Kwesi Appiah's Authority Will Be 'Undermined' If . . . - MP

NDC Member of Parliament [MP] for the Asuogyaman constituency in the Eastern Region, Thomas Ampem Nyarko has categorically stated that the work of the Black Stars coach, Kwesi Appiah would be undermined should President Akufo-Addo repeal his decision of giving the captaincy of the senior national football team to a different player.

According to him it will be very difficult for the Black Stars to win the trophy at stake if Asamoah Gyan has not willingly decided to join the team but because the President has advised him to rescind his decision to retire permanently.

“Ghana will suffer at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations if Asamoah Gyan is not rejoining the team due to a positive feeling after talking to the President, but just because the President has asked him to do so. Frankly, unity and hard work is a very necessary tool to move a team to attain its goals, especially with football,” he said on UTV's 'Adekye Nsroma' programme.

The Asuogyaman MP argued that Kwesi Appiah knows best what is good for the team than any other person therefore his decisions must be respected at all times.

Eugene Arhin, Director of Communication at the Presidency confirmed a telephone interview between Asamoah Gyan and the President in a post on Facebook om Tuesday.

According to him, the President had asked the player to return to the team for the sake of unity and peace.

In a post on Facebook, Eugene Arhin said "The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, this afternoon, held a meeting with the Minister for Youth and Sports, the President of the GFA Normalisation Committee, and the Chair of the Management Committee of the Senior National Football Team, the Black Stars."

The Black Stars striker and captain, Asamoah Gyan has since rescinded his earlier decision to permanently retire from the national team.

"A presidential request is one that cannot be disregarded," he posted on his twitter page Wednesday morning.