Asamoah Gyan eyes investment in youth development
Story by Abigirl Tembo
GHANAIAN football legend, Asamoah Gyan is in Zimbabwe to explore investment opportunities in the country and youth empowerment.
Gyan, a renowned African football icon has expressed his desire to leverage his connections to attract investment into Zimbabwe.
He said this when he met Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora in Harare this Friday.
“We discussed how to explore investments in the country and opportunities in the country to empower the youth also in the country. So basically it’s about business, and how to invest in Zimbabwe and maybe as an Icon, I feel like I can use my links and opportunities to come and invest in Zimbabwe. So, we discussed a lot of things involving the health sector and even the whole country as a whole.
Immunisation and all the diseases, you know, about the pandemic, what happened, all the killer diseases that are happening in the whole world, not only in Zimbabwe. But I would feel like we’re taking it step by step because coming to Zimbabwe, we felt like Zimbabwe is a land of opportunity that a lot of investors can invest in the country because honestly, I just feel at home already and I’m loving the country,” he said.
Youth development is another key area of focus for Gyan, who rose from humble beginnings hence his passion for mentoring youngsters and steering them away from drug and substance abuse.
He added, “That is why we want to represent the youth. Because of how we started our career, we were taken off the street and here we are today. So if we mentor all these kids who are on drugs and who are doing a lot of things on the street, I think we can use our personalities or our links to take these kids away from the street. And as I said, we represent the youth and we’re going to do everything possible to make sure we take these youth from the street.”
The Ghanaian football legend noted the lack of infrastructure as a major hurdle for football development on the continent, emphasising the significance of starting at the grassroots level and building a strong foundation for future generations.
“I think the issue is more about infrastructure, you know, to have more stadiums, to have more academies, to have more equipment in terms of football that we can use. That is what is leaving us behind and for me, I think the grassroots is very important. We have to start from the grassroots and have patience and then build the grassroots to that level. At the time, we didn’t get the opportunity. We were playing from the street.
We were just playing and then we had an opportunity. But I think in this generation that we are, I think we need more infrastructure, like what is happening in Europe and the Western world and everything,” he noted.
He added, “So infrastructure is more important. And that is why we are here, that is what we are trying to do to help Africa. Now that I have retired, we’re going to try our most possible best to implement these things in Africa. Who else? Who else is going to do it? You know, somebody has to step up. And this is what many icons, my friends are also doing, and I’m sure it’s going to help.”
Gyan also met with President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday where discussions centered on the power of sport in uniting nations and promoting youth development.
