Former Ghana international and national team captain Asamoah Gyan has shown how the country made him feel after the 2008 African Cup of Nations.
According to the player who holds the record for the most goals for the National team, the harsh treatment he and his family were subjected to after the tournament made him promise to pull away his help from his fellow citizens.
Asamoah Gyan believes that the country can now see beyond the results and is not appreciative of his sacrifices to play for the national team over the years. He is always subjected to harsh criticism when he has a bad game.
He has expressed disappointment and pain that he would be treated this way by his own country when he should rather be celebrated for his good work throughout his playing career.
“During games in the tournament, I had to take injections to kill pains and forced myself to play,” he said in an audio interview aired on Asempa FM.
“There was one game against Namibia, [the fans] were expecting Ghana to beat them like 10-0. It was one of those days… There was one chance from a very acute angle.
“The goalkeeper couldn’t grasp the ball, and I shot the ball, and it went wide. People jumped on me that I missed that chance. They threatened my family and insulted my mother.
“It was even worse than what happened at the World Cup in South Africa. I told myself I sacrificed myself for you, but you don’t see it.
“My mom called me in the morning, crying. I also started crying, and that was when I threatened to leave the camp. I took my things and left. But former President Kufuor spoke to me.
“That time vowed that when I see a Ghanaian outside, and I see a Nigerian, I would help the Nigerian. I was very mad.”
