Zambia goalkeeper Mweene launches Asamoah Gyan attack Zambian goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene has pooh-poohed Asamoah Gyan’s decision to quit the Black Stars following his penalty miss against the Chipolopolo at the 2012 African Cup of Nations, claiming they will beat Ghana in their decisive World Cup group clash in September in Kumasi to force the striker to retire again. In an astonishing attack on the Black Stars captain, Mweene stopped just short of calling Gyan a coward for his decision to quit the national team over the death threats and intense criticism he suffered after missing the penalty at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. The loud-mouthed shot-stopper added that Gyan should prepare to permanently retire from the Black Stars because they will beat Ghana in the decisive Group D match in Kumasi Mweene, who was Zambia’s hero at the continental showpiece in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in 2012, stood between Gyan and a final berth for Ghana after saving his penalty during their semi-final clash. The 27-year-old Ghana captain came in for heavy criticism and death threats after missing the penalty kick against the Zambians which forced him to temporarily quit the Black Stars. The tough-talking goalminder started the psychological battle ahead of the 2014 World Cup group decider since arriving in Accra this week on a training tour of Ghana with his South African club Sundowns. Mweene started by claiming God favours Zabmia ahead of Ghana and has now criticized the decision of the former Sunderland hitman to retire from the national team temporarily. The ex-Free State Stars man has predicted victory for Zambia in the final group game in Kumasi in September, scoffing the defeat will force him to retire permanently. “I don’t know why he (Gyan) retired but I believe as a footballer you should have the heart to be able stand criticism,” Mweene said when referring to Gyan decision to quit. “That is your job and so as far as you wear the national jersey people will talk. If they are not happy they will talk. “You don’t just stop playing because people are criticizing you. I don’t know what happened in his case but I think it was wrong to retire. “May be he should be ready to retire permanently because I know we’ll beat Ghana in Kumasi to qualify. “We want to go to the World Cup and nobody can stand in our way including Ghana.” The comment by the 28-year-old could spur on the Ghana captain to silence him by delivering a sucker punch during their meeting in Ghana’s second largest city. The must-win fixture for both sides has generated so much controversy with both teams deploying various psychological skirmish to outwit each other.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Jul 2013 07:52:37 +0000