Sammy Kuffour blasts 'incompetent' Ghana medics over Ayew's exclusion

Published on: 09 January 2013

By Ameenu Shardow

Samuel Osei-Kuffour has launched an astonishing attack on Ghana's medical team, implying that their incompetence is the reason why Andre Ayew failed to turn up for his injury to be assessed before he was axed from the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations squad.

The former Bayern Munich defender was speaking in the wake of Ayew's exclusion from the Black Stars squad for the tournament in South Africa insisting the doctors cannot be trusted.

The injured Marseille midfielder failed to join the Black Stars camp in Abu Dhabi on scheduled time claiming he was being attended to by his doctors.

The Ghana team had however assured the 23-year-old of quality treatment of his injury once he joins the Black Stars camp in the UAE.

Ayew nevertheless failed to join the side despite having his reporting deadline extended - prompting his exclusion from the provisional squad.

And Kuffour, who is not to in favour of Ayew's exclusion, says there should have been a compromise as the Black Stars medical team have proved incompetent in the past.

“Let’s ask ourselves whether the medical staff of the FA and the medical staff of Marseille get in touch and to discuss the issue as to what was going on,” the former Bayern Munich star said.

“This shouldn’t be a problem. We want the boy to play for us and for me I think he is one of the best players in our team.

“So we should have come to a compromise whether if the medical staff will be flown there to go and see or they will take Dede there and that will solve the problem.

“For me it is very sad not to see Dede play in the African Cup.

"For me honestly, our doctors here (in Ghana) I don’t trust them, if you tell me , I don’t trust them.

“I remember when we went to Egypt for the Cup of Nations, Asamoah Gyan was having a problem and they wanted him to play and you could see that the guy couldn’t play.

“The same thing happened to Shilla Illiasu here (2008) so if Dede says he wants to see his doctor I don’t see anything wrong with it.

“It is his future. So many players play for Black Stars and when they got injured nobody cared for them again.

“So if he says he wanted to see his doctors for him to have a good health for us I don’t see the problem.”

Kuffour’s stinging comments are likely to spark some discontent in the Black Stars medical team headed by Dr Baba Adam.

The Ghana team led by coach Akwasi Appiah has already stressed on selecting only fit players for major tournaments such as the Africa Cup of Nations.

What do you think of Sammy Kuffuor's comments on Ayew's exclusion?

Are the Ghana team doctors to be blame for Ayew exclusions?

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