Former Ghana captain, Asamoah Gyan, shed tears at his ‘LeGyandary’ book unveiling in Accra last Saturday.
The legendary striker broke down in tears despite the glitz and glam that characterised the event which drew President Akufo-Addo and other high profile personalities.
With and an illustrious career spanning close to two decades, and as the Ghana all-time top scorer with 51 goals, the former Sunderland attacker could not hold back his tears on grounds that he keeps hearing accounts from his fans and haters alike.
Gyan, 36, said at the launch, “Sometimes I see people on the streets and then they tell me you are the most hated player in Ghanaian history, but they also tell me I’m the most loved. I always sit down and ask myself why the hatred part? And then I came to understand that it comes with the territory that I put myself.”
He added, “I put myself into this position, when I started, nobody knew who Asamoah Gyan was. It got to a time they knew it, and with the support of my brother who I always mention.
“He is the key; he is the one behind my success. Sometimes criticism comes and people blame him for being a bad influence, but they don’t know what he has done in the background.”
The product of Accra Academy, who joined the Black Stars after being discovered at Mighty Victory and later Cedabs Babies, gained recognition at Stay Cool FC, but shot into the limelight at Liberty Professionals in Dansoman.
Thereafter, he flew out of the country to Italy, played in France, England, Turkey, China and India, with some big clubs and later sojourned in the Middle East, United Arab Emirates, where his scoring prowess earned him several laurels.
He has been to the finals of the prestigious African Cup of Nations twice; in 2010 (Angola) and 2015 (Equatorial Guinea), but luck eluded him and the Black Stars, having featured eight times in the continental championship.
He has the record of the highest goals scored by an African at the FIFA World Cup.
BY Kofi Owusu Aduonum