Ghanaian striker Gyan is more than just a goal-scorer for Al Ain

Al Ain: In the modern world of professional football, rarely does one get to meet a current star who is so open and frank about both his football and personal life.

Greater players than Asamoah Gyan have missed crucial penalties in major events like the World Cup, but the Black Star is man enough to seek a break due to "psychological" reasons after missing two crucial spot-kicks for Ghana.

Gyan also does not hesitate to say that he was loaned out by Sunderland to Al Ain and he is still waiting for a call from the English Premier League club.

He is a rapper and has produced and starred in songs, but he's rarely a night bird and while plying his trade as an Al Ain striker his outings have been mostly to shopping malls.

The 26-year-old was a hero in Ghana after he played a pivotal role in taking his team to the brink of a semi-final berth in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but he missed a penalty in the last minute of extra time against Uruguay, allowing the South Americans to win the subsequent shootout.

"As a star of a team, when things go wrong you get criticism and I accept any criticism because I have created this for myself," Gyan said.

Reactions are huge even today on any Gyan comment or report, with hardcore followers of Ghanaian football divided in their opinion about the star. But Gyan is courageous as he says he has taken an indefinite break from the national team for psychological reasons.

Criticism

"It isn't about the criticisms, it was psychological reasons and nothing else so I have to psyche myself up and go back strongly to the team. I think it will be very soon, I have never quit on my national team," he said.

Gyan also strongly denies that some of the top African footballers show more loyalty to clubs than to their national teams.

"For example, my national team made me famous, not my club side — that is what I see in my career. I became famous when playing in a World Cup with my national team, so I cannot ignore them," he said. "This is not about African players, even [Lionel] Messi has not done well for his national team."

After missing another crucial penalty against Zambia in the Africa Cup of Nations in February, this time costing Ghana a berth in the final, Gyan had to bear the brunt of fans' anger again, but when he arrived here to resume his Al Ain engagements, he was overwhelmed by the warm welcome at the airport.

Thanking the fans and Romanian coach Cosmin Olaroiu, Gyan said: "I feel comfortable with Cosmin because he's done an incredible job so far and I would say he's behind my move to Al Ain because he showed interest in me.

"Since I came he gave me confidence. We speak face-to-face, if he doesn't like anything he tells me. We speak like father and son," added Gyan, who is leading the list of Etisalat Pro League scorers this season.

"I've not been the top scorer since I left my country and the league is not over, but I'm the leading scorer. If I finish as the top scorer then I'll be very happy and it would leave something big here and people will remember me for that."

One just can't believe that Gyan the rap star is more of a home buddy. "I prefer staying at home with my family. I have visited the Jebel Hafit twice, once in daytime and once in the night," said Gyan, who didn't rule out writing a song about Al Ain if he extends his UAE stay.