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Soccer News of Monday, 20 February 2012

Source: supersport.com

Gyan returns in September - GFA

The Vice President of the Ghana Football Association has revealed that Asamoah Gyan, though retired, will return in September this year.

Jordan Anagbla told SuperSport.com that he spoke to the player on Monday morning. “I spoke to Gyan this morning. It's a hard time for him, but he will be back for us in September.”

The FA Vice President was speaking in reaction to the player's letter written to his body on Friday. Gyan had pointed at "intolerable abuse" meted to him by fans as his reason of retiring.

Anagbla also described Gyan as "a very, very brave boy." September is a short time for Gyan to recoup from his self-admitted mental blocks, something which the FA boss agrees to.

"Once again, we have see how committed this boy is. In South Africa, he missed a penalty and minutes later, stepped up to play again. Now, after all this, he insists he can be back to play by September. He's a very, very brave boy."

Gyan's pysche

The player has said, via his official Twitter account that he had not recovered from the penalty miss of South Africa during the World Cup. He had also hinted at possible psychological trauma.

"Psychologically I am down. As you can imagine it's been very hard for me mentally to miss two important successive penalties for my country"

The player missed crucial penalties for Ghana in South Africa, during the World Cup, and in Gabon, during the African Cup recently.

"And because of this a break to recoup my thoughts and emotions will aid me to come back bigger and mentally stronger."

Perhaps the most telling part of the statement is what followed: "I never fully recovered from 2010 World cup and now 2012 Afcon."

That will raise questions about why he repeatedly said in many interviews around the world that he had "gone over it". The Al-Ain ended his statement with an appeal to his countrymen, who have had cause to question his zeal in representing them, based on the missing of the two penalties.

"I want my country to know I love playing for them and I wouldn't be who I am without them. I would like to ask for prayers and support from Ghanians to help me to come back with a renewed strength to continue serving my country."

SuperSport.com has learnt that the Ghana FA are in constant touch with the player, and others considering leaving the team following reactions to their sub-par showing at the recent African Cup .

If Gyan returns in September, it means he will not be available for his country's two qualifiers with Lesotho and Zambia for the next World Cup. However, he should be available for the qualifiers for the next African Cup to be held in South Africa.