I donâ??t believe in the word pressure - Appiah tells critics

Akwasi Appiah insists he is not afraid of pressure associated with being coach of the Black Stars.
The ex-Ghana captain has come under heavy criticisms following the team’s poor run at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
The immense criticism on Appiah – some even insults on his person will now tone down for a while following Ghana’s impressive 4-0 win over Sudan in the 2014 World Cup qualifier on Sunday.
The team looked totally transformed in the revisited 4-4-2 formation against Sudan – unlike the increasingly stale one top system the team has been playing in recent years.
Asked whether he felt some redemption following his side’s very fine performance before a packed Kumasi crowd on Sunday, Appiah was adamant he knew exactly what he was stepping into the moment he decided to take up the coveted job.
“I have always maintained the fact that whenever you are given a job to do, just do your best and then you leave the rest for the people to decide,” he said.
“I don’t actually believe in the word ‘pressure’ because for me once you get into the coaching job, you are straight into pressure in the first place.
“But it is how you manage it and how you handle situations that come across.
“I said earlier that (beating Sudan) was important not only for me, I believe that it is for the whole nation that we try and qualify for the World Cup,” he said.
Appiah will however need to steer the side to two vital back-to-back victories away to Sudan and Lesotho to ensure the Black Stars are still favourites for the sole progressive ticket in Group D by the time they host leaders Zambia later this year.

Akwasi Appiah insists he is not afraid of pressure associated with being coach of the Black Stars.
The ex-Ghana captain has come under heavy criticisms following the team’s poor run at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
The immense criticism on Appiah – some even insults on his person will now tone down for a while following Ghana’s impressive 4-0 win over Sudan in the 2014 World Cup qualifier on Sunday.
The team looked totally transformed in the revisited 4-4-2 formation against Sudan – unlike the increasingly stale one top system the team has been playing in recent years.
Asked whether he felt some redemption following his side’s very fine performance before a packed Kumasi crowd on Sunday, Appiah was adamant he knew exactly what he was stepping into the moment he decided to take up the coveted job.
“I have always maintained the fact that whenever you are given a job to do, just do your best and then you leave the rest for the people to decide,” he said.
“I don’t actually believe in the word ‘pressure’ because for me once you get into the coaching job, you are straight into pressure in the first place.
“But it is how you manage it and how you handle situations that come across.
“I said earlier that (beating Sudan) was important not only for me, I believe that it is for the whole nation that we try and qualify for the World Cup,” he said.
Appiah will however need to steer the side to two vital back-to-back victories away to Sudan and Lesotho to ensure the Black Stars are still favourites for the sole progressive ticket in Group D by the time they host leaders Zambia later this year.