AFCON 2019: I don’t care about your opinion; I’ll still be part of the squad – Gyan to Oti Adjei

Michael Oti Adjei’s article titled “Can Kwesi Appiah justify change of direction on Asamoah Gyan?” sought to question the coach’s rationale for selecting Asamoah Gyan into the squad knowing how his performance has dwindled over the years.

According to him, the coach’s decision to call Asamoah Gyan as part of the squad to play against Sierra Leone is solely based on the former’s past successes rather than actual performance as he believes the captain is in the twilight zone of his career.

The journalist’s article reads, “Gyan, surely, is returning to the fold based on past successes rather than actual performance. The case of Ghana's all-time leading goal scorer poses a challenge that Appiah must tackle head-on. Ghanaian football has typically struggled to phase out big-name players. When the system no longer had a use for former Sunderland defender John Mensah on the field, he was still kept around as general captain. It was the same routine with ex-Blackpool goalkeeper Richard Kingson, while Stephen Appiah also travelled to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as general captain when it was obvious from the sporting angle that his time was up”.

Calling for a wakeup call, he wrote “Gyan is in twilight zone of his career, and the lack of game time at Kayserispor is the most glaring evidence of that. With Baby Jet having only featured for 35 minutes so far this season, Ghana must surely begin to think beyond him and keep an eye on the future”.

“It would not be disrespectful for Gyan, but Appiah is clearly having doubts about being the person to prompt that change, even if it would mean putting the Black Stars first. Unfortunately, results have dictated that the coach must adopt a short-term strategy, with the margins for error particularly slim after the Kenya defeat. He's come to the conclusion that Gyan deserves his place, even if his club form screams otherwise”, he added.

He further stated, “What’s most curious about the Gyan decision is that the coach has ignored other players who have better sporting claims”.

Asamoah Gyan who was displeased after reading the article went on Twitter to rant on Oti Adjei’s timeline accusing the journalist of trying to 'destroy' his career with the agenda he’s setting.

“Keep writing, cos is your opinion. At the end of the day, I’m coming whether you like it all not. You started this agenda since last week so it’s not new to me”, he said.

Michael Oti Adjei further replied him saying, “It is not personal Asamoah. It is strictly business as it has always been. As it was when I pointed out they wanted to steal your International goal record. See you in Kumasi. I will be there to write a lot more”.

But the response did not sit well with Asamoah Gyan as he replied again saying “Last time you wrote and I quote’ WHAT TO DO WITH GYAN. Who to do with me? That sounds disrespectful but I ignored. I have respected you all this years but that was below the belt”.

Oti Adjei retorted, “Disrespect is never in the headline. It is in the substance of the story. One of the reasons you respect me is because I spew substance backed by facts. Same respect I have had for you”.