A video clip featuring newly-appointed second deputy coach of the Black Stars, John Paintsil, has surfaced online, revealing his stance on coaching the senior national team.
Paintsil, who recently assumed the role of assistant coach under Otto Addo’s leadership, expressed his belief that his generation, including himself, is not equipped to manage the Black Stars. He emphasized the need for his generation to start from coaching junior national teams to gain experience before handling the senior team.
Acknowledging the importance of including former players in the Black Stars technical team, Paintsil highlighted the significance of experience gained through coaching at lower levels. He referenced players from the previous generation, such as Tony Yeboah, CK Akonnor, and Michael Osei, as better suited to lead the Black Stars due to their extensive experience.
“I agree to their (Ghanaians) to include we the old players in the Black Stars technical team simple because they think we have played to the highest level,” he said I an interview with Manuel Tv Sports on YouTube.
“For me, I believe that, my generation in particular, starting from the U17, U20 will be the best, I don’t see any of my generation handling the Black Stars team. If we start from the junior teams, fine but for the Black Stars we don’t qualify to handle it because we have our seniors who played before us like Tony Yeboah, CK Akonnor, Michael Osei, Ibrahim Tanko, these are the people when you are talking about the Black Stars they can handle them”
Paintsil emphasized the need for mutual understanding and respect between coaches and players, which he believes can be fostered through coaching at junior levels before progressing to the senior team. He cited Otto Addo, his senior, as an example of someone who has acquired the necessary experience to handle the Black Stars.
“But for my generation, I will not even advise. If you tell me to go and handle the Black Stars I will tell you no, I am not ready because I will have to start from the U17, U20 then I will grow up with the boys where we will both understand each other better, the respect will be there”
“Otto Addo was my senior, when he started playing I was nowhere so they have acquired so much experience so if you are giving the Black Stars to those people I’ve mentioned, they can take care of the Black Stars and my generation will take care of the junior national teams to build them so by the time I will get to the senior level in about 10 years time, I had acquired so much experience to deal with the Black Stars,” he ended.
Watch the video below:
Currently in Morocco for preparations, the Black Stars are gearing up for upcoming friendly matches against Nigeria and Uganda on March 22 and March 26 respectively, under the guidance of Otto Addo and his coaching staff.
