We respect local coaches - Afriyie Acquah

The Black Stars midfielder has refuted claims that the team’s foreign-based players look down on local coaches

Ghana midfielder Afriyie Acquah has rejected suggestions that Kwesi Appiah could face troubles following his reappointment as Black Stars coach since a majority of the team’s foreign-based players don’t respect local coaches.

The 56-year-old was handed a two-year contract and presented to the media on Tuesday, with the Torino star insisting that the players regard the former Al Khartoum coach as a father.

“It’s absolute false since there is no truth in claims that Black Stars players don’t respect local or Black coaches. Apart from Kwesi Appiah being the new coach, he is like a father to us,” Acquah told Medeama FM.

“It is possible that he can even give birth to us since some of his children are of the same age like us. I don’t know why some people hold that assertion because each player respects his coach’s decision during games since they decide which player to select at a particular time to achieve a particular purpose.

“We follow instruction to the hilt when we’re preparing for international duties and so it’s sometimes amazing when we hear such stories. They are just figment of the imagination of some people,” he said.

He added: “When coach Kwesi Appiah was in charge during his first era, we gave him all the respect and the support. Some people just make these claims. Those who are closer to the team are aware that these stories are cooked up.”

Appiah is expected to announce his squad soon for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Ethiopia on June 11 before facing Mexico and USA in international friendlies on June 28 and July 1 respectively.