How Joe Appiah died

By Tosin Olakotan

Just a week after the passing of Nigeria’s Rashidi Yekini, another Shooting Stars FC of Ibadan ex-player, Joe Appiah has died.

According to a source, Appiah fell ill late last year, shortly after he and some other members of the technical crew were allegedly laid off by the club’s management without pay.

He died last Saturday May 12. We’re told Appiah is survived by his wife, Juliet and four children Nana, (13), Douglas (11), Isaac (9) and Daniel (8).

Joe Appiah had been with Shooting Stars FC since 1972 and was one of about a dozen Ghanaian footballers who migrated to Nigeria in the 70’s. The right full back played for the club for several years, he later served as the feeders team coach.

He was said to have been suffering from Cirrhosis of the liver for over three months and was treated at the popular University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, before later being transferred to a private hospital in Osasami, also in Ibadan.

Going by reports, towards the end of his illness, Appiah had lost considerable weight and was barely recognizable. It was also reported that the current management of the Shooting Stars visited him last month and donated N500, 000 towards his medical bill.

On Thursday, May 10, before the home game against Niger Tornadoes, a one minute silence was maintained in honour of Rashidi Yekini, and it is expected that a similar gesture may be observed for Appiah in this weekend’s home game.

With Appiah’s death, 3SC FC has lost a total of 7 players from the 1976 squad.

Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer Ike Shorunmu, among other former colleagues, gave his condolences to the family of the late footballer, saying ‘I’m saddened by Appiah’s death, may his soul rest in peace.’

Shorunmu added that Appiah wasn’t told about Rashidi’s death ‘so as not to worsen his own case’