Ghana star Asamoah Gyan attributes career rise to influence of big brother Baffour

Published on: 06 July 2015
Ghana star Asamoah Gyan attributes career rise to influence of big brother Baffour
Baffour Gyan provided Asamoah with platform for his football career to blossom

Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan says he will be eternally grateful to his elder brother Baffour for providing him with the opportunity to have a career in football.

The 29-year-old has managed to cast his name in gold in Ghanaian football history when he became the all-time record scorer for the Black Stars.

Gyan is also considered to be one of the richest footballers in Africa with his mega contract at UAE giants Al Ain.

But the former Sunderland man has attributed his rise in football to his brother, Baffour who was at a point the main cash cow for his family.

“I would say he opened the way for me,” Gyan said of his brother in an extensive interview with Africanfootball.

“Sometimes you need to rely on somebody to go through. For instance, right now you can take a player to a team because of your name and because of your name, they can accept the person, it is a normal thing but then the person must also prove he deserves that chance.

“My brother used his influence to help me, everywhere I go ‘that’s Baffour Gyan’s brother so let’s give him a chance’.

“But then I made sure I never flopped otherwise people would say ‘that is Baffour Gyan’s brother and so what?’

“He opened the way for me but then if he opened the way for me and I wasn’t able to prove myself that would have been a big problem there.

“So that time, everywhere I go people referred to me as Baffour Gyan’s brother. I made sure I didn’t disgrace him and he was my role model.

“I made sure I made him proud anywhere I go. At that time, people say this is Baffour Gyan’s brother but now, when he goes, they say this is Asamoah Gyan’s brother.

“That is the level he took me to and I would always be grateful.”

Baffour Gyan played for Ghana at both junior and senior level before his younger brother Asamoah rose to prominence.

Both brothers were part of the Black Stars squad that finished third at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations hosted on home soil.

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