First copy of Kwasi Appiah's memoir sold for GH¢10,000

Former Black Stars coach James Kwasi Appiah has advised footballers to invest part of their incomes in ventures that will enable them to have something to fall on after their retirement from active football.

He stated that even though some footballers were paid well during their active playing years, “life becomes difficult for them when they get injured or go on retirement because they did not get anybody to advise them to invest part of the money they made.”

Appiah gave the advice in Sunyani last Tuesday at the launch of his memoir entitled: “Leaders Don’t Have to Yell.”

Landmarks of career

The book traces his life as a top footballer who later rose from an assistant Black Stars coach under a number of expatriates to become the substantive coach on two occasions.

It also treats some of the controversies that characterised the period he was in charge of the national team in addition to other topics relating to the welfare of players during their active and retirement days.

He said it was a privilege to have been given the opportunity to captain the Black Stars and also coach the team on two occasions.

Appiah expressed his disappointment that some media practitioners did not search for the truth before going public on issues about the national team, and it informed his decision to stay off radio and TV during his tenure as national coach.

“I decided not to watch television and listen to the radio when I was coaching the Black Stars to enable me to concentrate on the job,” he stated.

Pride of Bono Region

In her remarks, the Bono Regional Minister, Mrs Evelyn Ama Kumi-Richardson, said the chiefs and people of the region were proud of Appiah’s accomplishment as a coach who hailed from the area.

“Let us be proud of our own and encourage the present generation of footballers to work diligently to fit into the shoes of Appiah,” she stated.

The Vice-Chancellor of the Sunyani Technical University, Professor Kwadwo Adinkrah-Appiah, who chaired the function, said it was unfortunate that experienced people in the country did not write books about their lives.

“Let us revive the reading culture in the country by encouraging students to write about the lives of others to encourage them to aspire to become exceptional professionals in future”, he stated.

The first copy of the book was auctioned for GH¢10,000.