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Marcel Desailly – Asamoah Gyan Africa's next superstar

Desailly – Asamoah Africa's next superstar

Posted: 2010-06-15 13:39

Former French national team captain Marcel Desailly believes Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan has the ability to be Africa's next superstar. 

Speaking to KickOffGhana.com at the Castrol Lab in Sandton, the 1998 World Cup-winning captain back the Stade Rennes striker to take the tournament by storm – something he has already started doing after netting the winning goal against Serbia.
 
Asked who he thinks can take over from the likes of Didier Drogba and Michael Essien, Desailly replied: "In Ghana we have one that is good, Asamoah. The system probably allows him to express himself a bit more this time as he is playing more as a central striker. He could be a star," he tells KickOffGhana.com.
 
"Ivory Coast I don't really see anyone – all their players are already at big clubs. Cameroon … no. Only Ghana have that sort of young talent that is emerging."
 
However, Desailly does not believe the Black Stars can be counted as tournament favourites yet – instead, he backs Ivory Coast to fly the African flag.
 
"Ivory Coast are the team that has the first-choice players in Europe – Yaya Toure, Zokora, Drogba. They are the type of players that can handle the pressure. Pressure takes a lot of energy; the quantity games you are playing also … they are able to face it. To reach the quarters or semi-finals, you need brains and also physical strength. For me, the Ivorians have the most potential for this.
 
"Ghana? Look, they have done very well during the African Cup of Nations without Essien, without Muntari, without Mensah. There is a generation which is emerging, but maybe not just yet."
 
A few years ago Desailly's name was put forward as a possible future Ghana national team coach. He admits it could still happen, but not just yet.
 
"I'm doing my final coaching badges in September, but I am not ready yet," he tells KickOffGhana.com. "I'm really enjoying what I'm doing … with Castrol helping them develop the index, and with me television programmes and other businesses, and also my charities. I'm quite free. 
 
"In future? I will come in, for sure, probably national team and not as an every day coaching clubs. The exposure is too much every day – today you are the man, the next day you are nothing. I can handle the pressure, but I don't want to get back to that sort of pressure."

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lee bazz: 2010-06-15 14:17

he's like any other player(Mpela even shabba)

Eagle.: 2010-06-15 14:44

Desailly is entitled to his opinion, which may be a result of his poor knowledge of the Africa game. Cameroon and Nigeria are the veterans of African football with pedigree. Ghana are without doubt huge, but not in the categories of the first two. Honestly, if any African nation has the capacity to do well at SA 2010 it must be Nigeria. The Super Eagles, under its current handler, Lagerback have the potentials of beating any team. The opener against Argentina could have gone either way, but it is a proof that Eagles are a team to beat, given its poor preparation. Lets wait and see whose ****ysis is more accurate.

capello: 2010-06-15 15:43

@ Eagle, sometimes im surprised by the shallow minds of some africans esp. nigerians..how the hell wld u rate nigeria & cameroon above ghana in football? - in what terms? what has nigeria achieve dat ghana hasnt? go ask ur papa (father) and he will educate you young eyes wit "coconut" heads abt GHANA!..look , we dominated african football for over 30yrs ! yes 30yrs (1960-1992)!no other african nation can dominate for that long. And note dat WE HAVE STARTED ANOTHER DOMINATION with our young & upcoming squad. Ghana was in a slump in the 90s , and the likes of cameroon& nigeria were just strong in the 90s.( yes, just the 90s!) Nigeria needed ghanaians to develop their football in the 60s & 70s..talk of talents, dont even compare nigeria to GHANA ( bcos we hav produced in abundance)..only jj okocha raised the image of naija football ( at least to me)..let me just stop here; just go and look at head-to-head record btwn GHANA & nigeria or cameroon

