Former Premier League star Nii Lamptey reveals he considered taking his own life… after learning NONE of the three children he brought up with his wife were actually his
Former Aston Villa and Coventry midfielder, has just won a four-year divorce battle against missus Gloria Appiah
EX-PREMIER LEAGUE star Nii Lamptey has revealed he considered suicide... after learning NONE of the three children he brought up with his wife were his.
The former Aston Villa and Coventry midfielder, 42, has just won a four-year divorce battle against missus Gloria Appiah.
Lamptey said he was devastated after DNA tests found he was not the biological father of any of the couple's three daughters.
Ghana's High Court has now ruled against Gloria, who had claimed a half share of Lamptey's fortunes, after finding her guilty of adultery.
Lamptey said: "When I was informed that the children were not mine I knew how I felt.
"After playing the role of a father to children I thought were mine for 21 years, and realising otherwise later, I nearly committed suicide.
"God gave me renewed energy and courage to withstand these pains, and today I can say I have got over them all.
"I thank God for taking me through this fight successfully, because I didn't know how far I could go.
"I'm grateful that the toils I have gone through for the past 21 years were not in vain.
"Though I have lost a few properties I'm very content that at the end of this case I have retained most of them - and I'm still alive too.
"With the final judgement I have kept my properties and my school. Gloria can keep the little awarded her.
"The divorce has been granted, and the burden that was on me has gone. Now I am a free and happy man, ready to start life again."
Lamptey and Gloria were wed for 20 years.
He believed he was dad to her daughters Khadija, now 23, 22-year-old Moyesha and Latifa, 12 - but DNA tests in 2013 showed he had not fathered any of them.
He now has two children with film star Ruweida Yakubu.
Former Villa boss Ron Atkinson signed Lamptey, then dubbed the world's leading teen prodigy, in 1994. The midfielder made just 10 top-flight appearances before Atkinson signed him once more for Coventry a year later.
Lamptey, capped 38 times by Ghana, played only six league games for the Sky Blues.
He went on to play for clubs in Italy, Argentina, Turkey, Portugal, Germany, China, Dubai, Ghana and South Africa before retiring.