The Black Stars captain has been without a club since parting ways with Fernabahce last year on the back of a serious injury. National team games since September have been his only real source of competitive football after failure to land deals at Tottenham Hotspurs and Rubin Kazan in Russia. _quote Ghana games thus mean the world to the Stars inspiration now and he is keen to make the most of the latest one against Benin. “It will help a lot because I get to play and prove one or two people that I am still capable of playing good football,” he told KickOffGhana.com exclusively.
“I don’t have a club and so naturally there are those who think I can’t play. If I come to play for Ghana then I remind a few people in the football world that I am still good.” Appiah has been brilliant in the few games he has played for Ghana since his return in September last year against Libya. He scored one and made one as Ghana 2-2 against Egypt. But he himself admits without active club football, he is still short on match fitness. “I am the first to admit training and playing competitive matches are two completely different things. Honestly I think I can play 70 minutes fantastically but I am not sure about 90 minutes.” There is an ongoing debate about whether the man whose goals and play making skills drove Ghana to the 2006 World Cup should start against Benin but Appiah claims he is just grateful for the chance to be part of the squad. “I have been touched by the way nation has been behind me, it has been an immense source of support in what has been a difficult time for me. I am ready to play if the coach picks me but being part of the squad is a huge thing in the first place.”
