Andre Ayew lectures to Psychology students at University of Ghana

The 2009 U-20 FIFA World Cup winner spent time sharing some lessons and experiences he has gathered, emphasizing how he dealt with the successful and low moments in his career.

The lecture, held on Friday, July 12, 2024, is part of a series of practical studies put together by Dr. Collins Badu Agyemang, Psychology Lecturer and facilitator for the Sports Psychology class, to give students an applicable aspect to the theory.

Dr. Agyemang, who is also the Director for the Pan-African Doctoral Academy at Legon and National President of the Ghana Psychologists Association (GPA), has succeeded in bringing industry professionals to the class, and Andre Ayew was the first active player to grace the memorable lecture.

The former West Ham player, who has 17 years of experience playing at the highest level in football, opened up about how he understudied different players in the Black Stars and at the club level to sharpen his leadership skills and mental toughness.

“It is a huge responsibility, something that you need to be really prepared for mentally. It is not about being the leader of a football nation but being the leader of millions of people who look up to you, your behaviour, the way you talk, anything you do. Anything that happens in your life is out there in the media.”

As a player whose path to becoming a leader came with years of hard work, criticism, and a thirst for success, Andre Ayew emphasized that it was necessary for him to become the knot that ties the Black Stars together to achieve a specific goal irrespective of the cracks within.

“Being a leader means you have to be strong mentally, believe in your convictions, but most importantly, be able to unite a whole group to follow one goal. Just like in the classroom, we can all be classmates, but it doesn’t make us best friends, but we have to achieve one goal,” Andre Ayew stated.

Reminiscing how time has beautifully architected his career, the son of the Maestro, Abedi Ayew Pele, said, “It’s an honour when I look at all these pictures every time and all that you have been through to get here. It makes you realize that everything is possible in life if you have the determination and never give up spirit. Every time I see this, it is even a dream. The pressure to get here has been massive. Being in the national team is an honour you have to embrace and not let it overshadow you.”

The 2011 BBC African Footballer of the Year urged the students not to bow to pressure in their quest to become successful because it is part of the phases of life which cannot be skipped.

“It is not just in football but everything around you. Whatever you want to do, there will always be pressure when there is a lot to do,” Andre Ayew said, adding, “But if you want to achieve anything, then you will have to be able to deal with pressure because that is where the real work starts.”

“All this is part of me growing up and part of me becoming the man I wanted to be because after football there is more life to face and other things I, as a person, want to achieve in football,” the former Marseille player said in his submission.

Dr. Agyemang and his Psychology students honoured Andre Ayew with a plaque, citation, and gifts from the University of Ghana.