Veteran Coach Blasts Calls For The Return of Essien, Boateng & Ayew Brothers

Veteran Ghana coach Emmanuel Kwesi Afranie has rubbished calls for the return of key players like Kevin-Prince Boateng, Michael Essien and the Ayew brothers who have bowed out of international duties with the Black Stars. While Kevin Boateng has retired from the national team due to his supposed inability to combine both club and international duties due to health concerns, Andre wants to fully recover psychologically after claiming his relationship with some members of the Black Stars management team has deteriorated. His young brother Jordan wants to be assured of regular playing time before he makes a return to the team. Chelsea ace Michael Essien has asked to be excused from international duty since 2010 after suffering three career threatening injuries while playing for the West African giants. Calls for the immediate return of the quartet to enhance Ghana�s chances of qualifying to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil has grown incessant with the country�s sports minister Elvis Afriyie Ankrah the latest to virtually �beg� Essien to make a quicker than- expected return to the team. But the experienced former Hearts and Kotoko coach has rubbished calls for their return claiming they could be distraction figures. �This is not about the coach because all these players who have prematurely retired are boys who are not ready to and we need very committed people to play for the national team�. Afranie told Sunyani-based Suncity FM �If the player himself is saying he won�t come and and even have the guts to state when and where he wants to return then why do you force and beg them to come? he asked �If you have sons who are in the house with you and will reluctantly go or choose not to go on an errands they are clearly not true sons of the land and you need to send those who are ready to go even if they�ll go and lose than to send these non committed sons. Afranie�s outburst could spark another merry-go-round debate in the West African country. Michael Essien has hinted he could make a return in the potential World Cup decider against Zambia in September while the Ayew brothers are believed to be nearing a decision to return to the team. It is however unclear when AC Milan star Kevin-Prince Boateng will rescind his decision after several pleas.