Asamoah Gyan honours J.E.A. Sarpong for shaping his football career
Former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan paid an emotional tribute to veteran coach J.E.A. Sarpong during his unveiling as ambassador for Ghana’s national teams and colts football in Accra.
The ceremony, held on Wednesday, celebrated Gyan’s appointment to an ambassadorial role aimed at supporting the growth of Ghana football and inspiring the next generation of players.
But beyond the official speeches and applause, one of the most touching moments of the evening came when Gyan reunited with the man he credits for shaping his football career.
Coach Sarpong, who first worked with Gyan at Accra Academy, was among several dignitaries present at the event. Seeing his former mentor sparked an emotional reaction from the former striker, who paused proceedings to acknowledge the veteran coach’s influence on his journey to stardom.
Gyan later presented a jersey to Coach Sarpong as the two shared memories from their early days together in juvenile football.
The former Sunderland forward also took time to interact with several ex-Black Stars teammates, including Stephen Appiah, Prince Tagoe and Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, urging former players to continue contributing to the development of Ghana football.
Speaking after his unveiling, Gyan expressed gratitude to the Ghana Football Association for the honour.
“I am truly honoured by this recognition,” he said. “I want to thank the President and the Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association for believing in me and entrusting me with this responsibility.
“Ghana football has given me everything, and I will continue to serve this country with passion and dedication.”
Gyan remains one of Africa’s most celebrated footballers. He is Ghana’s all-time leading scorer and still holds the record as the highest-scoring African player in FIFA World Cup history.
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