It was all joy at the Estadio da Varezea, Praia immediately Tunisian referee, Mourad Daami blew the final whistle to end hostilities. The Black Stars of Ghana were 4-0 victors against a resilient Cape Verde side on 8 October 2005.
The players were reduced to tears but it had nothing to do with the triumph over Cape Verde but everything to do with a World Cup berth- a feat that has eluded the country for decades.
Some of the players couldn’t help it but cry as if they’ve lost their mothers- others were seen dancing to some songs piped around by a section of the Ghanaian supporters in the stands. Ghanaians back home were not left out of the jubilations- the nation was sent into raptures.
There was absolute joy and jollity in the country. Men were seen with their cherubic wives and girlfriends clad in the adorable Ghanaian colours merrying on the streets; drinking pubs were packed with revelers, scores of people were seen displaying a Valentino Rossi-esque skills on their motor bikes.
Almost every street in the country crackled with fireworks and blared with horns. Anyone who would take a swipe at Ghanaians for celebrating the way they did needs hurling in a dank prison cell for all eternity.
Their wild celebrations corroborates how long they’ve waited to make an appearance at the Mundial. This is Ghana, a country with the moniker the ‘Brazil’ of Africa; a country tagged as the motherlode of talents, a country with a remarkable recognition in Association football but was always missing when the elites gather to exhibit their prowess.
The name on the lips of many Ghanaians was Stephen Appiah, the skipper of the Black Stars side. He deserved all the accolades and attributions because many great Ghanaian footballers preceded him, some had the opportunity of captaining the Black Stars but none could achieve this historic and momentous feat.
Appiah was a beacon of hope, loyalty, consistency and a model of what the ideal footballer should be like on and off the field. Leading Ghana to ‘her’ first World Cup sealed his right as a legend and his name etched in the country’s football folklore.
Later going to describe it as the finest moment of his esteemed career,this was a deserved success for a man who moved from grass to grace.
Born in Accra, Ghana’s capital, his talent like many great footballers developed on the street. The quickness of mind, nimbleness of foot, agility and perfect balance which characterised his play were visible in his early years.
Personal problems almost pushed him to the brink of quitting but with a faith of a prophet and nerves of a steel, he plied his way to success in the sport.
Local youth club, Mighty Victory picked him up first, often playing him higher up the pitch in his younger days, where he excelled, eanring him a move to one of Ghana’s biggest clubs, Accra Hearts of Oak at just with whom he spent two seasons.
At just 15 years of age, Appiah became the toast of the fans. His consistent performances with the Accra based club earned him a place in Ghana’s National Under 17 team that conquered the world in 1995 at Ecaudor.
The Black Starlets defeated the Young Selecao of Brazil to annex the trophy. Appiah saw few mintutes throughout the tournament but he saw that experience as a learning curve.
In 1996, Appiah had an unsuccessful trial with Turkish giants, Galatasaray. Not detered by the failure to land a deal in Europe, Appiah bravely soldiered on- he returned to Ghana to continue his heroics with Accra Hearts of Oak.
However, mother luck smiled on Appiah a year after. Appiah impressed Coach Alberto Zaccheroni and his techinical team when he had a trial with Udinese.
The Italian outfit were left with no option than to sign the Ghanaian youngster-this marked the beginning of his sojourn in Europe.
Appiah made cameo appearances for his new club but the thought of playing with established names like Oliver Bierhoff,Tomas Helveg and compatriot, Mohammed Gargo was enough for him.
Appiah’s sterling performances for Udinese attracted a lot of potential suitors but Appiah however opted to join Parma in the year 2000. The transfer should have materialised the year before but Appiah was diagnosed of viral hepatitis which scuppered the deal.
Appiah furtther had playing stints with Brescia, Juventus, Fenerbache, Bologna, Cesena and Vojvodina but his days with Juventus and Fenerbache were arguably his best.
He won the Coppa Italian and Supercoppa Italiana with Juventus; the Turkcell Super League and the Turkish Super Cup with Fenerbache.
Appiah made his Black Stars debut in a game against Benin. It was a four nation tournament held in Cotonou, Benin’s capital. He replaced legend, Abedi Ayew in the 80th minute.
That day is a day Appiah will forever live to cherish because the day he debuted for the Black Stars was the day he celebrated his 16th birthday.
He started making cameo appearances for the Black Stars thereafter and earned a place in Coach Guissepe Dossena’s team that represented the nation in the African Cup of Nations co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria in the 2000.
He saw few games though but his immense talent was visible for all to see and adore.
In 2002, which was supposed to be his year, he missed due to an injury. After Ghana’s quater-finals elimination, Appiah was appointed captain of the team.
