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Asamoah Gyan made his Legon Cities debut against Medeama at the Accra sports stadium
There was a breath of fresh air surrounding the Legon Cities team as they entered the field for the usual warm-up before the game.
This time, Asamoah Gyan, his marquee signing was not on the touchline. The 35-year-old was fully dressed in the warm-up outfit that was spread out alongside his teammates.
One could quickly see Gyan from afar, not because of his distinctive punk hairstyle, but the forward continued to offer support and advice to his colleagues.
Gyan hadn’t played a game in eight months and as a result could only find himself on the bench.
It only took 31 minutes for interim head coach Wahid Mohammed to call out Ghana’s all-time forward to warm up, as Refael Ocloo was having a tough time early on.
The substitution was delayed as the teams entered the deadlock at the half-time break. The score was 0-0, but the game had been quite bumpy with Medeama hitting the bar twice and narrowly missing a free throw from 25 yards.
For Legon Cities, the team lacked cohesion and its problems worsened after David Cudjoe was substituted after sustaining an ankle injury. The forward was later seen on crutches on the bench and could possibly face a long spell.
After the break, Gyan was asked to warm up a second time. The forward could barely take his eyes off the game as he continued giving instructions to his teammates on the field.
After the game, Gyan explained that this is because he is “a passionate player who wants to help the team improve.”
The moment of history came in the 70th minute, when the fourth official’s plaque showed the number 3. Gyan entered for his second Ghana Premier League debut, 17 years after he made his first.
It came at a time when his Legon Cities team was on the rise creating a series of opportunities.
Baba Mahama was closer when his left foot shot was parried by Medeama captain Eric Ofori Antwi.
Both sides canceled each other in the later stages of the game, but Gyan’s most significant contribution was when he defeated Justice Blay and played a direct pass that created an opportunity for his team.
The game sees Legon Cities earn just two points out of a possible nine, but Gyan believes the team is a work in progress.
“If you look at Legon Cities, about 80% of the players are new. We are still getting to know each other and tactically we are working hard. Now we understand what we have to do, ”he said at the post-match conference.
Next up for the Royals are away games against Dreams FC and Asante Kotoko. The 35-year-old believes his team can still score points despite poor form.
“If we go into these games with the same attitude and mentality, we can get something positive. I believe in boys and this is just the beginning ”.
The Legon Cities camp will be bolstered by the inclusion of Bashir Hayford as head coach.
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