By Patrick Akoto
Ex-Ghana captain Stephen Appiah has admitted for the first time his desire to acquire the necessary badge to take up coaching job after his retirement.
The 30-year-old who is currently unattached has insisted in the past he was not ready to coach.
But after a sober reflection, he has decided to stay in the game after hanging up his boots.
The ex-Juventus, Udinese and Fenerbache enforcer has carved a niche for himself on the pitch; having led Ghana to two impressive World Cup outings.
He told Accra-based Citi FM: "Before I used to tell my friends that as for coaching I did not want to go there because it's too much stress but some of my friends are telling me that they know that I know the game and with my character and respect that players have for me, I will be a good coach."
"If I am going to be a coach I will start from somewhere maybe the Under-17s not immediately at the top. I don’t want to force myself and disgrace myself. That is not me. You have to learn from somewhere in order to become a good coach.
He added: "I will start from somewhere. I am not going to rush and say I want the Black Stars when I know it is bigger than me. I can be around the team, study the coach who is there and prepare for the future."
"With all the insults and the criticism, I simply move on. You talk about me, I go to the field and prove you wrong and I hope to do that with coaching,"
He is rumuored to be on the radar of some top sides in Saudi Arabia.