On 7th Sepember, 2002 won his first game as a captain of the Black Stars with 1-0 win over Uganda in an AFCON 2004 qualifier. Appiah went ahead to make 67 appearances for the team scoring 14.
Plagued with injuries for most part of his career but the moments Ghanaians would remember Appiah for, the moments that sticks the most, the moments that moment that endears him to so many people were his role in ensuring Ghana qualifies for ‘her’ first ever World Cup in 2006.
Appiah is spellbindly affable, knightly and a unifier. His exemplary leadership has been credited for helping build a team of players who dug in for each other. There were even hushed talks of him donating his bonuses accrued from matches won to the the local players in the team.
He led by example and dragged the team on to vital points every step every step of the way. The midfielder was at his brilliant best during qualification for the finals, scoring four in ten appearances.
At the tornament, Ghana were grouped with against powerouse Italy (eventual winners), Czech Republic and the USA.
The Black Stars began their campaign with a defeat to Italy and followed that up with victories over the Czech Republic and USA with Appiah scoring from the spot against the latter.
Ghana were eliminated by Brazil in the round of 16 but it was wondeful experience who gave out their best and received a lot of admirerers globally. The midfield comprising of Michael Essien, Stephen and Sulley Muntari was regarded as one of the best in the touranment.
Appiah again led Ghana to the World Cup four years after and was very instrumental in the Ghana team that almost became the first country to play in the semifinals. Ghana lost on penalties to Uruguay in the quarterfinals- a match Ghanaians will never forget.
In January 2015, Appiah officially announced his retirement from active football at age 34.The decision was arrived at because Appiah had been inactive for two years since leaving Vojvodina in 2014. The news was welcomed with mixed-feelings among Ghanaians.
While some were sad to learn that they were no longer going to see their beloved ‘Tornado’ in the national colours shouting out instructions to his charges on the pitch; others were happy to finally eulogise a Ghanaian footballer whom they overwhelmingly loved- someone who was committed to the cause of the nation.
A lot of tributes poured in to celebrate him for his enormous contribution to the game of football. A commemorative match organised to honour him in June 2015.
WHAT THEY SAID
“I have Known Appiah even before he became the captain of the Black Stars and you could clearly tell he’s a leader. Anytime I used to visit the team often, I took him aside to encourage him into motivating his team to their best for the nation. And when you see them on the field, it was clear that the players were more less taking instructions from him. Today you (Appiah) come into my house with a delegation that will make any politician envious. This is a mark of great leader.”- John A. Kuffour, former president of Ghana
“I want to credit Appiah’s exceptional humility in spite of achieving so much in football. He is selfless and a man of integrity. Not power play or money can resecue us as a country but integrity and humility, a trait which Appiah represents will. Discipline and humility are qualities which are missing in our society. I hope others will take a cue from these qualities that Appiah exudes.”- Jerry J. Rawlings, former president of Ghana
“Perhaps I may have not told Appiah this, but his exceptional character and more especially dedication is zero to none. President Issa Hayatou always ask where that Ghanaian player who plays and is never tired anytime he wanted to ask of Stephen Appiah.”- Kwesi Nyantakyi, president of the Ghana Football Association
‘The African greats who were playing when I was growing up inspired me- players like George Weah, Abedi Pele, Tony Yeboah, Kalusha Bwayla and all the others who made Africa proud. Then there is my best friend, Stephen Appiah. He took us to our first ever World Cup and was a selfless captain who taught me a lot of things and still continues to teach me a few tricks every so often.”- Michael Essien
The above attributes corroborates Appiah’s character and charisma and most importantly his selfless dedication and service to the nation.
While Appiah has been a class act on the pitch, he has replicated the same off it,too. Stephen spends his time in charitable pursuits. His foundation undertakes several projects in various under deprived communties in the country.
His role as an Ambassador for the Global Alliance for Clean Cook Stove, a project people on the use of clean energy and also works with various corporate organisations as a mentor and their juvinile football tournaments.
Appiah was a member of Ghana’s technical team during the 2014 World Cup and is currently the technical coordinator of the Black Stars with the responsibilty of serving as a link between the playing body and the techinical team along with some scouting duties.
Appiah might have had an incosistent but storied career with the Black Stars. As with many footballers, winning a major continental trophy, World cup is the ultimate.
Failure to do so will always be considered a blemish on the footballer’s career; it wouldn’t be wrong to say that a footballer would never feel completely content without winning a major trophy.
Appiah might have failed in this regard since he never won any major trophy with the Black Stars but the nation ignored this blip and consider him as a legend.
Stephen Appiah is an inspiration for all footballers in the country, a hero on and off the pitch. It is an undeniable fact that, He has etched his name in the country’s football folklore and thus wouldn’t be wrong to be called a legend, one who deserves a lot more recognition than what he often receives.
By: Gideon Kofi Nyamekye
