Former Black Stars skipper Appiah retires

Former skipper of Ghanas Black Stars, Stephen Appiah, has officially announced his retirement from active football Wednesday after more than two decades of an illustrious professional career.

Appiah captained Ghana to its first-ever World Cup appearance in Germany in 2006 and was the leader of the Black Stars squad that came close to hitting a semifinal berth at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The former Juventus star said he was honored to represent Ghana both on and off the pitch.

"I wish this day never came because football was my life," Appiah, affectionately called "Tornado", said in a passionate retirement statement.

"It made me whole. From the sandy pitches at Indadfa park in Accra where my career was honed to the grassy green field in Turin, Italy, where my career blossomed, I tell with profound humility a great true story of a Ghanaian patriot who with nothing, from nothing, rose to become a global icon thanks to the power of football," he said.

"I retire today with a great measure of fulfillment not just because I bowed out high as captain of the Black Stars but because I bowed out serving my country with honor and selfless dedication in what was, is and will always be the most important sport or activity in Ghana."

Appiah was part of the back room staff of Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah at the World Cup tournament in Brazil in 2014.

In Ghana he played for Accra Hearts of Oak. Endi