Former Youth and Sports Minister, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah has said that he regrets playing a pivotal role to ensure the return of German-born-Ghanaian, Kevin Prince Boateng to the Black Stars team after he had prematurely resigned.
Boateng’s former team-mate Sulley Muntari, Ghana FA President Kwesi Nyantakyi, ex-Ghanaian international Tony Baffoe and politician Yaw Boateng Djan all played a part in convincing the former AC Milan playmaker to return but Elvis insist that was a “bigger mistake” ever committed.
According to him, the Schalke 04 midfielder’s behaviour in Brazil towards Kwesi Appiah was opprobrious after describing him as an “indiscipline player”.
He believes the Black Stars without Kevin Prince Boateng would have performed brilliantly in the on-going FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
“I think we [Ghana] could have done without people like that [referring to Kevin] and I am been very frank,” he said.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) sacked Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Ali Muntari from the Black Stars camp in Brazil.
The two have been suspended indefinitely from the team for insubordination during Ghana’s shameful World Cup tournament in Brazil.
Whilst Muntari’s suspension followed an unprovoked physical attack on an Executive Committee member of the GFA, Moses Armah during a meeting, that of Boateng followed after his vulgar verbal insults targeted at coach Kwesi Appiah during the team’s training session in Maceio.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana programme Elvis Afriyie Ankrah noted that, there was discipline among the squad until the return of K.P Boateng.
“This is the team I have been with throughout the qualifiers and there was always harmony and unity in camp. We have differences but we always negotiate to solve that amicably. He [Prince Boateng] has a different culture orientation so there is a way we relate to him,” he said.
Adding that, “Black Stars blew away the World Cup chances due to rowdiness and that breaks my heart. I just can’t understand them [Players]. This was our chance. Despite some faults from us, the players did not see the bigger picture that they had the whole world stage and there was so much promise”.
His assertion adds up to coach Kwesi Appiah’s reason to omit Kevin Prince Boateng in the future.