Dede Ayew Explains His Action

Black Satellites skipper, Andre Dede Ayew, yesterday played down on the events which pervaded his substitution in the game against Hungary, saying the gestures he displayed were not in anyway directed at the head coach Sellas Tetteh.

He said it was rather borne out of an anguish of losing the opportunity to play in the final due to injury.

Dede had thrown the captain’s band at Opoku Agyemang who came in for him and the latter gave it to Ransford Osei, and as he walked out of the field he kicked a ball, an act which some saw as an altercation with the coach. But the Satellites captain is totally surprised at the turn of events.

“My action was only a reaction to the frustration I encountered when I sustained an ankle injury during the match, and as a result, I had to limp for the greater part of the game,” he said.

Ayew, who spoke to the Daily Graphic in the company of Kwesi  Nyantakyi, the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), referred to a confrontation he had with Hungary goalkeeper, Gulasci Peter, which resulted in the first goal for Ghana.

The youngster had gone into the fray with the goalkeeper after a Samuel Inkoom kick had created a melee in the Hungary, area which he (Ayew) won after a hard battle. As his kick was rolling into the net, Dominic Adiyiah added his touch to give Ghana the opener.

According to the Satellites skipper, the Hungary keeper stamped on his ankle during the struggle and he was never himself throughout the exchanges as the pain became so excruciating.

“I signalled the coach to pull me out because the pain was unbearable, but it appeared he did not see me.”

The situation really affected the Satellites, and the frustration grew worse after the Hungarians pulled a goal back.

“It will be absurd to behave rudely towards the coach when he has done nothing to warrant that, rather it was as a result of the frustration and the pain of losing the final match as I limped off the field. I am, therefore, totally shocked that this gesture has sent the wrong signals.

“Both me and coach are fine and working together and I pray to be fit for the final against Brazil on Friday,” he said.

Stories : Andy Quao