venezia, Unión Santa Fe, Ankaragücü, Asante Kotoko among others. Nii Lamptey was born in Tema, but grew up in the two biggest Ghanaian cities, Accra and Kumasi. He is known foremost for his erratic career, in which he became a superstar as a teenager.

Lamptey first began to attract global attention in 1991 when he led Ghana to win the 1991 FIFA U-17 World Championship with the Black Starlets after playing in the 1989 version as a 15 year old. He won the FIFA Best Player of the tournament – the Golden Ball award in a competition that also included Argentina's Juan Sebastian Verón and Marcelo Gallardo and Italy's Alessandro del Piero.

He was subsequently touted as the next Pelé; by Pelé himself. He scored four goals in that tournament. The adidas Golden Ball could only go to one of the members of the victorious Ghanaian side, and so it was, with Lamptey taking home a very special souvenir from his Italian sojourn.