Half-fit Andre Ayew is better than many Ghana players - Sammy Kuffour
Posted On Friday, 11th January 2013
ANdre Ayew was left out of Ghana's squad for the Africa Cup of Nations
Ex-Bayern Munich star Samuel Osei Kuffour says Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah should have gambled half-fit Andre Ayew because his trenchant dedication on the pitch makes him better than many players in the squad.
The former Ghana international believes that the coach should have included the son of legend Abedi Pele in the Black Stars squad to this month’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Appiah excluded Ayew from the squad after he failed to turn up for the second time for a medical examination by the medical team.
Kuffour believes there was lack of communication of some sort as wired as the whole saga seems.
“I’m wondering how the GFA communicated with Marseille about Dede’s injury because while Marseille say they released him, the GFA say he didn’t report to camp,” Kuffuor said.
“Personally, I would take Dede along even if his head is off,” Kuffuor told 90 Minutes newspaper jokingly.
“If there is a chance, that he could get fit during the competition.
“I would not exclude him. I don’t think there is player in Black Stars who dedicates himself to the cause of the team more than Dede does.
“You could see from his attitude on the pitch that he has an aim to win the Africa Best player accolade and a player like that would do all he can to feature in a tournament like the Africa Cup of Nations.
“Players who set personal targets like for themselves like that would always put in an effort which will affect the whole team (positively) in the long run”.
The former Bayern Munich defender, who won the UEFA Champions League with the German giants, revealed how such personal targets affected his career.
“When I started playing, I wanted to hit the then dazzling heights of Frempong Manso and Emmanuel Armah and when I got there, Paolo Maldini was next in line; now how my career panned out, is there for all to see.
“I remember how Abedi Ayew Pele came to my room in 1996 when we were about to face Cote d’Ivoire in South Africa. “all he said that day was, Sammy, just mark and Joel Tiehi and Abdoulaye Traore out and we will be victors today, “I believe you can do it”, he added.
“These words resonated in my head throughout the match and I did just that and Ghana won.”
Source: 90 Minutes
Do you agree with Sammy Kuffuor’s comments? Make your views known in the below
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Hey IDIOT! Shut UP!!!!!!!! Half fit and half commited players should not be selected.
Sammy Kuffour is a FOOL!
please please, insults like these don’t help, that is his opinion, if u dont agree with him, just say it. how would u feel if he is ur brother n u hear somebody insulting him like u’ve done?
@lalasu don’t waste your words. We all know Ghanaman to be the idiot on this site.
sadly, I have to agree with your assessment of him
IM SORRY TO SAY THIS, BUT SOME OPINIONS SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED WITH SLAPS! HOW DARE KUFFOUR BACK PASS SAY SUCH IGNORANT THINGS….? A HALF FIT DEDE IS BETTER THAN WHO? NAME THE PLAYERS, KUFFOUR. THIS GUY ISEITHER ON DRUGS OR TALKING SHIT TO GAIN ATTENTION. CAN U TAKE AN INJURED HORSE TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY?
DEDE SAID HE WAS INJURED. HE DIDNT WANT TO PLASY FOR 2 REASONS. 1. JORDAN WASNT INVITED 2. TO STAY BACK N HELP MARSEILLE WIN THE LEAGUE TROPHY. KUFFOUR SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT DEDE WAS PLAYING GAMES WITH AA.
Lalasu, insults are not good and I agree with you but check this, Kuffour saying “A half fit Dede is better than many Ghana players is not an insult right? You’re very pathetic. This Kuffour guy opens his mouth and say anything without reasoning. Unfortunately some illiterates think that’s way to go. He drives his car on the principal streets of Accra and hears sireene of a presidential motorcade and he’ll still be driving, try advising him and he’ll flip you the 3rd. If he’s not a fool, tell me what else is he? He might have a genuine thought but has no brains to execute it publicly and such a person got to shove it when he’s in public. If you’re close to him better advise him to stop the nonsense.
to: Ghanaman u idiot don’t insult anyone insult ur self mother fucker do u know how this family service ghana people in ghana and u are a fool and ur family is a fool including ur mother and i think ur not a real ghana person
Kuffour must come again. I know Ayews contribution and dedication to the black start cause is genuine and perfect. He must also bear in mind that the coach must draw the line somewhere so future decisions like this will be easier to be made. Do you remember we sent a couple of unfit players to a tournament with the believe that they will be fit before the tournament ends? They never recovered.
I really surprise about Samuel Koffour,this kind of people poise misunderstanding among them,much experience person talking like this, you should rather talk how to bring the bone of contention among them halt.We are talking about discipline and team work.You people should talk so that we can derive capital from you.
Kuffour is right but it’s unnecessary. Let’s not cry over a spilled milk. Dede’s exclusion although painful, might produced break-out stars.
Just imagine going into the 2014 World Cup with eleven of Dede’s caliber of players.
