Sports
Ghana’s Gyan Hungry For More Glory
It is ironic that Asamoah Gyan was once again being hailed as an unlikely hero throughout Ghana after scoring the late penalty that saw off Serbia 1-0 in Group D. It was not long ago that the Rennes striker almost walked out of the Black Stars team after overwhelming public criticism.
In the run-up to the 2008 CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Ghana, as hosts, were feeling all of the pressure of expectation, and despite being just 22 years of age, Gyan was singled out as the weakest link in the side. After things reached fever pitch, he had his bags packed and was ready to leave the team, only to be persuaded to stay at the last minute. And though he was clearly shaken, he set aside his nerves to score the first goal of the event from the penalty spot.
But then, the Accra native has been scoring significant goals for his country from the very start, tallying on his international debut to seal victory in a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Somalia, just days before his 18th birthday. In fact, he has opened the Black Stars’ account at each of the last four major tournaments, including against the Czech Republic at Germany 2006, Ghana’s long-awaited first world finals.
“If you see the past record, I was the first guy to score for Ghana in the World Cup – ever,” he told Tidesports source proudly. “And I was the first guy to score in 2008 in the opening game. And I scored [Ghana’s] first goal in the 2010 African Cup of Nations. This World Cup I was going there to just make sure I keep doing what I have been doing. I was saying to myself, ‘if you score once again you can be the happiest man’, you know. So when I was playing I was just concentrating, and I knew, I knew, I would score. I knew I would score, definitely.”
Scoring is what Gyan does best, so it is odd that before every tournament, observers wait for another rising Black Star to take his place leading the attack. But a classy Cup of Nations earlier this year – he registered three goals, including two match-winners in the knock-out rounds, to be named in the team of the tournament for the losing finalists – and a fine season in Ligue 1 has left the former Udinese player brimming with self-belief.
“I’ve scored quite a lot of goals with my club and with the national team, and I’ve regained my confidence,” said the man who now has a strike rate of one goal in every other one of his 40 internationals. “For a lone striker to be scoring all the time boosts your confidence.”
Gyan is not only growing in stature on the pitch, he has become a one of the “elder statesmen” in what is the youngest team at South Africa 2010. But he sees his role as less task master than jester. “I’m the leader,” revealed Gyan with a sly smile. “I’m the one who leads the singing. It makes people happy. I make people laugh to forget about football. Sometimes there might be pressure on you, but if you just forget it, you will gain confidence.
“We are really enjoying it because, for me, this is my second time at a World Cup and I’m the funniest guy in the team, you know. So I make people laugh, it’s fun when we are together,” he added. While saying that the relaxed attitude is what makes the team close – the players even keep tabs on each other via phone during their long European club seasons – Gyan is quick to point out that this version of the four-time African champions has a bite behind its smile. He credits the 3-0 second-round loss to Brazil at Germany 2006 with teaching the side a lesson.
“We learned a lot of things against Brazil,” he said, when comparing this team to four years ago. “I think this time we went in calm and relaxed because we had studied before, so we knew what we were going to do. I think there is a big difference in that we’ve gained a bit of experience in the World Cup.”
Gyan also dismisses the idea that pressure may now creep into the team after the surprise sprung on Serbia, a team many tipped as dark horses in the tournament. “We are better in the world now, too,” he explained again looking back over four years of growth. “In 2006 we did quite well, we went to the next stage, but this time Ghanaians are expecting more from us. That is why we are also going like wounded lions. Like a wounded lion, you know? So I’m hoping we just qualify for the next stage and then we see what happens from there.”
Hon Dike who spoke with sports journalists shortly after the flag off the 2024 edition of Chairman’s Football Unity Tournament at Botem Tai in Tai LGA, said the tournament is an annual event to promote peace and unity in Tai as well identify budding talents in the area for global competition.
The opening ceremony of the tournament was more like a carnival was witnessed by huge crowd including prominent indigenes of Ogoni Kingdom, sports lovers and people from all works of life.
The LGA boss revealed that special sports committee will be setup in the area to work out modalities to strengthen sports development in Tai.
He advised the participants in the tournament from various wards in the LGA to play the game by the rules and conduct themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner and use the opportunity to showcase their talents.
Hon Dike further disclosed that his administration will also give priority attention to skills development among the youth to enhance their human capacity and promote enterprise development in the area.
Earlier in his address the Chairman of Tai LGA Football Council, Elder Wisdom Gorgor said the annual football competition has been a unifying factor in Tai LGA that need to be sustained to forge more unity and development in the area.
He urged the participants to see the competition as an opportunity to embrace football as a full career and earn sustainable livelihood.
Elder Gorgor who commended the Chairman of Tai LGA, Hon Dike for his visionary leadership and tremendous development achievements recorded in the LGA under his administration, appealled to the Chairman to build a Mini Sports Stadium in the area to promote sporting activities.
The training was held at the Sani Abacha Stadium Indoor Basketball Court in Kano last Saturday.
According to the Vice President and Head of NBA Nigeria, Gbemisola Abudu, the event was part of the league’s commitment to growing broader basketball ecosystem in Nigeria and making the game more accessible across the country.
“Our first Jr. NBA clinic in Kano speaks to our commitment to growing the game in Nigeria and creating more opportunities for boys and girls to learn and play the game,” Abudu said.
“Nigeria has a rich basketball history and abundance of talent, which is evident every time you watch an NBA game. We look forward to continuing to engage with basketball stakeholders, business leaders and members of the community to further the game’s reach and impact on young people around the country,” she added.
The 2024 basketball initiative clinics of NBA Nigeria also included the league’s inaugural Jr. NBA elite camp for 150 boys and age-16 girls held at the American International School in Lagos in July.
Others include the NBA’s building of 1,000 courts in Africa over the next decade, Nigeria’s Festival Coins and Salubata named the top two winning businesses at NBA Africa Triple-Double Accelerator’s inaugural Demo Day in New York City held last September, and the third edition of “NBA Meets Art,” a curated installation celebrating basketball through the lens of Nigerian art and culture as part of West Africa’s premier art fair Art X Lagos, held in November.
Central to this vision is the federation’s investment in capacity building, evident in the just-concluded one-week Level 1 Badminton World Federation (BWF) Coaching Course, which marked a significant milestone for Nigerian badminton.
Held in Abuja, the course brought together 13 young coaches from across Nigeria. The last time such a course was held in the country was in 2017, making this a historic and transformative step.
The training was facilitated by the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) in partnership with the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) and conducted by Dr. Ahmed Radah, the BCA Development Manager.
Radah, impressed by the talent he witnessed, praised Nigeria’s potential.
“Nigeria is blessed with immense talent and a strong badminton tradition. I believe this country has what it takes to dominate on the global stage,” he remarked.