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New Legon Cities coach Bashir Hayford believes Ghana’s legend Asamoah Gyan is physically out of shape for action following the club’s Premier League (GPL) loss to Asante Kotoko on Friday.
In their fifth game of the season, the Royals disappointed once again when Osman Ibrahim’s goal in the 10th minute earned all three points for hometown Kotoko.
Gyan, who completed a year-long move to Legon in October, was introduced to the game at the hour mark. He has yet to start a game for his new club.
“Asamoah Gyan, if he had 50 percent of his form, it wouldn’t have been a problem, but his form is completely down … We have to work on him,” Hayford said at the post-game press conference on Friday.
“If you get 50% of your return, it will make a difference.”
Legon’s inability to score on Friday prolongs his quest for a first goal in open play and his first win of the season.
Of the five games played so far, the Royals have lost two and drawn three of the games. His only goal so far has been a penalty.
“Yes, we could have won it [against Kotoko] because we wasted some begging opportunities that we could have buried him, ”added Hayford, who replaced Bosnian-German Goran Barjaktarevic, who was fired after matchday two following the club’s poor start to the season.
“This is the fifth game and we haven’t even turned a ball into the net.
“That is what I identified immediately I entered the team … I told them that we do not have finalists. So we are working on that.
“Scoring goals is an art and it is about boosting their confidence in scoring goals and it is not easy. It is not a week, it is not two weeks. Well, we will win. 0: 002: 14
Gyan, Ghana’s all-time top scorer with 51 goals in 109 international appearances, was out of the game for nine months before joining Legon.
Before returning to the GPL for the first time in 17 years, he last played for NorthEast United of the Indian Super League, with whom he parted ways in January.
His scoring achievements also include an enviable record as Africa’s all-time top scorer in the World Cup with six goals.
