Returning Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan has dug into former Ghana FA chairman Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe for his persistent digs at national team players in general and he, in particular.
"I don't even know who him. Who is he?" the player asked of Nyaho-Tamakloe in an interview with a local paper.
The administrator, every bit as controversial as Gyan himself, criticized the current Ghana FA for allowing the Al Ain ace to return to the Black Stars. Nyaho-Tamakloe had argued that the move sets a bad precedent for players who decide when they want to play for the national team.
"I'm shocked the FA has welcome Asamoah Gyan back particularly the FA president Kwesi Nyantakyi," Nyaho-Tamakloe had told local radio recently.
He had gone on to question the judgement of the head of Ghana's technical team. "And as for Kwesi Appiah I feel so sad for him because this is the situation he should have put his foot down and even tell the FA boss it was going to set a bad precedent for the other players."
The response
Gyan's response was deadpan. "I don't even know who him. Who is he? To be honest I don't know him in person. Even if I meet him in person I can't recognize him so I am surprised how he reacts to issues regarding my persona especially and other Black Stars players in general."
For Ghana's top striker of the moment by virtue of goals scored in recent years, Nyaho-Tamakloe is not doing this for the first time and it is not good.
"This is not the first time. During the Nations Cup in 2008 he passed similar demoralizing comments about me," Gyan complained, and went on. "The man is fond of doing that. I believe he is an elderly person but his remarks on most of us Black Stars players have been very distasteful."
The player, top scorer in the UAE in his first season there from a Sunderland loan move, regretted the administrator's actions but said he is focused on making a good impression when he returns.
"It is quite unfortunate but I don't want to pay attention to his comments. What is important to me now is to concentrate on my return to the Black Stars and do well to impress my fans."
Asamoah Gyan was speaking to the Captivating Ghana Sports paper from his base in Dubai on Thursday.
