The Central Coast Mariners are excited to announce that Kwabena Appiah has accepted an exciting opportunity to continue his football journey overseas. The Mariners can today advise that the club have accepted an undisclosed transfer and have released Appiah with immediate effect.
The 25-year-old-attacker has agreed to terms with an unnamed K League 1 team who compete in the top tier of football in South Korea.
Appiah returned to the Central Coast Mariners in July 2016 after previously winning a Foxtel National Youth League with the club in 2011.
During his time with the Central Coast Mariners, Wellington Phoenix and the Western Sydney Wanderers, Appiah has made 79 appearances in the Hyundai A-League.
Appiah first caught the eye of the Asian football market after playing a crucial role in the Wanderers’ 2014 AFC Champions League campaign that saw the lightning-fast attacker take home the club’s ACL Player of the Year award.
Appiah leaves the Central Coast Mariners with the best wishes from the club and thanked everyone on the Central Coast upon his departure. Appiah made special mention of Head Coach Paul Okon and the Mariners’ fans.
“I am really excited, this is a dream come true,” Appiah said. “This came out of nowhere really and everything has happened so quickly.
“Before I came to the Central Coast Mariners my career wasn’t moving in the direction I had hoped. My move to the Mariners has really ignited my career.
“I can’t thank Paul Okon enough, he helped refine my game & my form this season is testimony to that. Paolo gave me the opportunity to showcase myself and has been a very important person in my life, me and my family hold the highest amount of respect for Paul Okon, so I can’t thank him enough.
“After playing in the Champions League with the Wanderers I always said I wanted to play in Korea or Japan & now it’s a reality. In my second stint here, the fans have been fantastic, I’ve gained confidence, the staff have been amazing and the players have been first class.
“I want to say a big thank you to the fans. I have enjoyed the fans vocally getting behind me in such a positive manner & I wish I could have repaid them with more goals for the team.
“I want to wish the boys the best of luck for the rest of the season. I am more than confident that they will make the top six, we will go on a run and finish where we deserve to finish,” Appiah said.
Central Coast Mariners CEO Shaun Mielekamp congratulated Appiah and wished him all the best.
“The club is extremely proud of Kwabena and the progress he has made whilst he has been with us,” Mielekamp said. “This is an absolute testament to Kwabena himself and the coaching staff who have ensured that his development has been rapid enough to create this opportunity.
“Kwabena’s transfer is a great example of the direction this club is committed to when it comes to developing and selling players. We are confident that many Mariners players will follow in the footsteps of Kwabena and continue to make waves in big leagues overseas.
“Personally, I couldn’t be more excited for Kwabena who knows that the door will always be open at the Mariners. Once a Mariner, always a Mariner,” Mielekamp said.
