Appiah backs Essien for top awards

Ghana captain Stephen Appiah says his compatriot Michael Essien deserves to win the World Player of the Year and European Footballer of the Year awards.

Essien, who played a crucial part for Chelsea to win the Premiership title for the second time in a row in May, is part of Fifa?s 30-man shortlist for the world?s best player in 2006.

He is also among the 50 nominees for the most coveted individual award in European football.

Appiah led his country to the second round of the World Cup in July and says Essien?s performance for both club and country makes him the favourite for both awards.

?Essien plays with the best players in the world in the England as well as the Uefa Champions League,? Appiah told Rainbow Radio in London.

?His outstanding performance among the best players in the world this season makes him the best of the best players.

?No one gave Ghana a chance at the World Cup but thanks to the performance of all the players and the key contribution of Essien we emerged as one of the best teams at the tournament in Germany.

The votes of captains of every national team, as well as their coaches, and Fifpro, the organisation for professional footballers will determine who wins the World Player of the Year.

The Fenerbahce midfielder says he will cast his vote for the Chelsea star.

?I will vote for Essien and I am confident that because of his performance, national team coaches and captains across the world will vote for him.

Appiah, who is target of several English premiership sides, ruled out a move to England when the transfer window opens in January.

?The management of Fenerbahce and the fans have been extremely good to me.

?I have promised the president and the fans that I will stay on to celebrate the club?s 100th anniversary which starts in January.

?The club has also agreed that they will listen to the offers from all the clubs in England in June when the season ends.

Meanwhile, the Turkey-based star has backed the French coach Claude Le Roy to make the Black Stars the best team in Africa.

Le Roy took charge of the team earlier this month and his on-field tenure started brightly, with two successive defeats of Japan and South Korea in the tour of Asia two weeks ago.

?The Ghana FA board has done extremely well by getting us this coach, ?Appiah said.

?From what we saw in our tour of Asia I am confident he will help us be the best team in Africa and among the best in the world.

?The good management we are seeing from the GFA as well as the unity in the Black Stars is what has made the team so good.

?This unity and good results will continue until we retire and even when we retire I am confident the next generation are learning from our experiences to keep Ghana?s name on map of world football.?