[ads1]
Former Black Stars skipper Stephen Appiah has recounted how compatriot Mohammed Gargo helped him succeeded in Italy when he joined Udinese Calcio.
Appiah joined Udinese Calcio on trials before signing a contract with the team from 1997-2000 after spell with Ghana Premier League giant Hearts of Oak.
Though it was his first ever trip abroad, Stephen Appiah was very successful at Udinese, capping over 36 matches before joining Parma and later to Juventus.
[ads2]
When at Udinese Calcio, Stephen Appiah was playing as a striker before later converting to a deeper midfield position.
Despite all the success in the Italian Serie A, Stephen Appiah has revealed that former New Edubiase coach Mohammed Gargo who was one of the pillars for Udinese Calcio from 1995-2004 was the reason why he became successful.
Speaking to Yaw Ampofo Ankrah in an interview on the Black Stars Classics on Max TV, Stephen Appiah disclosed that Mohammed Gargo faked an injury to enable him [Stephen Appiah] to get a playing time in a friendly game which became his breakthrough.
[ads3]
Stephen Appiah said, “I had arrived in Italy to have trails with Udinese. As a young player, things were difficult because that was the first time making these trips and I was alone so I struggled. The language, food and weather was always a problem but upon arriving at the team’s training grounds, I met the legendary Mohammed Gargo who advised and encouraged me.’
“I can recall my first game under then coach Alberto Zaccheroni, Mohammed Gargo had to fake injury so I can have some minutes to play and that changed everything. I was on the bench for that game and with some other players. In and around the 75th minute, Gargo pretended to have been injured and couldn’t continue, being the only midfield player on the bench, the coach subbed me on and I scored a goal from 30-35 yards.
[ads4]
“The next day, a team mate came to our hostel with some newspaper with my picture on the front page. I couldn’t read Italia so I had to seek interpretation, so I took it to Mohammed Gargo’s house and he told me the coach [Alberto Zaccheroni] has asked the management not to let me go and that they should do everything to sign me”, Stephen Appiah concluded.
By: Solomon Amankwah
[ads5]
