20-goal target set for Andre Dede Ayew’s return: A wise counsel for Coach Otto Addo

 Indubitably, the Black Stars skipper, Andre ‘Dede’ Ayew, has reached the twilight of his football career. With almost 20 years of unalloyed dedication and com­mitment to God and country, it is no exaggeration to say that he has given his all to mother Ghana.

The energy-sapping game of football, especially commitment to club and country, has taken a huge toll on the 34-year-old, 2011 BBC African Footballer of the Year as well as Ghanaian Footbal­ler of the Year.

The Coach of the senior national team, Otto Addo, on his second stint with the national team said he had taken a long drive from his base in German to France, where he had a private conversation with the captain of the Black Stars about his phi­losophy, which is anchored on rebuilding the team around young players for the future.

Consequently, the Coach did not name Dede, for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Mali in Bamako and Central Af­rica Republic (CAR) in Kumasi, ostensibly in line with the mutual agreement at the ‘France summit.’

Indeed, the Black Stars trumped in both duels, to rekin­dle our hope of qualifying to the next World Cup.

Convincingly, we saw wisdom in the Coach’s philosophy of focusing on the younger ones, with limited space for the older ones. And I believe, Dede may not have any qualms about the coach’s game plan that excludes him, given the fact that the ‘up and coming’ ones can continue from where he might call if off, much so his younger brother, Jor­dan Ayew, remains a key member of the national team.

Coach Addo’s comment on ’20-goal target’ for the return of Dede

On the future of Dede in the Black Stars, Coach Addo report­edly told a press conference in Accra on Friday to unveil the squad for the African Cup of Na­tions (AFCON) qualifiers against Angola in Kumasi on Thursday (September 5), and Niger four days later in the Sahel that, “If he gets a club and performs and score 20 goals, maybe he can return because we are building something for the future.”

Your set target has already been achieved by Dede. The Black Stars Captain had already scored 24 goals in 120 appear­ance for the national team in his career! Has any of the players scored 20 goals before they were invited?

Coach Addo knows too well than I do that footballing is not only about the ability of the play­er to score goals; but the player’s general performance to team work towards goal scoring. That explains why ‘Assist’ is considered in a player’s general performance and assessment. Dede will be much more comfortable to be left out of the national team on the basis of the coach’s game plan and philosophy of using younger players than the ‘20-goal target.’

Coach Addo is a ‘messiah’

I dare say, Coach Addo is a messiah; his ability to scout through the globe to get players to fit his game plan to build a future Black Stars that we all want, and can be proud of, is unquestionable. I say messiah because when all was lost on the national team, especially after their ignominious exit from the AFCON 2021, where they exited after a winless first round, Coach Addo came in, with very limited time at his disposal, beefed up the national team with new limbs, and with sheer determination and good tactics, he led the team to fly over the Super Eagles, through the away goal count, to qualify to Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022.

In Qatar, the young boys endeared themselves, although we did not go past the prelim­inary round. Upon his second stint, he is on course to lead the Black Stars to consecutive World Cup appearance!

I believe in the game plan and philosophy of the coach to build the Black Stars that we want, and around very young but energetic, robust, and resil­ient players, with a progressive exit plan for the older players.

The persona of Dede

The person of Dede cannot be wished away even in his older years. The persona of Dede has grown past the football pitch and resonates in the academia. Recall that the Department of Psychology of the University of Ghana recently offered him the podium to lecture students on his experience in life as professional footballer. Indeed, his lecture has added body of scientific knowledge to Ghana’s premier University, and for that matter, academia.

Recall that no mean of a person than Professor Kwesi Yankah, who recently gave a piece of Dede in a very interest­ing reading article.

Let’s dignify our Black Stars captains

Apart from Abedi Pele Ayew, the father of the Black Stars cap­tain, who issued a press statement at AFCON Burkina Faso ’98 to retire from the national team, all other captains were either forced or compelled to hand over the captain’s arm-band against their will.

Kwesi Appiah, C.K Akunnor, John Mensah, Stephen Appiah, Asamoah Gyan, and now Dede were unhappy with the mode of arm-band change over. I believe as a reconciliatory move, as part of senior citizens’ day, we must consider honouring our past Black Stars captains for their contribution to national develop­ment. We should have a smooth and dignified exit plan for Black Stars captains.

The commentary that followed after the exclusion of Dede in recent matches is worrying, as if Coach Addo savagely dropped him from the national team like a bale of second-hand clothes.

A counsel for our Coach and a friend I have never met

I admire Coach Addo’s style of holding press conferences to keep the media and for that matter, Ghanaians abreast of his plan, especially naming his squad and taking difficult questions on commissions and omissions.

But, in doing so he must be measured in his answers. He may reserve his right to ‘No com­ment’ or ‘I cannot answer.’ This, is to keep the friendship and respect between him, Dede and other players without acrimony.

I subscribe to your game plan, and I encourage you to pursue your bold and courageous diplo­matic gestures, without acrimony towards anyone, for a smooth exit plan for Dede and future Black Stars captains under your tutelage.

A word to a wise is enough!!

 BY ALHAJI SALIFU ABDUL-RAHAMAN

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