One-on-One Interview With Ghana Winger Edwin Gyasi

Ghana and CSKA Sofia winger Edwin Gyasi touched on the plethora of issues during a one-on-one with Czech tabloid Blic ahead of their UEFA Europa League first leg clash against Austrian side Admira Wacker on Thursday.

The 27-year-old about himself and topics outside football - where he disclosed the trade he might be involved had he not chosen football as his profession.

Edwin, how did you start training football? "My father saw the potential in me and started to prepare me. He was not a footballer, although everyone said he had qualities as a young man. As he says, he pulled the trigger and set me on fire.

Your parents are from Ghana, where exactly? - The city of Kumasi, Ashanti region. The city is about 500 kilometres north of the equator, famous for its beautiful vegetation. That's why they call it the Garden or the Coloured City. In recent years it has developed quite quickly and is one of the main cities in the country.

Now, are you going there? "Of course, every summer when the national team of Ghana is being gathered for whom I play.

Do you have grandparents? "Yes, on both sides - to my mother and my father.

Why did your parents move to the Netherlands? "My father was a sailor (he smiles). My mother has been together since their stay in Ghana. They then settled in Europe. We were born in the Netherlands.

You were born in Amsterdam, do you have brothers or sisters? - Yes, I was born in Amsterdam. We are a total of eight children - seven brothers and one sister.

Just one girl ?! - Yes, my father is a strong man (laughs). One of my little brothers also plays football - Raymond, born in 1994. He, like me, went through the Alkmaar Academy, and then played in Roda, Cambuur, and last year I went to my steps - Norwegian team was - Stabaek. One of my brothers is an accountant, other works in a hotel and soon will be a manager, my sister is a lawyer. I also have a brother who is doing very well in the field of investment.

Have you had difficult moments like a child? Something you do not want to remember? - No, definitely! I had everything I needed. My parents had a solid job, they were very strict, and they grew us as good Christians. They did everything to educate us in the right way and protect us from the temptations of life. I really had a great childhood.

What was your mother thinking about your desire to play football? Mothers always want their children to focus on textbooks. - (laughing). Yes exactly. I preferred to study, but it was a long time ago. At school, I did very well with the lessons, but I was constantly running to work out. Yes, I was really a good student.

What would you do if he had not played football? Sailor maybe? - (laughs) Architect. I like this profession.

On social networks, you have pictures of your children. How big are they? - I have a boy and a girl, four and two years old (pictured right). And after a month we are waiting for a third child. He will be a boy again. I love them with all my heart. They are my great stimulus in life.

How did you meet their mother? - We met in Amsterdam. It will come next month after the baby is born. We love to be together because we help.

Who was your first idol in football? - (answers without thinking) Quincy Owusu Abeyie. He is like me, of Ghanaian origin. And he was born in the same neighbourhood in Amsterdam, where I am. He was my hero, terribly fast, just lightning (makes a gesture with his hand). I also liked Ronaldinho, the Brazilian Ronaldo.

Not the Portuguese, is it? - No, he is a good player and I respect him very much, but ...

Ronaldo or Messi, this is the question that divides fans around the world? - Messi, Messi, of course. But for me always the number one will be Ronaldinho and Ronaldo Phenomena. I liked that Brazilian team, who became World Champion 2002. I was a little kid but I remember them all. Rivaldo was also good.

You trained at the Alkmaar Academy of Azerbaijan. Which more famous coaches did you work with? - Luis Van Gaal, Ronald Koeman and Dick Advocaat.

Who is the best of them? - Ronald Cumman. Especially as a man. It was wonderful, she kept us paternal.

Do you remember Nikolay Mihaylov from his time in Twente? - Of course. He is a very good goalkeeper and has helped me a lot. It was kind of a mentor - it gave me good advice. But we have not talked long ago with each other, we follow Instagram.

Twente was with Gerson Kabral, who is now in Levski? "Yes, I've known Kabbal since I was eight. I was playing at the academy at the time. We've known for years, and I can say we're good friends.

Then Nasser Shadley was also playing in the team ... "Oh, a great player. We were good friends, you saw what a world championship for Belgium did. Very good Belgians.

After your stay in the Netherlands, it's time to play in cold in Norway. How did you get used to time? "It was really cold, a lot. But I played very well there, I scored great goals, we recorded very good matches. But it is time to leave to continue my career. CSKA is an excellent place to make a career.

For several months in CSKA. What did you learn about the audience, do you like fans? - Great, great, bow. They support us all the 90 minutes. The first time I saw them I was very impressed. That sector there (pointing) behind the door ... Well, I've seen fans like CSKA in a few places.

But they want a championship title? "That's right, I understand it." And they deserve it.

CSKA has not been a 2008 champion. These are 10 years. The example is that Ajax has not been a 10-year champion of the Netherlands. This is a big shock for the fans. - That's right. I knew this about CSKA before I came in because my good friend Gregory Nelson played here.

Can you become champions this year? "I can promise we'll fight for the title."

What do you think of Ludogorets? - Everyone in Bulgaria knows about Ludogorets. They have seven consecutive titles. The top team is, but this year we will show that CSKA is the top team.

Do you know anything about Bulgarian football, for example about Hristo Stoichkov? "Of course, he's your legend. Who has not heard of Hristo Stoichkov ?! He is the winner of the Golden Ball. I also know Popov from Spartak Moscow, Berbatov, I have already mentioned about Niko Mihaylov (so - Niko says).

Your next match is with Admiral Wacker in Europa League, what do you expect? - We'll fight. We want to play in the group stage of the Europa League.

Which team do you dream of playing? - My dream? (thinks) Do you really want to know what it is? In the future, be okay, my family will be healthy. I am happy now, my family is happy, it's more than a dream.

Ghana and the Netherlands were not at the World Cup, which team was holding their fingers? - I supported Croatia, I wanted to win, but France was a very strong team. I thought Brazil would win, but I was very disappointed. I do not think Neymar was 100%. Messi and Ronaldo had no teams behind, not alone on the pitch. I'm glad for my French friends.

What are you doing in your free time? "I spend it with my family, I like to play a play.

Africa continues to give birth to talent, how? And at the last World Cup, there were African-born footballers in the national teams of France, Belgium, Switzerland ...

- Because we are Africa (laughs). Football is a way for children to save children out of the street. The Lord has given us much talent.