Reject valueless ‘general captain’ post – Baako to Gyan

Veteran newspaper journalist, Abdul Malik Kwaku Baako Jr has asked Asamoah Gyan to reject the general captaincy role conferred on him ahead of June’s Africa Cup of Nation to be held in Egypt.

Black Stars Coach, Kwasi Appiah on Friday named André Ayew as the permanent captain of the team, following a meeting with top brass of the Ghana Football Association’s Normalisation Committee.

Ayew replaces Asamoah Gyan, as captain of the Black Stars.

Gyan, who had captained the Black Stars for a record seven years had been elevated to the position of “General Captain” with Kwadwo Asamoah named the deputy captain.

Commenting on the appointments on News File, Baako Jr urged Gyan to decline the new role assigned him.

“This whole animal called general captain, Asamoah [Gyan] should have declined it. It is of no value…it is an animal of no value. I expect him to decline it,” he told host Samson Lardy Ayenini.

Gyan who is named in the Black Star’s provisional squad for the AFCON rescind his decision to retire from the national team after he was stripped of the captaincy, following the intervention of President Akufo-Addo.

“I have spoken to President Akufo-Addo in good faith and will now make myself available for selection by Coach Kwasi Appiah,” he stated in a short statement.

The President’s intervention, Baako Jr says would destroy the team’s morale, as a result he does not see the team lifting the trophy that eluded it for more than three decades.

“Honestly, it is a mess. This thing is a mess,” he said, adding, “When a presidential intervention appears to have been tailored to resolve issue of retirement, go back and play for your nation, there’s a certain element of patriotism and nationalism in there. But it is also potentially problematic when it comes to management of the human element in the team.”

I’m wondering if it is manageable, seriously…I’m not questioning the coach's decision because that’s his right.

“But the subsequent, events have created a real problem for management of the human elements when these boys go into camp and go onto the field to play. It is a real problem.

“The truth is that I’m not seeing too much prospect,” he noted.

Former GFA president Dr. Nyaho Nyaho Tamakloe said President Akufo-Addo’s intervention ended the Black Star’s chances at the AFCON.

“I can tell you with my experience in football as far back as my Hearts of Oak days in the eighties, this has totally destroyed our chances. Totally. I am telling you. They should forget about it.

“Other countries are not sleeping. Even Mauritius now and you go a battlefield with a fragmented front there’s no way you can win. This has totally destroyed Ghana’s chances,” he told Starr News’ Ibrahim Alhassan.