Many tongues have been wagging over the issue of Gyan’s customized armband which he wore during Ghana’s Sunday clash with Ethiopia…
Various social media platforms have been abuzz with fans’ reactions to Asamaoh Gyan’s spotting of a personalized captain armband during Ghana’s AFCON qualifier against Ethiopia on Sunday, 11th June, 2017, at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
The Black Stars Skipper had appeared for the game, wearing an armband specially made the him. The captain armband, although designed in the national colours of green, red and gold, had Gyan’s portrait painted on it.
More interestingly, the Black Stars captain failed to hand over the band to his deputy, Andre Ayew on leaving the pitch, when he was changed for Abdul Majeed Waris in the second half of the game. Instead, another captain armband, precisely the original one, was provided from the bench and handed over to Ayew on request.
This has therefore left football fans wondering what inspired Asamoah Gyan’s actions, with many giving the captain’s act their own diverse interpretations, most of which is the long-held speculation that there is a rift between him and his deputy, Ayew.
In an interview after the Ghana vs Ethiopia match, Black Stars Coach Kwesi Appiah defended his team captain Asamoah Gyan, on the personalized armband issue. He also debunked claims that there are captaincy scuffles going on in the team.
According to Kwesi Appiah, the armband was customized with Gyan’s image on it; and for that reason, it cannot be given to Ayew to wear. Mr. Appiah revealed that they had earlier planned to give Ayew the original band in case Asamoah was changed in the course of the game; adding that that should not be an issue.
“There is nothing going on in the team, there is so much peace and unity… The idea was to give Dede the officially provided one. Asamoah Gyan is the captain of the team and if he wants to wear a customized armband, I don’t see anything wrong with it. For me captaincy should not be an issue.”
Mr. Appiah went ahead to explain that he had told the team ahead of the game that every player is a captain on the pitch. According to him, “the goalkeeper is a captain because he controls the defenders, they are also captains of the midfielders and the midfielders who are also captains of the attackers”.
The second-time Black Stars coachalso commended the Black Stars comportment, pointing out that he witnessed an unprecedented discipline among the team players this time around.
Prior to the Ghana vs Etiopia clash, Asamoah Gyan’s international score records was standing at 49 goals in his appearances for the Ghana national team. There was therefore, every tendency that the Black Stars skipper will score in the match ahead – a goal that will make him hit the landmark 50-goal record for Ghana.
The armband was therefore designed specially to celebrate the Ghanaian all-time top scorer who also doubles as Africa’s highest World Cup scorer at the moment.
As expected, Gyan netted the opening goal, just 11 minutes into the game, landing him the much anticipated honour. The Al-Ahli talisman took advantage of Thomas Agyapong’s cross from the left, coolly nodding the ball into the net.
In addition to Gyan’s customized armband, T-shirts were also specially designed ahead of the Black Stars clash with the Ethiopian Walias to celebrate the feat, with fans spotting the shirts after the match.
Also reacting to the controversy on his personalized armband, Asamoah Gyan wondered why Ghanaians preferred to be bothered by an armband instead of concentrating on celebrating the Black Stars outstanding victory in the match.
“That is what I heard which is quite strange that people are making comments about this armband thing after a huge win.”
The Black Stars skipper wondered why “anything Asamoah Gyan does becomes an issue”, pointing out that Inter Milan’s Zanetti and Icardi, as well as Sergio Ramos had all flaunted customized armbands in some of their matches. He concluded by saying that we should be happy with the fact that we won at the end of the day.
The Sunday clash which is Ghana’s first outing in the 2019 African Cup of Nations tournament, marked a good beginning for the Black Stars, after they trashed the Ethiopia 5-0. The team is really working hard towards ending the country’s miserable 35-year long trophiless campaigns.
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