Black Stars winger Joseph Paintsil has expressed his willingness to remain committed to playing for Ghana even if he has to start from the bench all the time.
The 25-year-old has been in incredible form for Genk in the Belgian top flight scoring 18 and assisting 14 but has struggled to break into the Black Stars’ first team in recent times.
Paintsil was snubbed for the 2022 World Cup squad and only made a return to the team in Chris Hughton’s first squad announcement ahead of Ghana’s doubleheader against Angola in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. However, the former Tema Youth man started from the bench in both games in which he made his presence count as he assisted Ghana’s equaliser against Angola in the second match.
He is however satisfied and ready to play his heart out for Ghana regardless of the number of minutes he spends on the pitch.
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“For me, it’s the coach’s decision. You know the national team is based on picking the best players to represent your country so everybody who is invited to the national team is a player that needs to be a starter and a player they have confidence in,” he said on 3FM.
“So that’s why I need to show myself even if I’m given a few opportunities. So if I don’t start a game, I need to be ready mentally to help my team whenever they need me on the field of play even in the second half or something.
“I’m always prepared. It’s not always about just playing the first half or 90 minutes but if the coach really wants that to happen then why not. For me, I’m always ready to showcase myself and to showcase to the world and the fans of Ghana.”