Former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan has revealed that the backlash he confronted after lacking the penalty towards Uruguay within the 2010 World Cup quarterfinal was intense and took a toll on him.
The match was tied at 1-1, and with solely seconds remaining, Luis Suarez infamously dealt with the ball on the aim line to stop a sure Ghanaian aim, leading to his pink card and a penalty awarded to Ghana.
Gyan, who had efficiently transformed penalties earlier within the match, stepped as much as take the essential kick however despatched the ball hovering over the crossbar.
This miss proved pricey, as Ghana ultimately misplaced 4-2 within the subsequent penalty shootout, resulting in their elimination from the match.
“The backlash was intense and it took a toll on me,” Gyan admitted on the Afro Sports activities Summit in Accra.
“Nevertheless it additionally made me notice the significance of psychological well being. Athletes must take psychological well being points critically and search assist when wanted.”
Gyan additionally highlighted the affect of former defender Sammy Kuffour, who served as a mentor and supply of inspiration.
“Sammy Kuffour was a trailblazer. His imaginative and prescient and tenacity for creating wealth helped me by means of a few of my hardest instances earlier than and after my footballing profession.”