Afranie converted me into a defender — Paintsil

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.