Kwesi Appiah must be bold, focused and weary of Ayews

What a country we have christened Ghana, and what human talents we have in all abundance in politics, sports, music, international diplomacy and academia. Yet our progress and standard of living falls short of where we should really be. This is a country which is the owner of persons like; Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Azantelo, Kwame Nkrumah, Azumah Nelson, Kofi Annan, Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Ephraim Amo, Abedi Pele, and Stephen Appiah to mention a few.

Yet petty quarrels, ethnocentrism, egos and sycophancy have robbed Ghana of our full potential. Even the Supreme Court case we all watch on national television exhibits bits and pieces of these tendencies.

My focus today, is on the present day Ayew brothers, the Black Stars eminent qualification for the FIFA World Cup, Brazil 2014, and the first Ghanaian coach attempting to take us there - Kwesi Appiah.

Coach Kwesi Appiah, I dare you in the present circumstances to be BOLD, FOCUSED, and yet be weary of the present day Ayew brothers who are by the grace of God talented soccer players with a maestro father who loves to court controversy. Mr. Appiah while you were in faraway South Africa, training behind closed doors away from the prying eyes of the loud mouth media with your new legends of Kwadwo Asamoah, Fatau Dauda, Agyeman Badu, Harrison Afful, Asamoah Djan, born again Sulley, Rabiu Mahammed, Christian Atsu, and superman Wakaso, news might have reached you that the present day Ayew brothers (Rahim in tow) have sneaked into the Presidency and given word to the whole world that they have rescinded their decision so they will be available to be part of the Black Stars of Ghana. The route was wrong, the timing was wrong, and the publicity smacked of arrogance, and coercing, therefore unnecessary. I cannot tell whether they have subsequently followed up with a letter to you (Kwesi Appiah) and the Ghana Football Association (GFA).

What I find laughable is the younger one Jordan asking you to guarantee him playing time and the presence of FA Vice President, Fred Crenstil suggesting that it is the GFA that asked President John Dramani Mahama (JDM) to intervene. As for the President I will spare him this time so he can deal with his ‘turbulent’ few months at the Presidency.

Coach Appiah please focus on finishing off Zambia in Kumasi in September and wait for whoever confronts you at the last leg to enable you craft your own history.

You are excellent in your job, and you have the requisite exposure and technical capacity to qualify the Black Stars for Brazil 2014 without the present Ayew brothers. The Ayew family has foreseen that you will qualify Ghana to the FIFA World Cup, and they foresee you sidelining them so they have run to the Presidency. Keep your cool self and if you need any of them, show honesty and call them, but be bold to leave them out if you do not need them.

Being a former soccer star myself I read you do not need them until after Brazil 2014. If anybody forces you to select any of them let us know by whichever means.

Following your calm exploits since you were made coach of the Black Stars, you have made the team competitive, by at least exposing Ghanaians to the slimy play of Atsu, Fatau Dauda, Rabiu, and Wakaso.

Even Albert Adoma is work in progress, Asamoah Gyan is maturing and Sulley Muntari has been born again, so you are capable and I assure you that many Ghanaians are praying for you to succeed and become even more revered than the likes of C. K. Gyamfi, Sam Ardy, and Sellas Tetteh.

Be bold, Kwesi stay FOCUED, yet qualify us to the Mundial in Brazil next year.

By: Charles N. D. Cobbina

The writer is the Executive Director of ORPED Ghana and the Project CEO of the MILLION BALLS Project for Young People.