Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has urged Ghanaians to support new Black Stars coach, Kwesi Appiah, who was appointed last week as one of their own.
The 56-year-old manager was handed a two-year contract to replace Avram Grant, whose contract came to an end in February this year.
Appiah first took charge of Ghana between 2012 and 2014, guiding the Black Stars to the semi-finals of 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and, becoming the first Ghanaian coach to qualify the team to the 2014 FIFA World Cup staged in Brazil.
“Convey my sincerest congratulations to the GFA for the appointment of Kwesi Appiah as national team coach. At least they are now listening to reason. I have maintained that we have abundant talent of coaches from whom we could choose a national coach,” Vanderpuye told Herosportsgh.com.
“Let’s value our own. Let’s respect Kwesi Appiah and his team of assistants that he will be working within the next two years. I pledge my support for him and my prayers are with him as well.
“Ghanaians, let’s support the Black Stars now than even before because one of our own is leading us to the promised land. I trust Kwesi will not let us down,” he added.
Appiah is expected to name his backroom staff before he commences work on May 1, but Vanderpuye believes he must select what will be in his best interest.
“Appiah must be bold and select what he thinks will help him. I can’t choose assistants for him but he must be aware that his success and failures will be determined by those he surrounds himself with. It is a normal life principle.”
Appiah’s first game will be the 2018 FIFA World Cup double qualifying games against Congo on August 28 in Kumasi and September 2 at Stade Municipal de Kintele in Brazzaville.
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