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Abedi Pele deserves Better
By Philip K.K Adu-Mensah
October 8, 2009, Ghanadot
The saying that “A nation that does not honor its heroes is not
worth dying for” is very true even if it is not written in the
Holy Bible or the Holy Kuran. It is very disheartening the way
certain Ghanaians have taken to speak and write ill about
prominent figures in the history of this country.
One of such figures is our own soccer maestro Abedi Ayew Pele,
who is revered the world over. Recently on television, before
the World Youth Championship in Egypt, Abedi Pele expressed his
confidence in his son, Dede Ayew’s ability to deliver for the
Black Satellites. Then again Abedi was quoted to have remarked
after Ghana’s 4-0 win over England which the son scored one of
the most spectacular goals in the tournament so far that “Dede
has proven he is a Good Player.”
Apparently judging from the fact that most people thought Dede
was only riding on the shoulders of his father to gain favor in
the national team. These comments by the maestro has not gone
down well with a lot of people who have resorted to calling and
sending text messages to radio stations asking him to shut up
because his son is not the only player in the Satellites team.
Some of the messages were very insulting and unacceptable in the
sense that they even suggested that he should stop praising his
son alone in order not to divide the team like he did during his
6 year term as captain of the Black Stars.
What is wrong with a proud father of three brilliant footballers
expressing his joy over the performance of one of his boys? This
dislike for Abedi has even blinded such people to the extent
that even when he commended the whole team on their performance
they did not see or hear? Rather they chose to lambaste him for
commenting on his son’s performance. Would they not have felt
that proud the same way if their children were to be involved?
Abedi has not been forgiven by most Ghanaians for receiving a
captain’s band apparently taken from Kwesi Appiah. To the best
of my knowledge, he did not ask the GFA or the team management
at the time to give him the arm band as a condition to play.
He is alleged to have influenced player selection during his
time. Was that his fault too? It is in order that a coach
confers with his captain on his selection before a match or
tournament but the final decision still lies with the coach. So
if a coach allows players to influence his selection, then it
means we did not have a coach in the first place. Why blame
Abedi? They say he is the cause of Ghana’s loss in many
competitive matches because of the captain’s band. During
Abedi’s time, we all knew he was the captain of the Black Stars
so it was just in order that once he was around and fit to play,
he wears his arm band. Would Vice President John Mahama want to
be the center of attraction at a function where the president
H.E. Prof. Mills is in attendance? It does not happen anywhere.
Undoubtedly, Abedi, arguably Africa's most decorated and honored
soccer player ever, three time Africa Best Player (1991, 1992,
1993), and also named among the top 125 greatest living
footballers in the year 2004 remains the most committed Ghanaian
player ever.
A player who could play two matches in a day? Played for his
team Lyon in France and flew down immediately to Monrovia to
play and score for the Black Stars. How many players can, could
or would do this? Something the most revered players of the
Black Stars at the moment namely, Appiah, Essien, Muntari,
Mensah, etc., would not risk. How much was Abedi even earning as
winning bonus from the Black Stars then? It is a pity that
people despise him so much that Ghanaians could not even honor
this great man with a world cup appearance in the year 2006 like
Cameroon did for Roger Miller in 1990 and 1994.
If Ghanaians will not honor this great son of the land, they
should just let him be and not demonise him. Though every human
being including Abedi Pele has his or her shortcomings, Abedi’s
achievements for Ghana cannot be overlooked and though he never
had an opportunity to play in the World Cup, he was arguably the
most dominant figure on the African soccer scene for nearly a
decade. His performance in the African nations Cup of 1992 is
often cited as one of the most outstanding soccer displays by
any player in a single tournament. Ghana reached the finals of
the tournament that year, only to lose on penalties in the final
after Abedi was suspended in a previous match, and we all
believed that it would have been a different story had he
played. He was often included in FIFA "All-star" selections and
one time captained the African All-Stars against the European
All-Stars in the Meridian Cup of 1997 where he even scored one
of the goals.
He scored a total of 33 goals in his 67 caps for Ghana, and is
believed to be the top goal scorer in Ghana's footballing
history. Finally, some will argue that all his achievements were
personal but my question is: When Professor Azumah Nelson
mounted the ring to fight to defend his belt and claimed the big
bugs, who did he fight for? Did he do it for himself? Let us not
wait for tomorrow when he is no more before we go and read long
and mouth watering tributes at his funeral. Abedi has paid his
dues in full and is even doing more. He has given Ghana three
sons who are all playing very well at their respective levels.
Dede Ayew has played scored and delivered one trophy already to
Ghana and is on the verge of delivering another. Something his
father was not fortunate to do and so the son is making up for
him. Abedi is also training upcoming footballers at his club,
Nania FC. That is, giving back to the society that has made him.
What can we also do for Mother Ghana? Honor Abedi Ayew ‘Pele’ or
let him be.
Philip K.K Adu-Mensah,
Accra, October 8, 2009
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