- Andre Ayew, Ashley Fletcher and Hammers coaches took part in Betway Ghana launch
- Forwards received a heroes' welcome in Accra
- Ayew has been capped 67 times by Ghana and is his country's vice-captain
Andre Ayew and Ashley Fletcher received a heroes’ welcome during a successful three-day trip to Ghana with Betway.
West Ham United’s principal partner Betway took Ghana national team star and vice-captain Ayew and fellow forward Fletcher to Accra as part of the global online gambling company’s activation in the West African country.
The players were joined in the Ghanaian capital by West Ham’s Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke and First-Team Sports Scientist Tom Taylor.
Ayew and Fletcher were kept busy during their stay, meeting hundreds of fans at a series of events, including a Development Clinic for promising young footballers and autograph sessions at the first Betway Store in the Ghanaian capital and a local shopping mall.
The Hammers were also guests of honour at a Betway Ghana dinner attended by leading Ghanaian government and sports ministry officials and West Ham-supporting British High Commissioner to Ghana Jon Benjamin.
“It’s quite something for Betway, an international brand which has been operating in many regulated markets around the world, to finally be coming to Africa,” said Betway Ghana’s Anthony Prissman.
“Ghana is not our only African market as we are also operating in Uganda and Kenya, but this was the first time we have brought players from West Ham, where we are the Club’s principal partners, which we are very proud of. It’s the start of a journey Betway wants to be part of in the Ghanaian sports landscape.”
Having been capped 67 times by his country, appeared at six major tournaments and been named Ghanaian Footballer of the Year in 2011, it was no surprise that local supporters turned out in force to meet and greet Ayew, in particular.
“I’m very happy to be back home, to see my fans, my people, my family and especially to be here with Ashley and officials from my Club” said the 26-year-old, who is currently recovering from a thigh injury. “It was great to see so many young guys show up to greet us.”
The Development Clinic for promising young players was held at Lizzy Sports Centre – a complex founded by Accra-born former France defender Marcel Desailly – where Taylor put on a series of drills watched by coaches from many of Ghana’s top clubs.
“We spent the morning with some young players and putting on a training session for those guys which they really enjoyed,” said Taylor. “A lot of people came down to watch and take stuff from it, so it was brilliant and I really enjoyed it.
“The aim of the Club is to helped educate some of the younger coaches out in Ghana about some of the work we do at West Ham and offer them some things they can take away and put into practice when they are working with their players and their teams.”
Taylor and Vandenbroucke also spoke at the World Class Thought Leadership Seminar, sharing their expertise with representatives from the 20 Ghanaian Premier League and Division One clubs.
Ayew remained in Ghana to support his national-team colleagues in their opening 2018 FIFA World Cup Group E qualifier against Uganda in Tamale on Friday afternoon.