Jordan Ayew: My Father’s Legacy Made Difference

Black Stars forward, Jordan Ayew, has admitted that being a son of legendary Abedi Ayew Pele has brought immense pressure on his footballing career.

Jordan, who plays for English Premiership side, Crystal Palace, believes his career would not have been an easy one if he did not bear the name Ayew.

The Ayew legacy

The 29-year-old attacker has been in splendid form since joining Palace from Swansea City in 2018. He netted nine goals in the English Premier League last season to help his side finish 14th.

In an interview with Daily Mail, Jordan noted that people expect more from him whenever he plays for the national team due to his family ties.

“There is pressure with being an Ayew, of course,” he said. “Whenever you go somewhere, people just say, 'It's because of his dad.”

“Do I ever think my career would have been easier if I wasn't an Ayew? It would certainly have been different.

Pressure from fans

“People back home expect a lot from us,” he stressed. “Sometimes when I play for the national team, I see my family in the stadium and I see their faces — it's like they have more pressure than us.

“Sometimes, my mum and aunties can't watch because they hear the comments of people around them — it's just a football game,” he revealed.

Commendation
Jordan is the third of three sons in the Ayew family. His senior brother, Andre, plays for Swansea City in the English Championship, while Ibrahim features for FC Europa in Gibraltar.

He hailed his father for raising the bar and setting a standard for them to aspire to beat those football records.


“But I'm really proud to be part of this family. Dad has raised the bar so high. He has made us proud and raised the family to a new level.

“It isn't always easy for us guys coming from behind to represent, though we are trying our best to keep our family name as high as possible,” he added.

Source: graphiconline.com