The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has named James Kwesi Appiah as the new coach of Senior National Team, the Black Stars.
The decision was taken by the Executive Committee of the GFA on Tuesday after approving the report of the six-man coaching search committee. Appiah will be handed a two-year contract and will start his duties on 1st May, 2017.
Ghpage takes you through 10 Ten things about new Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah you may not know
1. He rejected a lucrative contract to play for Italian outfit, Torino.
After Kumasi Asante Kotoko won the Africa Club Championship in 1983, Torino made an offer to lure the gallant defender but Appiah,who was enjoying his time at the Black Stars and club level rejected the deal.He however does not regret rejecting the deal to travel outside.
2. Kwesi Appiah puts off his phone one hour before and after every game ever since he first assumed the role as Black Stars coach.
3. Appiah won three trophies with Kotoko
He won three trophies for Kumasi Asante Kotoko as a substantive coach in the 95/96 season after deputizing under three different coaches including Malik Jabir between 92-95 season.He left for London afterwards to pursue his course.
4. Kwesi Appiah rates Opoku Nti as the greatest player he has ever met in his footballing career.
5. Kwesi Appiah has no role model as a coach but admires Arsenal’s playing style.
Kwesi Appiah admires the philosophy of coach Arsene Wenger despite not having the opportunity for practical experience with the Gunners.
In spite of being an advocate of good football, he does not necessarily look up to any coach as a role model.
6. He came close to accepting Sudan national team job-
Kwesi Appiah was contacted by the Sudanese FA for the national team job after doing a great job with Al Khartoum SC but his club, owned by the military, did not allow him.
7. Does not have ample social life: Appiah has been engulfed in his job, that he hardly enjoys a free time.
Appiah has his family based in London and he says,it is always difficult for him to have time for a social life.
8. Kwesi Appiah frowns on the globe-trotting of expatriate coaches he understudied.
Kwesi Appiah admits to disliking the frequent traveling of the expatriate coaches. He believes they should spend more time monitoring the local league to fish out talent rather than traveling outside.
9. Kwesi Appiah is not social media crazy
Kwesi Appiah disabled his facebook account the moment he was appointed Black Stars coach.He does not want to be put off by unwarranted comments.
He neither listen to radio nor read newspapers;all he does is check his mails and enjoy his quiet life.
10. Kwesi Appiah’s demeanor does not affect his job: Kwesi Appiah has come
under harsh criticisms over the past months over his soft approach.
The former Kotoko man says,his demeanour cannot be taken for granted.
