Ghana’s football legend Abedi Pele must really be a proud father watching his son Andre Ayew stoutly leading the national Under-20 team Black Satellites to shine so brilliantly in the ongoing African Youth football Championship in Kigali, Rwanda.

With one draw and two victories, the Satellites have qualified for the last four of the tournament and thus earning automatic qualification for the forthcoming Junior World Cup in Egypt.

Those of us who had the privilege of seeing Abedi Pele in action from his colts days in the mid seventies and his determined effort to play first division football via Real Tamale United that culminated in his forced entry into the national team by his mentor the late FA boss S.K.Mainoo, can testify that Andre Ayew is a carbon copy of his father. The gurus would describe this as a chip off the old block.

The slight difference may be that Abedi was faster on the ball at his age than his son. Andre has got his father’s courage to go through the roughest of tackles and he uses his head pretty well. Those who still have fond memories of the Black Stars brilliant show in the 1992 Cup of nations in Senegal would recall that splendid Abedi header against the Super Eagles of Nigeria that contributed to Ghana’s victory that day. Andre Ayew’s headed equalizer against Cameroon in Kigali last week was quite similar.

I say congrats to Abedi Pele for coming out with such a healthy product that would contribute immensely to making the Abedi Pele family a real football family. I learn there is another sibling making the waves in France and it should be no surprise if he soon dons the jerseys of the national Under-17 team Black Starlets. From all indications the Ayew brothers could emulate the great football family tradition of the Paha brothers (PSK, Isaac and Collins) from Sekondi, who dominated the national football landscape in the 70s and 80s.

Andre is lucky that he has been wholeheartedly accepted by the coaches and made captain of the junior team. His father was not that lucky. The snag is there was no age group competitions at his time and certain coaches felt he was too young to be pushed into the Black Stars. Even though the youngster made a lot of difference in the team whenever the coaches reluctantly fielded him as a substitute, they managed to find fault claiming that he spoiled formations. A remark that made my colleague Joe Aggrey ask what formation the coaches were teaching and this became a big feud between sports journalists and the technical men for some time.

It is the prayer of football fans that Andre Ayew will comport himself well both on and off the field and try to match his father’s long service to the nation as a footballer of repute. The Junior African championships in Rwanda and the Junior World Cup in Egypt could be a good starting block for Ayew’s road to international stardom.

At this juncture Coach Sellas Tetteh who has guided the Black Satellites to such a brilliant show in Rwanda deserves praise. The nation should be proud of his dedication to his job. Any team that shows progress after each match owes a lot to the men on the bench and Sellas should take credit for the Satellites two victories on the trot over Mali and Rwanda after a shaky 1-1 draw with Cameroon. Ransford Osei, Gladson Awako, Ayew and Co reminds one of the brilliant exposition by Emmanuel Duah, Odartey Lamptey, Yaw Preko and Co. of Starlets 91 .Sellas who had a rather stormy stint with the senior national team Black Stars, appears to be quite at home with the Satellites and the Football Association must feel satisfied that it took the right decision by insisting on him handling the Satellites despite media agitation on the contrary.

I am sure if all coaches felt at ease with the teams they handle, the musical chairs among coaches in the Ghana premier league would be minimized. Within a short period of time there have been four dramatic changes in the technical direction of four clubs.

David Duncan formerly of Ashgold who left for South Africa is back home and with Tema Youth; Bashiru Hayford formerly of Asante Kotoko is now with Kessben; Enoch Edusei has left Kessben and surprise, surprise Isaac Opeele Aboagye has left Tema Youth as head coach to be assistant to Belgian Maurice Coreman of Asante Kotoko.

I have been told on authority that Johnson Smith is still on the technical bench of Kotoko as number three man. One may say too many cooks spoil the broth but in this case the argument is “three heads are better than one”.

This swift transfer of coaches is an interesting development in the history of Ghana football and I want readers to help me analyse this phenomenon. I keep on saying that this sporting world is full of excitement and thrills.

Cheers everybody and keep loving sports.