Sports News of Thursday, 21 July 2011

Source: goal.com

Abedi Pele: I Am The Luckiest Father On Earth

Ghana football legend, Abedi Pele, believes he is one of the luckiest fathers on earth to have three of his children excelling in their football careers.

“I’m so happy to have three kids, who are playing the game and playing at the highest level,” he told Citi FM. “I don’t like talking much about my kids, but I just want to express my feelings once in a while and I thank God he has giving them this brilliant talent and that they are making fans happy all over the world.”

Andre Ayew, the second son of the three-time African Player of the Year enjoyed a terrific season last term with Olympique Marseille, where he crowned an incredible campaign by winning the club’s Player of the Season.

His youngest son, Jordan Ayew, being tipped as one of the rising stars in football has inked a contract extension with Les Phoceens that will keep him at the Velodrome until 2015.

The 19-year-old forward played 22 games for Marseille last season including five as a starter. Coach Didier Deschamps believes the youngster has good potential and has thus decided to keep him longer than the duration of his current contract, which would have expired in summer 2012.

Pele’s oldest son Rahim Ayew joined the Jupiler Pro League side Lierse in January after a frustrating spell at Egyptian club Zamalek. The 23-year-old is set to play more games in Belgium this season after winning the hearts of his technical team in the latter stages of the last term.

An excited Abedi was full of praise for his sons, but believes there is a great deal more to come from them.

“For now they are young boys, we don’t need to sing their praises all along. They have a young career which is another 10 to 15 years to go, let’s just pray they are well and they continue to play great football," Pele said.

He added, “I’m grateful to God they are making millions and millions of fans happy, they are touching their hearts and I’m delighted they are using the talents God has given them in the right direction."