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'Every time we play Zenit or Spartak Moscow it's always the same thing' - Sekou Oliseh no longer fazed by racism in Russia
The Liberia international insists that racism in Russia does not wind him up anymore as he believes players need to be mentally prepared for these sort of situations
10-Feb-2012 8:04:00 PM
By Luis Mira
CSKA Moscow's Sekou Oliseh has revealed that the issue of racism in Russian football no longer affects him.
Several players have complained of being racially abused by fans in Russia, with Alexei Sorokin, head of the country's 2018 World Cup Organising Committee, vowing to take action to eliminate the problem.
Oliseh, who has been at CSKA since 2009, conceded that racist attacks initially bothered him, but noted that is no longer the case.
"I am used to this sort of thing," the Liberia international told Sport-Express. "Every time we play against Zenit or Spartak Moscow, it's always the same thing.
"They shout like crazy: 'you're black', 'monkey' and do monkey chants. When I pass to [Seydou] Doumbia, or when he is on the ball, they shout these things.
"Yes, I am a black guy from the African continent and I am proud of it. I am never going to be white, and it isn't my problem that someone doesn't like it."
Last year, Anzhi Makhachkala defender Roberto Carlos left the pitch halfway through a match after having a banana hurled at him.
Oliseh then added that he warned Nigerian winger Ahmed Musa, who signed for CSKA in January, about the hostile reception that he may get in some venues.
"It is important for him to be mentally prepared," Oliseh continued. "Imagine a guy who doesn't expect this sort of thing, when he comes out against Zenit and hears the monkey chants.
"He would just go: 'What is going on here?' This is why I warned him [Musa] about these things."
Several players have complained of being racially abused by fans in Russia, with Alexei Sorokin, head of the country's 2018 World Cup Organising Committee, vowing to take action to eliminate the problem.
Oliseh, who has been at CSKA since 2009, conceded that racist attacks initially bothered him, but noted that is no longer the case.
"I am used to this sort of thing," the Liberia international told Sport-Express. "Every time we play against Zenit or Spartak Moscow, it's always the same thing.
"They shout like crazy: 'you're black', 'monkey' and do monkey chants. When I pass to [Seydou] Doumbia, or when he is on the ball, they shout these things.
"Yes, I am a black guy from the African continent and I am proud of it. I am never going to be white, and it isn't my problem that someone doesn't like it."
Last year, Anzhi Makhachkala defender Roberto Carlos left the pitch halfway through a match after having a banana hurled at him.
Oliseh then added that he warned Nigerian winger Ahmed Musa, who signed for CSKA in January, about the hostile reception that he may get in some venues.
"It is important for him to be mentally prepared," Oliseh continued. "Imagine a guy who doesn't expect this sort of thing, when he comes out against Zenit and hears the monkey chants.
"He would just go: 'What is going on here?' This is why I warned him [Musa] about these things."
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