Black Meteors defender, Edward Sarpong has revealed that his objective in the just ended U-23 African Cup of Nations 3rd/4th playoff against South Africa was to score the final penalty kick so he becomes the hero of the game.
The Black Meteors failed to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after Sarpong missed a crucial spot-kick during Ghana’s penalty shootout against South Africa in the 3rd place game at the tournament. The South Africans held Ghana to a 2-2 stalemate in regulation before their triumph over them in the shootouts.
After the game, the player was subjected to numerous verbal abuses from some fans for screwing Ghana’s chances of making it to the Olympics after a 15-year wait.
However, the 22-year-old defender has disclosed that his aim was to score the winner for the Meteors and become the hero of the game but the unfortunate happened.
“I want to apologize to every Ghanaian; it wasn’t my dream or target to miss the penalty kick. It was clear, I wanted to score the kick so we win and I become the hero of the game,” Sarpong said in an interview on Adom FM.
He added, “What happened is the plan of God and I want everyone to forgive me because it won’t happen again. I want people to support me so I improve.”
Sarpong who became the toast of many fans after his silky dribble over a Cameroonian defender at the tournament also revealed that his family have had their fair share of abuse from the public.
He said, “I’ve been insulted massively in my area and it has even affected my family. When my sisters go out, they are verbally attacked because everyone in our area know they are my sisters. My mum can’t go out because anytime she comes out, she’s insulted and she was even scared. She asked me not to even go out again because she felt people will attack me.”
The former Unistar Soccer Academy player says he will still go ahead and take penalty kicks despite the unfortunate incident because he’s still young.
