Former Ghana international Rahim Ayew says the positional flexibility taught to him by his father, Abedi Pele, was central to his emergence at international level and his selection for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Ayew made his breakthrough during the inaugural African Nations Championship (CHAN) in 2009, entering a Ghana squad that included established domestic stars such as Charles Taylor. Although he did not expect to be handed an immediate starting role, the eldest son of the former Ghana great believed he had the ability to make a significant impression.
“Honestly, I knew I was going to make a lot of impact in the tournament. I had it at the back of my head: ‘this is my time.’ You going into a tournament, you see Charles Taylor… they’ve already made their name in the Premier League in Ghana.”
His opportunity was helped by an ability to operate in several positions, a quality identified by then-assistant coach Kwesi Appiah. Ayew said that, while the head coach viewed him primarily as a midfielder, Appiah understood that he could offer the team options across the pitch.
“When I saw I was starting, the coach saw me as a midfielder. But Kwesi Appiah also played a part, because he told the coach, ‘he plays everywhere.’ Sometimes as a right back, midfielder, right winger, left back, and left winger.”
That versatility had been developed during Ayew’s early career at Nania FC, where his father repeatedly moved him into unfamiliar roles. Abedi Pele’s approach meant Ayew was not restricted to one position and instead learned the demands of playing in different areas of midfield and defence.
“My dad taught mehe just went and put me at two, put me at six, because I started my whole career as a number six. But I’m grateful for that, because that was one of the key roles for me to go to the World Cup.”
The experience proved particularly valuable at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. Ayew became an important option for the Black Stars after captain Michael Essien was injured in Ghana’s opening group match against Cote d’Ivoire.
Ayew appeared throughout Ghana’s run to the final, playing alongside his younger brother, Andre Ayew, who would later become Black Stars captain. Rahim Ayew missed only the final match of the tournament.
“I started against Ivory Coast… The first game, I played 90 minutes. And then the next one, I came in for 15 minutes. And then against Angola, I came in. It was only the final that I did not play.”
By that stage, Ayew had made seven appearances for Ghana. His performances during the CHAN and Africa Cup of Nations period helped convince coach Milovan Rajevac to include him in the 23-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Ghana went on to reach the quarter-finals, becoming the first African side to progress that far at a World Cup since the tournament expanded to 32 teams. For Ayew, the journey from a domestic breakthrough to football’s biggest international stage had been built on his willingness to play wherever his team needed him.
