Kevin Boateng will be cancerous to Black Stars – Kwabena Yeboah

President of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana, Kwabena Yeboah, says Black Stars Coach Kwesi Appiah should not invite Kevin Prince-Boateng back into the national team because he could be divisive and cancerous to the team.

Last Monday, Spanish side Barcelona shocked the footballing world by announcing the signing of Boateng on an initial 6-month loan with an option to buy at the end of the season.

Kevin Boateng’s move to Barcelona has also reignited a five-year debate in Ghana: the small matter of whether or not he should be invited back into the senior national team, the Black Stars.

On the face of it, this should be a no brainer, why? Because Kevin Boateng’s talent is obvious to see. He may not be a Messi or Ronaldo but the guys at Barcelona are no fools. They clearly know a good footballer when they see one and if they think Boateng is good then surely he must be also good for the Black Stars.

The thorny issue though is that Boateng is serving an indefinite suspension from the Black Stars for his role in the now infamous Brazil 2014 World Cup debacle.

Boateng and Sulley Muntari were identified as the chief culprits who instigated a standoff between players and officials at the World Cup over appearance fees and literally held the nation to ransom until government flew over $3m to settle the issue. Boateng was also accused of verbally assaulting the coach (Kwesi Appiah), and branding him incompetent.

His disciplinary record is something the respected Kwabena Yeboah believes makes it a bad decision to allow him back to the national team.

“Yes he[Kevin] is playing well, but what people forget is that if you are constituting a team, it is not about who can play but it is also about temperament and discipline. You do not need a character who will be cancerous to the dressing room because it is a collective effort,” the veteran sports journalist said on Joy Sports Link, Saturday.

“But people have a divergent opinion and I am not going to argue with anyone. If the manager of the team decides that going forward he wants him [Kevin] to be part of the team so be it but if I was in charge there would be absolutely no way.”

Kevin has been capped 15 times by Black Stars and has scored two goals since his debut against Latvia in 2010.

He has played in two FIFA World Cups (2010 & 2014) with Ghana, making his World Cup debut during the 2010 edition in South Africa.