Former Black Stars Head Coach, James Kwesi Appiah will continue his role as the technical director of Asante Kotoko despite getting approval from His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to accept a coaching role in Sudan.
Kwasi Appiah was recently appointed as Sudan’s head coach where he signed on a 3 year contractual agreement with the Sudanese national team. The club announced on their official website that the Manhyia Palace had backed the move by granting him the opportunity to take up the vacant role.
“The life patron of Asante Kotoko, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has blessed our technical director, Kwasi Appiah, to accept the role as Head Coach of the Sudan national team.”
Although it was originally believed that the seasoned coach had already taken a position with Sudan as the head coach of the national team, his commitment to Asante Kotoko as the technical director prompted him to postpone any decision until he completed talks with the club’s management.
The Former Black Stars Left Back and Captain, Kwesi Appiah will continue to lead Asante Kotoko as its technical director despite his new position as Sudan’s head coach. He intends to hold his position at the club and run for a position in the next Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council elections.
“Mr Appiah will, however, maintain his role as Technical Director of Kotoko,” the club wrote.
“He will contest in the Ghana Football Association’s Executive Council elections next month in this capacity. The experienced technical brain, who has managed the Black Stars twice in the period, 2013 to 2014 and 2017 to 2019, is expected to lead the technical direction of Kotoko as we work on restructuring the team,” the club added on their website.
James Kwesi Appiah has already had experience in Sudanese football, having taken over as Al Khartoum’s head coach in December 2014. During his stint, he guided the group to a fourth-place league finish and CAF Confederation Cup qualification.
The 63 year-old tactician7 guided the team to its greatest points tally in a season in the club’s historical 65 points, but failed to advance to the CAF Confederation Cup.
The former Kotoko left back enjoyed a brief international career as a football player from 1987 to 1992, making crucial appearance in FIFA World Cup qualifying games.
He was privileged to enroll with English clubs Manchester City and Liverpool for his technical training.
Kwesi Appiah was Ghana’s Assistant Coach between 2007 and 2012 whiles serving as Coach of the Ghanaian U23 men’s team. During his time, he won the 2011 All-Africa Games as manager.
Following his great performance with the U23 team, the veteran coach was then appointed as the Head coach of the Black stars in 2012.
The Senior Soccer team qualified for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, making him the first black African coach to take the country to the World Cup.
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Story by : Asack Pius | univers.ug.edu.gh
