Ghana midfielder Haminu Dramani has warned Africa players never to dream of playing in the Russian Premier League due to racism in that country.
According to him, the level of racism in that country is so high that Africans and for that matter black footballers, who would ply their trade in that country, do so at their own risk.
Russian soccer has received a lot of flak as a result of racist attacks on black footballers, making the country unattractive to players of African descent.
Dramani and others such as Peter Odemwingie of Nigeria, whose mother is Russian, defied the odds to play in the Russian league, but the latter left the country last year after suffering constant racial abuses, with the Ghanaian hanging in there. The 2006 World Cup star in January threatened not to extend his stay with Lokomotiv Moscow after witnessing several racist attacks in the country, but he remained with the club.
Over the weekend however, Dramani said he has ended his stay in the Russian league after opting not to extend his contract with Lokomotiv Moscow.
The 25-year-old’s contract with the club expires this month but he chose not to prolong it. Dramani will not seek opportunities in the other top leagues Europe as he will leave Russia on Monday (yesterday).
“I am leaving for Ghana on Monday and I will not return to Russia because I want opportunities in other countries in the top leagues of Europe,” Dramani told MTNFootball.com. “I have had some good friends here and but things have not been smooth. Regardless of that I am thankful for the opportunity to serve Lokomotiv Moscow and the other clubs I played for in Russia.”
Dramani has been linked with a move to French side Lorient while some Turkish clubs have also expressed interest in the winger.
