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| Andre Ayew © Backpagepix |
When your father is an African football legend it's hard to follow in his footsteps, but Ghana's rising star Andre Ayew is now making a name for himself at the Under-20 World Cup in Egypt.
The son of Abedi Pele, a three-time African Player of the Year
who won the European Cup with Marseille in 1993, Ayew will lead out
the Black Satellites in a quarterfinal against South Korea on
Friday, just 18 months after the teenager failed to cope with the
pressure and expectation of playing for host Ghana at the African
Cup of Nations.
"This tournament can really put me in the spotlight," the
19-year-old Ayew said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I
hope this competition, and the few months left until the winter
break, will be a springboard for me."
By the age of 18, Ayew was playing for Marseille in the
Champions League and representing Ghana at the African Cup of
Nations. However, he ultimately failed to deliver on his talents
and is currently playing on loan for Arles-Avignon in France's
second division.
"I was very young and had everything ahead of me, and perhaps I
didn't deal with the situation properly," Ayew said. "There was a
lot of pressure, that's true, but on the other hand I could have
handled things better."
A raw player in 2008, Ayew is thriving as Ghana's Under-20
captain in Egypt.
"I can't say I'm the most experienced player in the world
because I'm just 19, but the little I have I try to bring it into
the group," Ayew said, when asked what he brought to coach Sallas
Tetteh's team.
Playing behind two strikers, Ayew got the equalizer in Tuesday's
2-1 win against South Africa, scored from 25 yards (meters) in the
4-0 rout of England and almost got another with an acrobatic
backheel volley.
"That's the freedom I have in my mind now. I wouldn't have tried
that (volley) before," Ayew said.
His robust style and galloping runs from deep are a stark
contrast to the inhibited winger who struggled with Ghana's Black
Stars, or for Marseille two seasons ago.
"I was playing with apprehension, (trying) not to lose the
ball," said Ayew, who has 18 full caps. "(Tetteh) gives me the
freedom to do things. This freedom helps me to grow, and I need
that."
Ayew sprinted over and jumped into Tetteh's arms after scoring
against England - testimony that Tetteh is perhaps channeling the
natural talent Ayew inherited from his father.
Abedi Ayew, commonly known as Abedi Pele during his career, was
African Footballer of the Year (1991-93) and a pioneer of African
football, playing in Switzerland, Germany and France when African
players were less widely sought after.
Ayew does not duck questions about his father, but answers them
with pride.
"My father is a great man, he advised me a lot. He was there for
me during the tough times," said Ayew, who has a younger brother on
Marseille's books, and an older brother playing for Zamalek in
Cairo.
"I really hope I can impress (my father), because he is counting
a lot on me, my older brother, and my younger brother," Ayew said.
"I'm not in the same position as a lot of my friends, who have to
feed their families. We grew up in comfort, so the pride he has is
seeing his children play at the highest level."
When Ayew struggled at Marseille and was loaned to Lorient last
season, he was being played out of position. So his father advised
him to drop a division with Arles-Avignon, where he would be the
team's catalyst rather than a spare part.
With plenty of team scouts watching the Under-20s in Egypt, Ayew
knows that a good run for Ghana in the tournament could earn him a
move in January's transfer window and he makes no secret of his
ambition. "I want to get back to the highest level as quickly as
possible," he said.
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