Black Stars captain Asamoah has broken his silence over why he decided to kick a penalty for Ghana despite vows that he would not take that responsibility again.
During a friendly match against the USA last Saturday, Gyan stepped up to take a penalty for the Black Stars for the first time in five years, and this raised debates on several platforms in Ghana.
However, the Turkey-bound striker says he wanted to ‘break the jinx’.
The former Sunderland striker hit the headlines again for missing a penalty, defying his self-imposed penalty exile to miss in the 2-1 reverse against USA over the weekend.
Gyan had promised his late mother not take spot kicks for the senior national team after being subjected to public ridicule and backlash following back to back miss in two years.
After missing perhaps, Africa’s best ever opportunity of reaching the World Cup semis when his penalty hit the crossbar against Uruguay in the final minute of the 2010 World Cup, Gyan would go on to miss a crucial penalty against Zambia, two years after the South Africa incident.
The Ghana all-time top-scorer claimed to have received an advice from his late mother never to take a penalty kick for Ghana again in regulation time and this, he had to abide for the past five years.
“No, I will no longer take penalty kicks for Ghana; my mother advised me not to take penalties again.
“And now that she is gone, I will like take this advice.” He said
However, on Saturday, when Acheampong was fouled and referee pointed to the spot, Ghanaians at the Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field and at home watching were shocked when Asamoah Gyan picked the ball to effect the kick.
‘’Honestly, I was not the one to kick the penalty but I just decided to shoot it.’’
‘’I wanted to break that jinx around me but unfortunately, it did not happen but am a man I needed to step up. Those who don’t step up are not recognized’’
Asked if he would continue taking penalties for the team, Gyan responded ‘’I cannot guarantee but I am focused on working hard for the nation’’.
SportsObama.com
