Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan stormed the Presidential Commission of Inquiry looking into the Black Stars’ participation at the 2014 World Cup just when the fact-finding body had come to the conclusion that the players had boycotted their scheduled meeting Thursday.
The three-member body got livid at the players for a clear show of “disrespect” when the Commission had booked Thursday morning for them to “tell their side of the story” after a player-official fracas at the world showpiece.
The Al Ain striker appeared barely minutes after tempers had risen at the Commission over what the probing body thought was an attempt by the Ghana FA to prevent the players from appearing.
The Commissioners were unaware that the Black Stars captain was already on his way to the hearing after the GFA had in the hours preceding succeeded in convincing the Ghana captain to appear.
The misunderstanding arose as a result of a letter the football governing body of the West African country wrote three days ago to the Commission. The FA in the letter had sought to explain to the body that they would make efforts to facilitate the appearance of the players, but stated the legal position that in the event the players failed to appear, the governing body could not be held responsible.
The letter read in part: “The GFA’s arrangement with each of the players concerned and their respective clubs only permits the Association to hold unto them until after the competitive match of the Black Stars on Wednesday after which each of the players is no longer under the Association’s control…
“We trust that we have sufficiently explained to the Commission our client’s effort to comply with the Commission’s request within his very limited capacity and to the extent to which it is legally permissible by our client so to do.”
The GFA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi, who was present at the hearing, explained to the Commission that most of the players have club assignments Friday and over the weekend, but he is working around the clock to get Gyan in particular to make a brief appearance.
When Gyan surfaced after the Commission had gone on a brief recess, he explained that he needed to catch his flight by 5pm Thursday and must see to his family as well as freshen up upon their arrival from Tamale hence his delay in coming to the Commission.
The former Sunderland forward apologised to the quasi-judicial body and said he is willing to appear at a suitable time.
“We cannot disrespect the Commission,” Gyan humbly told the Commissioners. “Once again I would like to take the opportunity to apologise to all Ghanaians.”
“We let everybody down; we let the country and the whole of Africa down and I hope it won't happen again,” he reiterated.
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