Former Black Stars defender, John Paintsil, has paid glowing tribute to the late coach Emmanuel Kwasi Afranie for the influence he had on his career after he converted him from a striker to an attacking fullback when he was a youngster.
The former multiple national team coach passed away after a tragic accident on the Accra-Kumasi Highway and the former Fulham defender says he would not have succeeded in his professional career as a footballer without the guidance of Afranie.
The accident occurred when Afranie was being transferred in an ambulance to Kumasi from the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital after suffering a mild stroke last month.
Painstil, 35, who is now the assistant coach of South African giants, Kaizer Chiefs, in a post on picture-sharing website Instagram explained that Afranie converted him just so he could fit into his 21-man squad for the 2001 World Youth Championship in Argentina.
He posited: "The man that brought me from nowhere to somewhere in soccer. The man who made it possible for me to become who I am now. The man who changed my position as a striker to attacking fullback because he wanted to give me a chance to fit into his 21-man squad, the Black Satellites.
"2001 under 20 youth world cup in Argentina, he made me who I am now. Nana RIP, You were at my Dad's funeral Nana. Thank you for giving me a life in sports Nana. Go well and I trust you are in safe hands wherever you are. Ohhh God, The great man is gone to join my dad”.
Other members of Ghana's star-studded squad who won a silver medal after losing to Argentina in the 2001 Youth Championship final included Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Derek Boateng, Razak Pimpong and John Mensah.
