Grant confirms Gyan as his permanent Black Stars captain

Ghana coach Avram Grant says Asamoah Gyan will continue as Black Stars captain as long he remains the coach of the four-time African champions after assessing the leadership qualities of the UAE-based striker.

The Israeli coach hailed the selflessness of the Al Ain player after spending his first six weeks with the Black Stars since taking charge of the post at the recent Africa Cup of Nations.

Before Grant took over the job, critics of Gyan claimed that the Black Stars striker lacked the ability to provide quality leadership for the side going forward.

The former Chelsea manager asked for time to decide on whether Gyan will continue to lead the side at his first press conference at the Black Stars coach.

Now Grant says after spending six weeks with the team from the pre-Africa Cup of Nations camping in Spain and the tournament held in Equatorial Guinea, the coach says Gyan is the right leader for the job.

“My decision is that Asamoah Gyan is a very good captain and he will be the captain as long as am here and he is fit to play,” Avram Grant said in an interview with the Ghana FA official website.

“This is my decision based on what I saw in the training camp and what I saw in the games. I am impressed with how he leads the team and how he puts his ego behind and doesn’t think about himself.

“I am very impressed with how he played against Algeria and in the final he was half-a-player yet he played 119 minutes which is not normal and he is respected. I learnt a lot not only about him but about all the players and he is the captain and will stay as captain.”

Gyan took over the mantle from John Mensah during the reign of former coach Kwesi Appiah who approved the striker as the right leader for the side.