“A special player is a special player” — Anim Addo on Thomas Partey’s importance

 

Ghanaian football agent and Sports Administrator Samuel Anim Addo has revealed that he never backed the return of Otto Addo as head coach of the Black Stars, citing concerns over leadership and player management.

In an interview with the media,  former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council member, criticized Otto Addo’s handling of the captaincy situation involving Thomas Partey and Mohammed Kudus. Samuel Anim Addo further explained that without Thomas Partey’s leadership and quality in midfield, the national team struggles significantly.

“I didn’t believe that he needed to continue. I didn’t believe because during our time, there was a point he said he wouldn’t coach again, he wanted to go to Dortmund. So we went in for another coach. Now, after things have gone bad, we want to bring him back again, even though the dressing room was already lost.

“This captaincy issue between Kudus and Thomas Partey, and the coach now saying he doesn’t need Thomas it’s a problem. Without Thomas Partey in our midfield, we are in trouble. When we reach that level, we need to manage the situation better.” He said.

Anim Addo also used the opportunity to defend Thomas Partey’s absences from the national team in Ghana’s games against Angola and Niger, explaining the delicate situation the player faced regarding his fitness and club contract. According to him, better communication and public relations strategies should have been employed to protect Thomas Partey during that period.

“Sometimes people don’t understand the game. During those matches when people were calling Thomas and attacking him for not coming to play, they didn’t realize he had just recovered from injury. He also knew his contract was ending soon, with only a few months left in the season. You expected him to come and risk injury on this tough African terrain with all the hard tackles? If he got injured again, he might not get a new contract, and if you’re not careful, he could have ended up not playing again.

“We should have supported him instead  done good PR for him, explained to the fans that he couldn’t come. He could have spoken to the boys to encourage them to fight for all of us.” He stateed

Describing Partey as irreplaceable, Anim Addo said, “A special player is a special player. Without Thomas in our midfield, we are in trouble. We should all pray for him to stay fit.”

Source: Elvisanokyenews.net