Accra, Aug. 29, GNA - Black Stars striker Asamoah Gyan on Monday launched a Foundation to support the needy in society. The foundation christened, 93Asamoah Gyan Foundation" will seek to provide education, water, sports opportunities and health related services for the youth and needy in society to enhance their development. At the launch of the Foundation in Accra on Monday, the Sunderland striker said that the Foundation will seek to also provide educational opportunities for needy but brilliant females to enhance their goals and objectives in life. On water, he said they would build boreholes in deprived areas with th= e first point of call being his hometown, Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region. Gyan, who turns 26 at the end of November this year, said plans are advanced to construct a football academy in honour of his mother as well as a health post in deprived communities to provide improved health care. He said it was his way of giving back to the society for all the support towards him throughout his chequered career.

Enoch Teye Mensah, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare commended Gyan on the initiative and encouraged him to consider the construction of a football academy as his immediate target.

He urged all stakeholders to support the initiative since it will inject a new lease of life for people in deprived communities. Samuel Anim Addo, Chief Executive of the Asamoah Gyan Foundation said the main launch of the body has been fixed for January 2012 before the commencement of the Africa Cup of Nations.

On behalf of the Black Stars, defender John Paintsil assured of the support of the members of the team towards the bold initiative taken by their colleague and urged all to throw their weight behind the project. Also present was Gyan's elder brother Baffuor and his parents.

Sponsors of the Foundation include Tecno Phones and Wash United - a coalition of international and African civil society organizations, United Nations agencies, governments and leading actors from the football world. Gyan becomes the fourth Ghanaian player to establish a charitable organization after Stephen Appiah, Michael Essien and Paintsil.