Black Stars Coach inaugurates Foundation to assist retired sports personalities
The Head Coach of the Black Stars, James Kwesi Appiah has inaugurated a five member Board of Trustees for the “Kwesi Appiah Foundation” to support retired national sports personalities.
The inauguration, held at the Accra City Hotel on Thursday, saw former national football players, including Anthony Yeboah, Rev. Osei Kofi and Sunday Ibrahim in attendance.
The Foundation, primarily aimed at seeking the welfare of retired sports personalities through financial assistance, medical aid and skill development, has former Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Nana Sam Brew Butler as Chairman, Group CEO of CDH Financial Holdings, Emmanuel Adu Sarkodie, Black Stars Coach, Kwesi Appiah, Amarkai Amarteifio, Board Chairman of Accra Great Olympics and Air Vice Marshall Iddris Sakib Kadri as members.
Speaking at the inaugural signing, Kwaesi Appiah said he would commit part of his monthly salary of 5,000 USD to the fund and believes that the initiative would change the lives of many retired footballers.
The Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Pius Hadzide praised Appiah for the kind gesture and was optimistic that the purpose for the foundation would be met.
He commended the coach for starting a great cause to dedicate a portion of his monthly salary to raise the living standards of retired sports personalities who served the nation.
The Deputy Sports Minister said Appiahs’s plan coincides with government’s programme to establish a national sports fund to benefit former sports personalities.
He said “this is of great joy to us and it will be good for the beneficiaries because when some of the sportsmen retire they face financial difficulties.”
Mr Hadzide urged individuals and corporate entities to generously contribute to the Kwesi Appiah Foundation to support past national athletes.
The Chairman of the foundation and President of Ebusua Dwarfs, Brew Butler, said the Board will be transparent and called on former footballers to support and encourage Kwesi Appiah to succeed as the head coach of the Black Stars.
Source: GNA