The actual motive behind Asamoah Gyan’s US penalty kick was revealed by the Black Stars skipper himself…
The criticisms and tongue-lashing had gotten so much that Black Stars skipper Asamoah Gyan decided to prove by all means to critics that he is good.
31-year-old Asamoah has revealed the actual reasons why he rescinded his resolve to never take penalty kicks for Ghana’s national team. Apparently, the skipper wanted to break the seeming penalty jinx which has haunted him for years. The Black Stars captain has been in the news for days for wasting a penalty kick against the United States of America in an international friendly.
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Ghana who were trailing 1-0, were awarded a penalty on the stroke of half-time after Frank Acheampong was brought down in the box. However, Gyan who stepped forward in the 18-yard box saw his kick saved by the USA’s goalkeeper -yet another failed penalty kick by the Black Stars skipper.
Subsequently, Gyan more or less redeemed himself with a world-class free kick in the second half. The game which should have ended with a draw, saw the Yankees end with a 2-1 lead against the Black Stars.
While Gyan’s outstanding free kick saved Ghana some shame, Ghanaians still, have been on the skipper’s case for not just wasting the penalty, but for breaking his vow, hence taking them for granted.
Asamoah Gyan announced not to ever take penalties for Ghana in November 2012, as a pledge to his late mother. Gyan’s vow came after he missed a crucial penalty in the 2012 AFCON semis defeat to eventual winners Zambia.
There was also the indelible 2010 incident were Gyan’s last penalty miss robbed Ghana of a historic FIFA World Cup Semi-Final title. Gyan in 2010 missed a penalty that would have seen Ghana go down in history as the first African country to play in World Cup semis. The 31-year-old was Ghana’s first choice penalty taker until he missed the two crucial spot kicks.
It was the dreadful incidents which still haunt the skipper that led to his resolve never to take penalties for Ghana. However, the skipper went back on his word to the surprise of many. Gyan stepped forward to take the spot kick against U. S, after five years break; but still failed, as his kick was unfortunately saved.
In a recent interview, the Black Stars skipper revealed he was not the one to kick the penalty, but suddenly decided to go for it. The reason for his abrupt move he explained, was to end the long-lived ‘jinx’. But unfortunately for him, he failed in that quest.
But the Black Stars captain has put these mishaps behind him, as he warms up for his coming games at new club Kayserispo. The 31-year-old signed a two-year deal with the Turkish side on July 5, 2017. The Turkish club has an option to renew Gyan’s contract by one year per his performance.
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