Former EPL stars Paintsil and Mensah regret missing out on Premier League glory

Former Ghanaian internationals John Paintsil and John Mensah have shared their disappointment over never winning the prestigious English Premier League (EPL) title during their playing careers, as they joined fans in Ghana to welcome the trophy.

The EPL trophy was brought to Ghana as part of a global tour in partnership with Guinness, allowing local fans to engage with the iconic silverware.

The event, headlined by Paintsil, Mensah, and National Sports Authority (NSA) Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, celebrated the deep connection between Ghanaian football lovers and the world’s most-watched league.

Reflecting on his time in England with Fulham, West Ham, and Leicester City, Paintsil admitted he never got close to lifting the title. “Even when I used to play in England, I never got close to it. And now it's in Ghana. Unfortunately, I was playing for Fulham, West Ham United, and Leicester, but I was a bit close when Fulham reached the top eight. But yeah, I'm happy that the trophy is back home now, on our land which our people, Ghanaians love the Premier League,” he said.

John Mensah, who had a brief stint in the EPL with Sunderland, also expressed his longing for the title. “It’s very great. I'm very happy to see this trophy... I wish I could have won the trophy. As you said earlier, I was on loan for a season in Sunderland. I fought hard to help the team so that at least we could win the trophy, but we couldn't. But fantastic. To play in the Premier League, it's fantastic. I really enjoyed myself,” he remarked.

Beyond the nostalgia of the two ex-players, NSA Director-General Yaw Ampofo Ankrah used the occasion to highlight the EPL’s immense popularity in Ghana while urging local fans to extend the same passion to the Ghana Premier League (GPL).

“The EPL is the best, the numbers don’t lie. If you try to make a comparison with our own domestic league, unfortunately, we don’t come near. For us, it’s about learning to close the gap; if it will take five years or ten years, as long as we are able to see how great the EPL is and hope that the fans of Manchester United, Chelsea, West Ham, Liverpool can also translate that passion to Kotoko, Hearts, Olympics,” he stated.

The arrival of the EPL trophy in Ghana not only rekindled memories for Paintsil and Mensah but also reinforced the nation’s deep connection to the league.