Open letter to Kwasi Appiah
DEAR Coach Kwasi Appiah, I'm elated to send you this piece which I know will do you some good in your second adventure with the Black Stars.
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Before I proceed, let me congratulate you on your re-appointment to perhaps, the second-hottest seat in the country, after the big seat at the 'Jubilee House' (I prefer this name, particularly due to the blessings attached to Jubilee in Leviticus 25).
Talking of 'Jubilee House' reminds me of the kind of mischief being played by some Ghanaians to the effect that your appointment was heavily influenced by government other than competence, though the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has emphasised time and again that you were appointed purely on merit after excelling above the over 90 expatriates who applied for the job.
This should clearly tell you that not all Ghanaians are happy with your appointment! Be guided by that and motivate yourself to excel beyond the targets set for you by the GFA. Please learn to ignore the diversionary tactics that will come along the way. They help to toughen you and sharpen the vision. The gentlemen’s gentleman that I know you to be, I believe you will not have any ill-feelings against anybody in the course of your duties.
I must confess that I was so impressed with the manner in which you dealt with the questions you were bombarded with by media men at your official unveiling at the FA Secretariat last week. You indeed proved that you are back on the job as a truly matured person who is bent on making a mark far beyond your maiden stint with the senior national team.
I was particularly happy to hear you say that you have learnt your lessons upon a sober reflection of some incidents of the past and that you want to do things differently to build a strong team that will last for a long term. That is exactly what Ghanaians need to see in their Black Stars - a formidable squad that can stand the test of time and bring honours to the nation again.
I say without any reservation whatsoever that your predecessor Avram Grant did the nation a great disservice by reversing the clock of the Black Stars. All he did in the last two years was to feed fat on your rich legacy and leave the bankrupt. Grant simply came to waste our time!
But I put the blame squarely at the doorstep of those who pushed you out at a time you were not doing badly with the team in the AFCON qualifiers, following a turbulent Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup you had no hand in. Somehow, I had a hunch that you would be brought back one day since I thought you were not fairly treated then, especially after making history as the first Ghanaian to qualify the Black Stars to the FIFA World Cup.
Again, I was in Brazil and saw the quality of football the Stars displayed at the Mundial under your watch and can say unequivocally that but for the appearance fees crisis which hit the team, Ghana could have made history. Your team was simply solid and it was a joy to see them play.
Of course, being your first time on such a big stage as the World Cup, I think you made some wrong calls with the selection of some players on certain occasions and also lacked the courage to take certain bold decisions which did not help our cause. I'm happy to hear you say that you are back as a better person. That will be key to your success in your 'second coming.'
I must say I was impressed with the enthusiasm with which you hit the ground running even at a time you had not even met the FA to discuss the details of your two-year renewable contract, let alone seal the deal with your signature. And quite significantly, you have not looked back since, indicating the seriousness you attach to the task handed to you by Ghanaians.
The fact is, the Black Stars of today is not the same as the side you left behind in 2015. The team is not only ordinary now but is also full of mediocre players who look too comfortable simply because there is no competition for positions.
You hit the nail right on the head when you stressed on the need to introduce many new players to ensure competition in the team. That is the right prescription for the Stars' malady today.
While patting you on the back for putting together a solid coaching staff in the persons of Tanko Ibrahim, Maxwell Konadu, Stephen Appiah and Richard Kingson, I wish to draw your attention to this irony which I am still struggling to come to terms with as to why Kwadwo Asamoah, arguably the best player Ghana can boast of currently, is not in the team.
I’m told he turned down an invitation by Coach Grant to feature for Ghana at this year's AFCON in Gabon for reasons best known to him. But since he played under you at the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup, I believe he will be more than willing to reunite with you and continue to serve his country.
Truth be told that Kwadwo's quality is something we cannot afford to miss in your rebuilding effort. I was privileged to watch him at close range in Brazil and can say without any fear of contradiction that he was the Black Stars' most outstanding player at the last World Cup, despite playing in an unfamiliar left-back position.
Coach, I humbly appeal to you to consider using Kwadwo in his favourite inside position, where he is most deadly, this time round to give the Stars more scoring options up front.
Talking about goal scoring brings to mind the crucial role of skipper Asamoah Gyan vis-a-vis the future success of the Stars. Though Asa, as he is fondly called, is not playing in a not-too-competitive league in the United Arab Emirates, coupled with his age, I still believe he has a lot to offer since he is a clinical finisher who can help the course of the team any day. Having worked with him before and again endorsed him as the substantive captain for the second time means you actually know how much he means to the Stars’ fortunes.
Again, your endorsement of Gyan will effectively end the hitherto mounting agitation between him and his deputy which threatened the progress of the team. Let the players concentrate on excelling on the field of play instead of using the media and other channels to pursue privileges off the pitch.
Before I end, I wish to also advise you as a big brother to stay away from any form of ‘ways and means’ that can tarnish your image as a coach and concentrate fully on your technical role. If anybody wants to help you succeed, let them go ahead and do it all by themselves as a way of supporting a brother and a friend in the supreme interest of mother Ghana. Please, avoid the charlatans!
Finally, I fully endorse your commitment to building a strong local Black Stars to create a pool of players to feed into the senior national team. I believe this nation abounds in talents on the domestic front, some of whom can compete favourably with the current crop of the main Black Stars, if not better. All that is required is effective scouting and empowerment!
I pledge my support for you as always and wish you well in your efforts to restore the Black Stars to its glorious past.
