Ghana’s all-time topscorer Asamoah Gyan backs John Paintsil’s Black Stars appointment

Former Ghanaian captain Asamoah Gyan has voiced his support for the appointment of John Paintsil as an assistant coach of the Black Stars.

Gyan’s endorsement comes amid mixed reactions to the selection of Joseph Laumann, John Paintsil, and Fatau Dauda as assistants to Ghana coach Otto Addo. While some have welcomed the decision, others have questioned Paintsil’s suitability for the role.

In an interview on Asempa FM, Gyan defended Paintsil’s appointment, emphasizing his contributions to the national team and his coaching experience after retirement.

“John (Paintsil) sacrificed a lot for the national team but people seem to forget. After retirement, he went to coach in South Africa as an assistant and gathered relevant experience,” Gyan remarked.

Highlighting Paintsil’s post-retirement endeavors in coaching, Gyan asserted, “If you look at his life after retirement, all he has done is coach. So if I look at his records and what he has done, I can only support his appointment to the assistant’s role.”

Paintsil, who played for the Black Stars from 2001 to 2013, shared the dressing room with Gyan for ten years, from 2003 to 2013.

Gyan, who captained the Ghana team from 2013 to 2019, expressed confidence in Paintsil’s capabilities and suitability for the assistant coach position, citing his experience and dedication to the sport.