Former Black Stars captain Andre ‘Dede’ Ayew has said the Ghana Football Association (GFA) should organise ceremonial matches for former national team players who excelled during their careers to recognise their contributions to Ghana football.
He argued that legendary players such as himself, Asamoah Gyan, Stephen Appiah and others deserve such recognition to honour their achievements and cement their legacies, which will endure regardless of whether ceremonial matches are organised.
Speaking on the Obi One Podcast, Ayew stressed that neither he nor other former players should have to demand such matches, insisting that the initiative should come from the football association.
“What Asamoah has done, you can’t move it in front of the eyes of Ghanaians. What Stephen has done, you can’t do that. So, if you don’t want to reward them or organise a ceremonial game or whatever, that’s your own decision. But it’s up to us as players to be like, ‘Okay, guys, we need to respect each other, understand what we have done and respect ourselves.’
“We’re not going to demand anything. Yeah, I don’t want us to demand. I don’t want any player to demand a ceremonial game or ceremonial event; this is something that has to come from the people who have seen that you have fought for the nation,” he said.
Ayew further argued that ceremonial matches would be a way for the GFA to express gratitude to former players for their sacrifices and commitment to the national team throughout their careers.
“If you respect what we have done, if you respect that we played with injuries, if you respect that we took flights from here to Lesotho, to Malawi, to I don’t know wherever, played with sicknesses, played with whatever, if you respect all that those players have done, then you have to, in your own way as an FA, just think, say, this one has done this, this, this. Let’s do this for him. Let’s do that for him. Let’s do this where the fans are, or let’s do this for them. That’s what they have to do as an FA,” he added.
Watch the video below:
‘I saw it coming. We don’t need to ask for it. When you become powerful in the dressing room, they try to sideline you.’
Andre Ayew on the lack of proper farewells for former players in Ghana.
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