Arsene Wenger was my mentor – Kwasi Appiah

Former Black Stars coach James Kwesi Appiah says he takes inspiration from coaches like Arsene Wenger, previously of Arsenal.

He says Wenger’s coaching style was good as he was interested in developing talents.

Kwesi Appiah says he is not sharing these sentiments because he is a fan of Arsenal FC in the English Premier League.

Speaking in an interview on TV3’s New Day on Friday, January 31 ahead of the launch of his biography, Kwesi Appiah, who was relieved of his post just last month, said he made sure he developed talent for the Black Stars in his time.

“You know Arsene Wenger believed in young guys,” he told host Thierry Nyann, insisting from 2014 that was what he sought to do with the senior national soccer team.

He, however, observed that for a national team, more players should be given the chance as against making it a preserve for only a few.

He lauded the late Ben Koufie as having developed a plan to unearth new talents for the various national teams.

But this dream was curtailed by subsequent coaches after the era of Michael Essien and co, the former Asante Kotoko coach said.

“At 2014, you ask yourself who are taking over from them. We didn’t prepare any backup team.”

He mentioned the qualification to the 2014 World Cup by Ghana as his greatest moment.

Kwesi Appiah’s book titled ‘Leaders Don’t Have To Yell’ will be launched in Accra.