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As He Lies Injured for Angola 2010? Almost all Ghanaians learnt with shock the latest news that the captain of the Black Stars Stephen Appiah has once again gone injured before he could make his debut with Italia Serie A outfit Bologna. It sounds disheartening the way and manner the �Tornado� has waited for so long to return to club football only to be plaqued by this latest injury which according to medical experts will take a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of six weeks to heal. Ghana will be partaking in Angola 2010 Nations Cup in just a little over a month�s time, meaning the Black Stars captain would have to recover early enough to be part of the team�s preparation ahead of the tournament. Ghana is scheduled to begin camping later this month for the tournament which is expected to serve as preparatory ground for the Black Stars ahead of the world cup in June 2010. Many experts and fans of the game have questioned Appiah�s fitness level in that they think the player is match rusty after almost two years without club football. It will be recalled that Appiah�s career more or less came an end after he suffered a serious knee injury during the four Nations tournament just before Ghana 2008 Nations Cup; the star player missed the tournament itself due to the same injury problems. For now, opinions remain divided over whether Appiah could recover early enough to be part of the Angola 2010 Nations Cup and even if he makes it, he will be there as a half fit player? The love for his nation is important and he remains admirable to all Ghanaians but forcing himself for the Angola tournament which starts in barely a month�s time means playing through pain and that could exacerbate the extent of his injury. I don�t think Appiah would love to miss the world cup as that could be his swansong and there cannot be any other time for the midfielder to say goodbye after a dedicate service spanning 15 years to his mother country Ghana. I�m sure many people might be asking why Appiah should rest for other players to go to Angola while he gets the opportunity to play at the world cup. The point is simple, if Appiah remains unfit till June, then nobody should tell him to retire from football as his health cannot help matters. I just can�t fathom Appiah reduced to a mere spectator watching the next world cup in South Africa; can you imagine that? But if his current injury situation fails him then the Stars coach will have no option than to drop him from the world cup squad, how painful it will be for the 28year old player who will be celebrating his 29th birthday on December 24, a day before Christmas. Stephen Appiah�s passion for the game is unthinkable as he has featured in matches for Ghana even when injured and that has cost him this persistent injury. The �il capitano� is on record to have stated that he hopes to be back soon for the Nations Cup in January. It will be advisable for him to wait for natural regeneration to take place and that could take more than just a month. Mind you Appiah is not getting any younger and regeneration scientifically take long to time in �grown ups� than in children. The soul is willing but the body weakly supports Appiah�s case. I think Ghana must excuse the Bologna player for the Nations Cup and he will be back for the world cup fully or half fit as he needs to be there. What do you think?