QUARTER-FINAL URUGUAY v GHANA:The selfless attitude and non-stop running of lone striker Asamoah Gyan has impressed many watching clubs, writes MATT SPIRO
THERE WAS a sudden commotion in the lobby of the Royal Beach hotel in Accra. Journalists and Ghanaian players jostled to try to reach and speak to Asamoah Gyan and his brother, Baffour, who were standing, heads bowed, next to their packed suitcases as they awaited their taxi.
The two internationals had decided to walk out on their country in the middle of the Africa Cup of Nations.
This chaotic scene took place in January 2008. The Black Stars were hosting the tournament but struggling to live up to expectations. One of the main reasons for their difficulties was the poor form of first-choice striker Asamoah Gyan. He missed so many chances in the second game against Namibia, the fans and press had turned against him, and even his family were receiving threats. The pressure proved too great.
Ghana’s coach at the time, Claude Leroy, succeeded in defusing the situation, persuading Gyan and his supportive brother, who was a reserve player, to stay. The damage had been done, though. Asamoah Gyan was no longer in favour and had to play a supporting role as Junior Agogo, then of Nottingham Forest, spearheaded Ghana’s charge to the semi-finals.
This was the nadir of Gyan’s short career. Today’s World Cup quarter-final against Uruguay could well be the pinnacle.
Over the last two weeks, Ghana’s powerful, hard-working and dynamic forward has been unrecognisable from the sluggish, profligate player who looked so unhappy on home soil two years ago.
Gyan, like most of his team-mates, has been full of smiles in South Africa. He can afford to be cheery. After all, the 24-year-old’s coolly-struck penalties against Serbia and Australia earned the Black Stars a place in the last 16, and it was the Rennes striker’s stunning volley in extra-time that accounted for the United States last Saturday.
Remind Gyan about the dark old days and he chuckles as though he is being asked about a different person. Fitness, he insists, is the difference between then and now.
“In 2008, the supporters were very angry, but it wasn’t fair because I was playing with an injury,” he explained. “The criticism was hard to accept but it’s all forgotten now.”
Rennes nevertheless saw enough talent to spend €8.5 million in luring Gyan from Udinese. His hamstring and groin troubles continued, however, and after a dreadful first season in Brittany that produced just one goal he was facing the boo boys again.
“I know a lot of people doubted me,” the strapping forward said in Rustenberg this week.
“People were saying ‘he cost 8 million and he’s no good’. But I remember I said in an interview, ‘wait until I’m fit, then you’ll see the real Asamoah Gyan’. I’m glad I said that.”
The real Asamoah Gyan was first spotted in France last term. With a host of Premier League clubs now following him closely, the money forked out by Rennes suddenly looks well spent.
The former Liberty Professionals star scored 13 goals in Ligue 1 last season, and would surely have registered more had he not spent a month at the Cup of Nations.
His match-winning exploits in Angola made up for his 2008 woes. Gyan emerged as Ghana’s new talisman in the absence of the injured Michael Essien, scoring three of the team’s four goals – with each strike earning a 1-0 victory – as the Black Stars went all the way to the final. In scoring terms, he has already equalled that feat at the World Cup.
Performing the often thankless task of a lone striker in Angola and again in South Africa, Gyan has risen impressively to the challenge. “Everything has been different since I became the main striker,” he said. “I’m a leader so I have to take on extra responsibility. When you play as a lone striker you have to score and win games.”
The man described by his former coach Leroy as “a mixture of Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o” has already outshone Africa’s two biggest football stars at this World Cup.
For most observers, it is Gyan’s tireless running and selfless attitude that sets him apart. He simply never stops, closing down defenders and providing an outlet for his team-mates.
“I’m lucky because I’m 100 per cent fit,” he said when asked where he finds the energy.
“That’s thanks to God and to my work rate. I’ve worked so hard because this tournament means so much to me.”
Feeling good is clearly vital to Gyan’s confidence. There was much concern in the camp, therefore, when he limped out of training on Sunday. The West Africans are already missing Andre Ayew and Jonathan Mensah through suspension tonight, and simply cannot afford to lose the man described by US boss Bob Bradley as “the difference” in the last round.
Gyan has, though, insisted he will be fit to take on Diego Forlan and friends. “It’s only a knock,” he reassured a room packed with anxious journalists on Tuesday.
“I need two days off but I’ll be fine for Uruguay.”
Should he fire the Black Stars to another win, they would enter uncharted territory as far as African soccer is concerned. An entire continent is counting on him to deliver.
Unlike two years ago, however, Gyan is not feeling the pressure.
“We’re here to try to win the World Cup,” he stated. “Uruguay are a very difficult opponent, but we don’t care who we play. I believe in the boys. We have great confidence. We’ll just go out there united, play our hearts out, and win the game. That’s all.”
