There's an Asamoah Gyan in all of us

Asamoah Gyan is my hero. Exactly the sort of footballer I like: fearless, hard working and spirited. He never gives up and works tirelessly for his team. And when you see a person like him in pain, you feel for him. This is why I, like many around the world, was heartbroken yesterday as Ghana was knocked out of the World Cup in the cruelest of ways and my hero Asamoah was left in tears, a broken man.

Let me recall the events that took place. Ghana was awarded a penalty in the 120th minute as Luis Suarez deliberately handled a goal-bound shot. Asamoah Gyan stepped up…and missed, firing his shot into the crossbar. Uruguay went on to win in the match in the penalty shootout. While that cheat Luis Suarez rejoiced the Ghana team was devastated.

Asamoah had been the hero in all of Ghana’s previous World Cup wins. He had stepped up to take the penalty against Serbia late on and scored. He again scored from the penalty spot against Australia. In both games he was named man of the match. In the knockout stages Gyan’s wonderful extra-time winner saw Ghana beat the USA and reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in history. Asamoah had also scored Ghana’s first ever World Cup goal back in 2006. Ghana was the pride of Africa and it was largely due to one man, Asamoah Gyan. Yet at the end of the match yesterday he was left blaming himself for his team’s World Cup exit.

We all make mistakes. We all do wrong in our lives. But few are as brave as Asamoah. Few carry the hopes and expectations of a whole nation. And hardly any people are as courageous and determined. Rarely does anyone win the hearts of millions around the world even in defeat. We all strive to be like Asamoah. He represents all that is right in the world. We all wish we could be like him. And that’s why there’s an Asamoah Gyan in all of us. Be champions!