Thursday , March 28 2024

Kingston questions Gyan’s leadership

Former Ghana international Laryea Kingston believes Asamoah Gyan’s time away from Ghana penalty duty was a blemish on his leadership.

Following a series of crucial misses in national colours, the Kayserispor striker, in 2012, announced his decision to stay away from spot-kicks during regulation time due to the resultant backlash of his failed efforts.

However, the 31-year-old surprisingly stepped forward to execute the kick when the Black Stars were awarded a penalty in a recent friendly against the USA, after which he officially announced his return to regular penalty duties.

“For me, when he [Gyan] said his mum had warned him not to take penalties anymore, I knew the time will come for him to rescind that decision,” Laryea said on GhOne TV.

“As a leader, you always have to lead by example. And there is a point in football when everyone wouldn’t want to take a spot kick and the captain must do so.

“So at that moment if the leader says his mother says he shouldn’t take penalties and wouldn’t go for it that is not leadership.

“So for him to have rescinded the decision that is the way to go.”

At the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa, Gyan spurned a last-gasp penalty against Uruguay which could have made Ghana the first African team to reach the semi-finals of the global showpiece.

That was after he had missed an earlier kick against the Czech Republic at the 2006 gathering although an earlier goal in that game, coupled with Ghana’s 2-0 win, spared his blushes.

After wasting another effort in the Black Stars’ defeat to Zambia at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, the frontman announced his decision to be excused from penalties during normal time, premised on an advice from his now late mother.

source: goal

Check Also

Bawumia’s manifesto: Asamoah Gyan chairs youth and sports sub-committee

Ghanaian sports legend Asamoah Gyan has been named as part of a team tasked to …