Black Stars Team Manager Ameenu Shardow says the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) decision to honour Asamoah Gyan with a testimonial match is a well-deserved tribute that should have been organised years ago.
The GFA on Tuesday, November 4, confirmed plans to stage a testimonial for the former Sunderland and Stade Rennais striker in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the national team.
Gyan, who retired from football in 2023 at age 37, remains Ghana’s all-time top scorer with 51 goals in 109 appearances.
“It’s extremely important because aside from honouring a distinguished personality — someone who has given everything for this nation — this also shows that we are a country that appreciates its heroes,” Shardow told Joy Sports.
He believes the gesture will motivate current and future Black Stars players to give their best for the national team.
“It encourages other players to also give their best because they know, at the end of the day, they will be well appreciated.
“So for me, this is long overdue. I’m very happy that finally, the GFA is taking the lead in getting these things done and not leaving them in the hands of private individuals,” he added.
Since his retirement, Gyan has remained involved in national team activities, informally supporting the Black Stars’ technical and management setup alongside Stephen Appiah, who serves as deputy chair of the Management Committee.
A three-time World Cup campaigner, Gyan represented Ghana at the 2006, 2010, and 2014 tournaments in Germany, South Africa, and Brazil respectively, and remains Africa’s highest goal scorer in World Cup history.
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