Andre Ayew – My decision to quit Black Stars is not new

Ghana winger Andre Ayew says his decision to temporarily quit the Black Stars is not new as some players in the team have done the same in the past.

Taking a leaf from striker Asamoah Gyan’s book, the Marseille playmaker resigned from the national team on Tuesday citing worsened relationship with the management of the team.

The France-based player said his decision to retire temporarily will give him the chance to reinvigorate himself to be able to give off his best when he returns to the Black Stars.

“My decision is not novel. Some of my colleagues who have previously taken such decisions have returned more strongly and with vigour to serve the nation,” Ayew said.

“My decision is only to enable me pull myself together and motivate myself (in the circumstances in which I currently find myself) in order that I would return with a renewed fervor to assist my colleagues carry the cause of the national team to higher levels.”

Ayew looks to be comparing his situation with Gyan who temporarily quit the Black Stars in the wake of the criticism he had at the end of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

The UAE-based striker returned to the squad claiming he had recovered from the trauma of the criticism of the Nations Cup in Gabon & Equatorial Guinea.

The decision by the son of legend Abedi Pele comes in the wake of his exclusion from Ghana’s squad for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Andre Ayew was included in the squad but was subsequently dropped after he failed to arrive in time to be examined by the Ghana team doctors following a hamstring injury.

Ayew has scored four goals in 43 appearances for Ghana.