Ghana haas been blessed with many football stars and some of these stars continue to inspire the younger generation in diverse ways. From the maestro Abedi Ayew Pele, to Charles K. Akornoh, Stephen Appiah, Asamoah Gyan among others.

Today the emphasis is on Stephen ‘Tornado’ Appiah who recounts a moment in his life that probably changed his footballing career for the good.

Many have only seen him perform for the national team and sometimes for his club side but how he actually started his career and who was there to ensure he had the chance like many other players share had been a mystry.

Stephen Appiah, a former Accra Hearts of Oak player, Udinese, Parma, Brescia, Juventus, Fenerbahçe, Bologna, Cesena, Vojvodina and Ghana national team player won the hearts of many with his great sportsmanship and remains one of the loved ex-footballers in Ghana.

He captained the Ghana Black Stars to series of tournaments including the FIFA world Cup in 2006 where he scored from the spot kick against Serbia. His mark on the field was not only measured by his footballing prowess but his humility and ability to coordinate the entire team.

Stephen Appiah has been on of the few Ghanaian players who hasn’t been tagged with any rumours since joining the national team and has been in active football administration since he officially retired from active football.

Just as good deeds never go unappreciated, Stephen Appiah made a revelation about how he got his first ever international contract and it was all thanks to his brother and football mate, Mohammed Gago who was his teammate then.

“I remember I was with the junior side and hadn’t signed my contract yet. The senior side played a friendly against Strum Graz from Austria. In the 80th minute, Gago Mohammed faked an injury for me to have the chance and feel of the game. I came on and scored a goal from 25 yards, and the next day I was in the Italian newspapers. I called Gago Mohammed and said there is an article about me. I went to his house, and he explained that the coach had instructed the club to close my deal. After two days, I signed my first international contract.” said Stephen

This was not the norm, many players would rather sabotage you to maintain their position in the club but Gago Mohammed never bothered about his fate. He feigned an injury to give his brother a chance to not just experience the game but to prove to the team and management what he is capable of and Stephen ‘Tornado’ Appiah did not disappoint.

Today he has recounted what shot him onto the spotlight and has continued to give many others the change to shine with his guidance and simple lifestyle.