Our unsuspecting footballers and the AIDS menace

Accra, GNA - "Madam, the ladies like us so much, sometimes we just cannot understand, it looks as if one is using a charm to woo them."

"The moment they see you playing on the field or even hear that you are a footballer, they are all around you, not to mention when you score a goal - gifts and even monies are showered on you".

These were the unified answers of some popular footballers, when quizzed as to why most of them have sexually promiscuous life style. If what the footballers were saying, is anything to go by, then one would say playing soccer is a privileged profession, as the one does not have to worry about the possibility of being jilted.

However, it could be noticed that, behind this so-called "privilege" lurks the threat of securing a spot on the HIV/AIDS team list. According to a baseline survey, carried out last year in three regional capitals, Accra, Sekondi-Takoradi and Tamale, about 75 per cent of the 1,074 Ghanaian footballers interviewed had had between one to 20 sexual partners.

They, however, confided that, three months prior to the survey, they had had between one to five sexual partners. The research based on a project dubbed, "The Challenge Cup", was conducted by the National Youth Council, (NYC) with technical support from the Johns Hopkins University, (JHU) in Maryland, USA.

The "Challenge Cup" project is a football competition organised among some selected teams in the three regions, in which winners were presented with awards for their excellent performance.

The players were also taken through seminars on HIV/AIDS and its related diseases. The main objective of the research was to inform, educate and sensitise young men, especially footballers, to be active partners in the prevention of HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).

Moreover, the research was also intended to educate them on the need to abstain from promiscuous sexual behaviours to build up strength and vitality for long play, or where necessary, use condoms correctly to prevent STDs.

According to the research findings, although most of the players were aware of the dangers of the disease and its accompanying consequences, they only thought of it as a "far distance sickness". To them, the possibility of being infected by their partners was little.

They also ruled out the possibility of impregnating them. While 56 per cent of the players said they insisted on the use of condoms each time they had sex, they could not say for sure that they used them correctly.

They, therefore, needed to be taught the correct use of condoms. Drug abuse, was also found to be one of the most serious health problems facing the players.

Another astonishing revelation was that players under twelve years, who belong to colts teams were also found to be sexually active, with many of them having "coined" terms for the sexual act, such as "Akpo ke two," meaning, "Winning by two."

The boys explained that, under this term, a number of boys, engage one female partner in the act by having it in turns with the same girl.

"Believe you or me, this is what our future Abede Peles and Tony Yeboahs are doing behind closed doors, not to mention the risk involved particularly, in this era when HIV/AIDS is being spread at a faster rate", a member of the research team told the GNA.

According to these young players, among the reasons why they indulge in frequent sex is that, "it refreshes us after a hard field play, restores our vitality and makes us proud".

Some contended that, should one refuse to take on a number of sexual partners, one is mocked or subjected to name-calling, including "You are not a man", "You are stupid", and "You are carrying a freezer" and "Uncivilised".

Abstinence is a sin to them. In an interview with a number of male adults, the GNA found similar sentiments by them in relation to sex. One can also say that, this does not give the players "licence to kill" or better still, mess up their precious life.

Although this perception may be out of ignorance, there is every need for concerted efforts from all sectors of the society to include players in educational programmes so as to halt the spread of the epidemic, which has no known cure.

The need for a lot more sex education among footballers, for them to be adequately informed on the threats and the mode of transmission of the disease is also undeniable. Particularly, the young ones, since AIDS is no "respecter", of persons.

"Our youth are more at risk due to lack of appropriate information and self discipline, thus making them vulnerable to HIV/Aids," Dr Kwaku Yeboah, Manager of the National AIDS Control Programme recently told a press conference in Accra.

However, looking round the country, it could be noticed that, nothing or very little is being done about the disease among the unsuspecting footballers. What the NYC has started could be likened to a piece of matchstick used to scratch its box.

If Dr Yeboah's statement should be taken seriously, then a lot more needs to be done by the programme and the many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) nation-wide to help with what the NYC has started.

It would be more expedient if NGOs direct some of their programmes to footballers, to alert both the eminent and more especially, the up and coming ones on the dangers of the disease and the need to avoid it.

This would help to disabuse their minds about sex being able to restore of their strength. In fact, frequent sexual acts, according to experts, is very dangerous for any man, not to mention those, who use a lot of energy in their daily activities.

One would, therefore, like to suggest that, experts should start visiting the communities and school parks at the grassroots level, where most of the boys begin their football career and talk to them on what really makes one a great player.

Young girls and women should stop "harassing" the players as they are alleging, because they need a lot of strength and vitality to skilfully display their talents for the good of the country.

To the cherished and darling footballers: one's humble advice is, put a check to your sexual behaviours and avoid the ladies, who are falling all over you -- try as much as possible to turn your backs on them. To those who are already in relationships, be faithful to your partners not forgetting the correct use of condoms.

The very young ones must also halt the "Akpo ke Two business. Always remember, "If it is not on, it definitely should not be in. "Our footballers, our pride some ages past, our nation's idols, we would like you to play long to continue to bring the fame, the respect and the wealth not only to Ghana, but also to your families at large.

"Continue to take proper care of your lives for it is precious in the sight of the Lord," the words of an ode to footballers Ghana needs your talents, services and immense contributions, so keep yourselves chaste and have a long life for your game.

GNA