Former EPL player Rohan Ricketts unhappy at Dempo; feeling unsafe in India

Dempo’s Rohan Ricketts used his personal twitter account @RohanRicketts on Monday to express his unhappiness at the indifferent treatment meted out to him by coach Armando Colaco.

The former Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur player wasn’t a regular in Colaco’s team in the early stages of the season due to differences between the two, but injuries to some players gave the Englishman a chance to show his capabilities, which he did in the games against Mohun Bagan, Salgaocar and Prayag United.

In an interview with Sportskeeda, Ricketts had mentioned that Colaco’s attitude towards him hadn’t changed despite his impressive displays, but the player promised to get on with his task professionally.

However, it seems things have gotten worse between the two and the former English youth international also claimed to have received threats for expressing his views publicly.

The 30-year-old tweeted: “This last 2 weeks have been most difficult for me in football. On the pitch I have performed well but my happiness has been killed due to”

“Off the pitch actions of the coach via the agent who brought me here (soon to be disclosed), threatening tweets, a note on my car from”

“a fan that seems to want to instill fear into me because I spoke my mind a few times. So now I don’t feel safe and my desire to be here has”

“Been taken away through the disgusting off the field shenanigans which most of the Goan boys are afraid to voice their individual issues”

Ricketts added that he couldn’t accept the treatment from Colaco anymore but still remains hopeful of sorting out the issue.

“I can’t take this anymore!!! Not feeling safe along with actions of the coach which directly and indirectly affect have broken my spirit”

“I came here to play football and help develop the game but this experience has killed me. I hope this can be sorted out via our boss”

“This type of regime has been existing before me and people have been suffering silently. But I cannot live an unhappy life here. Injustice!”

“The club I play for @DempoSC is an extremely top club in India at the top level of the company but individuals below have tarnished it”

Ricketts, who was named after legendary West Indies cricketer Rohan Kanhai, showed his respect towards India and Dempo but reiterated that he is not happy due to ‘certain individuals’.

“Even when I have scored or created goals for either the Goa league/I League team in recently and received a lot of praise I have been unhappy”

“Happiness and harmony is essential in a work space.”

“I love India, Goa and the football club and the fans who have been supportive but certain individuals have made things unbearable.”