Profile of a Football Star: Asamoah Gyan

Question

Profile of a Football Star: Asamoah Gyan
During the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, one team really surprised a lot of people; Ghana. The Black Stars really shone during their campaign narrowly losing to Uruguay in one of the most heartbreaking and exciting matches of that whole tournament.
One of the major stars of "The Stars" was a superb player named Asamoah Gyan. He was the star of the show and helped his team become only the third African team ever to make it to the quarter finals of the World Cup. The talented and versatile player is
currently playing for Sunderland in the UK. In his free time he even managed to record a song with a famous Ghanaian pop star. Is there anything this man cannot do?
Asamoah Gyan was born in Accra, Ghana in 1985. He showed an early interest in football and found his place as a striker and a goal scorer in his high school football team. He started playing football at junior clubs in Ghana and he made his debut as a professional
in the early part of the 2000s. He first played for the club Liberty Professionals in Ghana and then he moved to the much larger club Udinese Calcio in Italy. At the same time as his club duties the striker also played for his home side of Ghana and made a
very impressive showing at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
His display at the 2006 tournament caught the eye of some really big scouts all over Europe. The most attention he received was from the Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow. They tried to get Gyan for the huge transfer fee of US$10.5 million but his Italian club
probably realised his worth and did not release him. He ended up signing an improved 5 year contract deal with Udinese but then ended up moving to French side Stade Rennais.
This year he was transferred from Rennais to Sunderland in the UK on a four year deal. The move to the English Premiership club was for a fee that was over £13 m and it was the highest transfer fee in the club’s history. The club must have seen his potential
because they managed to take him away from the bigger clubs like Man U and Arsenal and he ended up scoring in his first appearance for Sunderland a few days ago.
Club football is not only where the big Ghanaian shines, he is also a powerhouse when it comes to international competitions when he plays for his home country. He managed to lead his team through the 2010 World Cup to become the third African team in the
history of the contest to make it to the quarterfinals. This in itself was an achievement but they were so close to the semi finals that they could almost taste it. But in the seminal match of the tournament; the quarterfinal contest between Uruguay was to
be their undoing as fate did not shine on them that day.
In a match that was watched by over 84,000 people, the Black Stars held their own against the very strong South American team. In the dying seconds of the match with the score tied 1-1 after extra time, a penalty was awarded to Ghana after an excellent shot
was saved by a very dodgy handball by Luis Suarez to keep the ball out of the goal. Gyan stepped up to the line to take what was the most nerve raking and stressful penalty kick in maybe the history of the game.
He missed the shot by hitting the crossbar and the game went to penalties. Even though he made his second penalty shot, Uruguay went into the semi finals and Ghana were sent home. This was a defining moment for the young star, but he did not let it affect
him too much and he is back in form showing them how it is done in the Premier League.
Not many people know this but the flamboyant Ghanaian is also an accomplished rapper who was featured in a song by singer Castro. His famous goal dance was also featured in the video to the song and he has been wowing crowds in England with his dance routines.
This talented footballer is one to look out for in the future and when he retires from football he can always look forward to a career in music.