Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah was on Saturday named the 2013 Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Personality of the Year.
He beat competition from his team captainà Asamoah Gyanà and weightlifter Juliana Arkoh in the ceremony held at the State Banquet Hall in Accra on Saturday night.
It was the first time in the history of the awards that a coach had been shortlisted and gone ahead to win the topmost prize of the award.
Appiah became the first indigenous coach to qualify Ghana to theFIFA World Cupà finals and did that in style after a first leg 6-1 win overà Egyptà in the playoffs.
The ex-international picked up two awards on the night- taking home theà Coach of the Yearà award.
Also on the night, Granadaââ¬â¢s Clifford Aboagye picked up theDiscoveryà of the Year and his Ghana U20 teammateà Ebenezer Assifuah, now with Swiss sideà FC Sion, named the Most Promising Star.
Hasaacas Ladies were adjudged Best Female Club of the Year and theà 2013à FIFA U20 World Cupà bronze medal winning team named National Team of the Year.
Special Awards were presented to Messrs Kudjoe Fianoo (AshantiGold Chief Executive), GFA presidentà Kwesi Nyantakyi, Kennedy Adjapong (Kenpong), and Nuru Bremansu for their meaningful contributions towards accelerated development of sports in the country.
The 39th edition of the MTN SWAG Awards night will be held at the Banquet Hall of the State House inà Accra.