Gyan should take penalty kicks for Ghana - Randy Abbey

Ghana FA Executive Committee member Randy Abbey says Asamoah Gyan should be allowed to take penalty kicks for the Black Stars if he wants to.

There is an ongoing debate as to whether the Al Ain striker should remain a penalty taker upon his return to the national team.


The 26-year-old missed a crucial penalty in Ghana’s painful 1-0 defeat to Zambia at the semi final stage of the 2012 Nations Cup which the Chipolopolo eventually won.


His miss was on the heels of yet another penalty heartache two years ago at the World Cup against Uruguay where if he had converted, would have made Ghana the first African side to have made the last four of the competition.


Gyan’s latest penalty miss in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea induced a self-imposed sabbatical, during which he missed two games for the Black Stars – against Lesotho and Zambia in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.


His decision to return to national team duty a few weeks ago has sparked heated debates as to whether he should still be relied upon as the nation’s number one penalty taker.


The subject has sharply divided opinions but the former Hearts of Oak management member believes it serves the national course and certainly the player better if he is made to continue with his role when it comes to penalty kicks.

“There are situations where players cannot dodge taking penalty kicks just like what happened in Senegal 92,” he told Kumasi-based Kessben FM.


“As far back as in 2006 Asamoah Gyan has been our number one penalty taker.


“I therefore don’t think it is even healthy that upon his return to the team we drop him from taking penalty kicks.


“When we do this, we would rather worsen the psychological problem of the player with taking penalty kicks.


“He is back into the team as a full and complete player and therefore if there is an occasion where there is a penalty to be taken and he is the best person to play, he should be allowed and supported to excel.”


Gyan is expected to be part of the Black Stars squad that plays China in a friendly next month before taking on Malawi in the final 2013 Nations Cup qualifier in September.