Stephen Appiah, a former skipper of the senior national team, the Black Stars, has called on juvenile footballers to place premium on formal education.

He said they should not under any circumstance downplay the importance of academic careers, adding that their sporting talents should not overshadow their education development nor hinder their academic progression.

“Football is not for school drop-outs”, Appiah said in an interview with the GNA Sports, Kumasi.

He said there are many renowned international footballers with solid academic background who are putting their acquired knowledge to good use after retiring from an active football career.

Appiah said a lot of opportunities- managerial, coaching and other technical appointments abound in the football world where the well-lettered footballer could use to his advantage.

Appiah, a member of the victorious Black Starlets squad that won the 1995 Under-17 FIFA World Cup, was in Kumasi as special guest of the Milo Under-13 Champions’ League, held at the Paa Joe Stadium.

The competition, which saw the participation of more than 100 schools, was won by the Eastern Region after they beat Volta Region 2-0 in the grand finale to lift the trophy and a cheque for GHC10,000.00.

Appiah, one of the few Ghanaian footballers to have risen through the ranks of juvenile football to captain the senior national team, attributed his success to discipline, commitment and hard work and urged young players to appreciate the value of those who make it to the top.

Laryea Kingson, Augustine Arhinful and Gago Mohammed were the other former national team players, who watched the competition.

Also on hand to witness the event were Coach Sellas Tetteh, the Under-20 National Team Coach and Maxwell Konadu, an Assistant Coach of the Black Stars.