Appiah is new skipper of Black Stars

Millan Zivadinovic, the new coach of the senior national team, Black Stars has appointed A C Parma's midfielder Stephen Appiah, as the new skipper of the team.

Appiah told the press after hectic training session in Accra that the decision was from the coach and he has promised to reply him after meeting with his colleagues on the issue.

He said the captainship brings about big responsibility that requires the cooperation of every member and it is for that reason that he has scheduled a meeting with the team in order to move on smoothly.

Asked of his thoughts on the coach, Appiah said he has been impressed with the little that they have seen and if things continue at this pace, "we should all be optimistic of success".

"The training schedule is very hectic and sometimes punishing to some of us who are on vacation since we have not conditioned ourselves for such rigorous workouts"

On why most of his foreign-based compatriots have failed to turn up for the training, Appiah said most of them have already left for pre-season training with their respective teams whiles those left have injury worries and have asked permission.

Charles Taylor, Heart's deputy skipper and current leader of the Premiership's goal king race at the half way stage with 12 goals also expressed his faith in the ability of the coach to deliver and thinks his emphasis on discipline would be good for the team.

On whether he had some reservations after being controversially dropped from the 2002 African Cup squad, Taylor said the national team is for all Ghanaians and the final authority of who plays lies with the coach.

He assured everybody that once he has been recalled he would do all in his power to ensure that he remains an integral member of the team, adding that the final authority of who plays still rests on the coach.

Meanwhile training continued late last week morning but the number of players had reduced apparently due the fact that most of the foreign-based players had left for the respective clubs.

Some prominent names among foreign-based players present were Stephen Appiah, Emmanuel Duah, Emmanuel Bentil, Godwin Attram, Abieku Bilson, Abubakar Tanko, Issifu Yakubu and Ishmael Addo who did not train due to injury.

Emmanuel Osei Kuffour of Accra Hearts Oak fame captained the Stars' at the last Africa Cup of Nations in Mali after Samuel Osei Kuffour of Bayern Munich had turned it down.