FIFA WCQ: Ex-Ghana defender John Paintsil advises Black Stars ahead of South Africa clash

Former Ghanaian defender John Paintsil has advised the Black Stars players ahead of their make or break encounter against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa tomorrow at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium, Ghana.

Black Stars tasted a defeat in the first league against the Bafana Bafana’s in South Africa by a lone goal at the dying minutes of the game.

Tomorrow’s game between the two will be the last Group G game in the ongoing Africa World Cup qualifiers and will at the same time decide the team that qualifies to the playoffs.

South Africa are topping the group with 13 points to the 10 of the Black Stars. Draw or a win win will book a place for the away side in the playoffs whiles Ghana need to win before qualifying to the last round of the qualifies.

John Paintsil was part of Ghana’s squad that played in their maiden World Cup in 2006 held in Germany and also played in South Africa 2010 World Cup.

According to the 40year-old ex-defender Black Stars allowed Ethiopia to control the game which gave them the confidence to punish us but going into the game against South Africa they should force them and mount pressure on them which can only help us to beat them.

“I think we have to rectify our mistakes we made during the Ethiopia clash that we couldn’t stop them but we allowed them to play. When you allow a team that play more passing football to dominate then they will gain more confidence and at the end of the day our name is already on them but since you allow them to play they will gain confidence, that’s what led to that punishment.

“If we are going to take the game to them to play in their own half and forcing them to play long it can help us to dominate and beat them because Ethiopia and South Africa play the same pattern. They possess the ball but the South African’s are more dangerous than the Ethiopian’s.

“They know how to possess and they have a speed on the ball and at the same time but what we have to do is to step up our game and mount pressure on them and force them to play what we like. When we force them to play what we like then we will beat them and which I believe that our way is upfront. Our destiny is in our own palm if we can fight hard to defeat them because only win can take us through.” John Paintsil told Richmond K. Entsie on Accra-based Original FM.

Source: ghanasportspage.com