AKWASI APPIAH MUST NOT FAIL

•  Akwasi Appiah

After the back and forth in choosing a possible successor to the Ex-Black Stars coach Goran “Plavi” Stevanovic, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) finally settled on Akwasi Appiah as the substantive coach of the senior national team, the Black Stars. Akwasi Appiah until his appointment was the Assistant Coach of the national team since 2008.

Appiah’s appointment indeed received mixed reaction from a cross section of the football loving Ghanaian populace. Even though, admittedly, a large chunk is obviously in favour, there is another group questioning the preparedness and the readiness of Appiah for the job. They argue the only major achievement of Akwasi Appiah (winning gold at the 2011 All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique) is not enough grounds to hand him the job.

It is quite obvious Akwasi Appiah wasn’t the first choice of the GFA but rather Ghanaian born French, Marcel Desailly. When it therefore became clear the GFA couldn’t get the services of Desailly, they then had to fall on Appiah bearing in mind time limits. It is greatly rumoured that the huge financial demands coupled with other international engagements ruled Desailly out of running for the top job. However, time constraints made it almost impossible to go searching for a foreign trainer. It however remains to be seen if this decision will reap the needed benefits.

Akwasi Appiah who is a former captain of Fabulous Kumasi Asante Kotoko and the Black Stars reportedly is earning $20,000 which is a significant leap from the paltry $3000 he was earning as assistant Coach. This is being complimented by other incentives which include an official car, house among others. This, many believe will aid him do the job quite comfortably and efficiently.

The job ahead is definitely a difficult one as he has been tasked to win AFCON 2013 in South Africa and also to qualify and reach the semi-finals of the Brazil 2014 World Cup. His first assignment was against Lesotho in a World Cup Qualifier on June 1 at the Accra Sports Stadium of which Ghana won by 7-0. Ghana subsequently lost 1-0 to Zambia for the second time in 2012 in another World Cup Qualifier in Ndola and held China PR in an International friendly in Guanzhou.

As we all hope and pray Akwasi Appiah delivers on this job, failure will truly vindicate those who were against the sacking of Goran Stevanovic. Stevanovic was fired by the GFA because he failed to deliver the African Cup of Nations held in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea early this year. A decision which had huge financial implications for the country as the Serbian reported the GFA to FIFA over his severance package.

Again, Appiah’s critics talk about his “over” calmness which might work against him. Coaches are supposed to be tough, because there’s the tendency for some players to take them for granted. He must be able and willing to crack the whip if anyone goes contrary to camp rules, an area he must pay particular attention to.