GFA backs Appiah to succeed

Ghana Football Association President says new Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah will be lent the necessary support after the surprise announcement of his appointment.

Appiah holds an impressive record as a player and a coach of the national team and has been entrusted with the task of guiding Ghana on full-time basis after a long spell of successive expatriate coaches.


The former Black Stars captain was handed the job on Monday and he succeeds Goran Stevanovic with Kwesi Nyantakyi, the GFA President backing him to thrive in his new role.


“I think it is very important for all of us, all Ghanaians including the journalist, members of the public and particularly the Football Association to rally behind Kwesi Appiah so that he can succeed,” Nyantakyi said on Tuesday.


“We’re not appointing Kwesi Appiah to judge him and dismiss him on the basis that he did not perform. We would all have failed.


“Our objective is to offer the needed support so he succeeds in this new appointment. And so the FA is fully committed to ensure that all the facilities and all the needs of the coach are provided so he delivers according to the mandate entrusted him."

The new coach will formalize the deal after meeting the Executive Committee of the GFA on Tuesday, 10 April.


While Appiah's appointment has been welcomed by many, though not the favourite by the bookmakers to land the position, the GFA are committed to making his reign a success.


“The FA has decided to offer Mr. Kwesi Appiah some training. We’ll very soon announce a training programme which will include acquiring skills in management and boosting his confidence, including taken him to some of these big club abroad for attachment.


“We want him to be on top of the job. We don’t want him to fail. We do not want him to encounter any difficulties or problems. So whatever we perceive to be a likely cause of problem to affect his performance, we’ll take the necessary steps to rectify it.”


Kwesi Appiah has been the assistant coach of the Black Stars since 2008 and led the Black Meteors to win the Gold medal at the 2011 All African Games.