Stephen Appiah, the former captain of the Ghanaian national football team, the Black Stars, recently shared his awe-inspiring experience comparing Accra Sports Stadium to Manchester United’s renowned Old Trafford stadium.
Appiah candidly admitted that he had always regarded Accra Sports Stadium as a beautiful venue, a heavenly place until he had the opportunity to visit Old Trafford in Manchester.
Throughout his childhood, Accra Sports Stadium held a special place in Appiah’s heart, as it was the only stadium he knew. However, everything changed dramatically when he traveled abroad with Ghana’s U-17 team and had the chance to set foot in Manchester.
Recalling the unforgettable moment, Appiah revealed that he instantly became enamored with Manchester United as his first glimpse of Old Trafford left him completely mesmerized.
He described Old Trafford as a paradise that surpassed anything he had ever seen before, surpassing even his prior belief that Accra Stadium was heaven on earth.
“Our pre-camp was in Manchester, and that’s when I became a Manchester United fan. We stayed at Bobby Charlton College, and that’s where our camp was located. The first stadium I laid eyes on was Old Trafford,” Appiah shared.
“I had never witnessed anything like that before because I had thought Accra Stadium was heaven. But when I saw Old Trafford, I was in awe. I asked myself, ‘Am I in paradise?’ That’s when I fell in love with Manchester United,” the former Juventus player revealed during an interview with JoyNews.
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Stephen Appiah notably led Ghana to its first-ever World Cup appearance in 2006 and showcased his talent while playing for Juventus during the peak of his career.