Black Stars Coach: Some Ghana FA Officials Doubted My Competence

Black Stars coach Akwasi Appiah has revealed that some Ghana FA officials called his ability to lead the team into question after his team plummeted at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

The ex-defender is on the verge of qualifying the team to their third successive World Cup and he will become the first Ghanaian to achieve the feat if he takes the country to the global competition in Brazil next year.

But the coach, who is currently enjoying a lot of praise after thrashing Egypt 6-1 in the first leg of their final 2014 World Cup playoff, says some of the management members doubted his ability to lead the team.

Appiah had to survive the sack after his team under-performed earlier this year in South African to extend Ghana’s long wait for another African Cup title.

The ex Ghana international himself, now looks back on a bumpy meeting with the Black Stars management committee after the major disappointment and how he made a solemn pledge to rally the side back.

“After the [2013] Cup of Nations there were doubts,” Appiah opined.

“We had a meeting and some of the management members, after we lost to Zambia [in the group stage of the qualifiers] and I was asked whether I thought we could plough back.

“I marked a spot in the meeting room that before we meet Zambia at home we will be ahead of Zambia.

“I knew that looking at the team after the Nations Cup and the blend of young and experienced players we had an advantage.

“I always had belief. I knew automatically we were going to the end.”

Appiah is now on the verge of making history as the first indigenous coach to lead the Black Stars to World Cup qualification as the team goes into next month’s return encounter against Egypt with a commanding 6-1 advantage.

Source: Ghanasoccernet.com