Black Stars head coach, C.K. Akonnor, insists that Asamoah Gyan is part of his plans and ideas for the national team going forward.
Gyan has not played for the Black Stars since the 2019 AFCON tournament in Egypt and following his exclusion from the 23-man team named to face Sudan this month, there has been speculation that the North East United striker has quit the national team.
However, Akonnor says he has not had any indication of Gyan’s retirement and the player is still with the national team.
“The last time I checked, Asamoah Gyan had not retired from the national team. He remains the general captain of the team.
I had a chat with him at the Accra Sports Stadium when Kotoko took on Bechem United (in the Ghana Premier League) and he never told me that he had retired or that he did not want to no longer play for the team.
So, I consider to be part of the team.”
It is likely Gyan could get back into the team especially as Akonnor stated that the players who had missed the Sudan ties were not totally out of his future plans.
What does Gyan make of Akonnor?
The player has been complimentary of his newest coach in the Black Stars. In an exclusive interview with Pulse.com.gh, Gyan stated how highly he rated Akonnor and he was of the opinion that he would a lot of support from all the stakeholders if the Black Stars will be hugely successful under the former Wolfsburg captain.
“CK [Akonnor] is a good coach. Although he coached the local teams here, I didn’t see him that much until the Black Stars played a friendly game against Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
I saw his tactics, I saw how he arranged players, I saw his IQ, I saw something in him. After the game, I went to him and I told him he can be a very good coach. And lo and behold he is a coach of the national team.
I’m not saying he is the best coach but he is a good coach and I think if we give him the confidence and we give him what he wants, definitely I’m sure he is going to do well.”