Monday, 19th September, 2022 (1)

DAILY ANALYST
Monday, 19th September, 2022 Page 11
Andre Ayew to break
Asamoah Gyan's
record as Ghana’s
most capped player
Al Sadd star Andre
Ayew is only three
games away from becoming
Ghana's most
capped player.
The former Swansea City and
West Ham midfielder is currently
second, two behind current record
holder Asamoah Gyan (109),
and is set to catch his former
teammate this month.
Ghana will play pre-World
Cup friendlies against Brazil and
Nicaragua, and Ayew will play
in both games as the Black Stars
technical team approaches the
game with seriousness.
The two games will tie him
with Gyan, but he will surpass
the former Sunderland man
before the World Cup starts, as
the Black Stars have a friendly
against Switzerland scheduled.
Ayew made his 100th appearance
for Ghana in November
2021, scoring the only goal
against South Africa in a crucial
World Cup qualifying match in
Cape Coast.
“It’s been an honour of a lifetime
to play for my country and
a blessing to be able to get 100
caps. Thanks to all players and
coaches who have helped me all
the way. Thanks also to the GFA
and the Minister of Sports. God
bless our homeland Ghana and
make us Great and Strong,” said
Ayew after the game.
Ayew made his debut for
Ghana as a teenager in 2007
and has worked his way up to
captain the four-time African
champions.
Ayew has 23 goals to go along
with his 106 appearances.
With 10 goals, he is Ghana's
all-time leading scorer in the
Africa Cup of Nations.
Since his appointment as
captain in 2019, Ayew has shown
exemplary leadership that
should be emulated.
“I’ve always had pressure,
expectancy to deliver and lead –
ever since I was a kid,” Ayew said
in 2020.
Ayew led Ghana to become
the first and only African country
to win the World Cup at the
U-20 level.
It is still his greatest accomplishment,
and it motivates him
to aim for the main World Cup.
Ayew will captain Ghana
in Qatar, where the Black Stars
will attempt to become world
champions.
Ghana are in a difficult group
with Portugal. Uruguay and
South Korea.
Black Stars will begin their
campaign against Portugal on
November 24 before facing South
Korea four days later.
The African giants' final
group game is against Uruguay,
which Ghanaians see as a golden
opportunity to avenge their
quarter-final loss in 2010.
Vinicius Jr has said he
"won't stop dancing"
as he released an
emotional statement
in response to the
racist abuse he received from
the president of Spanish football
agents, Pedro Bravo.
When discussing the
Brazilian during a live broadcast
on controversial Spanish
channel El Chiringuito, Bravo
said: "You have to respect your
opponents. When you score a
goal, if you want to dance Samba,
you should go to sambodromo
in Brazil. You have to respect
your mates and stop playing the
monkey."
The Real Madrid ace has
since responded on Twitter,
releasing a powerful statement
via video that reads: "As long as
the colour of the skin is more
important than the brightness
of the eyes, there will be war.
"I have that phrase tattooed
on my body. I have this thought
permanently in my head. And
I have attitudes in my life that
turn this philosophy into reality.
"They say that happiness
bothers. The happiness of a black
Brazilian being successful in
Europe bothers much more.
"But my will to win, my smile
and the sparkle in my eyes are
much bigger than that. Don't
even try to imagine how much.
"They are dances to celebrate
the cultural diversity of the
world. Accept it! Respect it! Or
freak out… In any case, I will not
stop!
"I was a victim of xenophobia
and racism in one sentence. But
none of this started yesterday.
"Weeks ago, some people
started to criticize my
dancing. But the dancing is
not mine alone. They belong
to Ronaldinho, Neymar, Lucas
Paqueta, Griezmann, Joao Felix,
Matheus Cunha... Brazilian funk
singers and samba dancers,
Latin reggaeton singers, black
Americans.
"I come from a country
where poverty is very high.
Where people don't have access
to education. People often don't
have access to food!
Sports
'I repeat, racists: I won't
stop dancing!' - Vinicius Jr
"I don't usually come publicly
to rebut criticism. I am criticised
and do not speak. I am praised
and I do not speak either. I work!
A lot! On and off the field.
"I developed an app to help
educate children from public
schools. Without financial help
from anyone! I am building a
school with my name. And I will
do much more for education. I
want the next generations to be
prepared, as I am, to fight racists
and xenophobes.
"I always try to be an
exemplary professional and
citizen. But that does not
generate clicks, it does not engage
in social media. So the cowards
make up problems to attack me.
"The script always ends with
an apology or the typical 'I was
misinterpreted'. But I repeat
to you, racists: I will not stop
dancing. At the Sambadrome, at
the Bernabeu, wherever I want!
"With love and smiles from
someone who is very happy, Vini
Jr."
Many of Vinicius' team-mates
and friends have also come out in
support of the forward, including
Brazilian legend Pele and PSG
superstar Neymar.
Newcastle midfielder Bruno
Guimaraes, who has played
alongside the Real Madrid star
at international level, is another
to express his disgust at the
comments made by Pedro Bravo
and called for him to be arrested.
Franck Etouga officially leaves
Asante Kotoko to join Al-Masry SC
Cameroonian striker,
Franck Etouga Mbella
has officially completed
his transfer from Ghana
Premier League giants, Asante
Kotoko to join Al-Masry SC in the
Egyptian top-flight league.
Franck Etouga Mbella leaves
the Porcupine Warriors after
spending just a year at the Baba
Yara Sports Stadium where he
ended the season as the top
scorer of Asante Kotoko.
His 21 goals in the 2021/2022
campaign was instrumental in
helping Asante Kotoko to win
their first Ghana Premier League
title since the 2013/2014 season.
Real Madrid, meanwhile,
released the following statement
insisting that they will take legal
action against those responsible
for racism: "Real Madrid C. F.
condemns all types of racist
and xenophobic language and
behaviour in football, sport
and life in general, such as the
regrettable and unfortunate
comments made against our
player Vinicius Junior in the last
few hours.
"Real Madrid would like to
express its affection and support
for Vinicius Junior, a player who
regards football as an attitude
towards life through joy, respect
and sportsmanship.
"Football is the most global
sport there is and should be a
model of values and coexistence.
"The club has directed its
legal services to take legal action
against anyone who makes racist
remarks towards our players."
Vinicius has been a target of
racist abuse in Spain previously,
with the 22-year-old having
claimed he was abused during
a Clasico against Barcelona in
2021. He was also subjected to
alleged racist chants when facing
Mallorca in 2022, to which he
responded by dancing in front of
the opposition fans after scoring.
The Brazilian has been in fine
form this season, scoring five
and assisting three in his eight
appearances so far this term.
According to multiple reports,
Al-Masry SC paid $400,000 to
sign the red-hot striker from
Asante Kotoko.
Franck Etouga Mbella joined
the Porcupine Warriors before
the start of the 2021/2022 Ghana
Premier League after signing a
two-year contract.
"The Eighth Deal of the Green
Eagles ????????. Welcome to our
Cameroon international striker
Frank Etoga ????????, coming from
the Ashanti Kotoko club in the
Ghanaian city of Kumasi ????????
the stronghold of the Ashanti
tribes," Al-Masry SC posted on
their Twitter page.