I can offer more options for Black Stars and still hope to wear Ghana colours one day - Marcel Appiah

Published on: 10 July 2014
I can offer more options for Black Stars and still hope to wear Ghana colours one day - Marcel Appiah
Marcel Appiah, front with the ball, wants to play for Ghana - Photograp: Instagram

By Akyereko Frimpong Manson

Follow Akyereko on Twitter: @AkyerekOfficial

It's a bright Monday afternoon in North Rhine-Westphalia and Appiah has been spending his holidays on the beach while he awaits news on where he will be playing next season following his decision to go for new adventures after a six season spell with former Bundesliga side Arminia Bielefeld. 

The 26-year-old enjoyed an action-packed season with relegated Bielefeld as he played in the Bundesliga II and the German DFB-Pokal Cup, completing a total of 36 games from different positions.

"Well I played around 18 games as a central defender with a height of 1.91 m and I guess its not a problem but in my opinion I can play in every position because of my speed and artistry with the ball."

After tasting professional football since the 2009/10 season with Bielefeld, has picked up just 8 bookings, all yellow cards and most impressively no red card in his entire career that has seen him play over 9,792 in various German divisions.

"I don't get many cards against me yet. Some people say defenders have to play really strong against the man but thanks to God I'm not slow and this helps me to get the right timing for tackling or just to run the ball."

After successfully making over 32 league appearances last season for Bielefeld, the club is still having its problems as it has been relegated to the third-tier of German football and Appiah has finally decided to move on for a new challenge.

Marcel can score goals too
Marcel can score goals too - Photograph: Instagram
"Of course I'm thankful the coaches played me here and I had the chance to get more experiences but if you go down with a team there's always something around because you stand together as team. My contract has ended after six seasons and I have had offers from other Division 3 clubs but my dream is to play in a higher division in Germany here or go for new adventures in other countries in Europe to prove my quality."

Though born in Germany to a German mother and a Ghanaian father, Appiah insists playing for Ghana had always been his dream and reveals he never had the opportunity to play for Ghana at youth level but still holds the hopes of representing the country of his father.

"I watched them play at the World Cup and I was overly impressed especially the game against Germany. They played well and I hope to play for them one day before I hang my boots. It has always been my dream to play at the youth championships for Ghana but ironically I only got to watch the plays on EuroSports."

Kevin-Prince Boateng's seemingly dishonesty to the West Africans is sending gruesome images about Ghanaians born with the diaspora who have hopes of playing for Ghana. Appiah insists every person has their own mentality and the actions of Boateng wouldn't affect his resolve.

On holiday, Marcel relaxing while he replies GHANAsoccernet.com questions
On holiday, Marcel relaxing while he replies GHANAsoccernet.com questions - Photograph: Instagram
"Everybody reacts different on different circumstances. I haven't had any bad precedents yet so I'm without prejudice. I think you just have to know some things are just going to be different for example Germans habits are not going to be the same in Ghana. A friend and past team-mate of mine named Assimiou Toure who played for Togo at the 2006 World Cup always went for African Cup of Nations qualifiers and when he came back, he had some interesting stories."

Though he hasn't been in Ghana for close to two decades but he has quite been in tunes with what goes on in the West African country.

"People in Ghana live football and I know that there are many talented kids playing everywhere in Ghana and who unfortunately don't get the chance to play in Europe but its nice to see the enthusiasm people have when it comes to football that's different in Euro."

After career on the pitch.....

"My barber takes care of some team in his home town in Ghana so I sometimes gets him some boots and other equipments needed to help them and he takes them down there to help them. I hope some day, I can come over and help develop the game in Ghana."

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