Marrying Early Ruined My Football Career - Nii Odartey Lamptey

Former Ghana international, Nii Odartey Lamptey has admitted that his football career was ruined due to early marriage.

Odartey, 45, was part of Ghana’s squad at the 1992 Olympics.

Lamptey married Gloria Appiah in 1993. The marriage was a controversial one, angering his brothers, as Gloria is from a different tribe (Fante) to his (Ga). He had five children, of whom two died to lung diseases.

However, a DNA test in November 2013 revealed he was not the biological father of the remaining three children and he divorced her.

Although she took him to court to get 50% of his assets in the divorce, this was refused by the judge.

Despite playing for some of the top European clubs, Odartey says he could have done better in his career if he should have not rushed into marriage.

Speaking to Kasapa FM, Odartey said, “Marrying early even ruined my career. I could have played for long if I had taken my time before getting married,” Odartey added.

Odartey Lamptey has recovered from a bitter divorce with his first wife and has since remarried.

The former PSV ace is now blessed with two girls and a boy.