Polo: Dede Ayew can't captain Black Stars

Former national team star Mohammed Ahmed Polo is preaching caution to those calling for Andre Dede Ayew to be named captain of the Black Stars. It was all over the local media last week that Dede’s elder brother, Rahim, had called on national team chiefs to name the second son of Abedi Pele as the next Ghana captain.

Ayew has previously captained the Black Satellites to Africa’s first FIFA U-20 win at Egypt 2009. But Polo stresses that the 22 year old Marseille forward has all the qualities to lead Ghana’s senior national team bar age.

“I’ve said this before that for Dede Ayew, it’s too early for him to be captain. It was this same thing that brought friction between his father and other players in the national team.

“Even during the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon this year, it was this captainship issue that brought undermining in the team and they started having bad results,” Polo has exclusively told 90 MINUTES.

The ‘Dribbling Magician’ explained, citing a personal experience: “I think Dede is too young because if he’s given the captainship, it’s a recipe for division because it will come to a time that the senior players in the team will not side with him.” Polo continued: “I tell you they will never cooperate with him. I have the experience. When I was at Hearts and they wanted to make me captain, I said no because senior players like Anas Seidu, Peter Lamptey and many others were there.

“I went to the seniors and told them that ‘why is it that you people are all there and they said I should be captain?’ And they said ‘don’t worry.’ If it’s accepted by them (senior players), then it’s okay but I tell you they won’t cooperate with him.”

Polo also agrees that it’s time the injury-prone John Mensah is relieved of his duties and given a special role.

“For John Mensah, I have also said it before that he should be made General Captain so that he will be above all of them and lead them both on and off the field,” he suggested.