Sports News of Monday, 14 August 2017

Source: starrfmonline.com

Turkish League: Gyan faces Galatasaray tonight

Asamoah Gyan Asamoah Gyan

Asamoah Gyan is set to prove his credentials to a new audience today as he makes his Turkey league debut with Kayserispor tonight as the Ghana captain has fired a warning to giants Galatasaray ahead of their opening Süper Lig clash on Monday.

Gyan, 31, has hit the ground running since joining Kayserispor on two-year deal last month with an impressive showing in pre-season.

The Ghana international has impressed in pre-season, scoring three goals to send a clear message to Turkish fans ahead of his debut campaign in the country.

The Ghanaian insists his side won’t be pushovers despite holding Galatasaray in high esteem ahead of the Super Lig opener at the Türk Telekom Stadium in Istanbul on Monday.

“Since I first came to Kayseri, there have been a lot of interest in me and my colleagues,” Gyan said.

“I know that Galatasaray is a great team and it will be a tough match. But nobody should see us as a small team. “Because football is ninety minutes. Anything can happen, the result will be announced after ninety minute and so we’ll see. ”

Galatasaray were in total disarray after finishing in fourth in the league last season and are seeking a positive start against Gyan and his team-mates The Lions have a habit of pulling a rabbit out the hat when times get tough.

In 2011, coming off the back of their worst ever league finish, Unal Aysal brought back Fatih Terim for a third spell at the helm and making ambitious transfers. The Red-Yellows went onto dominate Turkish football, winning three league titles.

Current club president Dursun Ozbek was staring down the barrel last month. Galatasaray got rid of their three best players from last season, Wesley Sneijder, Bruma and Lukas Podolski, who scored a combined 35 goals. To make matters worse they crashed out of the Europa League second qualifying round against Swedish minnows Ostersund.

The Lions have since embarked on an extensive transfer campaign revolutionising last season’s side. Maicon, Younès Belhanda, Bafatémi Gomis, Fernando, Badou Ndiaye have already joined. Galatasaray have spent €35m on transfers and with West Ham winger Sofiane Feghouli and Juventus winger Kwadwo Asamoah also nearing moves, that figure could continue to rise.

Gyan, who has achieved a lot in his career with three World Cup appearances, is seeking to prove to the Turkish audience that his performances at both club and country level is not a fluke.

The platform to face Galatasaray is the biggest opportunity for the Ghana attacker to prove his worth to the Turkish fans.