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5 things Ghanaians will always remember Asamoah Gyan for
Pulse Sports takes a look at five highlights of Asamoah Gyan’s career as a Black Stars player.
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Gyanturned32Wednesday, but since age 17 he has been a mainstay in the Ghana national team, going to make 105 appearances for the Black Stars.
In his 14 years on the international scene, the Kayserispor striker has had both highs and lows, but his commitment is one thing that can never be doubted.
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As Gyan turns 32 years of age, Pulse Sports takes a look at five highlights of his career as a Black Stars player.
1. Scoring Ghana’s first ever goal at the World Cup
Ghana’s debut appearance at the FIFA World Cup in 2006 came with so much optimism. However, after losing the first group game by two goals to nil to Italy, expectations were soon relaxed.
But in the second game, the Black Stars came out all guns blazing against a highly-rated Czech Republic side, with Asamoah Gyan at the forefront of everything.
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The striker opened the scoring after just 50 seconds, marking Ghana’s first-ever goal at the Mundial. Sulley Muntari added a second late on to hand the Black Stars their first-ever victory at the FIFA World Cup. And though Gyan later missed a penalty, his record goal was etched in the hearts of many Ghanaians.
2. Construction of Accra Academy AstroTurf pitch
Gyan has been involved in many philanthropic gestures over the years. But for the football world, his financing of an ultramodern AstroTurf pitch at Accra Academy will always stand out.
The 32-year-old cut the sod in 2015 for the construction of the pitch, and rightly honored his promise by initiating the project in 2016.
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Fast forward in 2017 and the project was complete, with the commissioning taking place in July.
3. That goal against USA at the 2010 World Cup round of 16
Gyan is Ghana’s all-time top scorer with 51 goals. However, there are certainly some goals that stand out among the lot.
Key among those goals is his match-winning volley against USA in the round of 16 stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
With the match deadlocked at 1-1 and already into extra time, the striker chased down a long clearance from Andre Ayew, beating two USA defenders, before powering a sweet volley beyond the onrushing Tim Howard in post for the Americans.
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Till date, it ranks as Ghana’s most important goal at the World Cup as it sent the Black Stars into the quarter-finals.
4. Most business-minded footballer
Gyan may still be involved in active football, but the kind of mindset he has counts him as one of the most business-minded footballers ever to emerge from Ghana.
The striker has invested his money into a variety of businesses, including event management, music, boxing promotion and quite recently applying for a license to operate an airline, among others.
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His venture into business is one thing that Ghanaians identify with Gyan and he has been widely praised for creating jobs in the country.
5. Becoming Africa’s all-time top scorer at the World Cup
Gyan is no longer as sharp as he used to be when he was younger. At 32, the striker’s potency in front of goal has waned, but his goal scoring instinct is something that can never be taken away from him.
Gyan is not just Ghana’s all-time top scorer, but also Africa’s all-time top scorer at the World Cup. He boasts six goals at the Mundial spanning over three tournaments.
The goal that broke the record, formerly held by the legendary Roger Milla, was as special as any Gyan has ever scored, as it came in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Germany at the 2014 World Cup. It is a goal that many Ghanaians are still very fond of.
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