Abedi Disagrees with Rijkaard

Former three-time African Footballer of the Year, Abedi Ayew Pele, has voiced his disagreement with European football authorities who are lobbying for the shifting of the CAF continental showpiece. Speaking during the Afcon Trophy tour in Windhoek, the former midfield maestro took a swipe at Spanish giants, Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard’s recent hint in a TV interview that the tournament should be changed.

“I disagree with Rijkaard because we as the Confederation of African Football cannot push the Nations Cup to June or bring it earlier to January as he wants. We have enough problems to address already,” said Pele.

Stanbic Bank, co-sponsors of next year’s biennial tournament have appointed Pele, the Trophy Tour Ambassador where he is touring seven African nations where the bank operates.

Pele, ranked third in the list of African Players of the Century behind George Weah and Roger Milla, said he is aware of the situation that African players plying their trade in Europe are facing.

“At times it get’s painful. I remember being forced to play two matches in 24 hours, where one of the matches involved my national team and the other, my club. And in the end, it was my condition as a player that suffered.”

Currently, all over Europe, African footballers are having headaches on where to spend their winter break.

Barcelona last month admitted that the club had asked its African stars, Samuel Eto’o and Yaya Toure not to attend the continental championships.

Other European clubs are expected to put similar pressure on their African players; a move which Pele said may rob the tournament of its sparkle.

According to the Ghanaian, a member of the SA 2010 Bidding Committee, CAF cannot push it to June because it will be raining in most parts of the continent.

He said CAF is working on a new proposal that may not affect the African football leagues during the Nations Cup.

“We are looking at the prospect of changing the time only with regards to the hosting nation. There are chances that we will look at the hosting country first before we determine the kick-off dates. But it is still to be agreed on. Say, Angola is not raining in June, and then they can host the tournament that time.”

Pele added that players go under pressure from their national federations, family, friends and patriotism, as they struggle to find the best solution because their club career will be at risk.

Among other European sides, English giants, Chelsea are set to lose four top African players to the Nations Cup, from Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou (both Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Ghana) and Mikel John Obi (Nigeria), at the height of their league.