/ 23 May 2000

PELE, YEBOAH SNUB BLACK STARS

FORMER Ghanaian football captain Abedi Pele and fellow ex-international Tony Yeboah have rejected an invitation to re-join the national team. The Ghana Football Association invited the two to strenghten the Black Stars in their preparation for the 2002 World Cup qualifying series which will begin in June. In separate radio interviews in Accra on Monday, the two former stars reiterated their decision not to play for Ghana any more. Pele said much as he appreciates the concern of most of his fans he thinks it is time to hang up his boots and give way to other players who are “youthful and energetic to get Ghana the World Cup”. Yeboah, who plays for Frankfurt in Germany said he has gone back on his decision not to play for the Stars and nothing will make him change his mind. “In any case, I’m no longer the youthful and vigorous player I used to be, age is catching up with me and I can’t overlook that aspect,” he said.