Paintsil: I want to be father, mentor for young players II

 This is the concluding part of an exclusive interview with one of Ghana’s finest defenders in recent times - John Paintsil - who started his football career with Berekum-based Arsenals as a striker before joining Dansoman-based Liberty Professionals. In the first part of the interview he granted Graphic Sports’ George Ernest Asare, Paintsil highlighted his professional career with Israeli club, Maccabi Tel Aviv, in 2002, how he negotiated to acquire Legon Cities Football Club, as well as how he was transformed from a striker to become one of the finest defenders in his generation. He also hinted of plans to undertake a coaching course as a future career.

In this part, he recalled how he handled Cristiano Ronaldo in the English Premier League, his tussle with Liverpool legend, Steven Gerrard, and how he had an opportunity to participate in both the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups in Germany and South Africa respectively.Below are e

Graphic Sports (GS): Who are the strikers you struggled to handle in your career?

John Paintsil (JP): One player I had difficulty in handling was South Korean international, Park Ji-Sung, who played for Manchester United. He was very difficult to handle because he played like an African.

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No matter how you heckled, kicked or tackled him, he was always by your side to win the ball from you. Apart from him, I had it easy handling all strikers from opposing teams.

GS: How easy did you handle star strikers such as Ronaldo, Rooney and others?

JP: I played against Ronaldo on three occasions and always kept him strictly under control. I played against him on two occasions in the league and once in the FA Cup. I had the edge over Ronaldo, so in case we meet today, he is sure to remember me for how I handled him in England

GS: How did you tame Ronaldo who has been a thorn in the flesh of many defenders in the world?

JP: I always marked him closely and slide-tackled or professionally kicked him as soon as he had the ball.Because of how I handled him we always fought and referees were quick to cause sanity to prevail between us.

In one of our matches, I frustrated him so much that he eventually lost his temper and attacked me, so the referee gave him a yellow card. He was a player who always wanted to be comfortable on the pitch, so when he met a defender like me he became frustrated and found it difficult to play his normal game.

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GS: There were media reports that you had an issue with Steve Gerrard in a league match. What happened?

JP: Yes, he was a fighter and a leader. He was a good player and didn’t like defeat. I also had a similar attitude onthe field of play. I was a fighter just like Gerrard so when we clashed on the field, we went at each other .That was what happened.

GS: Can you give details of what happened which made you two to fight on the field?

JP: In one of our matches against Liverpool, I had the ball but I was kicked behind by a Liverpool player, but I maintained my balance and continued moving with the ball.

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At a point I lost control of the ball but the referee waved play to continue. Just then two Liverpool players confronted me for the ball, so I slide-tackled both of them and we all fell on the turf. Incidentally, the referee again waved us on to continue with play. Like lightning, I got up, regained possession of the ball and continued surging forward. It was at that time that Steve Gerrard came from behind and crashed me, causing me to fall in the process.

The referee, who was following the action closely, immediately whistled against him, but when I got up he sensed that I was going to hit him so he rushed on me, dropped his head to touch mine and started pinching my ribs. I reacted swiftly by pinching him in return before the referee rushed to separate us.

GS: How did the referee react to the pinching incident?

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JP: Incidentally, the referee did not notice the pinching. He was only attracted to the near head-butting incident. While the referee’s attention was fixed at our foreheads, we continued pinching each other as our foreheads remained at close range until the referee finally separated us.

GS: Is that the way players attack opponents at the blind side of referees?

JP: Yes. As players, we need to respect the rules of the game. There are gentle misconducts on the field of play. Sometimes, players react when opponents kick them, but the reaction should be in a nice way. It is wrong to attack opponents with the legs, hands and head, but if attacked there are ways to react nicely to escape punishment from the referee.

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Even if you are angry, you should know how to react. As a professional player, it is important to control your temper to avoid creating a scene on and off the field of play. Even when you are provoked, you should know how to react.

GS: How did you get the opportunity to play for the Black Stars?

JP: After we returned from the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina in 2001, the late Ben Koufie promised to promote some of us to the Black Stars.

He indicated that our generation at that time would make an impact on Ghana football by qualifying the country to participate in the elite World Cup. It was based on this philosophy that he promoted some of us to the senior team.

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My maiden appearance for the Black Stars was in December 2001 when I was invited for a friendly match against Algeria. At that time, I was very young and skinny but was determined to make a mark.

GS: Who were some of your teammates who were promoted to the Black Stars?

JP: Among them were Michael Essien, John Mensah, Razak Ibrahim and Derek Boateng.

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GS: What impact did you make in your maiden appearance for the Black Stars and how did it impact on your future appearances?

JP: I am certain I was impressive, so during the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Mali in 2002, I was invited again to feature for Ghana.

At that time, George Blay was playing at the right back for Ghana but after he played one match, I was made to play the rest of the matches, and that was the beginning of my long association with the Black Stars.

GS : How did you secure your position in the team afterwards?

