By: Roberta Gayode Modin
Multiple award winning gospel musician and Philanthropist, Sonnie Badu has called on Ghanaians to celebrate heroes like Abedi Pele while he is alive.
Speaking on the GTV Breakfast Show, Mr. Badu lamented how the state has failed to honour the remarkable achievements the Ghanaian football gem has chalked over the years.
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“No, does he go to the park? When the Black Stars are playing, do you see Abedi Pele there? Of course, he does not show up. Perhaps he’s bitter. Perhaps we’ve hit him so hard; he wants to stay away,” Sonnie Badu stated when Kafui Dey asked him if he thinks the state has recognised Abedi Pele enough.
Abedi Pelè is considered one of Africa’s greatest players of all time. He played as an attacking midfielder for the national team. He holds the record for having scored 159 goals out of 479 appearances from 1980 to 2000.
These remarkable records were marred by two scandals: firstly, an alleged Second Division promotion play-off bribery, and secondly, a Second Division promotion playoff zone III, of which the latter allegation was dismissed by the Appeals Committee of the Ghana Football Association on grounds of irregularities in judgment. Abedi Pele’s wife, Maya Ayew, was also banned from football for manipulation scandals.
Even though Abedi Pele is currently not directly involved in Ghana’s football, his sons, the Ayew brothers, are continuing their father’s legacy on the national team.
