Gyan to resume penalty-taking duties for Ghana - George Afriyie

Black Stars management committee chairman George Afriyie says efforts must be made to convince Asamoah Gyan to resume penalty-taking responsibilities for Ghana.

The 29-year-old quit the responsibility of the leading penalty taker for the Black Stars in the aftermath of his penalty miss in the 2012 AFCON semi-final defeat to Zambia.

It was the second high-profile miss by the Black Stars captain in a major tournament following his infamous miss in the quarter-final defeat to Uruguay at the 2010 World Cup.

The Al Ain ace decided to cede his position as the number one penalty taker for the side after suffering verbal attacks from hurt Ghanaian fans.

Gyan claims his decision was informed by a promise he made to his mother who died in a tragic car crash in 2012.

The debate about whether Gyan should start taking penalty kicks for Ghana again is gradually gaining currency following the shootout defeat to Cote d’Ivoire in the finals of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations where the Black Stars captain was replaced just before the shootouts.

The team’s management committee chief George Afriyie believes Gyan should be convinced to reconsider his decision due to his proven competency from the spot.

“When Kwesi Appiah took the job I think Asamoah [Gyan] was on a break and myself, the wife of the late Sly Tetteh went over to speak to his [Gyan] late mum [to convince him to return],” Afriyie told GTV’s Sunday Night Love show.

“It is a psychological trauma he went through and he decided not to take penalties again.

“But I think we need to convince him to change his mind because with Gyan – 10 out of 9 times, he will score.”