"Appiah Is An Excellent Player" - Ziese

Black Stars captain, Stephen Appiah has earned much commendation from the much-criticised national team coach, Burkhard Ziese.

The coach has praised his Brescia midfielder for his dedication to his role as a national team player and also as captain of the side.

Burkhard Ziese last week described Stephen Appiah as an excellent captain as he prepares Ghana's senior national team, the Black Stars against the Cranes of Uganda.

Stephen Appiah who has been linked to some top Serie A sides has been described by the tough German as a player who is important to his plans for Ghana.

Burkhard, now working with a completely different breed of players and under a new terrain from his first stint with Ghana in 1990 says the Brescia player thinks positively and is very pleased with his work rate.

As Stephen Appiah earns much commendation from an unassuming German, Burkhard Ziese says that he would utilise the players available to defend Ghana no matter who turns up to wear the national jersey.

The Black Stars lost to the Cranes by a lone goal in the first round match played in Kampala. After the game, then head coach, Milan Zivadinovic lashed out at his players and also blamed the defeat on the FA for failing to honour friendly matches he arranged for Ghana.

Meanwhile Stephen Appiah says Ghana's 2004 African Cup of Nations qualifying match against the Cranes of Uganda would not be easy as many erroneously consider Uganda a small soccer nation on the African continent.

Stephen Appiah believes that though Ghana would be victorious, fans should not expect the Black Stars to bang in four or fives goals simply because Uganda is not that recognised as a soccer power house.

The Brescia midfielder who would like to forget the first game in Kampala as it was his first competitive game as Black Stars captain thinks he together with his colleagues are ever ready to make Ghana proud on Sunday.

Commenting on the present Black Stars team Stephen Appiah says he hopes players like Bayern Munich's Samuel Osei Kuffour, Otto Addo, C.K Akunnor, Augustine Arhinful and other foreign based players would join the team again.

On his career, which has seen him being linked to clubs like AC Milan, AS Roma and AC Parma all in the Italian Serie A, Appiah, says, he would love to make a move to Milan.