JP: I might have convinced the technical team that I was prepared to be part of the team after the 2002 tournament in Mali, so I always had a call-up from 2001 until 2013.
Incidentally, in my early days with the Black Stars, I was playing for both the Black Stars and Black Satellites at the same time, so it kept me very busy in my international career.

It was in 2005 that our generation, which joined the Black Stars in 2001, became full-fledged stars and managed to qualify Ghana to participate in the World Cup for the first time in 2006.

GS: How did you break the jinx to qualify Ghana to the FIFA World Cup after many unsuccessful attempts?
JP: It was due to our commitment and determination to make history.

GS: How did the players react after you played your last qualifying match which secured Ghana a place at the Germany 2006 World Cup?

JP: We played a tough match against Cape Verde and managed to pick our ticket for the Germany 2006 World Cup. The feeling was great because we won 5-0 to book our first FIFA Wold Cup ticket.

GS: Cape Verde is not a strong football nation in Africa, so why do you describe the match as a tough one?

JP: It was tough because we played against very good players, many of whom played in Europe. They were professional players who played in big leagues so it was not easy for us.

The only difference was that the love to die for the nation was there. We were together and saw ourselves as brothers. Besides, the FA managed the Black Stars very well. They catered for us very well and did everything to motivate us to excel. There was no pressure on us and we played from our hearts.

GS: Would you say it was the way the FA treated you that galvanised you to qualify for the Germany 2006 World Cup?

JP: It contributed immensely to our qualification to the Germany tournament because they brought a lot of sponsors on board, provided quality kit for us and kept close contact with all key players of the team.

It was not like the Mali 2002 tournament where our jersey was like a smock which caused us to become a laughing stock among our peers from other countries. In Mali, we felt intimidated because of the kit provided by the then FA.

GS: During the 2006 World Cup, you lost the first match against Italy, but bounced back to defeat Czech Republic 2-0 in the second match and also beat USA 2-1 to book a place in the second round. What was the motivation?

JP: To be sincere with you, we lacked the experience to play at that stage so we just enjoyed the game and played without stress. Against Czech Republic, we resolved to defeat them to attract attention and that was exactly what we did.

It was with such determination that we attacked from all fronts and piled intense pressure on them throughout the match. At that time, we were very fit and attacked in droves. By the 75th minute, our opponents were tired but we were still very strong.

GS: You were seen waving the Israeli flag after the victory over Czech Republic. Why that flag instead of the Ghana flag?

JP: I don’t want to comment on that issue.

GS: What motivated you to add the US to your victims?

JP: After our victory over much-hyped Czech Republic, our confidence level soared. We were tagged as underdogs against the US and that also helped u.

GS: You played many matches for the Black Stars between 2001 and 2013, which of them was your best and why?

JP: I excelled in many of the matches, especially all the three matches I played in the 2006 World Cup tournament. In the 2010 World Cup against Australia, the US and Serbia, I also excelled in all the matches.

GS: When did you finally retire from active football and why?

JP: I finally hanged my boots between 2015 and 2016 when I played for Kaiser Chiefs in South Africa. My coach, Steve Compeller, advised me not to stay in football for long.

He told me that I had the quality to be a good coach, so it was important to start coaching. I realised that his advice should be taken seriously because as a defender, my speed became questionable. I could have continued to play a bit longer if I were a striker.

GS: There was an infraction between you and Derek Boateng over a betting issue in the Black Stars camp. How did it happen?

JP: The case has already been determined by the courts so I consider it as closed.

GS: There is a perception that there is betting among football stars. What can you say about it?
JP: I am yet to experience it among players.

GS: Do you have any regret for playing professional football?

JP: I do not have any regret because football has given me everything in life. I have achieved a lot through football and I will say that after God and my parents, football is something I cherish so much in my life.

GS: Who do you consider as your best coach from infancy up to your retirement and why?

JP: It was Roy Hodgson. He saw my potential in Europe and offered me much playing time to display my talent in Fulham. It was such an opportunity that caught the attention of my fans. In Ghana, it was the late Coach E.K. Afranie who nurtured my potential in football, so they are my best coaches.

GS: How did Coach Afranie develop your potential?

JP: Afranie was strict, very disciplined and never pampered players, no matter how good you were. He always hit you very hard if you go against his dictates, so his actions on and off the field always put me on my toes to work hard to be part of his team. It was his attitude that challenged me to go the extra mile to be what I am today.

Roy was also more than a father who managed my stress and goaded me to carry on. Beside offering me more playing time to display my potential in Europe, he also trusted me and believed in my ability.

GS: What is your message for your fans?

JP: I want to take this opportunity to thank all my fans for being there for me. My fans in Ghana, Israel, West Ham, Fulham, Leicester City and Kaiser Chiefs gave me all the love and support I needed to play. I am so proud of them and I love them all.

GS: Thanks for your time.

JP: Thanks for offering me the platform to reach out to my fans.