Black Stars winger Joseph Paintsil has expressed that he does not feel pressured to score at all costs for the national team, despite his impressive goal-scoring and assist record for his club, KRC Genk, in the recently concluded season.
Paintsil, who is 25 years old, had a remarkable performance in the Belgian top flight, netting 18 goals and providing 14 assists, as Genk came very close to winning the title.
As Ghana prepare for an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Madagascar, Paintsil emphasised that his club form cannot be automatically replicated in the national team. He highlighted that his primary focus is on achieving success as a collective unit with the Ghanaian team.
“For me, I am not really under pressure you know. My style of play is to always help the team in terms of giving assists, in terms of fighting, in terms of defending, in terms of taking players on that’s my task. If I score, we thank God but the most important thing is the team,” he said in a press conference after the team’s second training at the Accra Sports Stadium.
In the previous round of qualifiers, the winger played a key role in Ghana’s doubleheader against Angola assisting Ghana’s only goal scored by Osman Bukari which earned the team a crucial point in Luanda.
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The team will continue preparations in Ghana on Wednesday and Thursday and fly to Antananarivo for the clash which will be played on Sunday, June 18.
With eight points from four games, Ghana are just a win away from securing a place in the next AFCON to be held in Ivory Coast next year.