Former Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan has opened up about the intense social and financial pressures African footballers face when they return home, revealing how expectations around money and responsibility can become overwhelming.
Speaking on the Rio Presents Podcast with former England defender Rio Ferdinand, Gyan reflected on the sharp contrast between life in Europe and experiences back in Ghana, particularly after achieving financial success at the highest level of the game.
Responding to Ferdinand’s question about how African players cope with sudden wealth, Gyan said returning home often comes with unspoken obligations to support a wide circle of people.
“It was, it was crazy. You know, when you play in Europe and you go back to Africa, everybody, in everybody’s mind, you have to take care of everybody,” he said.
He explained that the expectation extends beyond family and close friends, especially during holidays. “Yes, when you’re on holidays, you have to take care of everybody. You go to somewhere, you buy stuff, and everybody will be looking at you to pay,” Gyan added.
The former Sunderland and Al Ain striker said even simple daily interactions can come with expectations of financial reward, describing it as part of the continent’s social culture.
“Maybe we walking on the street, maybe your phone fell, fell on the floor. Somebody takes the phone for you. The person will be expecting something. So this is what we go through in Africa. We are cultured like that, so we have to just deal with it,” he said.
Ferdinand noted that former Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi had shared similar experiences, a point Gyan readily agreed with. He admitted that the burden often turns into psychological pressure. “Pressure, big pressure. But we see, I just say, we are in Africa, you know. So we have to just deal with it,” he said.
Gyan acknowledged that the constant demands can sometimes lead to frustration, forcing players to withdraw from public spaces. “Sometimes we get frustrated, all right? You know, that is when we try to hide ourselves from people and stuff but at the end of the day, you you go the mix of people, and when you go in the mix of people, you still see the same thing, you know? So we have to just deal with it,” he said.
Ferdinand pointed out that the pressure may have been even greater for Gyan given his status as one of the world’s highest-paid footballers at the peak of his career, making anonymity almost impossible when he returned to Ghana.
Confirming the scale of the expectations, Gyan said the demands came from all directions, including strangers. “It was, it was crazy, like everybody would be expecting something from you, family, friends, wherever you go, even people you go, you don’t even know you. As soon as you pop up, everybody wants you to give money,” he said.
Asked how he responds to such situations, the former Ghana captain said he often gives but draws the line when generosity is abused. “We give? Yeah, we give. I give. I give most of the times, but sometimes people try to take advantage of it, and then I say, trying to take advantage of it. Maybe the person takes it, and then he goes to the next line. So when I see that, I get I gotta be upset. Yeah,” he said.
Gyan’s remarks have reignited conversations about the cultural expectations placed on successful African athletes and the hidden pressures that accompany fame and wealth beyond the football pitch.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
