Light-skinned footballers (of either full or partial Ghanaian descent), irrespective of their measure of talent, are instant hits with Ghanaian football fandom. At least that’s when all is going well.
Men aspire to their levels of ‘freshness’, while women fawn over their looks. Kids adore them, and everyone else likes them for some reason. From Junior Agogo to Kevin-Prince Boateng, the ‘obroni’ folk have thrilled and been doted on by all.
Both examples cited above did have their fill of the fun and thereafter slipped unceremoniously into the shadows, yet another ‘obroni’ is gradually steadying himself to commence what has often proved a love-hate relationship for some in the past.
His name is Kwesi Appiah and, no, he isn’t related to the dismissed Ghana coach. This Kwesi Appiah is a forward, an Arsenal fan, and has spent his entire life in the United Kingdom.
He’s only 24, but has had more than enough career moves (no less than 14 clubs in all) to satisfy a lifetime. It isn’t only on the pitch that Appiah’s life revolves around numbers, though. Off it, he wades in digits as well, and is even close to earning his Chartered Accountancy certificate.
Club career Ebbsfleet United Born in Thamesmead, London, Appiah is a product of the Ebbsfleet United PASE youth system, and graduated to the first team in August 2008. He scored his first goal for the club with his first touch after coming on as a substitute against Woking on 20 September 2008. Appiah missed training in October and after leaving the ground, he failed to report back to the club.
Peterborough United His disappearance was explained in October, when League One team Peterborough United announced the signing of Appiah, on a three and a half-year deal.
Appiah was loaned out back to the Conference with Weymouth in February 2009. He returned to Peterborough on 20 March. He spent time at Northern Premier League side King’s Lynn in 2009, where he played 10 games scoring 9 goals, including a hat-trick against Durham City in an 11–0 win.
Appiah’s loan spell with The Linnets came to an abrupt end when the club folded at the end of November 2009. On 19 January 2010, he joined Kettering Town on a month-long loan.
Return to Non-League Appiah joined Southern Football League Premier Division side Brackley Town for the 2010–11 season. Appiah then signed a two-year deal with Isthmian League Premier Division side Margate on 25 July 2011.
After his great run of form this attracted a number of professional clubs and on 16 January 2012, he was linked with a move to Blackpool, when he claimed Margate had agreed a deal with the Seasiders and stated that he was due to travel to Blackpool for talks with manager, but he later rejected the move as he preferred to move to London. Appiah left Margate having scored 35 goals in 34 games for the club.
Crystal Palace On 31 January 2012, he agreed his second professional deal to play for Crystal Palace. On 28 January 2013, Appiah joined Football League One side Yeovil Town on a month’s loan deal.
Appiah returned to the Football Conference on 13 September 2013 when he signed on a one-month loan deal for the then league leaders Cambridge United.
On 21 January 2014, Kwesi joined Notts County on a one-month emergency loan. On 27 March 2014, Appiah joined League Two side AFC Wimbledon on loan for the remainder of the 2013–14 season. He scored his first goal in a 2–2 draw with Newport County.
On 9 July 2014, Appiah made a return to Cambridge United on a six-month loan. He scored six league goals in nineteen appearances but also scored the winner in the first round of the FA Cup against League One Fleetwood and a dramatic late equaliser against Mansfield in the second round – playing a large role in maintaining a run to the fourth round and two lucrative ties against Manchester United.
International career Appiah was eligible to represent both Ghana and England. On 24 December 2014 he was called into the 31 man provisional squad for the 2015 African Cup of Nations by Ghana. He made his debut in Ghana’s 2–1 win over South Africa on 27 January 2015 and scored his first international goal in the quarter-final victory over Guinea. Kwesi Appiah was also named Samsung Fair Player of the tournament and was a silver medalist with the Black Stars.
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