Black Stars Head Coach, Chris Hughton, has defended his decision to include Andre Ayew, who is currently without a football club, in his squad for Thursday’s crucial AFCON qualifier against the Central African Republic at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
According to Hughton, he is unconcerned about the public criticism surrounding the future of the 33-year-old in the National Team.
Andre Ayew joined his teammates in their first training session at the Accra Sports Stadium on Monday as Ghana aims to seal qualification for next year’s tournament.
The Black Stars captain is yet to play competitive football since leaving English Premier League club, Nottingham Forest last season.
Hughton told Accra-based Asaase Radio:
“Growing conception? It’s not something that means too much to me from my point of view as head coach. It’s about the squad that I want and the reasons for each player to be in the squad. So what is a perception outside? I don’t know. You know, and this is not my concern.”
“What I have to do is I have to pick a squad. And that squad can be made up of young, exciting players. They can be made up of perhaps more experienced players. There will always be in the general public, there will always be a lot of debate about who should be in the squad, who shouldn’t. And there are players. And Andre comes into a category.”
“We know that he hasn’t played as much, so we’re knowledgeable about the amount of games that he’s played. But I also know what he means by the squad. He’s a captain. I know what he gives the squad as regards. And anybody in the squad, it’s never just about their abilities. It’s about what they bring to the squad. Some have experience, some know how they can affect the other players. So for every player that’s in the squad, there is a reason.”
Ghana currently sits at the top of the Group E table with 9 points from 5 games, having won two and drawn three games in the Group.
The Black Stars will depart Accra for Kumasi on Tuesday in preparation for the crucial match against the Wild Beast of the Central African Republic.
So far, twenty players have reported to the Black Stars camp, with South Africa-based goalkeeper Richard Ofori and Crystal Palace attacker Jordan Ayew being the only two players who have not yet reported.