At the moment, let’s concentrate on the AFCON and support, and pray for the team. Dede is not angry, he is a Black star lover, and we love him.
Your post is highly commended. Dede is our darling boy but the unfortunate happened. Case Closed.
This is not the first time Ghana has suffered casualties. 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 we presented incomplete squad. Even at the quarter-final against Uruguay we were short of our talisman.
Black Stars will bring joy to every Ghanaian IF we give them our undivided support and prayers. God Bless Ghana, God Bless our the Black Stars.
very well said guys. Dede always gives 120% when playing for Ghana. The only other player of Black Stars who gives his all that I remember is Stephen Appiah who also showed an unquenchable desire to win at all costs. But he is not part of this team though we would definitely need him during the World Cup Qualifiers. Lets not hastily judge the crucify him and retire him prematurely from the Black Stars
I agree with your very sound and mature comment
sammy kuffour is fooooooool.
Sammy kuffour should shut the hell up……this ain’t the right time for this trash talk.
i totally dsagree wth k4.half fit player can never be good than fully fit player.moreover ur throwng cold water on our boys.how wll they feel if they hear ur message.pls shut up if u cannot encourage our boys. we stll lv dede and he is ready for ghana at anytime.
Well sail
What’s wrong with this guy?
Well said Kufour no wonder you were very successful in football we need people like you to take ghana football to the highest level.How lond are we going to cry foul and it will fall on death ears of GFA? We know all the good players Ghana have not Akwasia Appiah and Nyantekyi
He is saying this because Sannie, he does not even like Abedi Pele. Because his dismissal from ANC in mali was blamed on Abedi plus the captainship problem. Shut up idiot! BS is not for one family. He is not Messi or world Pele! Because of his brother exclusion, he feigned injury. Listen, when both are not field, check his output. They are taken out they get angry? Black stars belong to the people of Ghana.
Nonsense talk u think we r goin to plae in SA.after u cost ghana da game against italy u stil dnt want da best fo gh..
SAMMY KUFFUOR INFACT U ARE DISGRACE 2 GHANA FOOTBALL, NO WONDER U GIFTED THE ITALIANS A GOAL DURING THE 2006 WORLDCUP… NONSENSE KWASIA SEM KWA!!!!NA ME BUUWOO PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, WHO IS HE BETTER THAN IN GHANA. THAT COLTS BALL DEDE PLAYS.
YES KUFFUOR GHANA WON 2 NIL:FANTASTIC GOALS FROM PELE AND YEBOAH!WE RESTORED RESPECT!10 LOCAL PLAYERS TO THE AFCON IS A NEGATIVE RECORD!IN THE TEAM APART FROM GYAN WHOSE IMAGE IS FADING AND BOATENG WHO IS NEXT?
In case u haven’t observed, the AFCON is a very hard tournament to get thru without injury so most of our foreign-based stars usually play it safe. Our local boys on the other hand see it as a platform to shine and attract attention.
If you check, from 2004 the winners Tunisia, Egypt and Zambia have used mostly locally based players willing to shine. Those 4 times we won it do you think we had any foreign based stars?
You don’t expect Essien and co. to come and play and kill himself with all those crunch tackles that are allowed in AFCON do you?
Not a good statement from KUFFUOR. No coach who knows what a tournament is all about will take a unfit player to the tournament. Even the player is Messi! AFCON is one of the toughest football tournaments in the world so for KUFFUOR to say an injured player who refused to be assessed by team doctors should have been included in the team is a JOKE!What the F….so we should start kissing players’ ass? NO WAY…Some of us support AA 100% for his decision even if Ghana does not win the cup.
i wonder if those insulting are any wiser……and indeed he might recover during the course on the game.Is it that they cannot read or just pure stupidity?Sammy is probably the greatest African defender of all time
Kuffour at his best again, give him some bribe and he will betray the world.
Fact that you re going to Afcon panel with Abedi does not warrant this spew on the net.
Kufour is another ass licker of the Ayews.He is an idiot of the highest order! Which of the players in camp is he talking about?…Idiotic bushiatic fellow! Is half fit Ayew better than Atsu or K Asamoah? What was Dede able to achieve for the BS with his three previous appearances? did we win the cup?…Idiot!
Dude, and has Messi being able to win the World Cup for Argentina from this two appearances? Bigger Fool!
very disappointment in u Sammy u dont have to be talking like that
Welldone k4.you had it right.dede is our talisman,he is like messi.dede absence ‘ll affect ghana in AFCON2013.k.Appiah ‘ll regret 4 not chosing dede Ayew and as well as jordan Ayew 4 nations cup.go dede.kuffour u are 100% right.we keep on supporting u.
sammy,you are right. kwasi appiah jealous ayew and family. shame
Guys watch your words cos i know this Adre topic will come up if the team did not perform. I know the same people insulting Kuffour for his opinion will turn their back like a snake to blame Appiah for dropping out Dede. Fingers cross and wish the team all the best in South Africa.
