The fans criticize because they love me - Asamoah Gyan

Published on: 16 July 2013
The fans criticize because they love me - Asamoah Gyan
Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan

By Ameenu Shardow

Asamoah Gyan believes he is the most loved Ghanaian player hence the heightened criticisms whenever he disappoints.

The Al Ain ace has had to deal with several lamentations from disappointed fans whenever the Black Stars fail with him missing goal scoring opportunities.

Gyan was widely vilified when he missed a crucial penalty kick at the 2010 World Cup where Ghana was on the verge of making history as the first African side to make the last four of the competition.

His failures were again brought into the spot light after missing another crucial penalty at the Nations Cup two years later for which he had to take an almost six-month sabbatical from the Black Stars.

But the 27-year-old says he is convinced the massive volumes of criticisms that come his way for ‘below par’ performances is simply because the fans love.

“It is because they love me,” he told reporters at his Accra residence in an extensive interview.

“When even I am walking in town I get a lot of people following me, not anybody else but me.

“And it is because they love me and therefore they expect a lot from me and sometimes get disappointed when I don’t do well.

“I am OK with criticisms because I have come to understand that it is because the fans want me to do well.”

Gyan’s statement could open the flood gates to receive even more criticisms.

But the former Sunderland hitman says he is ready to accommodate even the harshest of criticisms only if it is limited to his football and nothing else.

“People can talk and criticize me for my performance on the field of play,” he adds.

“On the radio, newspapers or the internet I am OK with it.”

The Black Stars captain has however come good for Ghana in recent matches.

He scored three goals in the last two matches for Ghana to help the Black Stars topple Zambia in Group D of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

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