Ghana captain Stephen Appiah has pulled out of the Black Stars for the crucial World Cup qualifier against Mali next month after a family crisis in Italy.
The inspirational skipper sought clearance from coach Milovan Rajevac and the Black Stars management to excuse him for the match in Bamako following the personal problem.
However, the midfielder has assured the country that he should be ready for the clash against Sudan in Omdurman on 20 June if he is needed.
''I spoke to the GFA and the management team and they were very understanding,'' Appiah said on his personal website www.stepapp.com
''Once I have resolved this issue I am hoping to be in Ghana around the middle of June and if the management team are happy for me to return for the Sudan game then I will happily do so.
"However, I have asked them to exclude me from both games because it will be unfair on the other players if I just turn up for one game and not the other.
"I will like to say thanks to the GFA, Black Stars Coach and management team for understanding my situation and giving me permission to exclude myself.
"I will also like to thank them for having faith in me and I want to assure them that I will give my best whenever they call on me.
"I can assure fans that all things being equal and if called upon in the future I will always be available to play for Ghana," Appiah concluded
Appiah, who was named in the 32-man squad, was due to join his colleagues on 27 May but the unexplained personal problem has resulted in joining his family in Turin from his Brescia training base in Italy.
In a related development, Ex-Ghana defender Mohammed Gargo says incessant critcisms by a section of fans forced Stephen Appiah to pull out of next month's World Cup qualifiers.
The 28-year-old's match fitness has been constantly debated as he is yet to get a club since terminating his contract with Turkish giants Fenerbahce in June last year.
Despite being unattached, for former Juventus ace has been instrumental in Ghana's recent matches and was key when Ghana held Africa champions Egypt to a 2-2 draw.
Appiah scored one and set up the other in the Cairo game in February and played in the 1-0 win over Benin three weeks later.
He was named in the squad to play Mali and Sudan next month but announced his withdrawal from the 32-man squad citing family crisis in Italy.
Gargo mentored the Black Stars captain when he moved to his first club abroad, Udinese, in 1997 at the age of 15.
He claims his personal friend's reason to withdraw from the squad goes beyond family commitments.
"For me that is not the main issue here. I have been there before so I know what I am talking about. Gargo told an Accra-based radio station.
"Probably he is also tired hearing the comments of our own football lovers in this country.
"Football is such that when people don't like you, they try to paint you black no matter how good you are.
"So probably he's tired and he just wants to take a break and see what is going to happen. I will personally not plead with him but ask him to rethink his decision," he added.
" I think they need him even his advice. If he's always on the bench I will like it. The public will have to sympathize with him."
In a separate interview with Ghanasoccernet, Gargo insists the criticism levelled against Appiah is unfair given his performance on the pitch and commitment to the national cause.
"When we played Egypt he didn't have a club but he our best player and just two weeks later when we played Benin and the entire team had a bad day some people blamed him. This is sad!," Gargo told Ghanasoccernet.com.
"I have played for Ghana for many years but Appiah's commitment to the national team is beyond imagination,
"How many players have spent their own monies to buy jerseys for the national team when things were difficult for the country?
"How many player would risk their club careers and to play for their country at the Olympic Games? Appiah did it when he was at Juventus and he paid the price just for Ghana to gain glory.
"If we turn against him when he needs the support of the country and fans most, I think other young players will look at this treatment and advice themsleves."
My Ultimate Comment:
I was least expecting to hear the perisal withdrawal of Black Star captain, Stephen Appiah, from the matches against Mali in Bamako on July 7th.The player is reported to have sought clearance from coach Milovan Rajevac and the Black Stars management to excuse him for the match in Bamako following the personal problem.
I doubt the action behind Appiah's decision to take a bow from what used to be his second home. I take the blame down to the doorsteps of our vociferous fans. They complained much about his inactions on club levels when other national teams had players even worst than Appiah's case involved. Fabrica Akwa played for the Palancas Negras of Angola at the 2006 World Cup mundial in Angola when he was unattached.
Lets all rally behind Appiah in our dream to be at the South Africa 2010 World Cup.
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