@(“Personally, I would take Dede along even if his head is off,” Kuffuor told 90 Minutes newspaper jokingly) am sorry this is nonsense
We did not understand why he was sack from camp in Mali now I understand why
He also called he coach a liar
Guys stop taking this guy serious
I use to be tuga’s fun but not anymore
I mean coach dokovic
There is some truth to what he is saying a half fit Dede is better than at least 40% of the players on the team. Dede is a good player no doubt if u watch OM during last season during domestic matches and especially in the champions league against the likes of Dortmund and even against inter when he was carrying his shoulder injury but still managed to score against inter. I don’t understand why people say he’s not good that’s being hateful and spiteful.
It’s a shame some people on here cannot express themselves without throwing insults. I personally think it’s about time we grow past that. We should be able to discuss these issues or express our views without having to attack people with our foul language.The funny thing is some of those who do that clearly don’t know a thing about football. In some places you get in trouble for things you say on this very net. I think that’s Kuffuor’s view and as much as the timing is wrong, i think he has a point. Dede is back in full training already and AFCON has not even kicked off so what are we saying? He’s been one of our best players over the past few years and i believe many lovely Ghanaians trust he would have delivered again. However, goodluck to the guys we sent out there and hopefully we can be African champions again.
dede is beta dan Tuga n his family memberz childish tlk Tuga . Shame on u.
I personally don’t agree with Sam. We are talking about discipline here. It seems Dede is growing horns. Discipline is of paramount importance in football. The coach has set a mark that would serve as a detterence to others. K Appiah is father to Dede. For Christ’s sake, he can’t be tossing his father like that.Ghana will win dis trophy, Isha Allahu.
He is just trying to Kiss abedi pele’s ass,
Hmmm!! HALF FIT Dede is BETTER THAN any GHANA player..not even full fit..and the funny thing is not even the black stars but rather the whole Ghana. To me he hasn’t mature yet in soccer, look at the way he dribble,he is still playing colts football, K4 should shut De fucker!!
Well said Sammy, no blames @ dis tym, we jx ave to rally behind de team. Dede in de last Afcon played wif a shoulder injury buh was perfect dan most of our players….. Fuck ya’ll Dede hatez
The AFCON is a demanding tournament with a game every few days. A player involved with a lower limb injury is at risk of more serious damage/injury. Excluding Andre is therefore a protective measure that safeguards his profession. It’s unfortunate Andre is missing as his commitment to the team is beyond doubt. His team mates now in camp, with commitment and support, will deliver to our expectations.
Sammy you know better, no body is saying Dede is not a fantastic player, he is , he is a player every Ghanaian, knows that he always want to prove on the pitch, but he said he is injured ,his team release him to Ghana , now Ghana want you to come to where your team mares are so that they can access you and treat you , you refuse to show up they gave you another chance you never show up again saying you wanted to see your doctor first , but immediately u were drop , he quickly run to his team
Camp in morocco ,I want to ask those of you who are trying to paint AA that he hate dede that much that if it happen to be one of the local players who is behaving this way will you support him, is team work and there should be a common code of conduct,this is team Ghana and no body is superior than any other , you can not choose players for the coach and you are messi and you will bring division to the team we should not support you , dede was doing all that because of his brother but he should not do this always should act like a professional ,surely all those players people are saying Jordan is better than will surely get goal in this tourney , Ghanaian support the team and pray for them. God bless Ghana, god bless GBS.
Dede will be missed regretably in this tournament. U haters will soon see it. If I were Dede, I ‘ll simply do the KPB right away.
i agree with sammy kuffour, dede is better than any ghanaian player even when he is not fit he is good
i think this is the biggest insult to the players in camp preparing for afcon 2013. such silly talk only creates problems among the players and especially for dede ayew. the team needs disciplined players who are really ready to play for the national team. don’t forget this youngman was given two chances to report and he refused. indiscipline and gross disrespect for coach kwesi appiah. will dede do that in france?
Tuga, you said players who want to achieve their best. Imagine Gyan trying to get top scorer, atsu wants the revelation of the tourney and so on…. The team would fall out. But thank God we don’t have somebody who wants the captain ahead of his seniors and is dissatisfied when he is subed for somebody who wants to get a BS jersey. How can players live with such greed in their mist. Shut up Tuga and enjoy an Afcon you never won
i am very suprised dat ma fellow ghanaian friend are attack Sammi kuffour for speaking de truth. even people from de F.A are complain abt de same tyn Sammi Kuffour is saying. i can clearly say it wit all confidence dat de GFA is de most corrupt and they dnt tink abt de interest of ghanaian football.
i am very suprised dat ma fellow ghanaian friend are attack Sammi kuffour for speaking de truth. even people from de F.A are complain abt de same tyn Sammi Kuffour is saying. i can clearly say it wit all confidence dat de GFA is de most corrupt and they dnt tink abt de interest of ghanaian football. azar ppl