I rejected €25,000 'gift' from a player – Appiah

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah has revealed rejecting 25,000 Euros meant to be a gift from an unknown Black Stars player.

The coach made the chilling revelation during an extensive interview with Accra-based Montie FM on Wednesday.


There is a widespread perception that Ghanaian coaches take monies before selecting or even fielding players in matches.


Midfielder Ishmael Yartey is remembered to have made such allegations against coach Sellas Tetteh in the lead up to the Ghana U20 team’s World Cup success in 2009.


But the Sion player was unable to substantiate his allegation and subsequently had to offer a grovelling apology.


This perception, however, remain despite the deficit of substantial proof. Coach Kwesi Appiah has now made the startling revelation by rejection ‘a gift’ of 25,000 Euros from a player he refused to name.

“I can reveal that a player brought 25,000 Euros to me as a gift but of which I rejected immediately,” he told Montie FM.


“The money was brought through an intermediary but I made the person understand that when I was calling up the said player for the first time I didn’t take any money so why should I take money now?


“Once you accept these things, you open yourself up to a lot of things. These players I know are very generous but it comes at a diminishing rate.


“They look at a lot of things before succumbing to your tutelage. So once you start taking monies from them as a coach, you are doomed because you will be unable to exert your authority over them.”


Appiah is widely regarded as the most trust worthy Ghana coach as he has invited many players who are seen to have been most fit to play for the country.