Stephen Appiah praises the man and woman who helped his career

Stephen Appiah, the former captain of Ghana, has honored the man and lady who purchased his first football boots at the beginning of his career.

Appiah thanked Sister Aryeekaa and Ataa Agoe for their generosity and acknowledged them as the pillars that helped him during his early years in a post on the social media site Instagram.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without you, your support came at a time when I needed it most. Your care and that first pair of boots will always be part of my story,” he wrote.

“Those boots weren’t just shoes, they were the start of my dream. Thank you for everything Ataa Agoe & Sister Aryeekaa.” The Black Stars career of Stephen Appiah
When Ghana qualified for their first-ever FIFA World Cup in Germany in 2006, Appiah was captain.

After rising through the ranks from U-17 and U-20, Appiah scored 14 goals in 67 games for the Black Stars.

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Following the Black Stars' dismal run of play, Appiah recently criticized the Ghanaian national team's lack of leadership. "As a leader, you must lead. Some decisions may not be popular among the players, but they need to be made. I don’t see a captain leading the team now, and when you leave things like that, the players will think they can do whatever they want on the pitch,” he said.

“During our time, with players like Michael Essien, we sometimes fought on the pitch. We argued and exchanged words, but it never affected our ultimate goal. I must say it is not only the captain. Players who join the national team must be committed. I do not see commitment. To be selected from a population of over 33 million, you must see it as an honour. They must understand that they are representing Ghana”, he added.