It is said that when people speak ill of you, live your life in such a way that nobody will believe them. This is the biggest lesson the Ayew Brothers have taught Ghanaians in their exploits in Ghana’s football. A lot of people spoke ill of both of them when they were given the opportunity to play in Ghana’s national team, the Black Stars. But they persevered, and their haters have turned lovers.
When Andre Dede Ayew first earned a call-up to the national team in 2008, many people criticised the decision to include him. The criticism went beyond the notion that he was not good enough. Some people said the only reason he was in the team was his father’s undue influence.
His father, Abedi Ayew Pele, and uncle, Kwame Ayew, had played for the Black Stars in the past. In fact, Abedi Pele is Ghana’s greatest football player of all time. In 2009, Andre Ayew led the under-20 side to conquer Africa and the world in the FIFA Under 20 World Championship in Egypt. His sterling performances ever since have silenced his critics, but when Jordan earned his call-up, the fire of criticism was once again stoked.
When Ghana played their first game against Uganda in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Gabon, Jordan Ayew’s performance again came under serious scrutiny. Some football pundits suggested that he should be axed from the team. When Ghana played against Mali, Jordan put up a brilliant performance. His cross was what Captain Asamoah Gyan headed to score the only goal of the match.
Yesterday, his splendid goal opened the scoreline in the quarter final match against DR Congo. His brother, Andre Dede Ayew, netted a well-taken spot kick to earn Ghana a place in the semi-finals of the competition. The Ayews have since been trending.
Apart from excelling to prove one’s critics wrong, the second lesson the Ayews have taught us is to judge people on their own merit. We are often too quick to associate people with others and judge them as such. Jordan and Dede are different from their father.
The third lesson is to focus on competence instead of where someone comes from. Recently, when ministers were about to be selected, some people put so much premium on ethnic and regional considerations and ignored the competencies of the people who were being selected to serve. There are 11 players on the field at a particular point in time. And Ghana has close to 30 million people. We have two players from the same family. Is this fair? Yes! When it mattered most, the two brought joy to the entire nation.
It will help us, as a nation, if at every point in time, we put our best talents forward instead of looking at where they come from, who they are related to, and which political colours they wear. The Black Stars are making us happy. We never ask about their ethnicity and which political party they belong. What matters is that they work as a team. And we must work as a team. Team Ghana!
Source: manassehazure.com
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Nice lesson
manase u are entitle to ur opinion okk. U are not a football fan and i want to make it clear to you that they have not dine anything. i am also entitle to my opinion .
Please learn the lessons presented in the piece because they are applicable in so many situations. You may not be kicking a ball on the field but in your corner you may be criticized unfairly for what you do for a living;do not crumble under the weight of criticisms; just keep at it and give it your best. In that way you turn your critics to admirers.
@ kwekwe....yes I agree with you.still Jordan k)ti p).😜💁🏽
The only goal Asamoah Gyan scored was a pinpointed assist onto his head by Jordan. Why are you not criticizing Gyan?
People are entitled to criticize where criticism is due. Just as these boys must be haled when they produce, they can also be held responsible when they are performing expectation. We are all accountable for our performance. To expect otherwise is either a hypocrisy or mere propaganda with words. By the way, they dont tell the world that these boys have not reap from the legacy of their father. We all do from from the legacy of our parents, good or bad. How many times have you use your father as a watchman to justify your hard work to your present situation?
This small boy Jordan one day grew up and had a big di(k and went after Amanda Aquah.
Mr. Azure, you don't need to know the mechanism of a watch before you can tell the time. Players are assigned specific roles in a team and when such roles are not being executed to perfection, we should be able to tell. Jordan is in the team to primarily score goals and if he's not executing that to perfection we should be able to tell him. Why are people not complaining about his brother?
Manasseh must also write on AGYARKO CASH.
Nice message Manasseh. I av learnt a lesson and I believe all Ghanaians must read nd learn. God bless you for the beautiful msg,very educative.