Appiah (L) with Atsu
Former Black Stars coach, Kwasi Appiah, has joined the growing list of football lovers to eulogise departed Christian Atsu.
Appiah, currently a director at Kenpong Football Academy, described the former Newcastle United FC player, who was found dead recently in the Turkey earthquake, as hard working and extremely humble.
He said: “In 2012 when he was very fit . . . people were calling him Messi because of how good he was playing, but then when you get several injuries, it is difficult to play at your best level.”
The former Asante Kotoko captain, whose strength is in the identifying of football talents added, “He’s one kind of a player that when he’s off the pitch, he’s lovely because when new players are coming into the team, he tries to get close to them.
“It is not easy to find people like Atsu because even though I do give out, I must say that what Atsu has done and was doing is extraordinary. I took him to the AFCON 2013 and we got to the semifinals. He’s so talented as an individual because he tries to get goals or assists.”
Meanwhile, Kennedy Agyepong (Kenpong), president of Kenpong Football Academy, has spoken highly of Appiah for his ability to discover great football talents at the Winneba-based Kenpong Football Academy.
Under his reign as the Black Stars coach, Atsu featured prominently in the national senior football team.