capello: 2010-06-15 15:49

@ Eagle, sometimes im surprised by the shallow minds of some africans esp. nigerians..how the hell wld u rate nigeria & cameroon above ghana in football? - in what terms? what has nigeria achieve dat ghana hasnt? go ask ur papa (father) and he will educate you young eyes wit "coconut" heads abt GHANA!..look , we dominated african football for over 30yrs ! yes 30yrs (1960-1992)!no other african nation can dominate for that long. And note dat WE HAVE STARTED ANOTHER DOMINATION with our young & upcoming squad. Ghana was in a slump in the 90s , and the likes of cameroon& nigeria were just strong in the 90s.( yes, just the 90s!) Nigeria needed ghanaians to develop their football in the 60s & 70s..talk of talents, dont even compare nigeria to GHANA ( bcos we hav produced in abundance)..only jj okocha raised the image of naija football ( at least to me)..let me just stop here; just go and look at head-to-head record btwn GHANA & nigeria or cameroon

Gucci Man: 2010-06-15 17:25

capello: 2010-06-15 15:43 [ Report ]

Interesting points Capello, I'm a South African , I’ve been following African football for quite some time now and I think you're also missing some great players from Nigeria, I don't think it's only JJ Okocha who made a huge impact in our African football . But I respect your opinion as my African brother.

I would like to also add few names that I know and I believe they made a huge contribution to keep our African flag high Jay Jay Okocha, Sunday Oliseh, N****wo Kanu, Rashidi Yekini, Daniel Amokachi
Finidi George , Emmanuel Amuneke and they also had a good goalkeeper Peter Rufai .

We also know how they (Nigeria) represented the continent in USA 1994

I pause

God bless Africa

stan'Lee: 2010-06-15 18:32

Of course Asamoah Gyan is a great player for the future.
I solely support Marcel Desailly's belief.
However, I still think the future of Ghanaian soccer rest on the feet of the likes of Andre dede AYEW, Kwadwo ASAMOAH, Anthony ANNAN, Kevin Prince BOATENG and Dominic ADIYIAH.

However, today the Elephants of CIV made the Portuguese team look so ordinary!!!
They stood their ground and played their game with no fear or over-rating on the CR-led team.
The Elephants took the shine off the star-studded Portuguese side with pacy, sublime ball possession and close marking.
Their ball control and possession was superb.
The Elephants did play like a unify team with so much discipline and strong determination.
I applaud their team spirit.
All they need to do is play another scintillating draw with Brazil and take 3 points from North Korea with a higher score line.
They are off to 2nd round...You never can tell....!!!
Go CIV...Go Elephants!!!!

Today’s CIV draw against CR-led Portugal is another good song from another great African side.
Just like Ghana and South Africa.
The stage is now set for Nigeria, Cameroun and Algeria to follow suit respectively in their next matches.
Go on...Sing a good song!!!

VIVA Africa!!!

God no dey sleep!!!

Sechaba: 2010-06-16 00:56

Africa, you have to love Africans

Cobby: 2010-06-16 23:08

I wonder what you nigerians have against Ghana at all!!! Any good thing about Ghana or ghanaians online, then you see see so many nigerians coming to counter!!
Ghana has done a lot for country in the first place!! We have helped you gain independence, yet you call yourself a senior brother.(hahaha) Ghana trained the first batch of nigerian soldiers still you guys don't give the due respect.
Desailly is just talking about the FUTURE of african football, and see nigerians jump in talking about their history. OMG, when will these empty barrels give us all a break on this continent at all? Your big time talks and overrating yourselves, always force you guys into armed robbery accross the whole continent. You guys just got to content and humble, and all the rest shall be added unto you. Watch other Africans and learn from that.

Cobby: 2010-06-17 01:20

@ topnotch!! Who doesn't get it here? You are still talking about Eto, Kanu and even mentioning Weah ... That is what I was trying to point out, but you wouldn't budge, cuz you are still in your funny paradise. Eto and Kanu are already big stars. Do you understand the word NEXT at all? "Next" does not include the "present". You are still talking about Eto, whom we all know to be a Star and at his peak... and Kanu who is already a dead Star. Don't even bring kanu here, cuz his time has past. We are talking about the the future of african football not the "present" (Eto and Drogba), and not the past (Kanu, Weah, Abedi etc)!!
You should rather get the sense in the article, before you comment!! You seem not to understand the word NEXT.