Appiah-Kubi eyes Japan move from Australia

Where most young footballers aspire to further their careers in Europe, Ghanaian striker Kwabena Appiah-Kubi felt at home in Japan this week because that’s where he wants to be.

The 21-year-old, who was born in Australia, first fell in love with the Land of the Rising Sun when his home club Western Sydney Wanderers made a pre-season trip to Asia last year.


Coming back for the club’s Asian Champions League match against Kawasaki Frontale this week only strengthened the notion in his mind that this is where he wants to ply his trade one day.


“As soon as I got to Japan and played the first game against Shimizu S Pulse I knew that Japan was a place that I want to play one day in my career,” Kwabena told The Daily Telegraph.


“I just love this place, it’s beautiful, the fans are football mad and the quality on the pitch is just outstanding.


“Definitely one day I’d like to be playing for a team in Japan.”


Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou has been in Japan and Korea checking up on the fortunes of Australians in the J-League and K-League and called in to the Todoroki Athletics Stadium to watch the Wanderers on Tuesday night.

He was said to be impressed with Appiah-Kubi, particularly in the first half when the Wanderers weren’t as bogged down in their defensive half and the striker was able to, as he puts it, to “express myself” more.


His teammates joke that two of his best performances of the season have come in the last two games against Kawasaki because he’s trying to impress in order to secure a move there.


But for now he’s in no rush.


“I signed a new deal in the pre-season, an extension for another year, so I’m here until at least the end of next season,” he said.


“At the moment my mind is just set on trying to cement a starting spot here, improving every day under Poppa (coach Tony Popovic) and (assistant) Ante (Milicic).”


Appiah-Kubi wouldn’t want to leave so soon anyway.

After all, he is living the dream playing for his hometown club.


Appiah-Kubi bleeds the red and black of the Wanderers, but there was a time not so long ago that through necessity he was blue — the Sky Blue of Sydney FC.


“Me and my mates used to always go to Sydney games,” he admits without a moment’s hesitation.


“We’d sit in The Cove, take our shirts off and wrap them around our faces and everything. At that time Poppa was playing for them as well, so it’s funny how it changes.”