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Asamoah Gyan’s decision to return for one last hurray in the Ghana Premier League has been praised by former Dutch and Aston Villa midfielder George Boateng.
The 35-year-old former Sunderland, Stade Rennais and Udinese striker returned after 17 years abroad in October, signing a short-term contract with Legon Cities.
So far he has made three appearances with his new team.
“I think it’s a brave move,” Boateng told Joy Sports. “If you are a young footballer and you want to succeed in the game and you have a big star like Gyan playing alongside you, you cannot find a better way of motivation than that.
“For those who are playing, not just with him but with everyone else in the league, he’s outstanding.
“You see a former star who’s been captain of the country for many years, playing in the league you’re playing in, you have to be inspired by that.”
Gyan played for Liberty Professionals in the Ghana Premier League before leaving for Udinese in Italy in 2003.
“Sometimes people forget that the Ghana league is also a professional league,” Gyan told the BBC of his return home in November. “I got the offer [from Legon] and everything was fine: as a professional, you have to evaluate everything. I am very proud to be in the Ghana league.
“The most important thing is that they took the contract seriously. I’m a very serious guy, even though people also see me as a funny guy, but when it comes to work, it’s work. It’s all about seriousness.
“I am in Ghana and I am at home. I signed for this club because they have a great project: they want to change the football of Ghana. I came here for a reason, so while I enjoy football, we are also doing things behind the scenes to benefit Ghana football.
Internationally, Gyan, who won the BBC’s African Footballer of the Year award in 2010, has represented Ghana in three World Cup tournaments: 2006, 2010 and 2014.
He is currently the Black Stars’ all-time top scorer and the most capped player with 51 goals in 109 appearances, and also Africa’s top scorer at the World Cup, with six goals.
